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

Monthly Cost of Living

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

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

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

Medellin costs about 11% more than Bijeljina, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

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

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.16 COP 20.1K

$9.08 BAM 15.52

-32.16%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.60 COP 106.1K

$35.23 BAM 60.3

-7.47%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.34 COP 23.9K

$5.07 BAM 8.67

44.77%

Cappuccino

$1.72 COP 5,600

$1.49 BAM 2.54

15.44%

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

$1.05 COP 3,420

$1.74 BAM 2.98

-39.66%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.77 COP 2,515

$1.05 BAM 1.79

-26.67%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.69 COP 5,488

$1.81 BAM 3.10

-6.63%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.17 COP 10.3K

$2.39 BAM 4.08

32.64%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.05 COP 3,423

$1.57 BAM 2.69

-33.12%

White Bread (500g)

$1.30 COP 4,236

$1.26 BAM 2.16

3.17%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.40 COP 4,544

$1.75 BAM 2.99

-20.00%

Eggs

$2.16 COP 7,047

$3.14 BAM 5.36

-31.21%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.39 COP 14.3K

$7.71 BAM 13.18

-43.06%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.88 COP 19.1K

$8.19 BAM 14.00

-28.21%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.64 COP 28.1K

$12.18 BAM 20.82

-29.06%

Apples (1kg)

$2.28 COP 7,426

$1.61 BAM 2.75

41.61%

Banana (1kg)

$1.11 COP 3,604

$1.91 BAM 3.27

-41.88%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.53 COP 4,983

$1.91 BAM 3.26

-19.90%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.35 COP 4,410

$2.73 BAM 4.68

-50.55%

Potato (1kg)

$1.13 COP 3,674

$1.58 BAM 2.71

-28.48%

Onion (1kg)

$1.13 COP 3,692

$1.46 BAM 2.50

-22.60%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.85 COP 2,753

$1.18 BAM 2.02

-27.97%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.91 COP 2,975

$0.66 BAM 1.14

37.88%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.34 COP 7,630

$3.80 BAM 6.50

-38.42%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.37 COP 40.3K

$8.72 BAM 14.92

41.86%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.20 COP 3,909

$0.86 BAM 1.48

39.53%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.49 COP 8,104

$1.51 BAM 2.58

64.90%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.84 COP 2,728

$2.38 BAM 4.07

-64.71%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$40.57 COP 132.1K

$17.85 BAM 30.52

127.28%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.42 COP 4,623

$1.51 BAM 2.59

-5.96%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.92 COP 6,235

$0.57 BAM 0.97

236.84%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.66 COP 24.9K

$11.89 BAM 20.33

-35.58%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.99 COP 3,223

$1.45 BAM 2.48

-31.72%

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

$18.0K COP 58.7M

$26.4K BAM 45.2K

-31.79%

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

$26.6K COP 86.7M

$26.2K BAM 44.8K

1.72%

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

$80.8 COP 263.1K

$144 BAM 246

-43.72%

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

$9.95 COP 32.4K

$18.99 BAM 32.48

-47.60%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.18 COP 78.7K

$24.13 BAM 41.27

0.21%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.08 COP 81.7K

$30.33 BAM 51.9

-17.31%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.15 COP 62.3K

$8.77 BAM 15.00

118.36%

Cinema Ticket

$3.98 COP 13.0K

$4.87 BAM 8.34

-18.28%

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

$305 COP 993.5K

$209 BAM 357

46.33%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,059 COP 19.7M

$3,282 BAM 5,613

84.60%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.1 COP 189.2K

$57.5 BAM 98.4

1.06%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$32.20 COP 104.8K

$26.84 BAM 45.90

19.97%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$101 COP 327.9K

$132 BAM 227

-23.95%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$108 COP 350.8K

$124 BAM 213

-13.38%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$477 COP 1.6M

$262 BAM 448

82.12%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$376 COP 1.2M

$172 BAM 294

119.09%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$845 COP 2.7M

$366 BAM 625

131.01%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$730 COP 2.4M

$293 BAM 501

149.52%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,215 COP 10.5M

$1,847 BAM 3,160

74.05%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,372 COP 4.5M

$1,370 BAM 2,343

0.15%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$617 COP 2.0M

$766 BAM 1,311

-19.51%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.43

123.83%

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

Last update for Medellin: July 12, 2026

Last update for Bijeljina: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $477 in Medellin versus $262 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 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 $33.00 in Medellin versus $35.00 in Bijeljina. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $193 vs $234 – 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

Medellin vs Bijeljina: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

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

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,546 per month in Medellin and $1,398 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 $1,031 in Medellin and $932 in Bijeljina. 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.