😐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 – Medellin23% lower, Sveti Nikole34% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Sveti Nikole
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.16COP 20.1K
$5.66MKD 304
8.83%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.60COP 106.1K
$27.68MKD 1,486
17.77%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.34COP 23.9K
$5.13MKD 275
43.08%
Cappuccino
$1.72COP 5,599
$1.71MKD 91.9
0.58%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.05COP 3,420
$1.61MKD 86.4
-34.78%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.77COP 2,515
$1.23MKD 66.3
-37.40%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.69COP 5,487
$2.32MKD 124
-27.16%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.17COP 10.3K
$2.74MKD 147
15.69%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Sveti Nikole
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.05COP 3,423
$1.25MKD 66.8
-16.00%
White Bread(500g)
$1.30COP 4,236
$0.73MKD 39.40
78.08%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.40COP 4,544
$1.69MKD 90.8
-17.16%
Eggs
$2.16COP 7,046
$2.04MKD 110
5.88%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$4.39COP 14.3K
$8.56MKD 460
-48.71%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.88COP 19.1K
$6.33MKD 340
-7.11%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.64COP 28.1K
$13.78MKD 740
-37.30%
Apples(1kg)
$2.28COP 7,425
$1.07MKD 57.5
113.08%
Banana(1kg)
$1.11COP 3,603
$1.37MKD 73.6
-18.98%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.53COP 4,982
$1.25MKD 67.0
22.40%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.35COP 4,410
$1.63MKD 87.6
-17.18%
Potato(1kg)
$1.13COP 3,674
$0.95MKD 50.8
18.95%
Onion(1kg)
$1.13COP 3,692
$0.91MKD 48.80
24.18%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.85COP 2,753
$0.61MKD 32.52
39.34%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.91COP 2,975
$0.54MKD 28.77
68.52%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.34COP 7,629
$3.07MKD 165
-23.78%
Wine(Bottle)
$12.37COP 40.3K
$6.62MKD 356
86.86%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.20COP 3,909
$0.96MKD 51.4
25.00%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.49COP 8,104
$1.52MKD 81.6
63.82%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Sveti Nikole
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.84COP 2,727
$0.64MKD 34.11
31.25%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$40.57COP 132.1K
$20.57MKD 1,104
97.23%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.42COP 4,623
$1.34MKD 72.0
5.97%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.92COP 6,235
$0.50MKD 26.73
284.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.66COP 24.9K
$6.69MKD 359
14.50%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.99COP 3,223
$1.42MKD 76.2
-30.28%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.0KCOP 58.7M
$31.7KMKD 1.7M
-43.18%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.6KCOP 86.7M
$29.5KMKD 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)
$80.8COP 263.1K
$146MKD 7,857
-44.79%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.95COP 32.4K
$17.61MKD 945
-43.50%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.18COP 78.7K
$15.28MKD 820
58.25%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Sveti Nikole
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$25.08COP 81.6K
$26.21MKD 1,407
-4.31%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.15COP 62.3K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$3.98COP 13.0K
$4.58MKD 246
-13.10%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Sveti Nikole
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$305COP 993.4K
$223MKD 12.0K
36.66%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$6,059COP 19.7M
$1,208MKD 64.9K
401.50%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Sveti Nikole
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.1COP 189.2K
$76.2MKD 4,088
-23.66%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$32.20COP 104.8K
$40.34MKD 2,166
-20.18%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$101COP 327.9K
$76.0MKD 4,082
32.47%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$108COP 350.8K
$113MKD 6,054
-4.46%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Sveti Nikole
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$477COP 1.6M
$280MKD 15.0K
70.13%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$376COP 1.2M
$193MKD 10.3K
95.18%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$845COP 2.7M
$573MKD 30.7K
47.48%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$730COP 2.4M
$305MKD 16.4K
139.47%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,215COP 10.5M
$1,602MKD 86.0K
100.78%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,372COP 4.5M
$1,274MKD 68.4K
7.71%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Sveti Nikole
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$617COP 2.0M
$561MKD 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.