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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $837 per month in Sabac vs $1,589 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,274 per month in Sabac vs $2,364 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,711 per month in Sabac vs $3,139 in Medellin, rent included.

Sabac is about 47% cheaper than Medellin, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Sabac sits 38% below the global median, while Medellin is 19% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$8.13 RSD 847

$8.01 COP 25.9K

1.50%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$27.23 RSD 2,837

$46.55 COP 150.8K

-41.50%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.71 RSD 699

$9.43 COP 30.6K

-28.84%

Cappuccino

$1.92 RSD 200

$2.91 COP 9,432

-34.02%

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

$1.83 RSD 191

$1.75 COP 5,678

4.57%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.36 RSD 142

$1.32 COP 4,289

3.03%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.61 RSD 272

$3.13 COP 10.1K

-16.61%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.59 RSD 270

$5.55 COP 18.0K

-53.33%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.27 RSD 133

$1.41 COP 4,570

-9.93%

White Bread (500g)

$0.62 RSD 64.1

$2.44 COP 7,907

-74.59%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.85 RSD 192

$1.63 COP 5,278

13.50%

Eggs

$1.92 RSD 200

$2.82 COP 9,140

-31.91%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.75 RSD 599

$9.69 COP 31.4K

-40.66%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.21 RSD 648

$9.32 COP 30.2K

-33.37%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.54 RSD 1,203

$13.46 COP 43.6K

-14.26%

Apples (1kg)

$1.18 RSD 123

$4.00 COP 13.0K

-70.50%

Banana (1kg)

$1.87 RSD 195

$1.48 COP 4,797

26.35%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.39 RSD 145

$2.12 COP 6,881

-34.43%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.96 RSD 205

$2.25 COP 7,298

-12.89%

Potato (1kg)

$0.64 RSD 67.1

$1.91 COP 6,193

-66.49%

Onion (1kg)

$0.34 RSD 35.54

$1.62 COP 5,247

-79.01%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.02 RSD 106

$1.15 COP 3,719

-11.30%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.41 RSD 42.56

$1.26 COP 4,088

-67.46%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.73 RSD 389

$3.82 COP 12.4K

-2.36%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.42 RSD 773

$13.11 COP 42.5K

-43.40%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.64 RSD 66.5

$1.60 COP 5,168

-60.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.99 RSD 103

$2.26 COP 7,308

-56.19%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.94 RSD 97.8

$1.17 COP 3,793

-19.66%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$75.0 COP 243.0K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 RSD 147

$1.27 COP 4,123

11.02%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.98 RSD 102

$2.05 COP 6,640

-52.20%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.22 RSD 544

$8.20 COP 26.6K

-36.34%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.82 RSD 189

$1.27 COP 4,113

43.31%

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

$30.8K RSD 3.2M

$26.8K COP 86.7M

14.99%

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

$26.0K RSD 2.7M

$34.4K COP 111.5M

-24.32%

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

$136 RSD 14.2K

$162 COP 525.5K

-16.16%

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

$25.95 RSD 2,704

$13.12 COP 42.5K

97.79%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$19.27 RSD 2,008

$28.09 COP 91.0K

-31.40%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$29.50 RSD 3,074

$44.33 COP 143.6K

-33.45%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$11.61 RSD 1,210

$16.33 COP 52.9K

-28.90%

Cinema Ticket

$5.49 RSD 572

$6.09 COP 19.7K

-9.85%

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

$173 RSD 18.0K

$764 COP 2.5M

-77.39%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,890 RSD 405.3K

$8,904 COP 28.8M

-56.31%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$61.2 RSD 6,374

$85.0 COP 275.3K

-28.01%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$66.8 RSD 6,964

$57.5 COP 186.2K

16.26%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$56.5 RSD 5,884

$132 COP 426.9K

-57.14%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$117 RSD 12.2K

$95.8 COP 310.2K

21.81%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$232 RSD 24.2K

$1,028 COP 3.3M

-77.45%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$149 RSD 15.5K

$604 COP 2.0M

-75.37%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$337 RSD 35.1K

$1,802 COP 5.8M

-81.31%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$256 RSD 26.6K

$993 COP 3.2M

-74.25%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,907 RSD 198.7K

$3,921 COP 12.7M

-51.37%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,519 RSD 158.3K

$1,639 COP 5.3M

-7.29%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$935 RSD 97.4K

$626 COP 2.0M

49.35%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.84

10.94

-55.76%

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

Last update for Sabac: October 6, 2026

Last update for Medellin: October 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $232 in Sabac versus $1,028 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 49% 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 $27.00 in Sabac versus $47.00 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $181 vs $288 – 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 90%, 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 $1,255 per month in Sabac and $2,384 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 $27.00 in Sabac and $47.00 in Medellin. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 59% 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 $837, than in Medellin at $1,589. 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.