Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Veles Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Veles

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,013 per month in Medellin vs $770 in Veles, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,602 per month in Medellin vs $1,144 in Veles, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,192 per month in Medellin vs $1,517 in Veles, rent included.

Medellin costs about 31% more than Veles, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Medellin and Veles are more affordable than the global median – Medellin 24% lower, Veles 43% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.99 COP 21.4K

$5.80 MKD 306

3.28%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.86 COP 117.4K

$18.89 MKD 996

73.95%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.09 COP 25.3K

$5.12 MKD 270

38.48%

Cappuccino

$1.71 COP 6,115

$1.59 MKD 83.6

7.55%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.10 COP 3,924

$1.32 MKD 69.3

-16.67%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.78 COP 2,781

$0.84 MKD 44.50

-7.14%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.68 COP 5,997

$1.47 MKD 77.7

14.29%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.07 COP 11.0K

$2.65 MKD 139

15.85%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.09 COP 3,906

$1.05 MKD 55.2

3.81%

White Bread (500g)

$1.26 COP 4,508

$0.55 MKD 28.91

129.09%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.38 COP 4,922

$1.49 MKD 78.3

-7.38%

Eggs

$2.19 COP 7,827

$2.09 MKD 110

4.78%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.40 COP 15.7K

$3.10 MKD 163

41.94%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.63 COP 20.1K

$4.05 MKD 214

39.01%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.89 COP 31.8K

$13.42 MKD 707

-33.76%

Apples (1kg)

$2.34 COP 8,349

$1.07 MKD 56.1

118.69%

Banana (1kg)

$1.06 COP 3,777

$1.40 MKD 73.7

-24.29%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.50 COP 5,374

$1.25 MKD 65.9

20.00%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.38 COP 4,924

$1.59 MKD 83.8

-13.21%

Potato (1kg)

$1.15 COP 4,111

$0.99 MKD 52.0

16.16%

Onion (1kg)

$1.16 COP 4,155

$1.40 MKD 73.8

-17.14%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.89 COP 3,182

$0.57 MKD 30.27

56.14%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.84 COP 2,997

$0.53 MKD 27.78

58.49%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.28 COP 8,145

$3.03 MKD 160

-24.75%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.64 COP 38.0K

$6.48 MKD 342

64.20%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.20 COP 4,284

$1.02 MKD 53.6

17.65%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.47 COP 8,824

$1.86 MKD 98.1

32.80%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.86 COP 3,056

$0.67 MKD 35.52

28.36%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.40 COP 147.9K

$50.1 MKD 2,638

-17.30%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.47 COP 5,264

$1.10 MKD 58.0

33.64%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.96 COP 7,009

$0.49 MKD 25.71

300.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.74 COP 27.6K

$6.51 MKD 343

18.89%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.95 COP 3,409

$1.43 MKD 75.6

-33.57%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$18.1K COP 64.7M

$27.2K MKD 1.4M

-33.41%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$26.5K COP 94.6M

$24.9K MKD 1.3M

6.54%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$82.3 COP 293.7K

$116 MKD 6,111

-29.07%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$9.50 COP 33.9K

$17.27 MKD 910

-44.99%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.23 COP 86.5K

$12.28 MKD 647

97.31%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.89 COP 92.4K

$25.78 MKD 1,359

0.43%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.00 COP 67.9K

$1.86 MKD 98.2

921.51%

Cinema Ticket

$3.93 COP 14.0K

$3.36 MKD 177

16.96%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$309 COP 1.1M

$218 MKD 11.5K

41.69%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,965 COP 21.3M

$1,216 MKD 64.1K

390.75%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.7 COP 209.5K

$22.63 MKD 1,193

159.21%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$32.35 COP 115.5K

$19.03 MKD 1,003

69.99%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$103 COP 366.4K

$75.3 MKD 3,968

36.29%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$108 COP 387.2K

$113 MKD 5,981

-4.46%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$476 COP 1.7M

$220 MKD 11.6K

116.69%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$379 COP 1.4M

$175 MKD 9,198

117.03%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$838 COP 3.0M

$293 MKD 15.4K

186.08%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$724 COP 2.6M

$238 MKD 12.5K

204.56%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,791 COP 10.0M

$1,239 MKD 65.3K

125.16%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,211 COP 4.3M

$952 MKD 50.2K

27.19%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$512 COP 1.8M

$606 MKD 31.9K

-15.49%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.43

7.1

89.15%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Medellin: May 31, 2026

Last update for Veles: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $476 in Medellin versus $220 in Veles. 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 18% higher in Veles, 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 $19.00 in Veles. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $188 vs $163 – making Veles 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 Veles: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 31%, and the gap shows up most in Clothing & Footwear. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,519 per month in Medellin and $1,156 in Veles. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Veles, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $33.00 in Medellin and $19.00 in Veles. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,013 in Medellin and $770 in Veles. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Veles, where all-in costs run around $770, than in Medellin at $1,013. In Veles it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Veles – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

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.

If budget matters most, go with Veles. 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.