Cost of Living Comparison Between Bialystok and Medellin Cost of Living Comparison Between Bialystok and Medellin

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,508 per month in Bialystok vs $1,681 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,127 per month in Bialystok vs $2,445 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,745 per month in Bialystok vs $3,210 in Medellin, rent included.

Bialystok is about 10% cheaper than Medellin, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Bialystok and Medellin sit above the global median – Bialystok by 10%, Medellin by 23%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Bialystok
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$9.83 zł 37.37
$8.02 COP 25.0K
22.57%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$47.09 zł 179
$47.87 COP 149.4K
-1.63%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.49 zł 36.07
$9.89 COP 30.8K
-4.04%
Cappuccino
$3.84 zł 14.61
$3.13 COP 9,767
22.68%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.99 zł 7.55
$1.91 COP 5,954
4.19%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.64 zł 6.23
$1.51 COP 4,712
8.61%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.63 zł 13.80
$3.12 COP 9,747
16.35%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.23 zł 12.28
$5.75 COP 17.9K
-43.83%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Bialystok
Medellin
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.11 zł 4.21
$1.44 COP 4,509
-22.92%
White Bread (500g)
$1.02 zł 3.88
$2.49 COP 7,759
-59.04%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.30 zł 8.75
$1.77 COP 5,535
29.94%
Eggs
$3.97 zł 15.08
$2.96 COP 9,235
34.12%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.91 zł 37.70
$10.07 COP 31.4K
-1.59%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.91 zł 22.47
$10.12 COP 31.6K
-41.60%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.87 zł 45.16
$14.30 COP 44.6K
-16.99%
Apples (1kg)
$1.25 zł 4.75
$4.14 COP 12.9K
-69.81%
Banana (1kg)
$1.81 zł 6.87
$1.61 COP 5,019
12.42%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.67 zł 6.35
$2.25 COP 7,007
-25.78%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.09 zł 7.95
$2.25 COP 7,028
-7.11%
Potato (1kg)
$1.12 zł 4.27
$2.04 COP 6,375
-45.10%
Onion (1kg)
$1.25 zł 4.76
$1.54 COP 4,790
-18.83%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.22 zł 4.65
$1.17 COP 3,651
4.27%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.65 zł 2.46
$1.31 COP 4,077
-50.38%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.25 zł 19.96
$3.90 COP 12.2K
34.62%
Wine (Bottle)
$6.51 zł 24.75
$14.01 COP 43.7K
-53.53%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.20 zł 4.56
$1.74 COP 5,439
-31.03%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.56 zł 5.95
$2.87 COP 8,956
-45.64%
🚌 Getting Around
Bialystok
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.10 zł 4.17
$1.22 COP 3,792
-9.84%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$34.17 zł 130
$80.5 COP 251.1K
-57.54%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.09 zł 7.95
$1.31 COP 4,084
59.54%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.66 zł 2.52
$2.19 COP 6,825
-69.86%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$13.38 zł 50.9
$8.71 COP 27.2K
53.62%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.55 zł 5.89
$1.37 COP 4,260
13.14%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$31.7K zł 120.6K
$27.8K COP 86.9M
13.93%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$29.0K zł 110.2K
$35.8K COP 111.6M
-19.02%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Bialystok
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$308 zł 1,170
$177 COP 553.2K
73.48%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$8.70 zł 33.09
$13.88 COP 43.3K
-37.32%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.87 zł 71.8
$29.72 COP 92.8K
-36.51%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Bialystok
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$43.40 zł 165
$44.88 COP 140.1K
-3.30%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$28.41 zł 108
$17.12 COP 53.4K
65.95%
Cinema Ticket
$7.13 zł 27.10
$6.65 COP 20.7K
7.22%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Bialystok
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$370 zł 1,409
$813 COP 2.5M
-54.43%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$4,510 zł 17.1K
$9,187 COP 28.7M
-50.91%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Bialystok
Medellin
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$104 zł 394
$89.5 COP 279.3K
15.73%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$37.59 zł 143
$59.0 COP 184.0K
-36.26%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$88.4 zł 336
$138 COP 431.2K
-36.06%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$92.4 zł 351
$102 COP 318.7K
-9.53%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Bialystok
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$547 zł 2,079
$1,062 COP 3.3M
-48.53%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$528 zł 2,008
$663 COP 2.1M
-20.36%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$842 zł 3,203
$1,888 COP 5.9M
-55.39%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$743 zł 2,825
$1,027 COP 3.2M
-27.68%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,726 zł 10.4K
$4,183 COP 13.1M
-34.83%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,387 zł 9,078
$1,675 COP 5.2M
42.56%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Bialystok
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,547 zł 5,882
$678 COP 2.1M
128.25%
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: September 14, 2026

Last update for Medellin: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $547 in Bialystok 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 128% higher in Bialystok, 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 $47.00 in Bialystok versus $48.00 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $216 vs $305 – making Bialystok 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
Bialystok vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Bialystok or Medellin?
Medellin costs about 11% more than Bialystok, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. 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 $2,262 per month in Bialystok and $2,521 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. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How do childcare costs compare in Bialystok and in Medellin?
Kindergarten costs $370 per month in Bialystok and $813 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 41% more in Medellin, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Bialystok or in Medellin?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Bialystok, where all-in costs run around $1,508, than in Medellin at $1,681. In Bialystok it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Bialystok or Medellin?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Bialystok costs $1,508 versus $1,681 in Medellin. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Bialystok compared to 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.
Should I move to Bialystok or to Medellin?
If budget matters most, go with Bialystok. 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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