🙂A single person spends $1,205 per month in Zabljak vs $1,641 in Medellin, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $1,838 per month in Zabljak vs $2,447 in Medellin, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $2,471 per month in Zabljak vs $3,253 in Medellin, rent included.
🙂Zabljak is about 27% cheaper than Medellin, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Zabljak sits 13% below the global median, while Medellin is 19% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Zabljak
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.17€7.03
$8.04COP 25.0K
1.62%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.54€27.98
$48.29COP 149.9K
-32.62%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.02€6.03
$9.42COP 29.3K
-25.48%
Cappuccino
$1.79€1.53
$2.94COP 9,120
-39.12%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.34€2.01
$1.86COP 5,786
25.81%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.50€1.29
$1.46COP 4,519
2.74%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.24€2.78
$3.21COP 9,969
0.93%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.69€3.17
$5.71COP 17.7K
-35.38%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Zabljak
Medellin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.26€1.08
$1.44COP 4,467
-12.50%
White Bread(500g)
$0.73€0.63
$2.40COP 7,454
-69.58%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.41€1.22
$1.70COP 5,274
-17.06%
Eggs
$3.05€2.62
$2.89COP 8,975
5.54%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.67€6.59
$10.06COP 31.2K
-23.76%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.40€6.37
$9.97COP 31.0K
-25.78%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$12.67€10.89
$14.20COP 44.1K
-10.77%
Apples(1kg)
$1.38€1.19
$3.98COP 12.4K
-65.33%
Banana(1kg)
$1.80€1.54
$1.58COP 4,921
13.92%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.60€1.37
$2.15COP 6,682
-25.58%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.53€1.31
$2.30COP 7,141
-33.48%
Potato(1kg)
$0.67€0.57
$2.00COP 6,223
-66.50%
Onion(1kg)
$0.69€0.59
$1.51COP 4,687
-54.30%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.95€0.82
$1.20COP 3,734
-20.83%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.94€0.81
$1.28COP 3,981
-26.56%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.18€3.59
$3.84COP 11.9K
8.85%
Wine(Bottle)
$4.78€4.11
$14.01COP 43.5K
-65.88%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.17€1.00
$1.71COP 5,302
-31.58%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.81€1.56
$2.74COP 8,515
-33.94%
🚌 Getting Around
Zabljak
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.70€1.46
$1.25COP 3,868
36.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$40.70€34.99
$77.9COP 241.9K
-47.75%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.18€1.01
$1.31COP 4,052
-9.92%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.73€0.62
$2.17COP 6,739
-66.36%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$17.45€15.00
$8.29COP 25.8K
110.49%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.80€1.55
$1.36COP 4,209
32.35%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.0K€25.8K
$27.5KCOP 85.3M
9.04%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.5K€22.8K
$36.5KCOP 113.4M
-27.35%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Zabljak
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$118€101
$169COP 523.8K
-30.30%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$15.31€13.16
$13.57COP 42.1K
12.82%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$23.44€20.16
$28.32COP 87.9K
-17.23%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Zabljak
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$47.14€40.53
$45.71COP 141.9K
3.13%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$15.24€13.11
$17.22COP 53.5K
-11.50%
Cinema Ticket
$6.34€5.45
$6.65COP 20.6K
-4.66%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Zabljak
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$419€360
$803COP 2.5M
-47.82%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$10.1K€8,665
$9,190COP 28.5M
9.66%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Zabljak
Medellin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$23.59€20.28
$87.4COP 271.2K
-73.00%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$28.72€24.70
$59.4COP 184.3K
-51.63%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$57.5€49.44
$139COP 431.3K
-58.61%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$69.7€59.9
$102COP 316.8K
-31.69%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Zabljak
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$672€578
$1,071COP 3.3M
-37.25%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$478€411
$653COP 2.0M
-26.81%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,316€1,131
$1,925COP 6.0M
-31.65%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$967€831
$1,048COP 3.3M
-7.74%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,522€3,028
$4,123COP 12.8M
-14.57%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,435€2,093
$1,697COP 5.3M
43.43%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Zabljak
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$844€726
$655COP 2.0M
28.90%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.95
10.94
-45.61%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Zabljak: September 6, 2026
Last update for Medellin: September 7, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $672 in Zabljak versus $1,071 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 29% higher in Zabljak, 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 $33.00 in Zabljak versus $48.00 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $205 vs $300 – making Zabljak 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
Zabljak vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Medellin cheaper than Zabljak?
Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 36%, 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 $1,807 per month in Zabljak and $2,462 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 Zabljak, 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 in Medellin?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $33.00 in Zabljak 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 Zabljak and in Medellin?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,205 in Zabljak and $1,641 in Medellin. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Is $2,000 a realistic budget for living in Zabljak or in Medellin?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Zabljak, where all-in costs run around $1,205, than in Medellin at $1,641. In Zabljak it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Zabljak or Medellin more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Zabljak – 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 Zabljak. 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.