πA single person spends $1,013 per month in Medellin vs $887 in Sveti Nikole, rent included.
πA couple spends around $1,602 per month in Medellin vs $1,323 in Sveti Nikole, rent included.
πA family of three spends $2,192 per month in Medellin vs $1,759 in Sveti Nikole, rent included.
πMedellin costs about 14% more than Sveti Nikole, driven mainly by Getting Around.
πBoth Medellin and Sveti Nikole are more affordable than the global median β Medellin24% lower, Sveti Nikole34% lower.
Currency
π½ Eating Out
Medellin
Sveti Nikole
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.99COPΒ 21.4K
$5.74MKDΒ 302
4.36%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.86COPΒ 117.4K
$28.63MKDΒ 1,509
14.77%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.09COPΒ 25.3K
$5.21MKDΒ 275
36.08%
Cappuccino
$1.71COPΒ 6,115
$1.73MKDΒ 91.4
-1.16%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.10COPΒ 3,924
$1.67MKDΒ 88.3
-34.13%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.78COPΒ 2,781
$1.26MKDΒ 66.5
-38.10%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.68COPΒ 5,997
$2.20MKDΒ 116
-23.64%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.07COPΒ 11.0K
$2.69MKDΒ 142
14.13%
π Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Sveti Nikole
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.09COPΒ 3,906
$1.29MKDΒ 68.1
-15.50%
White Bread(500g)
$1.26COPΒ 4,508
$0.71MKDΒ 37.59
77.46%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.38COPΒ 4,922
$1.72MKDΒ 90.7
-19.77%
Eggs
$2.19COPΒ 7,827
$2.08MKDΒ 110
5.29%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$4.40COPΒ 15.7K
$8.30MKDΒ 438
-46.99%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.63COPΒ 20.1K
$6.47MKDΒ 341
-12.98%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.89COPΒ 31.8K
$13.33MKDΒ 703
-33.31%
Apples(1kg)
$2.34COPΒ 8,349
$1.07MKDΒ 56.5
118.69%
Banana(1kg)
$1.06COPΒ 3,777
$1.45MKDΒ 76.2
-26.90%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.50COPΒ 5,374
$1.27MKDΒ 66.7
18.11%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.38COPΒ 4,924
$1.58MKDΒ 83.1
-12.66%
Potato(1kg)
$1.15COPΒ 4,111
$0.94MKDΒ 49.70
22.34%
Onion(1kg)
$1.16COPΒ 4,155
$0.99MKDΒ 52.3
17.17%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.89COPΒ 3,182
$0.62MKDΒ 32.51
43.55%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.84COPΒ 2,997
$0.53MKDΒ 27.75
58.49%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.28COPΒ 8,145
$3.06MKDΒ 161
-25.49%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.64COPΒ 38.0K
$6.48MKDΒ 341
64.20%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.20COPΒ 4,284
$1.01MKDΒ 53.3
18.81%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.47COPΒ 8,824
$1.46MKDΒ 76.8
69.18%
π Getting Around
Medellin
Sveti Nikole
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.86COPΒ 3,056
$0.65MKDΒ 34.20
32.31%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$41.40COPΒ 147.9K
$20.07MKDΒ 1,058
106.28%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.47COPΒ 5,264
$1.29MKDΒ 68.2
13.95%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.96COPΒ 7,009
$0.49MKDΒ 25.87
300.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.74COPΒ 27.6K
$6.44MKDΒ 339
20.19%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.95COPΒ 3,409
$1.43MKDΒ 75.5
-33.57%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.1KCOPΒ 64.7M
$32.1KMKDΒ 1.7M
-43.50%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.5KCOPΒ 94.6M
$30.0KMKDΒ 1.6M
-11.59%
π§Ύ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Sveti Nikole
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$82.3COPΒ 293.7K
$145MKDΒ 7,619
-43.11%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.50COPΒ 33.9K
$17.35MKDΒ 915
-45.24%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.23COPΒ 86.5K
$15.43MKDΒ 813
57.03%
π Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Sveti Nikole
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$25.89COPΒ 92.4K
$26.73MKDΒ 1,409
-3.14%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.00COPΒ 67.9K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$3.93COPΒ 14.0K
$4.60MKDΒ 243
-14.57%
π§Έ Childcare & Education
Medellin
Sveti Nikole
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$309COPΒ 1.1M
$215MKDΒ 11.4K
43.65%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,965COPΒ 21.3M
$1,226MKDΒ 64.6K
386.59%
ππ Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Sveti Nikole
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.7COPΒ 209.5K
$76.1MKDΒ 4,009
-22.89%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$32.35COPΒ 115.5K
$39.12MKDΒ 2,061
-17.31%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$103COPΒ 366.4K
$74.4MKDΒ 3,922
37.87%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$108COPΒ 387.2K
$111MKDΒ 5,860
-2.48%
π Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Sveti Nikole
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$476COPΒ 1.7M
$281MKDΒ 14.8K
69.30%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$379COPΒ 1.4M
$198MKDΒ 10.4K
91.14%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$838COPΒ 3.0M
$563MKDΒ 29.7K
48.96%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$724COPΒ 2.6M
$309MKDΒ 16.3K
134.30%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,791COPΒ 10.0M
$1,644MKDΒ 86.6K
69.76%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,211COPΒ 4.3M
$1,276MKDΒ 67.3K
-5.09%
π΅ Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Sveti Nikole
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$512COPΒ 1.8M
$568MKDΒ 29.9K
-9.93%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
13.43
4.54
195.81%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input β minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Medellin: May 31, 2026
Last update for Sveti Nikole: May 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
π A central one-bedroom costs $476 in Medellin versus $281 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.
π°Salaries run about 11% higher in Sveti Nikole, which reinforces the cost advantage β you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.
πA mid-range dinner for two costs $33.00 in Medellin versus $29.00 in Sveti Nikole. Groceries tell a different story β $188 in Medellin vs $194 in Sveti Nikole β 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 β Medellin is pricier by about 14%, 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 $1,519 per month in Medellin and $1,331 in Sveti Nikole. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled β 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 Sveti Nikole?
What are total monthly expenses in Medellin vs Sveti Nikole?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,013 in Medellin and $887 in Sveti Nikole. The difference isn't just one category β it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Is $1,000 a realistic budget for Medellin or Sveti Nikole?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Sveti Nikole, where all-in costs run around $887, than in Medellin at $1,013. 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 β 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 β 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.