😐A single person spends $1,716 per month in Medellin vs $872 in Trebinje, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,527 per month in Medellin vs $1,384 in Trebinje, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $3,338 per month in Medellin vs $1,897 in Trebinje, rent included.
😐Medellin costs about 97% more than Trebinje, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Medellin sits 25% above the global median, while Trebinje is 37% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Trebinje
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.03COP 25.2K
$9.53BAM 16.02
-15.74%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$48.26COP 151.7K
$32.36BAM 54.4
49.13%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.77COP 30.7K
$11.15BAM 18.75
-12.38%
Cappuccino
$2.91COP 9,149
$1.24BAM 2.09
134.68%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.94COP 6,110
$1.96BAM 3.29
-1.02%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.52COP 4,783
$1.37BAM 2.30
10.95%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.09COP 9,721
$2.38BAM 4.00
29.83%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.74COP 18.1K
$2.31BAM 3.89
148.48%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Trebinje
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.36COP 4,287
$1.17BAM 1.97
16.24%
White Bread(500g)
$2.39COP 7,505
$1.10BAM 1.86
117.27%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.70COP 5,346
$1.64BAM 2.76
3.66%
Eggs
$2.87COP 9,021
$2.51BAM 4.22
14.34%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.94COP 31.2K
$10.00BAM 16.81
-0.60%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$10.78COP 33.9K
$6.90BAM 11.61
56.23%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$14.73COP 46.3K
$11.82BAM 19.86
24.62%
Apples(1kg)
$4.09COP 12.8K
$1.33BAM 2.23
207.52%
Banana(1kg)
$1.57COP 4,940
$1.67BAM 2.80
-5.99%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.13COP 6,682
$1.31BAM 2.19
62.60%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.21COP 6,959
$1.81BAM 3.05
22.10%
Potato(1kg)
$2.05COP 6,435
$1.00BAM 1.69
105.00%
Onion(1kg)
$1.50COP 4,728
$1.30BAM 2.18
15.38%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.19COP 3,740
$0.92BAM 1.55
29.35%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.16COP 3,640
$0.59BAM 0.99
96.61%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.90COP 12.2K
$3.75BAM 6.31
4.00%
Wine(Bottle)
$14.44COP 45.4K
$6.09BAM 10.24
137.11%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.58COP 4,978
$0.66BAM 1.11
139.39%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.83COP 8,889
$1.35BAM 2.27
109.63%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Trebinje
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.17COP 3,672
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$77.7COP 244.3K
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.28COP 4,038
$1.17BAM 1.97
9.40%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.09COP 6,576
$0.58BAM 0.97
260.34%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$8.62COP 27.1K
$18.10BAM 30.43
-52.38%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.30COP 4,080
$1.61BAM 2.70
-19.25%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.7KCOP 86.9M
$31.8KBAM 53.4K
-12.99%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$35.5KCOP 111.6M
$22.3KBAM 37.5K
59.16%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Trebinje
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$176COP 553.4K
$89.0BAM 150
97.81%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.37COP 42.0K
$16.98BAM 28.54
-21.26%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.89COP 94.0K
$27.25BAM 45.81
9.69%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Trebinje
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$44.76COP 140.7K
$33.54BAM 56.4
33.45%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.06COP 53.6K
$14.66BAM 24.65
16.37%
Cinema Ticket
$6.20COP 19.5K
$3.06BAM 5.14
102.61%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Trebinje
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$793COP 2.5M
$161BAM 270
393.14%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$9,019COP 28.4M
$3,765BAM 6,329
139.54%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Trebinje
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$85.6COP 269.1K
$88.0BAM 148
-2.68%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$58.5COP 183.8K
$37.32BAM 62.7
56.67%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$136COP 428.4K
$97.5BAM 164
39.81%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$103COP 324.1K
$102BAM 171
1.08%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Trebinje
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,060COP 3.3M
$302BAM 507
251.29%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$680COP 2.1M
$201BAM 338
237.65%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,012COP 6.3M
$538BAM 905
273.78%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,169COP 3.7M
$369BAM 620
216.83%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,111COP 12.9M
$2,527BAM 4,248
62.70%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,701COP 5.3M
$1,852BAM 3,114
-8.14%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Trebinje
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$665COP 2.1M
$883BAM 1,484
-24.63%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
10.94
4.44
146.40%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Medellin: August 30, 2026
Last update for Trebinje: August 29, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $1,060 in Medellin versus $302 in Trebinje. 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 33% higher in Trebinje, 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 $48.00 in Medellin versus $32.00 in Trebinje. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $303 vs $205 – making Trebinje 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 Trebinje: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Trebinje cheaper than Medellin?
Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 97%, 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 $1,308 in Trebinje. 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 Trebinje, 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 Trebinje?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $48.00 in Medellin and $32.00 in Trebinje. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
How do food prices compare in Medellin and in Trebinje?
Groceries cost about 48% more in Medellin, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Is $1,000 a realistic budget for living in Medellin or in Trebinje?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Trebinje, where all-in costs run around $872, than in Medellin at $1,716. In Trebinje it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Medellin or Trebinje more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Trebinje – 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 Trebinje?
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 Trebinje. 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.