😐A single person spends $1,716 per month in Medellin vs $894 in Sveti Nikole, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,527 per month in Medellin vs $1,352 in Sveti Nikole, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $3,338 per month in Medellin vs $1,811 in Sveti Nikole, rent included.
😐Medellin costs about 92% more than Sveti Nikole, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Medellin sits 25% above the global median, while Sveti Nikole is 35% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Sveti Nikole
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.03COP 25.2K
$9.38MKD 495
-14.39%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$48.26COP 151.7K
$34.67MKD 1,828
39.20%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.77COP 30.7K
$5.40MKD 285
80.93%
Cappuccino
$2.91COP 9,149
$1.75MKD 92.1
66.29%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.94COP 6,110
$1.45MKD 76.5
33.79%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.52COP 4,783
$1.01MKD 53.5
50.50%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.09COP 9,721
$1.58MKD 83.3
95.57%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.74COP 18.1K
$1.86MKD 98.3
208.60%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Sveti Nikole
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.36COP 4,287
$1.40MKD 74.1
-2.86%
White Bread(500g)
$2.39COP 7,505
$0.56MKD 29.58
326.79%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.70COP 5,346
$1.20MKD 63.3
41.67%
Eggs
$2.87COP 9,021
$2.55MKD 135
12.55%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.94COP 31.2K
$9.66MKD 509
2.90%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$10.78COP 33.9K
$4.64MKD 245
132.33%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$14.73COP 46.3K
$12.40MKD 654
18.79%
Apples(1kg)
$4.09COP 12.8K
$1.39MKD 73.4
194.24%
Banana(1kg)
$1.57COP 4,940
$1.36MKD 71.6
15.44%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.13COP 6,682
$1.35MKD 71.4
57.78%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.21COP 6,959
$1.78MKD 93.8
24.16%
Potato(1kg)
$2.05COP 6,435
$0.79MKD 41.50
159.49%
Onion(1kg)
$1.50COP 4,728
$1.21MKD 63.9
23.97%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.19COP 3,740
$0.83MKD 43.89
43.37%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.16COP 3,640
$0.41MKD 21.58
182.93%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.90COP 12.2K
$3.13MKD 165
24.60%
Wine(Bottle)
$14.44COP 45.4K
$6.45MKD 340
123.88%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.58COP 4,978
$1.06MKD 55.8
49.06%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.83COP 8,889
$1.47MKD 77.7
92.52%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Sveti Nikole
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.17COP 3,672
$0.78MKD 41.20
50.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$77.7COP 244.3K
$25.00MKD 1,318
210.92%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.28COP 4,038
$1.55MKD 81.8
-17.42%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.09COP 6,576
$1.06MKD 56.0
97.17%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$8.62COP 27.1K
$3.83MKD 202
125.07%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.30COP 4,080
$1.44MKD 76.1
-9.72%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.7KCOP 86.9M
$33.8KMKD 1.8M
-18.27%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$35.5KCOP 111.6M
$28.0KMKD 1.5M
26.81%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Sveti Nikole
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$176COP 553.4K
$152MKD 8,017
15.81%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.37COP 42.0K
$15.96MKD 841
-16.23%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.89COP 94.0K
$12.48MKD 658
139.50%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Sveti Nikole
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$44.76COP 140.7K
$23.62MKD 1,245
89.50%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.06COP 53.6K
$16.78MKD 885
1.67%
Cinema Ticket
$6.20COP 19.5K
$5.21MKD 275
19.00%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Sveti Nikole
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$793COP 2.5M
$356MKD 18.8K
122.82%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$9,019COP 28.4M
$4,864MKD 256.5K
85.43%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Sveti Nikole
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$85.6COP 269.1K
$77.0MKD 4,062
11.12%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$58.5COP 183.8K
$33.42MKD 1,762
74.96%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$136COP 428.4K
$83.6MKD 4,410
62.96%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$103COP 324.1K
$88.8MKD 4,685
16.06%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Sveti Nikole
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,060COP 3.3M
$312MKD 16.5K
239.60%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$680COP 2.1M
$184MKD 9,690
269.77%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,012COP 6.3M
$491MKD 25.9K
309.96%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,169COP 3.7M
$305MKD 16.1K
282.70%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,111COP 12.9M
$1,613MKD 85.0K
154.95%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,701COP 5.3M
$1,204MKD 63.5K
41.31%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Sveti Nikole
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$665COP 2.1M
$569MKD 30.0K
16.82%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
10.94
4.25
157.41%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Medellin: August 30, 2026
Last update for Sveti Nikole: August 29, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $1,060 in Medellin versus $312 in Sveti Nikole. 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 17% higher in Medellin, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $48.00 in Medellin versus $35.00 in Sveti Nikole. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $303 vs $188 – making Sveti Nikole 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 Sveti Nikole: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Sveti Nikole cheaper than Medellin?
Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 92%, 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 $2,574 per month in Medellin and $1,341 in Sveti Nikole. 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 Sveti Nikole, 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 Sveti Nikole?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $48.00 in Medellin and $35.00 in Sveti Nikole. 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 Sveti Nikole?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,716 in Medellin and $894 in Sveti Nikole. 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 Sveti Nikole?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Sveti Nikole, where all-in costs run around $894, than in Medellin at $1,716. In Sveti Nikole it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Medellin or Sveti Nikole more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Sveti Nikole – 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 Sveti Nikole?
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 Sveti Nikole. 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.