😐A single person spends $1,447 per month in Bialystok vs $1,034 in Medellin, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,045 per month in Bialystok vs $1,577 in Medellin, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $2,642 per month in Bialystok vs $2,120 in Medellin, rent included.
😐Bialystok costs about 40% more than Medellin, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Bialystok sits 8% above the global median, while Medellin is 23% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Bialystok
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$9.40zł 34.21
$5.92COP 21.4K
58.78%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$47.13zł 172
$32.75COP 118.2K
43.91%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.16zł 29.69
$7.20COP 26.0K
13.33%
Cappuccino
$3.18zł 11.58
$1.70COP 6,140
87.06%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.87zł 6.79
$1.10COP 3,966
70.00%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.67zł 6.09
$0.72COP 2,605
131.94%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.35zł 12.21
$1.67COP 6,022
100.60%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.95zł 10.75
$3.10COP 11.2K
-4.84%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Bialystok
Medellin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.03zł 3.75
$1.06COP 3,809
-2.83%
White Bread(500g)
$1.23zł 4.49
$1.25COP 4,497
-1.60%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.21zł 4.41
$1.39COP 5,022
-12.95%
Eggs
$3.07zł 11.16
$2.26COP 8,168
35.84%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.73zł 31.77
$4.33COP 15.6K
101.62%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.98zł 21.77
$5.84COP 21.1K
2.40%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.90zł 39.66
$8.83COP 31.9K
23.44%
Apples(1kg)
$0.97zł 3.53
$2.24COP 8,099
-56.70%
Banana(1kg)
$1.74zł 6.35
$1.08COP 3,882
61.11%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.73zł 6.30
$1.53COP 5,522
13.07%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.15zł 7.81
$1.37COP 4,950
56.93%
Potato(1kg)
$0.92zł 3.36
$1.13COP 4,078
-18.58%
Onion(1kg)
$1.01zł 3.68
$1.12COP 4,036
-9.82%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.18zł 4.31
$0.85COP 3,057
38.82%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.54zł 1.98
$0.91COP 3,281
-40.66%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$5.21zł 18.95
$2.33COP 8,414
123.61%
Wine(Bottle)
$6.95zł 25.31
$11.13COP 40.2K
-37.56%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.26zł 4.57
$1.19COP 4,309
5.88%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.65zł 6.01
$2.37COP 8,553
-30.38%
🚌 Getting Around
Bialystok
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.11zł 4.03
$0.79COP 2,838
40.51%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$35.15zł 128
$41.13COP 148.5K
-14.54%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.12zł 7.71
$1.44COP 5,184
47.22%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.49zł 1.78
$1.91COP 6,901
-74.35%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$12.01zł 43.71
$8.02COP 28.9K
49.75%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.69zł 6.16
$0.94COP 3,385
79.79%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.2Kzł 124.7K
$17.9KCOP 64.7M
91.09%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$29.0Kzł 105.5K
$26.8KCOP 96.7M
8.19%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Bialystok
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$313zł 1,138
$84.0COP 303.1K
272.22%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$8.27zł 30.11
$9.60COP 34.7K
-13.85%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.02zł 61.9
$24.16COP 87.2K
-29.55%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Bialystok
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$37.54zł 137
$25.88COP 93.4K
45.05%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.80zł 68.4
$19.04COP 68.7K
-1.26%
Cinema Ticket
$6.90zł 25.12
$3.92COP 14.1K
76.02%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Bialystok
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$336zł 1,224
$306COP 1.1M
9.78%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$9,522zł 34.7K
$5,919COP 21.4M
60.88%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Bialystok
Medellin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$91.4zł 333
$57.9COP 209.1K
57.85%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$31.04zł 113
$31.82COP 114.9K
-2.45%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$75.3zł 274
$99.9COP 360.6K
-24.60%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$93.6zł 341
$107COP 386.8K
-12.64%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Bialystok
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$541zł 1,970
$487COP 1.8M
11.19%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$490zł 1,783
$368COP 1.3M
33.09%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$862zł 3,136
$826COP 3.0M
4.35%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$723zł 2,632
$716COP 2.6M
0.98%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,887zł 10.5K
$2,925COP 10.6M
-1.31%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,516zł 9,158
$1,407COP 5.1M
78.84%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Bialystok
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,513zł 5,507
$546COP 2.0M
177.33%
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: April 27, 2026
Last update for Medellin: April 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $541 in Bialystok versus $487 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 177% 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 $47.00 in Bialystok versus $33.00 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $201 vs $190 – 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 40% 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 vs Medellin?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,171 per month in Bialystok and $1,550 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 Medellin?
Kindergarten costs $336 per month in Bialystok and $306 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 Medellin?
Groceries cost about 6% 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 Medellin?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Medellin, where all-in costs run around $1,034, than in Bialystok at $1,447. 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 $1,034 versus $1,447 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 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.