😐A single person spends $1,513 per month in Novo Mesto vs $1,017 in Medellin, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,202 per month in Novo Mesto vs $1,602 in Medellin, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $2,892 per month in Novo Mesto vs $2,188 in Medellin, rent included.
😐Novo Mesto costs about 49% more than Medellin, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Novo Mesto sits 13% above the global median, while Medellin is 24% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Novo Mesto
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.47€9.88
$5.95COP 20.8K
92.77%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$35.22€30.34
$33.33COP 116.3K
5.67%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.09€7.83
$7.23COP 25.2K
25.73%
Cappuccino
$1.80€1.55
$1.63COP 5,687
10.43%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.35€2.02
$1.09COP 3,821
115.60%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.61€1.38
$0.73COP 2,548
120.55%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.29€2.83
$1.74COP 6,065
89.08%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.82€2.43
$3.23COP 11.3K
-12.69%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Novo Mesto
Medellin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.37€1.18
$1.05COP 3,662
30.48%
White Bread(500g)
$1.61€1.39
$1.29COP 4,515
24.81%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.90€2.50
$1.32COP 4,617
119.70%
Eggs
$3.58€3.09
$2.27COP 7,927
57.71%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.73€11.83
$4.35COP 15.2K
215.63%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.80€7.58
$5.88COP 20.5K
49.66%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$9.48€8.17
$8.61COP 30.0K
10.10%
Apples(1kg)
$1.69€1.46
$2.25COP 7,844
-24.89%
Banana(1kg)
$1.82€1.57
$1.07COP 3,733
70.09%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.08€1.80
$1.52COP 5,322
36.84%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.40€2.93
$1.42COP 4,964
139.44%
Potato(1kg)
$1.14€0.99
$1.17COP 4,084
-2.56%
Onion(1kg)
$1.52€1.31
$1.17COP 4,077
29.91%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.30€1.12
$0.89COP 3,096
46.07%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.74€0.64
$0.90COP 3,146
-17.78%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$5.86€5.05
$2.25COP 7,837
160.44%
Wine(Bottle)
$6.90€5.95
$11.04COP 38.5K
-37.50%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.40€1.20
$1.14COP 3,977
22.81%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.80€1.55
$2.38COP 8,301
-24.37%
🚌 Getting Around
Novo Mesto
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.72€1.49
$0.84COP 2,916
104.76%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$32.08€27.64
$41.95COP 146.4K
-23.53%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.70€1.47
$1.41COP 4,912
20.57%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.26€1.09
$1.90COP 6,634
-33.68%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$28.48€24.54
$7.75COP 27.0K
267.48%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.60€1.38
$1.01COP 3,509
58.42%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.5K€22.8K
$17.6KCOP 61.4M
50.67%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$29.0K€24.9K
$26.5KCOP 92.5M
9.27%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Novo Mesto
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$306€263
$83.7COP 292.1K
265.09%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.75€10.12
$9.45COP 33.0K
24.34%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$33.13€28.55
$24.11COP 84.1K
37.41%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Novo Mesto
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$29.13€25.10
$25.31COP 88.3K
15.09%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$34.25€29.51
$19.14COP 66.8K
78.94%
Cinema Ticket
$7.86€6.78
$4.10COP 14.3K
91.71%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Novo Mesto
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$524€452
$312COP 1.1M
68.04%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$8,530€7,349
$5,993COP 20.9M
42.33%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Novo Mesto
Medellin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$91.0€78.4
$58.0COP 202.6K
56.77%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.28€30.40
$32.56COP 113.6K
8.35%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$119€103
$99.6COP 347.7K
19.62%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$149€128
$109COP 378.8K
37.35%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Novo Mesto
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$526€453
$482COP 1.7M
9.05%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$433€373
$379COP 1.3M
14.05%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$882€760
$837COP 2.9M
5.37%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$757€652
$723COP 2.5M
4.63%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,875€2,477
$2,840COP 9.9M
1.23%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$3,364€2,898
$1,223COP 4.3M
175.02%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Novo Mesto
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,447€1,247
$541COP 1.9M
167.62%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.3
13.43
-75.43%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Novo Mesto: June 7, 2026
Last update for Medellin: June 8, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $526 in Novo Mesto 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 168% higher in Novo Mesto, 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 $35.00 in Novo Mesto versus $33.00 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $259 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
Novo Mesto vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Medellin cheaper than Novo Mesto?
Yes – Novo Mesto is pricier by about 49%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. 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 $2,270 per month in Novo Mesto 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 Novo Mesto or Medellin?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $35.00 in Novo Mesto 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 Novo Mesto vs Medellin?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,513 in Novo Mesto 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 Novo Mesto or Medellin?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Medellin, where all-in costs run around $1,017, than in Novo Mesto at $1,513. In Medellin it covers expenses comfortably, while in Novo Mesto it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Novo Mesto 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 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, Novo Mesto makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.
Novo Mesto vs other spots: cost of living compared