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 $1,716 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
$8.03 COP 25.2K
$9.38 MKD 495
-14.39%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$48.26 COP 151.7K
$34.67 MKD 1,828
39.20%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.77 COP 30.7K
$5.40 MKD 285
80.93%
Cappuccino
$2.91 COP 9,149
$1.75 MKD 92.1
66.29%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.94 COP 6,110
$1.45 MKD 76.5
33.79%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.52 COP 4,783
$1.01 MKD 53.5
50.50%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.09 COP 9,721
$1.58 MKD 83.3
95.57%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.74 COP 18.1K
$1.86 MKD 98.3
208.60%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Sveti Nikole
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.36 COP 4,287
$1.40 MKD 74.1
-2.86%
White Bread (500g)
$2.39 COP 7,505
$0.56 MKD 29.58
326.79%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.70 COP 5,346
$1.20 MKD 63.3
41.67%
Eggs
$2.87 COP 9,021
$2.55 MKD 135
12.55%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.94 COP 31.2K
$9.66 MKD 509
2.90%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.78 COP 33.9K
$4.64 MKD 245
132.33%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.73 COP 46.3K
$12.40 MKD 654
18.79%
Apples (1kg)
$4.09 COP 12.8K
$1.39 MKD 73.4
194.24%
Banana (1kg)
$1.57 COP 4,940
$1.36 MKD 71.6
15.44%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.13 COP 6,682
$1.35 MKD 71.4
57.78%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.21 COP 6,959
$1.78 MKD 93.8
24.16%
Potato (1kg)
$2.05 COP 6,435
$0.79 MKD 41.50
159.49%
Onion (1kg)
$1.50 COP 4,728
$1.21 MKD 63.9
23.97%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.19 COP 3,740
$0.83 MKD 43.89
43.37%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.16 COP 3,640
$0.41 MKD 21.58
182.93%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.90 COP 12.2K
$3.13 MKD 165
24.60%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.44 COP 45.4K
$6.45 MKD 340
123.88%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.58 COP 4,978
$1.06 MKD 55.8
49.06%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.83 COP 8,889
$1.47 MKD 77.7
92.52%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Sveti Nikole
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.17 COP 3,672
$0.78 MKD 41.20
50.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$77.7 COP 244.3K
$25.00 MKD 1,318
210.92%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.28 COP 4,038
$1.55 MKD 81.8
-17.42%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.09 COP 6,576
$1.06 MKD 56.0
97.17%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.62 COP 27.1K
$3.83 MKD 202
125.07%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.30 COP 4,080
$1.44 MKD 76.1
-9.72%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.7K COP 86.9M
$33.8K MKD 1.8M
-18.27%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$35.5K COP 111.6M
$28.0K MKD 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)
$176 COP 553.4K
$152 MKD 8,017
15.81%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.37 COP 42.0K
$15.96 MKD 841
-16.23%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.89 COP 94.0K
$12.48 MKD 658
139.50%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Sveti Nikole
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$44.76 COP 140.7K
$23.62 MKD 1,245
89.50%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.06 COP 53.6K
$16.78 MKD 885
1.67%
Cinema Ticket
$6.20 COP 19.5K
$5.21 MKD 275
19.00%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Sveti Nikole
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$793 COP 2.5M
$356 MKD 18.8K
122.82%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$9,019 COP 28.4M
$4,864 MKD 256.5K
85.43%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Sveti Nikole
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$85.6 COP 269.1K
$77.0 MKD 4,062
11.12%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$58.5 COP 183.8K
$33.42 MKD 1,762
74.96%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$136 COP 428.4K
$83.6 MKD 4,410
62.96%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$103 COP 324.1K
$88.8 MKD 4,685
16.06%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Sveti Nikole
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,060 COP 3.3M
$312 MKD 16.5K
239.60%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$680 COP 2.1M
$184 MKD 9,690
269.77%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,012 COP 6.3M
$491 MKD 25.9K
309.96%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,169 COP 3.7M
$305 MKD 16.1K
282.70%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,111 COP 12.9M
$1,613 MKD 85.0K
154.95%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,701 COP 5.3M
$1,204 MKD 63.5K
41.31%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Sveti Nikole
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$665 COP 2.1M
$569 MKD 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.

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