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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,024 per month in Nis vs $1,017 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,524 per month in Nis vs $1,602 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,024 per month in Nis vs $2,188 in Medellin, rent included.

Nis costs about 1% more than Medellin, driven mainly by Eating Out.

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

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Nis
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.62 RSD 771
$5.95 COP 20.8K
28.07%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$29.33 RSD 2,966
$33.33 COP 116.3K
-12.00%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.72 RSD 983
$7.23 COP 25.2K
34.44%
Cappuccino
$2.00 RSD 202
$1.63 COP 5,687
22.70%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.89 RSD 192
$1.09 COP 3,821
73.39%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.27 RSD 129
$0.73 COP 2,548
73.97%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.50 RSD 253
$1.74 COP 6,065
43.68%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.97 RSD 300
$3.23 COP 11.3K
-8.05%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Nis
Medellin
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.34 RSD 136
$1.05 COP 3,662
27.62%
White Bread (500g)
$0.71 RSD 71.5
$1.29 COP 4,515
-44.96%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.85 RSD 187
$1.32 COP 4,617
40.15%
Eggs
$2.48 RSD 251
$2.27 COP 7,927
9.25%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.82 RSD 791
$4.35 COP 15.2K
79.77%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.75 RSD 682
$5.88 COP 20.5K
14.80%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.83 RSD 1,196
$8.61 COP 30.0K
37.40%
Apples (1kg)
$1.15 RSD 116
$2.25 COP 7,844
-48.89%
Banana (1kg)
$1.73 RSD 175
$1.07 COP 3,733
61.68%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.50 RSD 152
$1.52 COP 5,322
-1.32%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.78 RSD 180
$1.42 COP 4,964
25.35%
Potato (1kg)
$1.08 RSD 109
$1.17 COP 4,084
-7.69%
Onion (1kg)
$1.10 RSD 111
$1.17 COP 4,077
-5.98%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.55 RSD 55.8
$0.89 COP 3,096
-38.20%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.61 RSD 61.8
$0.90 COP 3,146
-32.22%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.19 RSD 424
$2.25 COP 7,837
86.22%
Wine (Bottle)
$6.53 RSD 660
$11.04 COP 38.5K
-40.85%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.71 RSD 71.7
$1.14 COP 3,977
-37.72%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.04 RSD 206
$2.38 COP 8,301
-14.29%
🚌 Getting Around
Nis
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.75 RSD 75.9
$0.84 COP 2,916
-10.71%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$26.24 RSD 2,654
$41.95 COP 146.4K
-37.45%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.46 RSD 148
$1.41 COP 4,912
3.55%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.42 RSD 42.88
$1.90 COP 6,634
-77.89%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$6.88 RSD 696
$7.75 COP 27.0K
-11.23%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.76 RSD 178
$1.01 COP 3,509
74.26%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$31.0K RSD 3.1M
$17.6K COP 61.4M
76.45%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.4K RSD 2.8M
$26.5K COP 92.5M
3.27%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Nis
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$142 RSD 14.3K
$83.7 COP 292.1K
69.24%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$16.69 RSD 1,688
$9.45 COP 33.0K
76.61%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$22.77 RSD 2,303
$24.11 COP 84.1K
-5.56%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Nis
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$29.32 RSD 2,966
$25.31 COP 88.3K
15.84%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.33 RSD 1,955
$19.14 COP 66.8K
0.99%
Cinema Ticket
$5.07 RSD 513
$4.10 COP 14.3K
23.66%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Nis
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$234 RSD 23.7K
$312 COP 1.1M
-24.97%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,145 RSD 520.3K
$5,993 COP 20.9M
-14.15%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Nis
Medellin
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$88.8 RSD 8,978
$58.0 COP 202.6K
52.96%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$47.06 RSD 4,759
$32.56 COP 113.6K
44.53%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$93.2 RSD 9,422
$99.6 COP 347.7K
-6.47%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$103 RSD 10.4K
$109 COP 378.8K
-5.17%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Nis
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$409 RSD 41.4K
$482 COP 1.7M
-15.21%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$284 RSD 28.7K
$379 COP 1.3M
-25.13%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$554 RSD 56.0K
$837 COP 2.9M
-33.83%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$406 RSD 41.1K
$723 COP 2.5M
-43.79%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,597 RSD 262.7K
$2,840 COP 9.9M
-8.54%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,910 RSD 193.2K
$1,223 COP 4.3M
56.19%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Nis
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$890 RSD 90.0K
$541 COP 1.9M
64.58%
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: June 7, 2026

Last update for Medellin: June 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $409 in Nis versus $482 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 65% 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 $29.00 in Nis versus $33.00 in Medellin. Groceries tell a different story – $197 in Nis vs $190 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 1%, 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 $1,535 per month in Nis and $1,525 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 Medellin?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $29.00 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 vs Medellin?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,024 in Nis and $1,017 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 Nis or Medellin?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Medellin, where all-in costs run around $1,017, than in Nis at $1,024. 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.

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