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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $950 per month in Sabac vs $1,017 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,425 per month in Sabac vs $1,602 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,900 per month in Sabac vs $2,188 in Medellin, rent included.

Sabac is about 7% cheaper than Medellin, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Sabac and Medellin are more affordable than the global median – Sabac 29% lower, Medellin 24% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$8.89 RSD 899

$5.95 COP 20.8K

49.41%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$26.18 RSD 2,648

$33.33 COP 116.3K

-21.45%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.71 RSD 982

$7.23 COP 25.2K

34.30%

Cappuccino

$1.46 RSD 148

$1.63 COP 5,687

-10.43%

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

$1.77 RSD 179

$1.09 COP 3,821

62.39%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.19 RSD 121

$0.73 COP 2,548

63.01%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.34 RSD 236

$1.74 COP 6,065

34.48%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.09 RSD 211

$3.23 COP 11.3K

-35.29%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.39 RSD 140

$1.05 COP 3,662

32.38%

White Bread (500g)

$0.64 RSD 65.1

$1.29 COP 4,515

-50.39%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.92 RSD 194

$1.32 COP 4,617

45.45%

Eggs

$2.23 RSD 225

$2.27 COP 7,927

-1.76%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.30 RSD 738

$4.35 COP 15.2K

67.82%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.73 RSD 681

$5.88 COP 20.5K

14.46%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.73 RSD 1,085

$8.61 COP 30.0K

24.62%

Apples (1kg)

$1.29 RSD 131

$2.25 COP 7,844

-42.67%

Banana (1kg)

$1.89 RSD 192

$1.07 COP 3,733

76.64%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.71 RSD 173

$1.52 COP 5,322

12.50%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.25 RSD 227

$1.42 COP 4,964

58.45%

Potato (1kg)

$1.14 RSD 116

$1.17 COP 4,084

-2.56%

Onion (1kg)

$1.21 RSD 122

$1.17 COP 4,077

3.42%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.06 RSD 107

$0.89 COP 3,096

19.10%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.49 RSD 49.05

$0.90 COP 3,146

-45.56%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.16 RSD 421

$2.25 COP 7,837

84.89%

Wine (Bottle)

$6.46 RSD 654

$11.04 COP 38.5K

-41.49%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.72 RSD 72.3

$1.14 COP 3,977

-36.84%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.18 RSD 220

$2.38 COP 8,301

-8.40%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.91 RSD 92.3

$0.84 COP 2,916

8.33%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$26.85 RSD 2,715

$41.95 COP 146.4K

-36.00%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.03 RSD 104

$1.41 COP 4,912

-26.95%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.46 RSD 46.67

$1.90 COP 6,634

-75.79%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.04 RSD 509

$7.75 COP 27.0K

-34.97%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.81 RSD 184

$1.01 COP 3,509

79.21%

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

$30.8K RSD 3.1M

$17.6K COP 61.4M

75.22%

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

$27.1K RSD 2.7M

$26.5K COP 92.5M

2.21%

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

$159 RSD 16.0K

$83.7 COP 292.1K

89.45%

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

$19.88 RSD 2,011

$9.45 COP 33.0K

110.37%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.81 RSD 2,509

$24.11 COP 84.1K

2.90%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$23.39 RSD 2,365

$25.31 COP 88.3K

-7.59%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$11.88 RSD 1,201

$19.14 COP 66.8K

-37.93%

Cinema Ticket

$6.81 RSD 689

$4.10 COP 14.3K

66.10%

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

$178 RSD 18.0K

$312 COP 1.1M

-42.86%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,980 RSD 402.5K

$5,993 COP 20.9M

-33.60%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$63.6 RSD 6,431

$58.0 COP 202.6K

9.56%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$54.7 RSD 5,529

$32.56 COP 113.6K

67.91%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$116 RSD 11.7K

$99.6 COP 347.7K

15.99%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$121 RSD 12.2K

$109 COP 378.8K

11.32%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$238 RSD 24.1K

$482 COP 1.7M

-50.59%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$173 RSD 17.5K

$379 COP 1.3M

-54.49%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$349 RSD 35.3K

$837 COP 2.9M

-58.37%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$267 RSD 27.0K

$723 COP 2.5M

-63.05%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,926 RSD 194.8K

$2,840 COP 9.9M

-32.18%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,517 RSD 153.4K

$1,223 COP 4.3M

24.02%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$977 RSD 98.8K

$541 COP 1.9M

80.54%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.43

-40.43%

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

Last update for Sabac: June 7, 2026

Last update for Medellin: June 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $238 in Sabac 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 81% 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 $26.00 in Sabac versus $33.00 in Medellin. Groceries tell a different story – $197 in Sabac vs $190 in Medellin – so Medellin 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

Sabac vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 7%, 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 $1,425 per month in Sabac 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 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 $26.00 in Sabac 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 $950 in Sabac and $1,017 in Medellin. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Sabac, where all-in costs run around $950, than in Medellin at $1,017. 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.