Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Bialystok and Medellin

For one person, living is cheaper in Bialystok: $1,434 a month against $1,639 in Medellin, rent and utilities included – about $2,500 less a year. Other living expenses account for most of the difference.

Bialystok, Poland
Medellin, Colombia
Bialystok
🇵🇱 Poland
$1,434
/mo nomad
Medellin
🇨🇴 Colombia
$1,639
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Bialystok and in Medellin

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Bialystok and in Medellin actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $1,434 per month in Bialystok vs $1,639 in Medellin, rent included.

  • Bialystok $1,434
  • Medellin $1,639

A couple spends around $2,029 per month in Bialystok vs $2,413 in Medellin, rent included.

  • Bialystok $2,029
  • Medellin $2,413

A family of three spends $2,625 per month in Bialystok vs $3,186 in Medellin, rent included.

  • Bialystok $2,625
  • Medellin $3,186

Bialystok is about 13% cheaper than Medellin, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both Bialystok and Medellin sit above the global median – Bialystok by 5%, Medellin by 20%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Bialystok
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$9.61 zł 37.91
$8.09 COP 26.1K
18.79%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$45.44 zł 179
$47.05 COP 151.7K
-3.42%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.97 zł 35.37
$9.50 COP 30.6K
-5.58%
Cappuccino
$3.60 zł 14.21
$3.01 COP 9,722
19.60%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.81 zł 7.13
$1.80 COP 5,801
0.56%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.55 zł 6.10
$1.41 COP 4,554
9.93%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.36 zł 13.26
$3.18 COP 10.2K
5.66%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.02 zł 11.91
$5.75 COP 18.5K
-47.48%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Bialystok
Medellin
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.01 zł 3.97
$1.51 COP 4,869
-33.11%
White Bread (500g)
$1.01 zł 4.00
$2.38 COP 7,667
-57.56%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.13 zł 8.40
$1.77 COP 5,712
20.34%
Eggs
$3.75 zł 14.79
$2.89 COP 9,320
29.76%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.99 zł 35.44
$10.19 COP 32.9K
-11.78%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.70 zł 22.47
$9.87 COP 31.8K
-42.25%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.28 zł 44.49
$13.99 COP 45.1K
-19.37%
Apples (1kg)
$1.24 zł 4.91
$3.97 COP 12.8K
-68.77%
Banana (1kg)
$1.82 zł 7.16
$1.55 COP 5,005
17.42%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.64 zł 6.45
$2.18 COP 7,039
-24.77%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.00 zł 7.89
$2.18 COP 7,041
-8.26%
Potato (1kg)
$1.04 zł 4.11
$1.96 COP 6,328
-46.94%
Onion (1kg)
$1.15 zł 4.54
$1.59 COP 5,125
-27.67%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.17 zł 4.62
$1.15 COP 3,694
1.74%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.61 zł 2.40
$1.24 COP 4,009
-50.81%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.11 zł 20.14
$3.96 COP 12.8K
29.04%
Wine (Bottle)
$6.20 zł 24.46
$13.68 COP 44.1K
-54.68%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.15 zł 4.53
$1.66 COP 5,352
-30.72%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.47 zł 5.79
$2.26 COP 7,281
-34.96%
🚌 Getting Around
Bialystok
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.25 zł 4.93
$1.17 COP 3,766
6.84%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$33.13 zł 131
$77.4 COP 249.5K
-57.18%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.06 zł 8.12
$1.27 COP 4,089
62.20%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.69 zł 2.73
$2.05 COP 6,603
-66.34%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$12.56 zł 49.54
$8.55 COP 27.6K
46.90%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.58 zł 6.23
$1.35 COP 4,343
17.04%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.4K zł 119.9K
$34.1K COP 109.8M
-10.74%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$28.3K zł 111.4K
$34.7K COP 111.8M
-18.49%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Bialystok
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$302 zł 1,190
$170 COP 547.0K
77.95%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$8.14 zł 32.10
$13.55 COP 43.7K
-39.93%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.99 zł 70.9
$28.07 COP 90.5K
-35.91%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Bialystok
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$43.77 zł 173
$43.70 COP 140.9K
0.16%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$26.81 zł 106
$17.19 COP 55.4K
55.96%
Cinema Ticket
$8.16 zł 32.17
$6.91 COP 22.3K
18.09%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Bialystok
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$353 zł 1,392
$797 COP 2.6M
-55.68%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$4,215 zł 16.6K
$9,112 COP 29.4M
-53.74%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Bialystok
Medellin
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$97.9 zł 386
$84.7 COP 273.2K
15.50%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$36.30 zł 143
$58.0 COP 186.9K
-37.37%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$85.5 zł 337
$135 COP 435.2K
-36.62%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$89.0 zł 351
$97.9 COP 315.6K
-9.04%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Bialystok
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$558 zł 2,201
$1,208 COP 3.9M
-53.79%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$474 zł 1,871
$642 COP 2.1M
-26.04%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$812 zł 3,201
$2,028 COP 6.5M
-59.97%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$669 zł 2,639
$1,012 COP 3.3M
-33.85%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,817 zł 11.1K
$4,170 COP 13.4M
-32.45%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,240 zł 8,834
$1,910 COP 6.2M
17.27%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Bialystok
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,454 zł 5,734
$657 COP 2.1M
121.27%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
7.07
10.94
-35.37%

