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

Monthly Cost of Living

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

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

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

Medellin costs about 84% more than Bijeljina, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

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

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$8.03 COP 25.3K

$8.65 BAM 14.59

-7.17%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$48.26 COP 152.0K

$36.14 BAM 61.0

33.54%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.77 COP 30.8K

$4.80 BAM 8.09

103.54%

Cappuccino

$2.91 COP 9,167

$1.47 BAM 2.47

97.96%

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

$1.94 COP 6,122

$1.80 BAM 3.04

7.78%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.52 COP 4,792

$1.08 BAM 1.82

40.74%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.09 COP 9,740

$1.79 BAM 3.03

72.63%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.74 COP 18.1K

$2.34 BAM 3.94

145.30%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.36 COP 4,296

$1.64 BAM 2.76

-17.07%

White Bread (500g)

$2.39 COP 7,519

$1.26 BAM 2.12

89.68%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.70 COP 5,356

$1.70 BAM 2.87

Eggs

$2.87 COP 9,038

$3.24 BAM 5.46

-11.42%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.94 COP 31.3K

$7.73 BAM 13.04

28.59%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.78 COP 34.0K

$8.22 BAM 13.87

31.14%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.73 COP 46.4K

$12.30 BAM 20.74

19.76%

Apples (1kg)

$4.09 COP 12.9K

$1.63 BAM 2.74

150.92%

Banana (1kg)

$1.57 COP 4,950

$1.86 BAM 3.14

-15.59%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.13 COP 6,695

$1.90 BAM 3.20

12.11%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.21 COP 6,972

$2.77 BAM 4.66

-20.22%

Potato (1kg)

$2.05 COP 6,447

$1.62 BAM 2.73

26.54%

Onion (1kg)

$1.50 COP 4,737

$1.46 BAM 2.46

2.74%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.19 COP 3,747

$1.14 BAM 1.93

4.39%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.16 COP 3,647

$0.68 BAM 1.14

70.59%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.90 COP 12.3K

$3.78 BAM 6.38

3.17%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.44 COP 45.5K

$8.73 BAM 14.73

65.41%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.58 COP 4,987

$0.93 BAM 1.56

69.89%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.83 COP 8,905

$1.46 BAM 2.46

93.84%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.17 COP 3,679

$2.30 BAM 3.88

-49.13%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$77.7 COP 244.8K

$18.09 BAM 30.51

329.68%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.28 COP 4,045

$1.51 BAM 2.55

-15.23%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.09 COP 6,589

$0.61 BAM 1.02

242.62%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.62 COP 27.1K

$10.59 BAM 17.86

-18.60%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.30 COP 4,088

$1.47 BAM 2.48

-11.56%

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

$27.7K COP 87.1M

$30.6K BAM 51.5K

-9.50%

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

$35.5K COP 111.8M

$23.8K BAM 40.2K

48.92%

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

$176 COP 554.5K

$144 BAM 243

22.30%

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

$13.37 COP 42.1K

$19.07 BAM 32.17

-29.89%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$29.89 COP 94.1K

$24.30 BAM 40.99

23.00%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$44.76 COP 141.0K

$30.76 BAM 51.9

45.51%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.06 COP 53.7K

$8.66 BAM 14.61

97.00%

Cinema Ticket

$6.20 COP 19.5K

$5.11 BAM 8.61

21.33%

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

$793 COP 2.5M

$211 BAM 356

275.63%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$9,019 COP 28.4M

$3,898 BAM 6,574

131.39%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$85.6 COP 269.6K

$58.5 BAM 98.6

46.44%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$58.5 COP 184.1K

$26.29 BAM 44.34

122.40%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$136 COP 429.3K

$135 BAM 228

0.70%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$103 COP 324.7K

$123 BAM 207

-15.87%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,060 COP 3.3M

$258 BAM 435

310.90%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$680 COP 2.1M

$173 BAM 292

292.23%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,012 COP 6.3M

$363 BAM 613

453.66%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,169 COP 3.7M

$293 BAM 494

299.32%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,111 COP 12.9M

$1,866 BAM 3,147

120.30%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,701 COP 5.4M

$1,406 BAM 2,372

20.97%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$665 COP 2.1M

$763 BAM 1,286

-12.77%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

10.94

82.33%

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

Last update for Medellin: August 30, 2026

Last update for Bijeljina: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,060 in Medellin versus $258 in Bijeljina. 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 $48.00 in Medellin versus $36.00 in Bijeljina. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $303 vs $236 – 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

Medellin vs Bijeljina: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $1,716 in Medellin, $931 in Bijeljina – roughly 84% apart. Medellin costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,574 per month in Medellin and $1,396 in Bijeljina. 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 $1,716 in Medellin and $931 in Bijeljina. 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.