Cost of Living Comparison Between Nis and Medellin Cost of Living Comparison Between Nis and Medellin

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,046 per month in Nis vs $1,681 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,534 per month in Nis vs $2,445 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,022 per month in Nis vs $3,210 in Medellin, rent included.

Nis is about 38% cheaper than Medellin, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Nis sits 24% below the global median, while Medellin is 23% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.72 RSD 783

$8.02 COP 25.0K

-3.74%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$34.65 RSD 3,512

$47.87 COP 149.4K

-27.62%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.88 RSD 1,001

$9.89 COP 30.8K

-0.10%

Cappuccino

$2.01 RSD 204

$3.13 COP 9,767

-35.78%

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

$2.47 RSD 250

$1.91 COP 5,954

29.32%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.81 RSD 184

$1.51 COP 4,712

19.87%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.85 RSD 391

$3.12 COP 9,747

23.40%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.49 RSD 455

$5.75 COP 17.9K

-21.91%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.18 RSD 119

$1.44 COP 4,509

-18.06%

White Bread (500g)

$0.71 RSD 71.7

$2.49 COP 7,759

-71.49%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.69 RSD 171

$1.77 COP 5,535

-4.52%

Eggs

$2.31 RSD 234

$2.96 COP 9,235

-21.96%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.58 RSD 768

$10.07 COP 31.4K

-24.73%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.95 RSD 603

$10.12 COP 31.6K

-41.21%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.79 RSD 1,094

$14.30 COP 44.6K

-24.55%

Apples (1kg)

$1.11 RSD 112

$4.14 COP 12.9K

-73.19%

Banana (1kg)

$1.69 RSD 171

$1.61 COP 5,019

4.97%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.49 RSD 151

$2.25 COP 7,007

-33.78%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.04 RSD 207

$2.25 COP 7,028

-9.33%

Potato (1kg)

$0.84 RSD 84.9

$2.04 COP 6,375

-58.82%

Onion (1kg)

$0.78 RSD 79.2

$1.54 COP 4,790

-49.35%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.70 RSD 71.1

$1.17 COP 3,651

-40.17%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.58 RSD 59.2

$1.31 COP 4,077

-55.73%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.59 RSD 465

$3.90 COP 12.2K

17.69%

Wine (Bottle)

$5.58 RSD 565

$14.01 COP 43.7K

-60.17%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.72 RSD 73.1

$1.74 COP 5,439

-58.62%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.27 RSD 129

$2.87 COP 8,956

-55.75%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.22 COP 3,792

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$80.5 COP 251.1K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.89 RSD 191

$1.31 COP 4,084

44.27%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.65 RSD 66.3

$2.19 COP 6,825

-70.32%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.47 RSD 858

$8.71 COP 27.2K

-2.76%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.90 RSD 192

$1.37 COP 4,260

38.69%

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

$32.1K RSD 3.3M

$27.8K COP 86.9M

15.22%

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

$24.8K RSD 2.5M

$35.8K COP 111.6M

-30.66%

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

$159 RSD 16.1K

$177 COP 553.2K

-10.47%

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

$19.82 RSD 2,008

$13.88 COP 43.3K

42.80%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$23.75 RSD 2,407

$29.72 COP 92.8K

-20.09%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$31.60 RSD 3,202

$44.88 COP 140.1K

-29.59%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.01 RSD 1,622

$17.12 COP 53.4K

-6.48%

Cinema Ticket

$5.03 RSD 509

$6.65 COP 20.7K

-24.36%

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

$258 RSD 26.1K

$813 COP 2.5M

-68.27%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,164 RSD 523.3K

$9,187 COP 28.7M

-43.79%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$92.3 RSD 9,358

$89.5 COP 279.3K

3.18%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$39.12 RSD 3,965

$59.0 COP 184.0K

-33.66%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$104 RSD 10.5K

$138 COP 431.2K

-24.78%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$112 RSD 11.3K

$102 COP 318.7K

9.43%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$402 RSD 40.7K

$1,062 COP 3.3M

-62.14%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$291 RSD 29.5K

$663 COP 2.1M

-56.12%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$597 RSD 60.5K

$1,888 COP 5.9M

-68.40%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$414 RSD 42.0K

$1,027 COP 3.2M

-59.70%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,641 RSD 267.7K

$4,183 COP 13.1M

-36.85%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,886 RSD 191.2K

$1,675 COP 5.2M

12.65%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$946 RSD 95.9K

$678 COP 2.1M

39.61%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.11

10.94

-53.29%

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

Last update for Nis: September 14, 2026

Last update for Medellin: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $402 in Nis versus $1,062 in Medellin. 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 Nis, 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 $35.00 in Nis versus $48.00 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $183 vs $305 – making Nis 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

Nis vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 61%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,569 per month in Nis and $2,521 in Medellin. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Nis, 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 $35.00 in Nis and $48.00 in Medellin. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 67% more in Medellin, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Nis, where all-in costs run around $1,046, than in Medellin at $1,681. In Nis it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Nis – 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 Nis. 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.