Cost of Living Comparison Between Nis and MedellinCost of Living Comparison Between Nis and Medellin
Monthly Cost of Living
😐A single person spends $1,029 per month in Nis vs $1,003 in Medellin, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $1,531 per month in Nis vs $1,573 in Medellin, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $2,033 per month in Nis vs $2,143 in Medellin, rent included.
😐Nis costs about 3% more than Medellin, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both Nis and Medellin are more affordable than the global median – Nis23% lower, Medellin25% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Nis
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.52RSD 765
$5.91COP 18.6K
27.24%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$29.69RSD 3,020
$32.96COP 103.8K
-9.92%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.74RSD 991
$7.43COP 23.4K
31.09%
Cappuccino
$1.98RSD 201
$1.65COP 5,207
20.00%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.83RSD 186
$1.10COP 3,468
66.36%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.24RSD 126
$0.78COP 2,458
58.97%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.53RSD 257
$1.72COP 5,412
47.09%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.01RSD 306
$3.18COP 10.0K
-5.35%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Nis
Medellin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.27RSD 130
$1.10COP 3,474
15.45%
White Bread(500g)
$0.75RSD 76.3
$1.26COP 3,962
-40.48%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.80RSD 183
$1.38COP 4,349
30.43%
Eggs
$2.38RSD 242
$2.18COP 6,858
9.17%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.87RSD 801
$4.49COP 14.1K
75.28%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.88RSD 700
$5.79COP 18.2K
18.83%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.51RSD 1,170
$8.97COP 28.2K
28.32%
Apples(1kg)
$1.18RSD 120
$2.32COP 7,308
-49.14%
Banana(1kg)
$1.80RSD 183
$1.06COP 3,352
69.81%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.51RSD 153
$1.52COP 4,774
-0.66%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.79RSD 182
$1.36COP 4,270
31.62%
Potato(1kg)
$1.07RSD 108
$1.13COP 3,552
-5.31%
Onion(1kg)
$1.08RSD 110
$1.17COP 3,689
-7.69%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.60RSD 60.8
$0.90COP 2,838
-33.33%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.58RSD 58.8
$0.90COP 2,823
-35.56%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.20RSD 427
$2.23COP 7,034
88.34%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.69RSD 579
$12.12COP 38.2K
-53.05%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.75RSD 76.6
$1.19COP 3,743
-36.97%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.06RSD 210
$2.48COP 7,815
-16.94%
🚌 Getting Around
Nis
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.78RSD 79.3
$0.85COP 2,687
-8.24%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$26.17RSD 2,661
$41.62COP 131.0K
-37.12%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.45RSD 148
$1.42COP 4,459
2.11%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.43RSD 43.30
$1.95COP 6,141
-77.95%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.02RSD 714
$7.89COP 24.8K
-11.03%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.77RSD 180
$0.99COP 3,118
78.79%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$31.2KRSD 3.2M
$17.6KCOP 55.4M
77.12%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.9KRSD 2.7M
$26.8KCOP 84.4M
0.44%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Nis
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$141RSD 14.3K
$83.0COP 261.4K
69.49%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$16.79RSD 1,708
$9.70COP 30.5K
73.09%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$22.17RSD 2,255
$23.52COP 74.1K
-5.74%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Nis
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$29.18RSD 2,968
$25.26COP 79.5K
15.52%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.66RSD 1,898
$19.10COP 60.1K
-2.30%
Cinema Ticket
$4.93RSD 501
$3.95COP 12.4K
24.81%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Nis
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$233RSD 23.7K
$316COP 994.2K
-26.35%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,098RSD 518.5K
$5,975COP 18.8M
-14.67%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Nis
Medellin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$90.5RSD 9,208
$60.0COP 188.9K
50.88%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$46.09RSD 4,687
$31.82COP 100.2K
44.85%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$95.6RSD 9,720
$102COP 320.1K
-6.01%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$101RSD 10.3K
$107COP 338.3K
-5.87%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Nis
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$407RSD 41.4K
$475COP 1.5M
-14.29%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$292RSD 29.7K
$374COP 1.2M
-21.88%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$558RSD 56.7K
$849COP 2.7M
-34.32%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$414RSD 42.1K
$719COP 2.3M
-42.45%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,550RSD 259.4K
$3,265COP 10.3M
-21.90%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,885RSD 191.7K
$1,441COP 4.5M
30.86%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Nis
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$903RSD 91.9K
$624COP 2.0M
44.63%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
7.45
13.43
-44.53%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Nis: July 27, 2026
Last update for Medellin: July 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $407 in Nis versus $475 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 45% higher in Nis, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $30.00 in Nis versus $33.00 in Medellin. Groceries tell a different story – $195 in Nis vs $193 in Medellin – 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
Nis vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Medellin cheaper than Nis?
Yes – Nis is pricier by about 3%, 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 $1,543 per month in Nis and $1,504 in Medellin. 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 Medellin, 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 Nis or in Medellin?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $30.00 in Nis and $33.00 in Medellin. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
What are total monthly expenses in Nis and in Medellin?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,029 in Nis and $1,003 in Medellin. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Nis or in Medellin?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Medellin, where all-in costs run around $1,003, than in Nis at $1,029. In Medellin it covers expenses comfortably, while in Nis it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Nis or Medellin more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Medellin – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Nis or Medellin?
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 Medellin. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Nis makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.