Cost of Living Comparison Between Bijeljina and Medellin Cost of Living Comparison Between Bijeljina and Medellin

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $932 per month in Bijeljina vs $1,031 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,446 per month in Bijeljina vs $1,599 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,960 per month in Bijeljina vs $2,167 in Medellin, rent included.

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

Both Bijeljina and Medellin are more affordable than the global median – Bijeljina 30% lower, Medellin 23% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$9.08 BAM 15.51

$6.16 COP 20.0K

47.40%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$35.23 BAM 60.2

$32.60 COP 106.0K

8.07%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.07 BAM 8.66

$7.34 COP 23.9K

-30.93%

Cappuccino

$1.49 BAM 2.54

$1.72 COP 5,592

-13.37%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.74 BAM 2.98

$1.05 COP 3,416

65.71%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.05 BAM 1.79

$0.77 COP 2,511

36.36%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.81 BAM 3.09

$1.69 COP 5,480

7.10%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.39 BAM 4.08

$3.17 COP 10.3K

-24.61%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.57 BAM 2.69

$1.05 COP 3,418

49.52%

White Bread (500g)

$1.26 BAM 2.16

$1.30 COP 4,230

-3.08%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.75 BAM 2.98

$1.40 COP 4,538

25.00%

Eggs

$3.14 BAM 5.36

$2.16 COP 7,037

45.37%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.71 BAM 13.16

$4.39 COP 14.3K

75.63%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.19 BAM 13.99

$5.88 COP 19.1K

39.29%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.18 BAM 20.80

$8.64 COP 28.1K

40.97%

Apples (1kg)

$1.61 BAM 2.75

$2.28 COP 7,415

-29.39%

Banana (1kg)

$1.91 BAM 3.27

$1.11 COP 3,599

72.07%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.91 BAM 3.26

$1.53 COP 4,976

24.84%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.73 BAM 4.67

$1.35 COP 4,405

102.22%

Potato (1kg)

$1.58 BAM 2.70

$1.13 COP 3,669

39.82%

Onion (1kg)

$1.46 BAM 2.50

$1.13 COP 3,687

29.20%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.18 BAM 2.02

$0.85 COP 2,749

38.82%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.66 BAM 1.14

$0.91 COP 2,971

-27.47%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.80 BAM 6.49

$2.34 COP 7,619

62.39%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.72 BAM 14.91

$12.37 COP 40.2K

-29.51%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.86 BAM 1.47

$1.20 COP 3,904

-28.33%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.51 BAM 2.58

$2.49 COP 8,094

-39.36%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.38 BAM 4.06

$0.84 COP 2,724

183.33%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$17.85 BAM 30.49

$40.57 COP 131.9K

-56.00%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.51 BAM 2.58

$1.42 COP 4,617

6.34%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.57 BAM 0.97

$1.92 COP 6,227

-70.31%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$11.89 BAM 20.31

$7.66 COP 24.9K

55.22%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.45 BAM 2.48

$0.99 COP 3,219

46.46%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$26.4K BAM 45.2K

$18.0K COP 58.6M

46.61%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$26.2K BAM 44.7K

$26.6K COP 86.6M

-1.69%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$144 BAM 245

$80.8 COP 262.7K

77.69%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$18.99 BAM 32.44

$9.95 COP 32.3K

90.85%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.13 BAM 41.23

$24.18 COP 78.6K

-0.21%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$30.33 BAM 51.8

$25.08 COP 81.5K

20.93%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$8.77 BAM 14.99

$19.15 COP 62.3K

-54.20%

Cinema Ticket

$4.87 BAM 8.33

$3.98 COP 13.0K

22.36%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$209 BAM 356

$305 COP 992.2K

-31.66%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,282 BAM 5,607

$6,059 COP 19.7M

-45.83%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$57.5 BAM 98.3

$58.1 COP 189.0K

-1.05%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.84 BAM 45.85

$32.20 COP 104.7K

-16.65%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$132 BAM 226

$101 COP 327.5K

31.50%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$124 BAM 213

$108 COP 350.3K

15.45%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$262 BAM 447

$477 COP 1.5M

-45.09%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$172 BAM 293

$376 COP 1.2M

-54.36%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$366 BAM 625

$845 COP 2.7M

-56.71%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$293 BAM 500

$730 COP 2.4M

-59.92%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,847 BAM 3,156

$3,215 COP 10.5M

-42.55%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,370 BAM 2,341

$1,372 COP 4.5M

-0.15%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$766 BAM 1,309

$617 COP 2.0M

24.25%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.43

-55.32%

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

Last update for Bijeljina: July 13, 2026

Last update for Medellin: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $262 in Bijeljina versus $477 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 24% higher in Bijeljina, 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 $35.00 in Bijeljina versus $33.00 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $234 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

Bijeljina vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $932 in Bijeljina, $1,031 in Medellin – roughly 11% apart. Medellin costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,398 per month in Bijeljina and $1,546 in Medellin. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Bijeljina, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $932 in Bijeljina and $1,031 in Medellin. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 127% less in Bijeljina. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Bijeljina, where all-in costs run around $932, than in Medellin at $1,031. In Bijeljina it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Medellin has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $932 in Bijeljina to $1,031 in Medellin. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

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.

If budget matters most, go with Bijeljina. 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.