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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $931 per month in Bijeljina vs $1,716 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,444 per month in Bijeljina vs $2,527 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,958 per month in Bijeljina vs $3,338 in Medellin, rent included.

Bijeljina is about 46% cheaper than Medellin, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Bijeljina sits 32% below the global median, while Medellin is 25% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$8.65 BAM 14.59

$8.03 COP 25.3K

7.72%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$36.14 BAM 61.0

$48.26 COP 152.0K

-25.11%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.80 BAM 8.09

$9.77 COP 30.8K

-50.87%

Cappuccino

$1.47 BAM 2.47

$2.91 COP 9,167

-49.48%

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

$1.80 BAM 3.04

$1.94 COP 6,122

-7.22%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.08 BAM 1.82

$1.52 COP 4,792

-28.95%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.79 BAM 3.03

$3.09 COP 9,740

-42.07%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.34 BAM 3.94

$5.74 COP 18.1K

-59.23%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.64 BAM 2.76

$1.36 COP 4,296

20.59%

White Bread (500g)

$1.26 BAM 2.12

$2.39 COP 7,519

-47.28%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.70 BAM 2.87

$1.70 COP 5,356

Eggs

$3.24 BAM 5.46

$2.87 COP 9,038

12.89%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.73 BAM 13.04

$9.94 COP 31.3K

-22.23%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.22 BAM 13.87

$10.78 COP 34.0K

-23.75%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.30 BAM 20.74

$14.73 COP 46.4K

-16.50%

Apples (1kg)

$1.63 BAM 2.74

$4.09 COP 12.9K

-60.15%

Banana (1kg)

$1.86 BAM 3.14

$1.57 COP 4,950

18.47%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.90 BAM 3.20

$2.13 COP 6,695

-10.80%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.77 BAM 4.66

$2.21 COP 6,972

25.34%

Potato (1kg)

$1.62 BAM 2.73

$2.05 COP 6,447

-20.98%

Onion (1kg)

$1.46 BAM 2.46

$1.50 COP 4,737

-2.67%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.14 BAM 1.93

$1.19 COP 3,747

-4.20%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.68 BAM 1.14

$1.16 COP 3,647

-41.38%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.78 BAM 6.38

$3.90 COP 12.3K

-3.08%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.73 BAM 14.73

$14.44 COP 45.5K

-39.54%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.93 BAM 1.56

$1.58 COP 4,987

-41.14%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.46 BAM 2.46

$2.83 COP 8,905

-48.41%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.30 BAM 3.88

$1.17 COP 3,679

96.58%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$18.09 BAM 30.51

$77.7 COP 244.8K

-76.73%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.51 BAM 2.55

$1.28 COP 4,045

17.97%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.61 BAM 1.02

$2.09 COP 6,589

-70.81%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$10.59 BAM 17.86

$8.62 COP 27.1K

22.85%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.47 BAM 2.48

$1.30 COP 4,088

13.08%

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

$30.6K BAM 51.5K

$27.7K COP 87.1M

10.50%

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

$23.8K BAM 40.2K

$35.5K COP 111.8M

-32.85%

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

$144 BAM 243

$176 COP 554.5K

-18.23%

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

$19.07 BAM 32.17

$13.37 COP 42.1K

42.63%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.30 BAM 40.99

$29.89 COP 94.1K

-18.70%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$30.76 BAM 51.9

$44.76 COP 141.0K

-31.28%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$8.66 BAM 14.61

$17.06 COP 53.7K

-49.24%

Cinema Ticket

$5.11 BAM 8.61

$6.20 COP 19.5K

-17.58%

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

$211 BAM 356

$793 COP 2.5M

-73.38%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,898 BAM 6,574

$9,019 COP 28.4M

-56.78%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.5 BAM 98.6

$85.6 COP 269.6K

-31.71%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.29 BAM 44.34

$58.5 COP 184.1K

-55.04%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$135 BAM 228

$136 COP 429.3K

-0.70%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$123 BAM 207

$103 COP 324.7K

18.86%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$258 BAM 435

$1,060 COP 3.3M

-75.66%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$173 BAM 292

$680 COP 2.1M

-74.50%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$363 BAM 613

$2,012 COP 6.3M

-81.94%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$293 BAM 494

$1,169 COP 3.7M

-74.96%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,866 BAM 3,147

$4,111 COP 12.9M

-54.61%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,406 BAM 2,372

$1,701 COP 5.4M

-17.33%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$763 BAM 1,286

$665 COP 2.1M

14.63%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

10.94

-45.16%

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

Last update for Bijeljina: August 31, 2026

Last update for Medellin: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $258 in Bijeljina versus $1,060 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 15% 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 $36.00 in Bijeljina versus $48.00 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $236 vs $303 – making Bijeljina 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: $931 in Bijeljina, $1,716 in Medellin – roughly 84% apart. Medellin costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,396 per month in Bijeljina and $2,574 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 $931 in Bijeljina and $1,716 in Medellin. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 330% 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 $931, than in Medellin at $1,716. 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 $931 in Bijeljina to $1,716 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.