Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and OrshaCost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Orsha
Monthly Cost of Living
πA single person spends $1,013 per month in Medellin vs $655 in Orsha, rent included.
πA couple spends around $1,602 per month in Medellin vs $1,027 in Orsha, rent included.
πA family of three spends $2,192 per month in Medellin vs $1,399 in Orsha, rent included.
πMedellin costs about 55% more than Orsha, driven mainly by Getting Around.
πBoth Medellin and Orsha are more affordable than the global median β Medellin24% lower, Orsha51% lower.
Currency
π½ Eating Out
Medellin
Orsha
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.99COPΒ 21.5K
$9.43BYNΒ 26.40
-36.48%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.86COPΒ 118.1K
$31.19BYNΒ 87.3
5.35%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.09COPΒ 25.5K
$5.50BYNΒ 15.40
28.91%
Cappuccino
$1.71COPΒ 6,155
$1.75BYNΒ 4.91
-2.29%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.10COPΒ 3,950
$0.61BYNΒ 1.71
80.33%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.78COPΒ 2,799
$0.42BYNΒ 1.17
85.71%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.68COPΒ 6,037
$1.20BYNΒ 3.36
40.00%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.07COPΒ 11.0K
$2.17BYNΒ 6.06
41.47%
π Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Orsha
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.09COPΒ 3,931
$0.72BYNΒ 2.03
51.39%
White Bread(500g)
$1.26COPΒ 4,537
$0.57BYNΒ 1.60
121.05%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.38COPΒ 4,955
$1.18BYNΒ 3.31
16.95%
Eggs
$2.19COPΒ 7,878
$1.32BYNΒ 3.69
65.91%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$4.40COPΒ 15.8K
$6.56BYNΒ 18.37
-32.93%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.63COPΒ 20.2K
$4.21BYNΒ 11.80
33.73%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.89COPΒ 32.0K
$8.00BYNΒ 22.41
11.13%
Apples(1kg)
$2.34COPΒ 8,403
$1.17BYNΒ 3.27
100.00%
Banana(1kg)
$1.06COPΒ 3,802
$1.71BYNΒ 4.78
-38.01%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.50COPΒ 5,409
$1.75BYNΒ 4.90
-14.29%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.38COPΒ 4,956
$2.49BYNΒ 6.99
-44.58%
Potato(1kg)
$1.15COPΒ 4,138
$0.47BYNΒ 1.32
144.68%
Onion(1kg)
$1.16COPΒ 4,183
$0.58BYNΒ 1.62
100.00%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.89COPΒ 3,203
$1.29BYNΒ 3.62
-31.01%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.84COPΒ 3,016
$0.59BYNΒ 1.66
42.37%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.28COPΒ 8,198
$1.88BYNΒ 5.27
21.28%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.64COPΒ 38.3K
$8.75BYNΒ 24.50
21.60%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.20COPΒ 4,312
$0.95BYNΒ 2.65
26.32%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.47COPΒ 8,882
$1.74BYNΒ 4.87
41.95%
π Getting Around
Medellin
Orsha
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.86COPΒ 3,076
$0.28BYNΒ 0.78
207.14%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$41.40COPΒ 148.8K
$12.66BYNΒ 35.46
227.01%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.47COPΒ 5,298
$1.37BYNΒ 3.84
7.30%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.96COPΒ 7,055
$0.32BYNΒ 0.90
512.50%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.74COPΒ 27.8K
$5.83BYNΒ 16.33
32.76%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.95COPΒ 3,431
$0.78BYNΒ 2.18
21.79%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.1KCOPΒ 65.2M
$20.0KBYNΒ 56.0K
-9.39%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.5KCOPΒ 95.2M
$24.0KBYNΒ 67.3K
10.16%
π§Ύ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Orsha
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$82.3COPΒ 295.7K
$53.3BYNΒ 149
54.37%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.50COPΒ 34.2K
$7.70BYNΒ 21.57
23.38%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.23COPΒ 87.1K
$10.69BYNΒ 29.92
126.66%
π Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Orsha
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$25.89COPΒ 93.0K
$30.10BYNΒ 84.3
-13.99%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.00COPΒ 68.3K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$3.93COPΒ 14.1K
$4.68BYNΒ 13.11
-16.03%
π§Έ Childcare & Education
Medellin
Orsha
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$309COPΒ 1.1M
$300BYNΒ 840
3.18%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,965COPΒ 21.4M
$10.1KBYNΒ 28.4K
-41.09%
ππ Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Orsha
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.7COPΒ 210.8K
$51.3BYNΒ 144
14.32%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$32.35COPΒ 116.3K
$42.02BYNΒ 118
-23.01%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$103COPΒ 368.8K
$114BYNΒ 319
-9.91%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$108COPΒ 389.7K
$98.0BYNΒ 274
10.70%
π Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Orsha
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$476COPΒ 1.7M
$139BYNΒ 389
243.14%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$379COPΒ 1.4M
$108BYNΒ 303
250.54%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$838COPΒ 3.0M
$170BYNΒ 476
392.65%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$724COPΒ 2.6M
$139BYNΒ 389
421.17%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,791COPΒ 10.0M
$1,133BYNΒ 3,173
146.22%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,211COPΒ 4.4M
$865BYNΒ 2,421
40.09%
π΅ Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Orsha
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$512COPΒ 1.8M
$182BYNΒ 511
180.67%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
13.43
14.77
-9.07%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input β minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Medellin: May 31, 2026
Last update for Orsha: June 1, 2026
Cost Breakdown
π A central one-bedroom costs $476 in Medellin versus $139 in Orsha. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.
π°Salaries run about 181% higher in Medellin, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.
πA mid-range dinner for two costs $33.00 in Medellin versus $31.00 in Orsha. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $188 vs $164 β making Orsha 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 Orsha: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Orsha cheaper than Medellin?
Yes β Medellin is pricier by about 55%, and the gap shows up most in Getting Around. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,519 per month in Medellin and $983 in Orsha. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled β not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Orsha, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
What are total monthly expenses in Medellin vs Orsha?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,013 in Medellin and $655 in Orsha. The difference isn't just one category β it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Medellin or Orsha?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Orsha, where all-in costs run around $655, than in Medellin at $1,013. In Orsha it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Medellin or Orsha more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Orsha β lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Medellin or Orsha?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison β central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Orsha. 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.