😐A single person spends $1,687 per month in Medellin vs $1,037 in Tetovo, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,535 per month in Medellin vs $1,562 in Tetovo, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $3,383 per month in Medellin vs $2,086 in Tetovo, rent included.
😐Medellin costs about 63% more than Tetovo, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Medellin sits 23% above the global median, while Tetovo is 24% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Tetovo
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.89COP 24.2K
$7.36MKD 386
7.20%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$44.53COP 136.5K
$27.93MKD 1,464
59.43%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.29COP 28.5K
$5.79MKD 304
60.45%
Cappuccino
$2.90COP 8,874
$1.59MKD 83.5
82.39%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.81COP 5,541
$1.57MKD 82.1
15.29%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.55COP 4,741
$1.00MKD 52.5
55.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.25COP 9,962
$2.30MKD 120
41.30%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.88COP 18.0K
$2.21MKD 116
166.06%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Tetovo
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.38COP 4,230
$1.32MKD 69.3
4.55%
White Bread(500g)
$2.45COP 7,517
$0.69MKD 36.28
255.07%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.51COP 4,617
$1.34MKD 70.3
12.69%
Eggs
$2.78COP 8,516
$2.19MKD 115
26.94%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.05COP 27.7K
$7.55MKD 396
19.87%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$10.65COP 32.6K
$5.36MKD 281
98.69%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$14.63COP 44.8K
$10.39MKD 545
40.81%
Apples(1kg)
$3.97COP 12.2K
$1.43MKD 74.9
177.62%
Banana(1kg)
$1.38COP 4,219
$1.43MKD 74.7
-3.50%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.30COP 7,056
$0.99MKD 51.8
132.32%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.02COP 6,185
$2.07MKD 108
-2.42%
Potato(1kg)
$2.09COP 6,390
$0.89MKD 46.81
134.83%
Onion(1kg)
$1.63COP 4,996
$0.76MKD 39.89
114.47%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.08COP 3,313
$0.59MKD 30.96
83.05%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.25COP 3,843
$0.56MKD 29.36
123.21%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.03COP 12.4K
$3.09MKD 162
30.42%
Wine(Bottle)
$13.47COP 41.3K
$4.80MKD 252
180.63%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.60COP 4,904
$1.10MKD 57.5
45.45%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.00COP 9,189
$1.54MKD 80.9
94.81%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Tetovo
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.18COP 3,611
$0.40MKD 20.90
195.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$79.9COP 244.9K
$11.43MKD 599
599.39%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.61COP 4,920
$1.10MKD 57.8
46.36%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.13COP 6,533
$0.58MKD 30.50
267.24%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$8.52COP 26.1K
$7.89MKD 414
7.98%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.35COP 4,142
$1.50MKD 78.6
-10.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.3KCOP 86.8M
$37.2KMKD 2.0M
-23.90%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$35.7KCOP 109.4M
$28.3KMKD 1.5M
26.19%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Tetovo
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$151COP 463.8K
$158MKD 8,304
-4.42%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.10COP 40.1K
$18.79MKD 985
-30.28%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$32.30COP 99.0K
$19.85MKD 1,041
62.72%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Tetovo
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$46.33COP 141.9K
$72.5MKD 3,800
-36.09%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.26COP 52.9K
$18.80MKD 986
-8.19%
Cinema Ticket
$6.43COP 19.7K
$5.67MKD 297
13.40%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Tetovo
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$835COP 2.6M
$227MKD 11.9K
268.07%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$8,887COP 27.2M
$2,300MKD 120.6K
286.34%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Tetovo
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$89.3COP 273.7K
$67.2MKD 3,526
32.85%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$55.3COP 169.5K
$39.89MKD 2,091
38.66%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$137COP 418.5K
$107MKD 5,592
28.05%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$109COP 335.1K
$114MKD 5,992
-4.30%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Tetovo
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$952COP 2.9M
$365MKD 19.1K
160.90%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$668COP 2.0M
$284MKD 14.9K
135.32%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,020COP 6.2M
$614MKD 32.2K
229.10%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,148COP 3.5M
$507MKD 26.6K
126.55%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,696COP 11.3M
$1,246MKD 65.3K
196.54%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,586COP 4.9M
$1,140MKD 59.8K
39.06%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Tetovo
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$625COP 1.9M
$908MKD 47.6K
-31.11%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
10.43
3.75
178.13%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Medellin: August 17, 2026
Last update for Tetovo: August 16, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $952 in Medellin versus $365 in Tetovo. 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 45% higher in Tetovo, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $45.00 in Medellin versus $28.00 in Tetovo. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $297 vs $176 – making Tetovo 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 Tetovo: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Tetovo cheaper than Medellin?
Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 63%, 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 $2,530 per month in Medellin and $1,555 in Tetovo. 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 Tetovo, 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 Tetovo?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $45.00 in Medellin and $28.00 in Tetovo. 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 Tetovo?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,687 in Medellin and $1,037 in Tetovo. 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 Tetovo?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Tetovo, where all-in costs run around $1,037, than in Medellin at $1,687. In Tetovo it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Medellin or Tetovo more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Tetovo – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Tetovo. 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.