Cost of Living Comparison Between Sabac and Medellin Cost of Living Comparison Between Sabac and Medellin

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $860 per month in Sabac vs $1,687 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,322 per month in Sabac vs $2,535 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,784 per month in Sabac vs $3,383 in Medellin, rent included.

Sabac is about 49% cheaper than Medellin, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Sabac sits 37% below the global median, while Medellin is 23% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$8.48 RSD 850

$7.89 COP 24.2K

7.48%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$28.35 RSD 2,842

$44.53 COP 136.5K

-36.34%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.05 RSD 706

$9.29 COP 28.5K

-24.11%

Cappuccino

$2.01 RSD 201

$2.90 COP 8,874

-30.69%

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

$1.86 RSD 186

$1.81 COP 5,541

2.76%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.44 RSD 144

$1.55 COP 4,741

-7.10%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.62 RSD 262

$3.25 COP 9,962

-19.38%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.80 RSD 281

$5.88 COP 18.0K

-52.38%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.36 RSD 136

$1.38 COP 4,230

-1.45%

White Bread (500g)

$0.64 RSD 64.6

$2.45 COP 7,517

-73.88%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.97 RSD 198

$1.51 COP 4,617

30.46%

Eggs

$2.06 RSD 206

$2.78 COP 8,516

-25.90%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.03 RSD 604

$9.05 COP 27.7K

-33.37%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.75 RSD 676

$10.65 COP 32.6K

-36.62%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.87 RSD 1,189

$14.63 COP 44.8K

-18.87%

Apples (1kg)

$1.28 RSD 129

$3.97 COP 12.2K

-67.76%

Banana (1kg)

$1.89 RSD 189

$1.38 COP 4,219

36.96%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.48 RSD 149

$2.30 COP 7,056

-35.65%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.99 RSD 199

$2.02 COP 6,185

-1.49%

Potato (1kg)

$0.70 RSD 70.4

$2.09 COP 6,390

-66.51%

Onion (1kg)

$0.35 RSD 35.22

$1.63 COP 4,996

-78.53%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.04 RSD 105

$1.08 COP 3,313

-3.70%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.45 RSD 44.66

$1.25 COP 3,843

-64.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.83 RSD 383

$4.03 COP 12.4K

-4.96%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.90 RSD 792

$13.47 COP 41.3K

-41.35%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.67 RSD 66.7

$1.60 COP 4,904

-58.13%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.03 RSD 103

$3.00 COP 9,189

-65.67%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.09 RSD 109

$1.18 COP 3,611

-7.63%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$79.9 COP 244.9K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.45 RSD 146

$1.61 COP 4,920

-9.94%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.00 RSD 100

$2.13 COP 6,533

-53.05%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.57 RSD 558

$8.52 COP 26.1K

-34.62%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.88 RSD 189

$1.35 COP 4,142

39.26%

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

$31.7K RSD 3.2M

$28.3K COP 86.8M

12.01%

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

$26.0K RSD 2.6M

$35.7K COP 109.4M

-27.15%

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

$144 RSD 14.5K

$151 COP 463.8K

-4.56%

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

$26.30 RSD 2,636

$13.10 COP 40.1K

100.76%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$19.89 RSD 1,993

$32.30 COP 99.0K

-38.42%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$29.76 RSD 2,983

$46.33 COP 141.9K

-35.77%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.72 RSD 1,375

$17.26 COP 52.9K

-20.51%

Cinema Ticket

$5.63 RSD 564

$6.43 COP 19.7K

-12.44%

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

$179 RSD 18.0K

$835 COP 2.6M

-78.53%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,985 RSD 399.4K

$8,887 COP 27.2M

-55.16%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$63.9 RSD 6,400

$89.3 COP 273.7K

-28.51%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$69.0 RSD 6,910

$55.3 COP 169.5K

24.66%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$59.6 RSD 5,968

$137 COP 418.5K

-56.40%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$121 RSD 12.1K

$109 COP 335.1K

10.72%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$236 RSD 23.6K

$952 COP 2.9M

-75.24%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$157 RSD 15.7K

$668 COP 2.0M

-76.52%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$354 RSD 35.4K

$2,020 COP 6.2M

-82.50%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$266 RSD 26.6K

$1,148 COP 3.5M

-76.86%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,953 RSD 195.8K

$3,696 COP 11.3M

-47.15%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,564 RSD 156.7K

$1,586 COP 4.9M

-1.37%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$964 RSD 96.7K

$625 COP 1.9M

54.20%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.84

10.43

-53.60%

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

Last update for Sabac: August 18, 2026

Last update for Medellin: August 17, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $236 in Sabac 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 54% higher in Sabac, 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 $28.00 in Sabac versus $45.00 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $191 vs $297 – making Sabac 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

Sabac vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 96%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,291 per month in Sabac 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 Sabac, 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 $28.00 in Sabac and $45.00 in Medellin. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 56% more in Medellin, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Sabac, where all-in costs run around $860, than in Medellin at $1,687. In Sabac it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Sabac – 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 Sabac. 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.