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

Monthly Cost of Living

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

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

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

Medellin costs about 5% more than Bijeljina, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

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

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.99 COP 21.4K

$8.90 BAM 14.96

-32.70%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.86 COP 117.4K

$35.33 BAM 59.4

-6.99%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.09 COP 25.3K

$4.99 BAM 8.39

42.08%

Cappuccino

$1.71 COP 6,115

$1.44 BAM 2.41

18.75%

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

$1.10 COP 3,924

$1.73 BAM 2.90

-36.42%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.78 COP 2,781

$1.09 BAM 1.83

-28.44%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.68 COP 5,997

$1.80 BAM 3.02

-6.67%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.07 COP 11.0K

$2.38 BAM 3.99

28.99%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.09 COP 3,906

$1.61 BAM 2.71

-32.30%

White Bread (500g)

$1.26 COP 4,508

$1.20 BAM 2.02

5.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.38 COP 4,922

$1.73 BAM 2.91

-20.23%

Eggs

$2.19 COP 7,827

$3.10 BAM 5.21

-29.35%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.40 COP 15.7K

$7.98 BAM 13.41

-44.86%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.63 COP 20.1K

$8.05 BAM 13.52

-30.06%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.89 COP 31.8K

$12.18 BAM 20.47

-27.01%

Apples (1kg)

$2.34 COP 8,349

$1.67 BAM 2.81

40.12%

Banana (1kg)

$1.06 COP 3,777

$1.85 BAM 3.10

-42.70%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.50 COP 5,374

$1.83 BAM 3.07

-18.03%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.38 COP 4,924

$2.67 BAM 4.49

-48.31%

Potato (1kg)

$1.15 COP 4,111

$1.60 BAM 2.69

-28.13%

Onion (1kg)

$1.16 COP 4,155

$1.47 BAM 2.47

-21.09%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.89 COP 3,182

$1.14 BAM 1.91

-21.93%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.84 COP 2,997

$0.67 BAM 1.12

25.37%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.28 COP 8,145

$3.73 BAM 6.27

-38.87%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.64 COP 38.0K

$9.02 BAM 15.15

17.96%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.20 COP 4,284

$0.84 BAM 1.42

42.86%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.47 COP 8,824

$1.45 BAM 2.44

70.34%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.86 COP 3,056

$2.41 BAM 4.04

-64.32%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.40 COP 147.9K

$17.94 BAM 30.15

130.77%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.47 COP 5,264

$1.45 BAM 2.43

1.38%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.96 COP 7,009

$0.56 BAM 0.93

250.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.74 COP 27.6K

$11.77 BAM 19.78

-34.24%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.95 COP 3,409

$1.41 BAM 2.37

-32.62%

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

$18.1K COP 64.7M

$26.2K BAM 44.0K

-30.83%

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

$26.5K COP 94.6M

$26.5K BAM 44.5K

0.07%

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

$82.3 COP 293.7K

$141 BAM 237

-41.65%

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

$9.50 COP 33.9K

$19.14 BAM 32.16

-50.37%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.23 COP 86.5K

$24.88 BAM 41.79

-2.61%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.89 COP 92.4K

$30.66 BAM 51.5

-15.56%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.00 COP 67.9K

$8.80 BAM 14.78

115.91%

Cinema Ticket

$3.93 COP 14.0K

$5.06 BAM 8.50

-22.33%

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

$309 COP 1.1M

$214 BAM 359

44.65%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,965 COP 21.3M

$3,300 BAM 5,544

80.76%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.7 COP 209.5K

$58.6 BAM 98.4

0.17%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$32.35 COP 115.5K

$26.71 BAM 44.87

21.12%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$103 COP 366.4K

$135 BAM 227

-23.96%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$108 COP 387.2K

$124 BAM 208

-12.29%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$476 COP 1.7M

$259 BAM 436

83.51%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$379 COP 1.4M

$167 BAM 281

126.62%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$838 COP 3.0M

$370 BAM 622

126.28%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$724 COP 2.6M

$291 BAM 488

149.01%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,791 COP 10.0M

$1,891 BAM 3,177

47.59%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,211 COP 4.3M

$1,425 BAM 2,394

-15.00%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$512 COP 1.8M

$759 BAM 1,276

-32.59%

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: May 31, 2026

Last update for Bijeljina: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $476 in Medellin versus $259 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 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 $33.00 in Medellin versus $35.00 in Bijeljina. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $188 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: $1,013 in Medellin, $963 in Bijeljina – roughly 5% apart. Medellin costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,519 per month in Medellin and $1,444 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 $1,013 in Medellin and $963 in Bijeljina. 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.