Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Sveti Nikole Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Sveti Nikole

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,031 per month in Medellin vs $885 in Sveti Nikole, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,599 per month in Medellin vs $1,299 in Sveti Nikole, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,167 per month in Medellin vs $1,713 in Sveti Nikole, rent included.

Medellin costs about 16% more than Sveti Nikole, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Medellin and Sveti Nikole are more affordable than the global median – Medellin 23% lower, Sveti Nikole 34% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Sveti Nikole
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.16 COP 20.1K
$5.66 MKD 304
8.83%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.60 COP 106.1K
$27.68 MKD 1,486
17.77%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.34 COP 23.9K
$5.13 MKD 275
43.08%
Cappuccino
$1.72 COP 5,599
$1.71 MKD 91.9
0.58%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.05 COP 3,420
$1.61 MKD 86.4
-34.78%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.77 COP 2,515
$1.23 MKD 66.3
-37.40%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.69 COP 5,487
$2.32 MKD 124
-27.16%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.17 COP 10.3K
$2.74 MKD 147
15.69%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Sveti Nikole
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.05 COP 3,423
$1.25 MKD 66.8
-16.00%
White Bread (500g)
$1.30 COP 4,236
$0.73 MKD 39.40
78.08%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.40 COP 4,544
$1.69 MKD 90.8
-17.16%
Eggs
$2.16 COP 7,046
$2.04 MKD 110
5.88%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$4.39 COP 14.3K
$8.56 MKD 460
-48.71%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.88 COP 19.1K
$6.33 MKD 340
-7.11%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$8.64 COP 28.1K
$13.78 MKD 740
-37.30%
Apples (1kg)
$2.28 COP 7,425
$1.07 MKD 57.5
113.08%
Banana (1kg)
$1.11 COP 3,603
$1.37 MKD 73.6
-18.98%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.53 COP 4,982
$1.25 MKD 67.0
22.40%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.35 COP 4,410
$1.63 MKD 87.6
-17.18%
Potato (1kg)
$1.13 COP 3,674
$0.95 MKD 50.8
18.95%
Onion (1kg)
$1.13 COP 3,692
$0.91 MKD 48.80
24.18%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.85 COP 2,753
$0.61 MKD 32.52
39.34%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.91 COP 2,975
$0.54 MKD 28.77
68.52%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.34 COP 7,629
$3.07 MKD 165
-23.78%
Wine (Bottle)
$12.37 COP 40.3K
$6.62 MKD 356
86.86%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.20 COP 3,909
$0.96 MKD 51.4
25.00%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.49 COP 8,104
$1.52 MKD 81.6
63.82%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Sveti Nikole
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.84 COP 2,727
$0.64 MKD 34.11
31.25%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$40.57 COP 132.1K
$20.57 MKD 1,104
97.23%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.42 COP 4,623
$1.34 MKD 72.0
5.97%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.92 COP 6,235
$0.50 MKD 26.73
284.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.66 COP 24.9K
$6.69 MKD 359
14.50%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.99 COP 3,223
$1.42 MKD 76.2
-30.28%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.0K COP 58.7M
$31.7K MKD 1.7M
-43.18%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.6K COP 86.7M
$29.5K MKD 1.6M
-9.72%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Sveti Nikole
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$80.8 COP 263.1K
$146 MKD 7,857
-44.79%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.95 COP 32.4K
$17.61 MKD 945
-43.50%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.18 COP 78.7K
$15.28 MKD 820
58.25%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Sveti Nikole
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$25.08 COP 81.6K
$26.21 MKD 1,407
-4.31%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.15 COP 62.3K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$3.98 COP 13.0K
$4.58 MKD 246
-13.10%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Sveti Nikole
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$305 COP 993.4K
$223 MKD 12.0K
36.66%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$6,059 COP 19.7M
$1,208 MKD 64.9K
401.50%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Sveti Nikole
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.1 COP 189.2K
$76.2 MKD 4,088
-23.66%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$32.20 COP 104.8K
$40.34 MKD 2,166
-20.18%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$101 COP 327.9K
$76.0 MKD 4,082
32.47%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$108 COP 350.8K
$113 MKD 6,054
-4.46%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Sveti Nikole
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$477 COP 1.6M
$280 MKD 15.0K
70.13%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$376 COP 1.2M
$193 MKD 10.3K
95.18%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$845 COP 2.7M
$573 MKD 30.7K
47.48%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$730 COP 2.4M
$305 MKD 16.4K
139.47%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,215 COP 10.5M
$1,602 MKD 86.0K
100.78%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,372 COP 4.5M
$1,274 MKD 68.4K
7.71%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Sveti Nikole
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$617 COP 2.0M
$561 MKD 30.1K
9.97%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
13.43
4.54
195.81%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Medellin: July 12, 2026

Last update for Sveti Nikole: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $477 in Medellin versus $280 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 10% 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 $33.00 in Medellin versus $28.00 in Sveti Nikole. Groceries tell a different story – $193 in Medellin vs $195 in Sveti Nikole – so Medellin wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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 16%, 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 $1,327 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 $33.00 in Medellin and $28.00 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 $1,031 in Medellin and $885 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 $885, than in Medellin at $1,031. 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.

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