Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Tetovo Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Tetovo

Monthly Cost of Living

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
$7.89 COP 24.2K
$7.36 MKD 386
7.20%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$44.53 COP 136.5K
$27.93 MKD 1,464
59.43%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.29 COP 28.5K
$5.79 MKD 304
60.45%
Cappuccino
$2.90 COP 8,874
$1.59 MKD 83.5
82.39%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.81 COP 5,541
$1.57 MKD 82.1
15.29%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.55 COP 4,741
$1.00 MKD 52.5
55.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.25 COP 9,962
$2.30 MKD 120
41.30%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.88 COP 18.0K
$2.21 MKD 116
166.06%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Tetovo
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.38 COP 4,230
$1.32 MKD 69.3
4.55%
White Bread (500g)
$2.45 COP 7,517
$0.69 MKD 36.28
255.07%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.51 COP 4,617
$1.34 MKD 70.3
12.69%
Eggs
$2.78 COP 8,516
$2.19 MKD 115
26.94%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.05 COP 27.7K
$7.55 MKD 396
19.87%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.65 COP 32.6K
$5.36 MKD 281
98.69%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.63 COP 44.8K
$10.39 MKD 545
40.81%
Apples (1kg)
$3.97 COP 12.2K
$1.43 MKD 74.9
177.62%
Banana (1kg)
$1.38 COP 4,219
$1.43 MKD 74.7
-3.50%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.30 COP 7,056
$0.99 MKD 51.8
132.32%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.02 COP 6,185
$2.07 MKD 108
-2.42%
Potato (1kg)
$2.09 COP 6,390
$0.89 MKD 46.81
134.83%
Onion (1kg)
$1.63 COP 4,996
$0.76 MKD 39.89
114.47%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.08 COP 3,313
$0.59 MKD 30.96
83.05%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.25 COP 3,843
$0.56 MKD 29.36
123.21%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.03 COP 12.4K
$3.09 MKD 162
30.42%
Wine (Bottle)
$13.47 COP 41.3K
$4.80 MKD 252
180.63%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.60 COP 4,904
$1.10 MKD 57.5
45.45%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.00 COP 9,189
$1.54 MKD 80.9
94.81%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Tetovo
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.18 COP 3,611
$0.40 MKD 20.90
195.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$79.9 COP 244.9K
$11.43 MKD 599
599.39%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.61 COP 4,920
$1.10 MKD 57.8
46.36%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.13 COP 6,533
$0.58 MKD 30.50
267.24%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.52 COP 26.1K
$7.89 MKD 414
7.98%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.35 COP 4,142
$1.50 MKD 78.6
-10.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.3K COP 86.8M
$37.2K MKD 2.0M
-23.90%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$35.7K COP 109.4M
$28.3K MKD 1.5M
26.19%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Tetovo
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$151 COP 463.8K
$158 MKD 8,304
-4.42%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.10 COP 40.1K
$18.79 MKD 985
-30.28%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$32.30 COP 99.0K
$19.85 MKD 1,041
62.72%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Tetovo
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$46.33 COP 141.9K
$72.5 MKD 3,800
-36.09%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.26 COP 52.9K
$18.80 MKD 986
-8.19%
Cinema Ticket
$6.43 COP 19.7K
$5.67 MKD 297
13.40%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Tetovo
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$835 COP 2.6M
$227 MKD 11.9K
268.07%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$8,887 COP 27.2M
$2,300 MKD 120.6K
286.34%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Tetovo
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$89.3 COP 273.7K
$67.2 MKD 3,526
32.85%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$55.3 COP 169.5K
$39.89 MKD 2,091
38.66%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$137 COP 418.5K
$107 MKD 5,592
28.05%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$109 COP 335.1K
$114 MKD 5,992
-4.30%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Tetovo
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$952 COP 2.9M
$365 MKD 19.1K
160.90%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$668 COP 2.0M
$284 MKD 14.9K
135.32%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,020 COP 6.2M
$614 MKD 32.2K
229.10%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,148 COP 3.5M
$507 MKD 26.6K
126.55%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,696 COP 11.3M
$1,246 MKD 65.3K
196.54%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,586 COP 4.9M
$1,140 MKD 59.8K
39.06%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Tetovo
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$625 COP 1.9M
$908 MKD 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.

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