😐A single person spends $1,423 per month in Bialystok vs $1,017 in Medellin, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,009 per month in Bialystok vs $1,602 in Medellin, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $2,595 per month in Bialystok vs $2,188 in Medellin, rent included.
😐Bialystok costs about 40% more than Medellin, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Bialystok sits 6% above the global median, while Medellin is 24% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Bialystok
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$9.66zł 35.30
$5.95COP 20.8K
62.35%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$48.35zł 177
$33.33COP 116.3K
45.06%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.14zł 29.74
$7.23COP 25.2K
12.59%
Cappuccino
$3.22zł 11.76
$1.63COP 5,687
97.55%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.87zł 6.83
$1.09COP 3,821
71.56%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.68zł 6.14
$0.73COP 2,548
130.14%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.28zł 11.98
$1.74COP 6,065
88.51%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.89zł 10.58
$3.23COP 11.3K
-10.53%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Bialystok
Medellin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.09zł 3.99
$1.05COP 3,662
3.81%
White Bread(500g)
$1.20zł 4.37
$1.29COP 4,515
-6.98%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.17zł 4.28
$1.32COP 4,617
-11.36%
Eggs
$3.01zł 11.00
$2.27COP 7,927
32.60%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.51zł 31.09
$4.35COP 15.2K
95.63%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.97zł 21.81
$5.88COP 20.5K
1.53%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.94zł 39.99
$8.61COP 30.0K
27.06%
Apples(1kg)
$0.89zł 3.27
$2.25COP 7,844
-60.44%
Banana(1kg)
$1.81zł 6.60
$1.07COP 3,733
69.16%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.72zł 6.29
$1.52COP 5,322
13.16%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.21zł 8.08
$1.42COP 4,964
55.63%
Potato(1kg)
$0.94zł 3.42
$1.17COP 4,084
-19.66%
Onion(1kg)
$1.02zł 3.71
$1.17COP 4,077
-12.82%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.15zł 4.20
$0.89COP 3,096
29.21%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.59zł 2.16
$0.90COP 3,146
-34.44%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$5.05zł 18.45
$2.25COP 7,837
124.44%
Wine(Bottle)
$6.69zł 24.46
$11.04COP 38.5K
-39.40%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.26zł 4.59
$1.14COP 3,977
10.53%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.61zł 5.90
$2.38COP 8,301
-32.35%
🚌 Getting Around
Bialystok
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.06zł 3.87
$0.84COP 2,916
26.19%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$34.86zł 127
$41.95COP 146.4K
-16.90%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.21zł 8.07
$1.41COP 4,912
56.74%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.52zł 1.91
$1.90COP 6,634
-72.63%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$12.14zł 44.37
$7.75COP 27.0K
56.65%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.69zł 6.16
$1.01COP 3,509
67.33%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$33.5Kzł 122.4K
$17.6KCOP 61.4M
90.55%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$29.1Kzł 106.5K
$26.5KCOP 92.5M
9.94%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Bialystok
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$309zł 1,130
$83.7COP 292.1K
269.49%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$8.55zł 31.26
$9.45COP 33.0K
-9.52%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$16.57zł 60.6
$24.11COP 84.1K
-31.27%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Bialystok
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$37.02zł 135
$25.31COP 88.3K
46.27%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.65zł 68.2
$19.14COP 66.8K
-2.56%
Cinema Ticket
$6.64zł 24.26
$4.10COP 14.3K
61.95%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Bialystok
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$344zł 1,258
$312COP 1.1M
10.33%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$9,413zł 34.4K
$5,993COP 20.9M
57.07%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Bialystok
Medellin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$90.3zł 330
$58.0COP 202.6K
55.51%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$31.45zł 115
$32.56COP 113.6K
-3.41%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$77.2zł 282
$99.6COP 347.7K
-22.51%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$96.5zł 353
$109COP 378.8K
-11.14%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Bialystok
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$539zł 1,970
$482COP 1.7M
11.76%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$483zł 1,766
$379COP 1.3M
27.33%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$855zł 3,124
$837COP 2.9M
2.05%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$727zł 2,657
$723COP 2.5M
0.54%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,780zł 10.2K
$2,840COP 9.9M
-2.11%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,477zł 9,055
$1,223COP 4.3M
102.56%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Bialystok
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,568zł 5,732
$541COP 1.9M
189.93%
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: June 7, 2026
Last update for Medellin: June 8, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $539 in Bialystok versus $482 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 190% 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 $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 $2,134 per month in Bialystok and $1,525 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 $344 per month in Bialystok and $312 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 $1,017, than in Bialystok at $1,423. 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 $1,017 versus $1,423 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.