😐A single person spends $1,214 per month in Zabljak vs $1,017 in Medellin, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $1,829 per month in Zabljak vs $1,602 in Medellin, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $2,443 per month in Zabljak vs $2,188 in Medellin, rent included.
😐Zabljak costs about 19% more than Medellin, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both Zabljak and Medellin are more affordable than the global median – Zabljak10% lower, Medellin24% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Zabljak
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.22€7.12
$5.95COP 21.2K
38.15%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.17€27.88
$33.33COP 118.9K
-3.48%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$6.96€6.04
$7.23COP 25.8K
-3.73%
Cappuccino
$1.71€1.48
$1.63COP 5,811
4.91%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.19€1.90
$1.09COP 3,904
100.92%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.43€1.24
$0.73COP 2,604
95.89%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.23€2.80
$1.74COP 6,197
85.63%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.70€3.21
$3.23COP 11.5K
14.55%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Zabljak
Medellin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.35€1.17
$1.05COP 3,742
28.57%
White Bread(500g)
$0.71€0.62
$1.29COP 4,614
-44.96%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.36€1.18
$1.32COP 4,718
3.03%
Eggs
$3.12€2.71
$2.27COP 8,101
37.44%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.66€6.64
$4.35COP 15.5K
76.09%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.55€6.54
$5.88COP 21.0K
28.40%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.94€10.35
$8.61COP 30.7K
38.68%
Apples(1kg)
$1.25€1.09
$2.25COP 8,015
-44.44%
Banana(1kg)
$1.79€1.56
$1.07COP 3,814
67.29%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.66€1.44
$1.52COP 5,438
9.21%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.47€1.27
$1.42COP 5,073
3.52%
Potato(1kg)
$0.67€0.58
$1.17COP 4,173
-42.74%
Onion(1kg)
$0.67€0.58
$1.17COP 4,166
-42.74%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.88€0.77
$0.89COP 3,163
-1.12%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.18€1.02
$0.90COP 3,215
31.11%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.01€3.47
$2.25COP 8,008
78.22%
Wine(Bottle)
$4.71€4.08
$11.04COP 39.4K
-57.34%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.25€1.08
$1.14COP 4,063
9.65%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.80€1.56
$2.38COP 8,483
-24.37%
🚌 Getting Around
Zabljak
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.48€1.28
$0.84COP 2,979
76.19%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$38.28€33.18
$41.95COP 149.6K
-8.75%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.14€0.99
$1.41COP 5,019
-19.15%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.63€0.55
$1.90COP 6,779
-66.84%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$17.44€15.12
$7.75COP 27.6K
125.03%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.80€1.56
$1.01COP 3,586
78.22%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.9K€25.9K
$17.6KCOP 62.7M
69.88%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.5K€22.9K
$26.5KCOP 94.5M
-0.11%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Zabljak
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$117€101
$83.7COP 298.4K
39.50%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$18.12€15.71
$9.45COP 33.7K
91.75%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$23.03€19.96
$24.11COP 86.0K
-4.48%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Zabljak
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$44.98€38.98
$25.31COP 90.3K
77.72%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$14.15€12.26
$19.14COP 68.3K
-26.07%
Cinema Ticket
$5.88€5.10
$4.10COP 14.6K
43.41%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Zabljak
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$422€366
$312COP 1.1M
35.19%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$10.1K€8,778
$5,993COP 21.4M
69.00%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Zabljak
Medellin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$23.59€20.45
$58.0COP 207.0K
-59.36%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$28.99€25.12
$32.56COP 116.1K
-10.96%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$58.9€51.1
$99.6COP 355.3K
-40.85%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$70.7€61.3
$109COP 387.1K
-34.86%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Zabljak
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$718€622
$482COP 1.7M
48.78%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$534€463
$379COP 1.4M
40.78%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,282€1,111
$837COP 3.0M
53.07%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$910€789
$723COP 2.6M
25.84%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,779€3,276
$2,840COP 10.1M
33.09%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,581€2,237
$1,223COP 4.4M
111.02%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Zabljak
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$829€719
$541COP 1.9M
53.32%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.93
13.43
-55.85%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Zabljak: June 7, 2026
Last update for Medellin: June 8, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $718 in Zabljak 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 53% higher in Zabljak, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $32.00 in Zabljak versus $33.00 in Medellin. Groceries tell a different story – $206 in Zabljak 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
Zabljak vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Medellin cheaper than Zabljak?
Yes – Zabljak is pricier by about 19%, 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 $1,821 per month in Zabljak and $1,525 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 Medellin, 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 Zabljak or Medellin?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $32.00 in Zabljak and $33.00 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 Zabljak vs Medellin?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,214 in Zabljak and $1,017 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 Zabljak or Medellin?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Medellin, where all-in costs run around $1,017, than in Zabljak at $1,214. In Medellin it covers expenses comfortably, while in Zabljak it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Zabljak or Medellin more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Medellin – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Zabljak 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 Medellin. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Zabljak makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.