🙂A single person spends $1,525 per month in Novo Mesto vs $1,687 in Medellin, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $2,236 per month in Novo Mesto vs $2,535 in Medellin, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $2,947 per month in Novo Mesto vs $3,383 in Medellin, rent included.
🙂Novo Mesto is about 10% cheaper than Medellin, driven mainly by Getting Around.
📊Both Novo Mesto and Medellin sit above the global median – Novo Mesto by 11%, Medellin by 23%.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Novo Mesto
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.33€9.69
$7.89COP 24.2K
43.60%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$35.04€29.97
$44.53COP 136.5K
-21.31%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.27€7.93
$9.29COP 28.5K
-0.22%
Cappuccino
$1.81€1.54
$2.90COP 8,874
-37.59%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.24€1.92
$1.81COP 5,541
23.76%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.65€1.41
$1.55COP 4,741
6.45%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.30€2.82
$3.25COP 9,962
1.54%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.97€2.54
$5.88COP 18.0K
-49.49%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Novo Mesto
Medellin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.37€1.17
$1.38COP 4,230
-0.72%
White Bread(500g)
$1.86€1.59
$2.45COP 7,517
-24.08%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.94€2.52
$1.51COP 4,617
94.70%
Eggs
$4.04€3.46
$2.78COP 8,516
45.32%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.57€11.61
$9.05COP 27.7K
49.94%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.59€8.20
$10.65COP 32.6K
-9.95%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$9.21€7.88
$14.63COP 44.8K
-37.05%
Apples(1kg)
$1.75€1.50
$3.97COP 12.2K
-55.92%
Banana(1kg)
$1.80€1.54
$1.38COP 4,219
30.43%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.00€1.71
$2.30COP 7,056
-13.04%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.40€2.91
$2.02COP 6,185
68.32%
Potato(1kg)
$1.12€0.96
$2.09COP 6,390
-46.41%
Onion(1kg)
$1.58€1.35
$1.63COP 4,996
-3.07%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.24€1.06
$1.08COP 3,313
14.81%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.75€0.64
$1.25COP 3,843
-40.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$5.96€5.09
$4.03COP 12.4K
47.89%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.02€6.01
$13.47COP 41.3K
-47.88%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.48€1.27
$1.60COP 4,904
-7.50%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.88€1.61
$3.00COP 9,189
-37.33%
🚌 Getting Around
Novo Mesto
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.42€1.21
$1.18COP 3,611
20.34%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$31.81€27.21
$79.9COP 244.9K
-60.21%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.74€1.49
$1.61COP 4,920
8.07%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.36€1.16
$2.13COP 6,533
-36.15%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$28.75€24.59
$8.52COP 26.1K
237.44%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.63€1.39
$1.35COP 4,142
20.74%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.0K€25.7K
$28.3KCOP 86.8M
6.03%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.2K€21.6K
$35.7KCOP 109.4M
-29.28%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Novo Mesto
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$300€257
$151COP 463.8K
98.39%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.69€10.00
$13.10COP 40.1K
-10.76%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$39.63€33.90
$32.30COP 99.0K
22.69%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Novo Mesto
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$53.8€46.04
$46.33COP 141.9K
16.19%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$34.68€29.67
$17.26COP 52.9K
100.93%
Cinema Ticket
$8.11€6.94
$6.43COP 19.7K
26.13%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Novo Mesto
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$515€440
$835COP 2.6M
-38.34%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$11.4K€9,775
$8,887COP 27.2M
28.58%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Novo Mesto
Medellin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$91.6€78.3
$89.3COP 273.7K
2.53%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$37.83€32.36
$55.3COP 169.5K
-31.60%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$126€108
$137COP 418.5K
-7.96%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$149€128
$109COP 335.1K
36.56%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Novo Mesto
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$515€441
$952COP 2.9M
-45.90%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$429€367
$668COP 2.0M
-35.82%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$855€732
$2,020COP 6.2M
-57.66%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$750€641
$1,148COP 3.5M
-34.71%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,880€2,464
$3,696COP 11.3M
-22.06%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$3,310€2,831
$1,586COP 4.9M
108.75%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Novo Mesto
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,501€1,284
$625COP 1.9M
139.97%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.3
10.43
-68.36%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Novo Mesto: August 17, 2026
Last update for Medellin: August 17, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $515 in Novo Mesto 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 140% higher in Novo Mesto, 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 Novo Mesto versus $45.00 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $267 vs $297 – making Novo Mesto 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
Novo Mesto vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Medellin cheaper than Novo Mesto?
Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 11%, and the gap shows up most in Getting Around. 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 $2,287 per month in Novo Mesto and $2,530 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 Novo Mesto, 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 Novo Mesto or in Medellin?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $35.00 in Novo Mesto and $45.00 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 Novo Mesto and in Medellin?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,525 in Novo Mesto and $1,687 in Medellin. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Is $2,000 a realistic budget for living in Novo Mesto or in Medellin?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Novo Mesto, where all-in costs run around $1,525, than in Medellin at $1,687. In Novo Mesto it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Novo Mesto or Medellin more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Novo Mesto – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Novo Mesto. 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.
Novo Mesto vs other spots: cost of living compared