Cost of Living Comparison Between Novi Sad and Medellin Cost of Living Comparison Between Novi Sad and Medellin

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,405 per month in Novi Sad vs $1,017 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,094 per month in Novi Sad vs $1,602 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,782 per month in Novi Sad vs $2,188 in Medellin, rent included.

Novi Sad costs about 38% more than Medellin, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Novi Sad sits 5% above the global median, while Medellin is 24% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$9.59 RSD 970

$5.95 COP 20.8K

61.18%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$48.50 RSD 4,905

$33.33 COP 116.3K

45.51%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.97 RSD 1,109

$7.23 COP 25.2K

51.73%

Cappuccino

$2.26 RSD 229

$1.63 COP 5,687

38.65%

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

$2.13 RSD 215

$1.09 COP 3,821

95.41%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.71 RSD 173

$0.73 COP 2,548

134.25%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.88 RSD 291

$1.74 COP 6,065

65.52%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.64 RSD 368

$3.23 COP 11.3K

12.69%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.56 RSD 158

$1.05 COP 3,662

48.57%

White Bread (500g)

$0.99 RSD 100

$1.29 COP 4,515

-23.26%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.81 RSD 284

$1.32 COP 4,617

112.88%

Eggs

$2.56 RSD 259

$2.27 COP 7,927

12.78%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.92 RSD 1,205

$4.35 COP 15.2K

174.02%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.79 RSD 687

$5.88 COP 20.5K

15.48%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.37 RSD 1,251

$8.61 COP 30.0K

43.67%

Apples (1kg)

$1.24 RSD 126

$2.25 COP 7,844

-44.89%

Banana (1kg)

$1.92 RSD 194

$1.07 COP 3,733

79.44%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.63 RSD 165

$1.52 COP 5,322

7.24%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.47 RSD 250

$1.42 COP 4,964

73.94%

Potato (1kg)

$0.99 RSD 101

$1.17 COP 4,084

-15.38%

Onion (1kg)

$0.92 RSD 93.3

$1.17 COP 4,077

-21.37%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.76 RSD 77.2

$0.89 COP 3,096

-14.61%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.68 RSD 69.0

$0.90 COP 3,146

-24.44%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.46 RSD 451

$2.25 COP 7,837

98.22%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.79 RSD 788

$11.04 COP 38.5K

-29.44%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.84 RSD 84.9

$1.14 COP 3,977

-26.32%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.15 RSD 218

$2.38 COP 8,301

-9.66%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.01 RSD 102

$0.84 COP 2,916

20.24%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$24.83 RSD 2,511

$41.95 COP 146.4K

-40.81%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.92 RSD 194

$1.41 COP 4,912

36.17%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.65 RSD 65.7

$1.90 COP 6,634

-65.79%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$9.76 RSD 987

$7.75 COP 27.0K

25.94%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.82 RSD 184

$1.01 COP 3,509

80.20%

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

$31.0K RSD 3.1M

$17.6K COP 61.4M

76.54%

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

$28.6K RSD 2.9M

$26.5K COP 92.5M

7.85%

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

$207 RSD 20.9K

$83.7 COP 292.1K

147.12%

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

$19.65 RSD 1,987

$9.45 COP 33.0K

107.94%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$35.46 RSD 3,586

$24.11 COP 84.1K

47.08%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$36.41 RSD 3,683

$25.31 COP 88.3K

43.86%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.99 RSD 1,415

$19.14 COP 66.8K

-26.91%

Cinema Ticket

$5.99 RSD 606

$4.10 COP 14.3K

46.10%

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

$346 RSD 35.0K

$312 COP 1.1M

11.03%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,231 RSD 731.2K

$5,993 COP 20.9M

20.65%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$107 RSD 10.9K

$58.0 COP 202.6K

84.92%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$46.50 RSD 4,702

$32.56 COP 113.6K

42.81%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$122 RSD 12.3K

$99.6 COP 347.7K

22.52%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$137 RSD 13.9K

$109 COP 378.8K

26.21%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$562 RSD 56.8K

$482 COP 1.7M

16.53%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$460 RSD 46.6K

$379 COP 1.3M

21.31%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,085 RSD 109.7K

$837 COP 2.9M

29.52%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$788 RSD 79.7K

$723 COP 2.5M

9.03%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,691 RSD 373.2K

$2,840 COP 9.9M

29.96%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,697 RSD 272.7K

$1,223 COP 4.3M

120.47%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,046 RSD 105.8K

$541 COP 1.9M

93.34%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

7.31

13.43

-45.57%

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

Last update for Novi Sad: June 8, 2026

Last update for Medellin: June 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $562 in Novi Sad 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 93% higher in Novi Sad, 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 $49.00 in Novi Sad versus $33.00 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $231 vs $190 – making Medellin 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

Novi Sad vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Novi Sad is pricier by about 38%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,108 per month in Novi Sad and $1,525 in Medellin. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $49.00 in Novi Sad and $33.00 in Medellin. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,405 in Novi Sad and $1,017 in Medellin. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Medellin, where all-in costs run around $1,017, than in Novi Sad at $1,405. In Medellin it covers expenses comfortably, while in Novi Sad it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

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.

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 Medellin. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Novi Sad makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.