🙂A single person spends $1,037 per month in Tetovo vs $1,687 in Medellin, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $1,562 per month in Tetovo vs $2,535 in Medellin, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $2,086 per month in Tetovo vs $3,383 in Medellin, rent included.
🙂Tetovo is about 39% cheaper than Medellin, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Tetovo sits 24% below the global median, while Medellin is 23% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Tetovo
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.36MKD 386
$7.89COP 24.2K
-6.72%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$27.93MKD 1,464
$44.53COP 136.5K
-37.28%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.79MKD 304
$9.29COP 28.5K
-37.67%
Cappuccino
$1.59MKD 83.5
$2.90COP 8,874
-45.17%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.57MKD 82.1
$1.81COP 5,541
-13.26%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.00MKD 52.5
$1.55COP 4,741
-35.48%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.30MKD 120
$3.25COP 9,962
-29.23%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.21MKD 116
$5.88COP 18.0K
-62.41%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Tetovo
Medellin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.32MKD 69.3
$1.38COP 4,230
-4.35%
White Bread(500g)
$0.69MKD 36.28
$2.45COP 7,517
-71.84%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.34MKD 70.3
$1.51COP 4,617
-11.26%
Eggs
$2.19MKD 115
$2.78COP 8,516
-21.22%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.55MKD 396
$9.05COP 27.7K
-16.57%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.36MKD 281
$10.65COP 32.6K
-49.67%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.39MKD 545
$14.63COP 44.8K
-28.98%
Apples(1kg)
$1.43MKD 74.9
$3.97COP 12.2K
-63.98%
Banana(1kg)
$1.43MKD 74.7
$1.38COP 4,219
3.62%
Oranges(1kg)
$0.99MKD 51.8
$2.30COP 7,056
-56.96%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.07MKD 108
$2.02COP 6,185
2.48%
Potato(1kg)
$0.89MKD 46.81
$2.09COP 6,390
-57.42%
Onion(1kg)
$0.76MKD 39.89
$1.63COP 4,996
-53.37%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.59MKD 30.96
$1.08COP 3,313
-45.37%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.56MKD 29.36
$1.25COP 3,843
-55.20%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.09MKD 162
$4.03COP 12.4K
-23.33%
Wine(Bottle)
$4.80MKD 252
$13.47COP 41.3K
-64.37%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.10MKD 57.5
$1.60COP 4,904
-31.25%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.54MKD 80.9
$3.00COP 9,189
-48.67%
🚌 Getting Around
Tetovo
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.40MKD 20.90
$1.18COP 3,611
-66.10%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$11.43MKD 599
$79.9COP 244.9K
-85.70%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.10MKD 57.8
$1.61COP 4,920
-31.68%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.58MKD 30.50
$2.13COP 6,533
-72.77%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.89MKD 414
$8.52COP 26.1K
-7.39%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.50MKD 78.6
$1.35COP 4,142
11.11%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$37.2KMKD 2.0M
$28.3KCOP 86.8M
31.40%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$28.3KMKD 1.5M
$35.7KCOP 109.4M
-20.75%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tetovo
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$158MKD 8,304
$151COP 463.8K
4.62%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$18.79MKD 985
$13.10COP 40.1K
43.44%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$19.85MKD 1,041
$32.30COP 99.0K
-38.54%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Tetovo
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$72.5MKD 3,800
$46.33COP 141.9K
56.46%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.80MKD 986
$17.26COP 52.9K
8.92%
Cinema Ticket
$5.67MKD 297
$6.43COP 19.7K
-11.82%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tetovo
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$227MKD 11.9K
$835COP 2.6M
-72.83%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$2,300MKD 120.6K
$8,887COP 27.2M
-74.12%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Tetovo
Medellin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$67.2MKD 3,526
$89.3COP 273.7K
-24.73%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.89MKD 2,091
$55.3COP 169.5K
-27.88%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$107MKD 5,592
$137COP 418.5K
-21.91%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$114MKD 5,992
$109COP 335.1K
4.50%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tetovo
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$365MKD 19.1K
$952COP 2.9M
-61.67%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$284MKD 14.9K
$668COP 2.0M
-57.50%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$614MKD 32.2K
$2,020COP 6.2M
-69.61%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$507MKD 26.6K
$1,148COP 3.5M
-55.86%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,246MKD 65.3K
$3,696COP 11.3M
-66.28%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,140MKD 59.8K
$1,586COP 4.9M
-28.09%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Tetovo
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$908MKD 47.6K
$625COP 1.9M
45.16%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.75
10.43
-64.05%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Tetovo: August 16, 2026
Last update for Medellin: August 17, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $365 in Tetovo 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 45% higher in Tetovo, 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 Tetovo versus $45.00 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $176 vs $297 – making Tetovo 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
Tetovo vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Medellin cheaper than Tetovo?
Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 63%, 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 $1,555 per month in Tetovo 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 Tetovo, 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 Tetovo or in Medellin?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $28.00 in Tetovo 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 Tetovo and in Medellin?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,037 in Tetovo and $1,687 in Medellin. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Is $1,000 a realistic budget for living in Tetovo or in Medellin?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Tetovo, where all-in costs run around $1,037, than in Medellin at $1,687. In Tetovo it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Tetovo or Medellin more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Tetovo – 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 Tetovo. 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.