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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $963 per month in Bijeljina vs $1,013 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,460 per month in Bijeljina vs $1,602 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,957 per month in Bijeljina vs $2,192 in Medellin, rent included.

Bijeljina is about 5% cheaper than Medellin, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Bijeljina and Medellin are more affordable than the global median – Bijeljina 28% lower, Medellin 24% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$8.90 BAM 14.96

$5.99 COP 21.4K

48.58%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$35.33 BAM 59.4

$32.86 COP 117.4K

7.52%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.99 BAM 8.39

$7.09 COP 25.3K

-29.62%

Cappuccino

$1.44 BAM 2.41

$1.71 COP 6,115

-15.79%

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

$1.73 BAM 2.90

$1.10 COP 3,924

57.27%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.09 BAM 1.83

$0.78 COP 2,781

39.74%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.80 BAM 3.02

$1.68 COP 5,997

7.14%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.38 BAM 3.99

$3.07 COP 11.0K

-22.48%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.61 BAM 2.71

$1.09 COP 3,906

47.71%

White Bread (500g)

$1.20 BAM 2.02

$1.26 COP 4,508

-4.76%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.73 BAM 2.91

$1.38 COP 4,922

25.36%

Eggs

$3.10 BAM 5.21

$2.19 COP 7,827

41.55%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.98 BAM 13.41

$4.40 COP 15.7K

81.36%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.05 BAM 13.52

$5.63 COP 20.1K

42.98%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.18 BAM 20.47

$8.89 COP 31.8K

37.01%

Apples (1kg)

$1.67 BAM 2.81

$2.34 COP 8,349

-28.63%

Banana (1kg)

$1.85 BAM 3.10

$1.06 COP 3,777

74.53%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.83 BAM 3.07

$1.50 COP 5,374

22.00%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.67 BAM 4.49

$1.38 COP 4,924

93.48%

Potato (1kg)

$1.60 BAM 2.69

$1.15 COP 4,111

39.13%

Onion (1kg)

$1.47 BAM 2.47

$1.16 COP 4,155

26.72%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.14 BAM 1.91

$0.89 COP 3,182

28.09%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.67 BAM 1.12

$0.84 COP 2,997

-20.24%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.73 BAM 6.27

$2.28 COP 8,145

63.60%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.02 BAM 15.15

$10.64 COP 38.0K

-15.23%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.84 BAM 1.42

$1.20 COP 4,284

-30.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.45 BAM 2.44

$2.47 COP 8,824

-41.30%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.41 BAM 4.04

$0.86 COP 3,056

180.23%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$17.94 BAM 30.15

$41.40 COP 147.9K

-56.67%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.45 BAM 2.43

$1.47 COP 5,264

-1.36%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.56 BAM 0.93

$1.96 COP 7,009

-71.43%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$11.77 BAM 19.78

$7.74 COP 27.6K

52.07%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.41 BAM 2.37

$0.95 COP 3,409

48.42%

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

$26.2K BAM 44.0K

$18.1K COP 64.7M

44.57%

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

$26.5K BAM 44.5K

$26.5K COP 94.6M

-0.07%

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

$141 BAM 237

$82.3 COP 293.7K

71.37%

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

$19.14 BAM 32.16

$9.50 COP 33.9K

101.47%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.88 BAM 41.79

$24.23 COP 86.5K

2.68%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$30.66 BAM 51.5

$25.89 COP 92.4K

18.42%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$8.80 BAM 14.78

$19.00 COP 67.9K

-53.68%

Cinema Ticket

$5.06 BAM 8.50

$3.93 COP 14.0K

28.75%

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

$214 BAM 359

$309 COP 1.1M

-30.87%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,300 BAM 5,544

$5,965 COP 21.3M

-44.68%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.6 BAM 98.4

$58.7 COP 209.5K

-0.17%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.71 BAM 44.87

$32.35 COP 115.5K

-17.43%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$135 BAM 227

$103 COP 366.4K

31.51%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$124 BAM 208

$108 COP 387.2K

14.02%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$259 BAM 436

$476 COP 1.7M

-45.51%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$167 BAM 281

$379 COP 1.4M

-55.87%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$370 BAM 622

$838 COP 3.0M

-55.81%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$291 BAM 488

$724 COP 2.6M

-59.84%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,891 BAM 3,177

$2,791 COP 10.0M

-32.25%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,425 BAM 2,394

$1,211 COP 4.3M

17.65%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$759 BAM 1,276

$512 COP 1.8M

48.35%

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: May 31, 2026

Last update for Medellin: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $259 in Bijeljina versus $476 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 48% 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 $188 – 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: $963 in Bijeljina, $1,013 in Medellin – roughly 5% apart. Medellin costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,444 per month in Bijeljina and $1,519 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 $963 in Bijeljina and $1,013 in Medellin. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 131% 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 $963, than in Medellin at $1,013. 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 $963 in Bijeljina to $1,013 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.