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 $1,486 per month in Novi Sad vs $1,687 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,237 per month in Novi Sad vs $2,535 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,987 per month in Novi Sad vs $3,383 in Medellin, rent included.

Novi Sad is about 12% cheaper than Medellin, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Novi Sad and Medellin sit above the global median – Novi Sad by 8%, Medellin by 23%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.95 RSD 1,197

$7.89 COP 24.2K

51.46%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$52.3 RSD 5,244

$44.53 COP 136.5K

17.49%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.64 RSD 1,267

$9.29 COP 28.5K

36.06%

Cappuccino

$2.76 RSD 276

$2.90 COP 8,874

-4.83%

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

$2.44 RSD 244

$1.81 COP 5,541

34.81%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.95 RSD 195

$1.55 COP 4,741

25.81%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.97 RSD 297

$3.25 COP 9,962

-8.62%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.83 RSD 383

$5.88 COP 18.0K

-34.86%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.46 RSD 147

$1.38 COP 4,230

5.80%

White Bread (500g)

$1.02 RSD 103

$2.45 COP 7,517

-58.37%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.94 RSD 294

$1.51 COP 4,617

94.70%

Eggs

$2.66 RSD 266

$2.78 COP 8,516

-4.32%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.75 RSD 1,378

$9.05 COP 27.7K

51.93%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.41 RSD 743

$10.65 COP 32.6K

-30.42%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.77 RSD 1,481

$14.63 COP 44.8K

0.96%

Apples (1kg)

$1.70 RSD 170

$3.97 COP 12.2K

-57.18%

Banana (1kg)

$1.91 RSD 192

$1.38 COP 4,219

38.41%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.71 RSD 171

$2.30 COP 7,056

-25.65%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.62 RSD 263

$2.02 COP 6,185

29.70%

Potato (1kg)

$1.06 RSD 106

$2.09 COP 6,390

-49.28%

Onion (1kg)

$0.66 RSD 66.4

$1.63 COP 4,996

-59.51%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.98 RSD 98.6

$1.08 COP 3,313

-9.26%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.72 RSD 72.5

$1.25 COP 3,843

-42.40%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.75 RSD 476

$4.03 COP 12.4K

17.87%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.01 RSD 803

$13.47 COP 41.3K

-40.53%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.93 RSD 93.0

$1.60 COP 4,904

-41.88%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.37 RSD 238

$3.00 COP 9,189

-21.00%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.97 RSD 96.9

$1.18 COP 3,611

-17.80%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$25.61 RSD 2,567

$79.9 COP 244.9K

-67.96%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.34 RSD 234

$1.61 COP 4,920

45.34%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.89 RSD 88.8

$2.13 COP 6,533

-58.22%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$10.80 RSD 1,083

$8.52 COP 26.1K

26.76%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.90 RSD 190

$1.35 COP 4,142

40.74%

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

$31.8K RSD 3.2M

$28.3K COP 86.8M

12.26%

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

$26.6K RSD 2.7M

$35.7K COP 109.4M

-25.51%

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

$240 RSD 24.1K

$151 COP 463.8K

58.63%

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

$21.43 RSD 2,147

$13.10 COP 40.1K

63.59%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$34.93 RSD 3,501

$32.30 COP 99.0K

8.14%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$38.11 RSD 3,819

$46.33 COP 141.9K

-17.74%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$11.40 RSD 1,142

$17.26 COP 52.9K

-33.95%

Cinema Ticket

$7.74 RSD 776

$6.43 COP 19.7K

20.37%

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

$382 RSD 38.3K

$835 COP 2.6M

-54.26%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,841 RSD 785.8K

$8,887 COP 27.2M

-11.77%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$123 RSD 12.3K

$89.3 COP 273.7K

37.86%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$46.15 RSD 4,625

$55.3 COP 169.5K

-16.56%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$138 RSD 13.8K

$137 COP 418.5K

0.72%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$129 RSD 12.9K

$109 COP 335.1K

18.07%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$521 RSD 52.3K

$952 COP 2.9M

-45.24%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$420 RSD 42.1K

$668 COP 2.0M

-37.14%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,000 RSD 100.3K

$2,020 COP 6.2M

-50.48%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$776 RSD 77.8K

$1,148 COP 3.5M

-32.40%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,777 RSD 378.6K

$3,696 COP 11.3M

2.21%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,710 RSD 271.6K

$1,586 COP 4.9M

70.94%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,217 RSD 121.9K

$625 COP 1.9M

94.51%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.23

10.43

-49.86%

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

Last update for Novi Sad: August 15, 2026

Last update for Medellin: August 17, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $521 in Novi Sad versus $952 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 95% higher in Novi Sad, 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 $52.0 in Novi Sad versus $45.00 in Medellin. Groceries tell a different story – $252 in Novi Sad vs $297 in Medellin – so Novi Sad 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

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

Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 13%, and the gap shows up most in Getting Around. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,229 per month in Novi Sad and $2,530 in Medellin. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Novi Sad, 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 $52.0 in Novi Sad and $45.00 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 $1,486 in Novi Sad and $1,687 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 Novi Sad, where all-in costs run around $1,486, than in Medellin at $1,687. In Novi Sad it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Novi Sad – 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 Novi Sad. 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.