😐A single person spends $1,031 per month in Medellin vs $861 in Trebinje, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $1,599 per month in Medellin vs $1,399 in Trebinje, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $2,167 per month in Medellin vs $1,938 in Trebinje, rent included.
😐Medellin costs about 20% more than Trebinje, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both Medellin and Trebinje are more affordable than the global median – Medellin23% lower, Trebinje36% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Trebinje
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.16COP 20.1K
$8.31BAM 14.22
-25.87%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.60COP 106.1K
$28.10BAM 48.13
16.01%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.34COP 23.9K
$8.97BAM 15.37
-18.17%
Cappuccino
$1.72COP 5,599
$1.21BAM 2.08
42.15%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.05COP 3,420
$1.74BAM 2.99
-39.66%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.77COP 2,515
$1.19BAM 2.04
-35.29%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.69COP 5,487
$2.11BAM 3.61
-19.91%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.17COP 10.3K
$1.82BAM 3.12
74.18%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Trebinje
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.05COP 3,423
$1.16BAM 1.99
-9.48%
White Bread(500g)
$1.30COP 4,236
$0.85BAM 1.45
52.94%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.40COP 4,544
$1.62BAM 2.78
-13.58%
Eggs
$2.16COP 7,046
$2.61BAM 4.48
-17.24%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$4.39COP 14.3K
$9.32BAM 15.96
-52.90%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.88COP 19.1K
$6.00BAM 10.27
-2.00%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.64COP 28.1K
$12.05BAM 20.64
-28.30%
Apples(1kg)
$2.28COP 7,425
$1.34BAM 2.29
70.15%
Banana(1kg)
$1.11COP 3,603
$1.58BAM 2.70
-29.75%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.53COP 4,982
$1.16BAM 1.98
31.90%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.35COP 4,410
$1.59BAM 2.72
-15.09%
Potato(1kg)
$1.13COP 3,674
$0.95BAM 1.62
18.95%
Onion(1kg)
$1.13COP 3,692
$1.30BAM 2.23
-13.08%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.85COP 2,753
$0.80BAM 1.36
6.25%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.91COP 2,975
$0.66BAM 1.14
37.88%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.34COP 7,629
$3.69BAM 6.32
-36.59%
Wine(Bottle)
$12.37COP 40.3K
$5.72BAM 9.80
116.26%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.20COP 3,909
$0.71BAM 1.21
69.01%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.49COP 8,104
$1.09BAM 1.86
128.44%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Trebinje
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.84COP 2,727
$1.78BAM 3.06
-52.81%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$40.57COP 132.1K
$36.00BAM 61.7
12.69%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.42COP 4,623
$1.15BAM 1.96
23.48%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.92COP 6,235
$0.53BAM 0.91
262.26%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.66COP 24.9K
$8.79BAM 15.06
-12.86%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.99COP 3,223
$1.52BAM 2.60
-34.87%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.0KCOP 58.7M
$29.1KBAM 49.9K
-38.14%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.6KCOP 86.7M
$27.2KBAM 46.6K
-2.23%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Trebinje
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$80.8COP 263.1K
$84.4BAM 144
-4.21%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.95COP 32.4K
$19.17BAM 32.83
-48.10%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.18COP 78.7K
$23.79BAM 40.74
1.64%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Trebinje
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$25.08COP 81.6K
$34.37BAM 58.9
-27.03%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.15COP 62.3K
$10.95BAM 18.76
74.89%
Cinema Ticket
$3.98COP 13.0K
$2.99BAM 5.12
33.11%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Trebinje
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$305COP 993.4K
$116BAM 199
162.48%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$6,059COP 19.7M
$3,725BAM 6,379
62.67%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Trebinje
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.1COP 189.2K
$75.9BAM 130
-23.43%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$32.20COP 104.8K
$36.43BAM 62.4
-11.61%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$101COP 327.9K
$90.8BAM 156
10.91%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$108COP 350.8K
$119BAM 203
-9.08%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Trebinje
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$477COP 1.6M
$296BAM 508
60.76%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$376COP 1.2M
$178BAM 304
111.90%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$845COP 2.7M
$538BAM 922
56.90%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$730COP 2.4M
$391BAM 669
86.89%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,215COP 10.5M
$2,569BAM 4,400
25.15%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,372COP 4.5M
$1,801BAM 3,084
-23.80%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Trebinje
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$617COP 2.0M
$862BAM 1,476
-28.42%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
13.43
5.02
167.53%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Medellin: July 12, 2026
Last update for Trebinje: July 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $477 in Medellin versus $296 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 40% 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 $33.00 in Medellin versus $28.00 in Trebinje. Groceries tell a different story – $193 in Medellin vs $194 in Trebinje – 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 Trebinje: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Trebinje cheaper than Medellin?
Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 20%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. 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 $1,291 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 $33.00 in Medellin and $28.00 in Trebinje. 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 Trebinje?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,031 in Medellin and $861 in Trebinje. 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 Trebinje?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Trebinje, where all-in costs run around $861, than in Medellin at $1,031. 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.