Cost of Living Comparison Between Varazdin and Medellin Cost of Living Comparison Between Varazdin and Medellin

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,307 per month in Varazdin vs $1,681 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,880 per month in Varazdin vs $2,445 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,453 per month in Varazdin vs $3,210 in Medellin, rent included.

Varazdin is about 22% cheaper than Medellin, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Varazdin sits 4% below the global median, while Medellin is 23% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Varazdin
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.61 €10.12
$8.02 COP 25.0K
44.76%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$63.9 €55.7
$47.87 COP 149.4K
33.53%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.37 €9.04
$9.89 COP 30.8K
4.85%
Cappuccino
$2.43 €2.12
$3.13 COP 9,767
-22.36%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.53 €2.20
$1.91 COP 5,954
32.46%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.97 €1.72
$1.51 COP 4,712
30.46%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.91 €3.41
$3.12 COP 9,747
25.32%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.41 €2.97
$5.75 COP 17.9K
-40.70%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Varazdin
Medellin
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.22 €1.06
$1.44 COP 4,509
-15.28%
White Bread (500g)
$1.67 €1.45
$2.49 COP 7,759
-32.93%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.56 €2.23
$1.77 COP 5,535
44.63%
Eggs
$3.50 €3.05
$2.96 COP 9,235
18.24%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$5.91 €5.15
$10.07 COP 31.4K
-41.31%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.04 €7.88
$10.12 COP 31.6K
-10.67%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$15.01 €13.08
$14.30 COP 44.6K
4.97%
Apples (1kg)
$1.75 €1.53
$4.14 COP 12.9K
-57.73%
Banana (1kg)
$1.71 €1.49
$1.61 COP 5,019
6.21%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.82 €1.59
$2.25 COP 7,007
-19.11%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.40 €2.09
$2.25 COP 7,028
6.67%
Potato (1kg)
$1.30 €1.13
$2.04 COP 6,375
-36.27%
Onion (1kg)
$1.14 €0.99
$1.54 COP 4,790
-25.97%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.09 €0.95
$1.17 COP 3,651
-6.84%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.24 €1.09
$1.31 COP 4,077
-5.34%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.92 €5.16
$3.90 COP 12.2K
51.79%
Wine (Bottle)
$8.02 €6.99
$14.01 COP 43.7K
-42.76%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.72 €0.63
$1.74 COP 5,439
-58.62%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.20 €1.91
$2.87 COP 8,956
-23.34%
🚌 Getting Around
Varazdin
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.36 €1.18
$1.22 COP 3,792
11.48%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$23.90 €20.83
$80.5 COP 251.1K
-70.30%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$5.69 €4.96
$1.31 COP 4,084
334.35%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.54 €1.34
$2.19 COP 6,825
-29.68%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$28.50 €24.85
$8.71 COP 27.2K
227.21%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.71 €1.49
$1.37 COP 4,260
24.82%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.9K €23.5K
$27.8K COP 86.9M
-3.27%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.5K €21.3K
$35.8K COP 111.6M
-31.60%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Varazdin
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$153 €133
$177 COP 553.2K
-13.86%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$14.65 €12.77
$13.88 COP 43.3K
5.55%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$31.80 €27.72
$29.72 COP 92.8K
7.00%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Varazdin
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$44.63 €38.90
$44.88 COP 140.1K
-0.56%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$13.32 €11.62
$17.12 COP 53.4K
-22.20%
Cinema Ticket
$7.02 €6.12
$6.65 COP 20.7K
5.56%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Varazdin
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$160 €140
$813 COP 2.5M
-80.27%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$13.3K €11.6K
$9,187 COP 28.7M
44.56%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Varazdin
Medellin
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$74.0 €64.5
$89.5 COP 279.3K
-17.37%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.10 €29.73
$59.0 COP 184.0K
-42.17%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$64.8 €56.5
$138 COP 431.2K
-53.11%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$73.6 €64.1
$102 COP 318.7K
-27.95%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Varazdin
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$590 €514
$1,062 COP 3.3M
-44.46%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$445 €388
$663 COP 2.1M
-32.84%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$878 €765
$1,888 COP 5.9M
-53.52%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$481 €419
$1,027 COP 3.2M
-53.15%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,215 €2,803
$4,183 COP 13.1M
-23.14%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,535 €2,210
$1,675 COP 5.2M
51.37%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Varazdin
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,424 €1,241
$678 COP 2.1M
110.15%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.73
10.94
-65.90%

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

Last update for Varazdin: September 13, 2026

Last update for Medellin: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $590 in Varazdin versus $1,062 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 110% higher in Varazdin, 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 $64.0 in Varazdin versus $48.00 in Medellin. Groceries tell a different story – $249 in Varazdin vs $305 in Medellin – so Varazdin 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
Varazdin vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Medellin cheaper than Varazdin?
Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 29%, and the gap shows up most in Clothing & Footwear. 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 $1,961 per month in Varazdin and $2,521 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 Varazdin, 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 Varazdin or in Medellin?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $64.0 in Varazdin and $48.00 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 Varazdin and in Medellin?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,307 in Varazdin and $1,681 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 living in Varazdin or in Medellin?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Varazdin, where all-in costs run around $1,307, than in Medellin at $1,681. In Varazdin it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Varazdin or Medellin more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Varazdin – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Varazdin or Medellin?
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.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Varazdin. 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.

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