😐A single person spends $1,421 per month in Bialystok vs $1,003 in Medellin, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,002 per month in Bialystok vs $1,573 in Medellin, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $2,582 per month in Bialystok vs $2,143 in Medellin, rent included.
😐Bialystok costs about 42% more than Medellin, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Bialystok sits 7% above the global median, while Medellin is 25% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Bialystok
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$9.69zł 36.19
$5.91COP 18.4K
63.96%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$47.92zł 179
$32.96COP 102.7K
45.39%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.21zł 30.68
$7.43COP 23.1K
10.50%
Cappuccino
$3.18zł 11.86
$1.65COP 5,153
92.73%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.82zł 6.82
$1.10COP 3,432
65.45%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.65zł 6.15
$0.78COP 2,433
111.54%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.30zł 12.33
$1.72COP 5,356
91.86%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.95zł 11.01
$3.18COP 9,904
-7.23%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Bialystok
Medellin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.09zł 4.06
$1.10COP 3,439
-0.91%
White Bread(500g)
$1.23zł 4.58
$1.26COP 3,921
-2.38%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.23zł 4.59
$1.38COP 4,304
-10.87%
Eggs
$3.13zł 11.69
$2.18COP 6,788
43.58%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.48zł 31.69
$4.49COP 14.0K
88.86%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.10zł 22.79
$5.79COP 18.0K
5.35%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.69zł 39.93
$8.97COP 27.9K
19.18%
Apples(1kg)
$0.95zł 3.56
$2.32COP 7,232
-59.05%
Banana(1kg)
$1.80zł 6.72
$1.06COP 3,318
69.81%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.75zł 6.54
$1.52COP 4,725
15.13%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.18zł 8.15
$1.36COP 4,226
60.29%
Potato(1kg)
$0.92zł 3.45
$1.13COP 3,515
-18.58%
Onion(1kg)
$1.02zł 3.80
$1.17COP 3,651
-12.82%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.15zł 4.30
$0.90COP 2,809
27.78%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.55zł 2.06
$0.90COP 2,794
-38.89%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$5.08zł 18.98
$2.23COP 6,961
127.80%
Wine(Bottle)
$6.33zł 23.67
$12.12COP 37.8K
-47.77%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.25zł 4.67
$1.19COP 3,704
5.04%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.62zł 6.04
$2.48COP 7,735
-34.68%
🚌 Getting Around
Bialystok
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.12zł 4.19
$0.85COP 2,660
31.76%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$35.00zł 131
$41.62COP 129.7K
-15.91%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.19zł 8.19
$1.42COP 4,413
54.23%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.49zł 1.83
$1.95COP 6,078
-74.87%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$12.10zł 45.21
$7.89COP 24.6K
53.36%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.76zł 6.56
$0.99COP 3,086
77.78%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.1Kzł 127.3K
$17.6KCOP 54.8M
93.52%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$29.3Kzł 109.4K
$26.8KCOP 83.5M
9.27%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Bialystok
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$305zł 1,141
$83.0COP 258.7K
267.76%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$8.15zł 30.44
$9.70COP 30.2K
-15.98%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$16.58zł 61.9
$23.52COP 73.3K
-29.51%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Bialystok
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$37.14zł 139
$25.26COP 78.7K
47.03%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.20zł 71.7
$19.10COP 59.5K
0.52%
Cinema Ticket
$6.98zł 26.08
$3.95COP 12.3K
76.71%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Bialystok
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$340zł 1,270
$316COP 984.0K
7.68%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$9,556zł 35.7K
$5,975COP 18.6M
59.94%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Bialystok
Medellin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$90.8zł 339
$60.0COP 187.0K
51.33%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$31.01zł 116
$31.82COP 99.1K
-2.55%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$75.4zł 282
$102COP 316.8K
-25.81%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$96.1zł 359
$107COP 334.8K
-10.55%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Bialystok
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$549zł 2,052
$475COP 1.5M
15.67%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$492zł 1,839
$374COP 1.2M
31.65%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$873zł 3,261
$849COP 2.6M
2.80%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$733zł 2,739
$719COP 2.2M
1.91%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,719zł 10.2K
$3,265COP 10.2M
-16.72%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,351zł 8,783
$1,441COP 4.5M
63.19%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Bialystok
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,474zł 5,507
$624COP 1.9M
136.06%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6.47
13.43
-51.82%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Bialystok: July 28, 2026
Last update for Medellin: July 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $549 in Bialystok versus $475 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 136% higher in Bialystok, 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 $48.00 in Bialystok versus $33.00 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $200 vs $193 – making Medellin 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?
Bialystok costs about 42% more than Medellin, with the gap driven mainly by Eating Out. 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 $2,132 per month in Bialystok and $1,504 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 Medellin, 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 $340 per month in Bialystok and $316 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 4% more in Bialystok, 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 $1,500/month in Bialystok or in Medellin?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Medellin, where all-in costs run around $1,003, than in Bialystok at $1,421. In Medellin it covers expenses comfortably, while in Bialystok 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. Medellin costs $1,003 versus $1,421 in Bialystok. 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 Medellin. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Bialystok makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.