😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,681 in Medellin versus $1,594 in Bjelovar.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,445 in Medellin versus $2,451 in Bjelovar.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,210 in Medellin versus $3,307 in Bjelovar.
🌍Living in Medellin is roughly 5% more expensive than in Bjelovar, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Medellin23% above, Bjelovar17% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Bjelovar
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.02COP 25.0K
$13.99€12.20
-42.67%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$47.87COP 149.4K
$74.9€65.3
-36.11%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.89COP 30.8K
$10.22€8.91
-3.23%
Cappuccino
$3.13COP 9,767
$2.37€2.07
32.07%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.91COP 5,954
$3.18€2.77
-39.94%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.51COP 4,712
$1.98€1.72
-23.74%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.12COP 9,747
$4.03€3.52
-22.58%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.75COP 17.9K
$4.69€4.09
22.60%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Bjelovar
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.44COP 4,509
$1.23€1.07
17.07%
White Bread(500g)
$2.49COP 7,759
$1.67€1.46
49.10%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.77COP 5,535
$3.46€3.02
-48.84%
Eggs
$2.96COP 9,235
$3.86€3.36
-23.32%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.07COP 31.4K
$16.49€14.38
-38.93%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$10.12COP 31.6K
$10.69€9.32
-5.33%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$14.30COP 44.6K
$14.62€12.75
-2.19%
Apples(1kg)
$4.14COP 12.9K
$1.72€1.50
140.70%
Banana(1kg)
$1.61COP 5,019
$1.79€1.56
-10.06%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.25COP 7,007
$1.89€1.65
19.05%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.25COP 7,028
$2.73€2.38
-17.58%
Potato(1kg)
$2.04COP 6,375
$1.41€1.23
44.68%
Onion(1kg)
$1.54COP 4,790
$1.36€1.18
13.24%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.17COP 3,651
$1.35€1.18
-13.33%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.31COP 4,077
$1.34€1.17
-2.24%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.90COP 12.2K
$6.07€5.29
-35.75%
Wine(Bottle)
$14.01COP 43.7K
$8.04€7.00
74.25%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.74COP 5,439
$1.64€1.43
6.10%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.87COP 8,956
$2.18€1.90
31.65%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Bjelovar
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.22COP 3,792
$1.55€1.35
-21.29%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$80.5COP 251.1K
$38.38€33.45
109.69%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.31COP 4,084
$5.71€4.98
-77.06%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.19COP 6,825
$1.54€1.34
42.21%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$8.71COP 27.2K
$28.65€24.97
-69.60%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.37COP 4,260
$1.75€1.53
-21.71%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.8KCOP 86.9M
$27.0K€23.6K
2.99%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$35.8KCOP 111.6M
$25.3K€22.1K
41.22%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Bjelovar
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$177COP 553.2K
$191€167
-7.35%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.88COP 43.3K
$24.91€21.71
-44.28%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.72COP 92.8K
$40.97€35.72
-27.46%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Bjelovar
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$44.88COP 140.1K
$54.5€47.49
-17.62%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.12COP 53.4K
$13.55€11.81
26.35%
Cinema Ticket
$6.65COP 20.7K
$7.09€6.18
-6.21%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Bjelovar
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$813COP 2.5M
$566€493
43.66%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$9,187COP 28.7M
$13.1K€11.4K
-29.83%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Bjelovar
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$89.5COP 279.3K
$101€88.4
-11.79%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$59.0COP 184.0K
$43.00€37.48
37.14%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$138COP 431.2K
$108€93.9
28.25%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$102COP 318.7K
$113€98.7
-9.80%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Bjelovar
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,062COP 3.3M
$707€616
50.27%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$663COP 2.1M
$539€470
22.93%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,888COP 5.9M
$1,234€1,076
53.00%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,027COP 3.2M
$847€739
21.21%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,183COP 13.1M
$3,706€3,230
12.88%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,675COP 5.2M
$2,550€2,223
-34.34%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Bjelovar
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$678COP 2.1M
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
10.94
3.73
193.30%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Medellin: September 14, 2026
Last update for Bjelovar: September 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,062 in Medellin and $707 in Bjelovar. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $48.00 in Medellin vs $75.0 in Bjelovar. Groceries flip the comparison at $305 vs $303, with Bjelovar cheaper for home cooking.
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 Bjelovar: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Medellin and in Bjelovar?
Medellin and Bjelovar differ by about 5% in total monthly costs ($1,681 vs $1,594 including rent). Bjelovar is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
What salary covers living expenses in Medellin compared to Bjelovar?
You'd need roughly $2,521 in Medellin and $2,392 in Bjelovar to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
How do apartment prices compare in Medellin and in Bjelovar?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,062 in Medellin versus $707 in Bjelovar. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
Dining out is cheaper in Bjelovar – a meal for two runs $75.0 versus $48.00 in Medellin. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is more expensive overall: Medellin or Bjelovar?
All in, you'll spend $1,681 per month in Medellin versus $1,594 in Bjelovar – a 5% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $1,594 in Bjelovar versus $1,681 in Medellin, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Bjelovar but tight or insufficient in Medellin. The gap between the two cities makes Bjelovar the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Medellin and Bjelovar?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Medellin or Bjelovar safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Medellin and Bjelovar are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Where should expats move: Medellin or Bjelovar?
Expats usually find Bjelovar gentler on the wallet – expenses run 5% less than in Medellin. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.