😐A single person spends $1,589 per month in Medellin vs $1,108 in Subotica, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,364 per month in Medellin vs $1,670 in Subotica, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $3,139 per month in Medellin vs $2,232 in Subotica, rent included.
😐Medellin costs about 43% more than Subotica, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Medellin sits 19% above the global median, while Subotica is 17% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Subotica
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.01COP 25.9K
$9.35RSD 974
-14.33%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.55COP 150.8K
$33.75RSD 3,517
37.93%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.43COP 30.6K
$11.18RSD 1,165
-15.65%
Cappuccino
$2.91COP 9,432
$1.97RSD 205
47.72%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.75COP 5,678
$1.83RSD 191
-4.37%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.32COP 4,289
$1.71RSD 178
-22.81%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.13COP 10.1K
$2.46RSD 256
27.24%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.55COP 18.0K
$2.87RSD 299
93.38%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Subotica
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.41COP 4,570
$1.41RSD 146
-
White Bread(500g)
$2.44COP 7,907
$1.10RSD 115
121.82%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.63COP 5,278
$2.14RSD 223
-23.83%
Eggs
$2.82COP 9,140
$3.07RSD 320
-8.14%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.69COP 31.4K
$12.08RSD 1,258
-19.78%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.32COP 30.2K
$6.60RSD 688
41.21%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.46COP 43.6K
$12.53RSD 1,305
7.42%
Apples(1kg)
$4.00COP 13.0K
$1.39RSD 145
187.77%
Banana(1kg)
$1.48COP 4,797
$1.90RSD 198
-22.11%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.12COP 6,881
$1.43RSD 149
48.25%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.25COP 7,298
$2.21RSD 230
1.81%
Potato(1kg)
$1.91COP 6,193
$1.03RSD 108
85.44%
Onion(1kg)
$1.62COP 5,247
$0.59RSD 61.6
174.58%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.15COP 3,719
$0.58RSD 60.8
98.28%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.26COP 4,088
$0.61RSD 63.9
106.56%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.82COP 12.4K
$4.17RSD 435
-8.39%
Wine(Bottle)
$13.11COP 42.5K
$5.31RSD 553
146.89%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.60COP 5,168
$0.82RSD 85.8
95.12%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.26COP 7,308
$2.28RSD 238
-0.88%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Subotica
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.17COP 3,793
$1.18RSD 123
-0.85%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$75.0COP 243.0K
$34.36RSD 3,580
118.34%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.27COP 4,123
$1.87RSD 195
-32.09%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.05COP 6,640
$1.22RSD 127
68.03%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$8.20COP 26.6K
$10.85RSD 1,131
-24.42%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.27COP 4,113
$1.77RSD 184
-28.25%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.8KCOP 86.7M
$30.8KRSD 3.2M
-13.09%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.4KCOP 111.5M
$25.1KRSD 2.6M
37.08%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Subotica
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$162COP 525.5K
$168RSD 17.5K
-3.44%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.12COP 42.5K
$15.33RSD 1,597
-14.42%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$28.09COP 91.0K
$37.29RSD 3,886
-24.67%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Subotica
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$44.33COP 143.6K
$33.13RSD 3,452
33.81%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.33COP 52.9K
$9.53RSD 993
71.35%
Cinema Ticket
$6.09COP 19.7K
$4.74RSD 494
28.48%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Subotica
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$764COP 2.5M
$238RSD 24.8K
221.28%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$8,904COP 28.8M
-
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Subotica
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$85.0COP 275.3K
$42.70RSD 4,450
98.99%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$57.5COP 186.2K
$22.51RSD 2,346
155.40%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$132COP 426.9K
$91.4RSD 9,519
44.24%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$95.8COP 310.2K
$72.3RSD 7,528
32.53%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Subotica
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,028COP 3.3M
$417RSD 43.5K
146.39%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$604COP 2.0M
$297RSD 31.0K
103.22%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,802COP 5.8M
$602RSD 62.7K
199.25%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$993COP 3.2M
$547RSD 57.0K
81.55%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,921COP 12.7M
$2,449RSD 255.1K
60.12%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,639COP 5.3M
$1,601RSD 166.8K
2.36%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Subotica
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$626COP 2.0M
$894RSD 93.2K
-29.99%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
10.94
4.79
128.39%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Medellin: October 6, 2026
Last update for Subotica: October 5, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $1,028 in Medellin versus $417 in Subotica. 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 43% higher in Subotica, 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 $47.00 in Medellin versus $34.00 in Subotica. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $288 vs $221 – making Subotica 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 Subotica: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Subotica cheaper than Medellin?
Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 43%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. 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 $2,384 per month in Medellin and $1,662 in Subotica. 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 Subotica, 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 Subotica?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $47.00 in Medellin and $34.00 in Subotica. 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 Subotica?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,589 in Medellin and $1,108 in Subotica. 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 Subotica?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Subotica, where all-in costs run around $1,108, than in Medellin at $1,589. In Subotica it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Medellin or Subotica more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Subotica – 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 Subotica?
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 Subotica. 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.