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

Last update for Bialystok: October 26, 2026

Last update for Medellin: October 25, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Bialystok
$474
Medellin
$642 35.2% $167
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Bialystok
$328
Medellin
$211 35.6% $117
Groceries & Markets
Bialystok
$205
Medellin
$297 44.7% $92
Eating Out
Bialystok
$183
Medellin
$170 7.5% $14
Clothing & Footwear
Bialystok
$139
Medellin
$169 21.6% $30
Sport & Entertainment
Bialystok
$60
Medellin
$58 4.3% $2.6
Getting Around
Bialystok
$44
Medellin
$94 114% $50

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $558 in Bialystok versus $1,208 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 in Bialystok are about 2.2 times higher, 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 $45 in Bialystok versus $47 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $205 vs $297 – making Bialystok the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇵🇱 Bialystok
🇨🇴 Medellin
🕒 Local time
07:39 7:39 AM
01:39 1:39 AM
6 h behind Bialystok
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
297,554
2,486,723
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

COP, USD, EUR to PLN – Polish Złoty Converter

Polish Złoty exchange rates as of November 1, 2026: 1 USD = 3.94 PLN (1 PLN = 0.254 USD). 1 EUR = 4.4 PLN (1 PLN = 0.227 EUR).

Colombian Peso exchange rates as of November 1, 2026: 1 USD = 3,224 COP (10,000 COP = 3.1 USD). 1 EUR = 3,600 COP (10,000 COP = 2.78 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Bialystok Medellin 10,030 km ≈ 13 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Bialystok
  • Medellin

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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
Bialystok vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Bialystok or Medellin?
Medellin costs about 14% more than Bialystok, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from groceries. That’s enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Bialystok and in Medellin?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,151 per month in Bialystok and $2,459 in Medellin. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Bialystok or Medellin?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Bialystok, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $558 there versus $1,208 in Medellin.
How do childcare costs compare in Bialystok and in Medellin?
Kindergarten costs $353 per month in Bialystok and $797 in Medellin. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Are groceries more expensive in Bialystok or in Medellin?
Groceries cost about 45% more in Medellin, though the gap depends on what you buy.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Bialystok or in Medellin?
$1,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $1,434 in Bialystok and $1,639 in Medellin. You’ll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.
Which city is better for families?
Families tend to lean toward Bialystok – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
For expats, Bialystok is the easier option financially – housing and daily costs are lower, and overall it costs about 13% less, which matters a lot on a fixed budget or early-career salary.

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