😐A single person spends $1,031 per month in Medellin vs $883 in Strumica, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $1,599 per month in Medellin vs $1,273 in Strumica, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $2,167 per month in Medellin vs $1,663 in Strumica, rent included.
😐Medellin costs about 17% more than Strumica, driven mainly by Getting Around.
📊Both Medellin and Strumica are more affordable than the global median – Medellin23% lower, Strumica34% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Strumica
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.16COP 20.1K
$3.78MKD 203
62.96%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.60COP 106.1K
$28.20MKD 1,514
15.60%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.34COP 23.9K
$4.94MKD 265
48.58%
Cappuccino
$1.72COP 5,599
$1.70MKD 91.4
1.18%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.05COP 3,420
$1.48MKD 79.7
-29.05%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.77COP 2,515
$1.16MKD 62.5
-33.62%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.69COP 5,487
$1.93MKD 104
-12.44%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.17COP 10.3K
$2.31MKD 124
37.23%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Strumica
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.05COP 3,423
$1.41MKD 75.5
-25.53%
White Bread(500g)
$1.30COP 4,236
$0.69MKD 36.95
88.41%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.40COP 4,544
$1.78MKD 95.8
-21.35%
Eggs
$2.16COP 7,046
$2.02MKD 108
6.93%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$4.39COP 14.3K
$10.32MKD 554
-57.46%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.88COP 19.1K
$6.30MKD 338
-6.67%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.64COP 28.1K
$10.48MKD 562
-17.56%
Apples(1kg)
$2.28COP 7,425
$0.63MKD 33.67
261.90%
Banana(1kg)
$1.11COP 3,603
$1.44MKD 77.5
-22.92%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.53COP 4,982
$1.19MKD 64.1
28.57%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.35COP 4,410
$1.62MKD 87.0
-16.67%
Potato(1kg)
$1.13COP 3,674
$0.95MKD 51.3
18.95%
Onion(1kg)
$1.13COP 3,692
$0.82MKD 43.98
37.80%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.85COP 2,753
$0.57MKD 30.60
49.12%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.91COP 2,975
$0.54MKD 28.76
68.52%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.34COP 7,629
$2.83MKD 152
-17.31%
Wine(Bottle)
$12.37COP 40.3K
$5.57MKD 299
122.08%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.20COP 3,909
$0.96MKD 51.4
25.00%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.49COP 8,104
$1.23MKD 66.1
102.44%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Strumica
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.84COP 2,727
$0.74MKD 39.54
13.51%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$40.57COP 132.1K
$20.36MKD 1,093
99.26%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.42COP 4,623
$1.16MKD 62.4
22.41%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.92COP 6,235
$0.49MKD 26.16
291.84%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.66COP 24.9K
$6.49MKD 349
18.03%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.99COP 3,223
$1.44MKD 77.1
-31.25%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.0KCOP 58.7M
$32.3KMKD 1.7M
-44.22%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.6KCOP 86.7M
$33.6KMKD 1.8M
-20.83%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Strumica
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$80.8COP 263.1K
$148MKD 7,931
-45.30%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.95COP 32.4K
$13.05MKD 701
-23.75%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.18COP 78.7K
$15.67MKD 841
54.31%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Strumica
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$25.08COP 81.6K
$20.43MKD 1,097
22.76%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.15COP 62.3K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$3.98COP 13.0K
$4.61MKD 248
-13.67%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Strumica
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$305COP 993.4K
$217MKD 11.6K
40.79%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$6,059COP 19.7M
$1,220MKD 65.5K
396.66%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Strumica
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.1COP 189.2K
$75.9MKD 4,074
-23.41%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$32.20COP 104.8K
$48.46MKD 2,602
-33.55%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$101COP 327.9K
$74.6MKD 4,005
35.01%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$108COP 350.8K
$95.4MKD 5,121
12.95%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Strumica
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$477COP 1.6M
$321MKD 17.2K
48.51%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$376COP 1.2M
$239MKD 12.8K
57.26%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$845COP 2.7M
$499MKD 26.8K
69.42%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$730COP 2.4M
$299MKD 16.0K
144.66%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,215COP 10.5M
$1,456MKD 78.1K
120.90%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,372COP 4.5M
$995MKD 53.4K
37.98%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Strumica
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$617COP 2.0M
$651MKD 35.0K
-5.32%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
13.43
4
235.75%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Medellin: July 12, 2026
Last update for Strumica: July 11, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $477 in Medellin versus $321 in Strumica. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.
💰Salaries run about 6% higher in Strumica, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $33.00 in Medellin versus $28.00 in Strumica. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $193 vs $186 – making Strumica the more affordable choice for daily food spending.
City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)
The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index
Medellin vs Strumica: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Strumica cheaper than Medellin?
Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 17%, and the gap shows up most in Getting Around. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,546 per month in Medellin and $1,324 in Strumica. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Strumica, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Is eating out cheaper in Medellin or in Strumica?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $33.00 in Medellin and $28.00 in Strumica. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
What are total monthly expenses in Medellin and in Strumica?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,031 in Medellin and $883 in Strumica. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Is $1,000 a realistic budget for living in Medellin or in Strumica?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Strumica, where all-in costs run around $883, than in Medellin at $1,031. In Strumica it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Medellin or Strumica more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Strumica – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Medellin or Strumica?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Strumica. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Medellin makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.