Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and OrshaCost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Orsha
Monthly Cost of Living
😐A single person spends $1,716 per month in Medellin vs $642 in Orsha, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,527 per month in Medellin vs $999 in Orsha, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $3,338 per month in Medellin vs $1,357 in Orsha, rent included.
😐Medellin costs about 167% more than Orsha, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Medellin sits 25% above the global median, while Orsha is 53% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Orsha
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.03COP 25.1K
$6.36BYN 19.47
26.26%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$48.26COP 150.8K
$29.88BYN 91.4
61.51%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.77COP 30.5K
$4.17BYN 12.75
134.29%
Cappuccino
$2.91COP 9,095
$1.51BYN 4.62
92.72%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.94COP 6,074
$0.61BYN 1.86
218.03%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.52COP 4,754
$0.34BYN 1.05
347.06%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.09COP 9,663
$1.12BYN 3.41
175.89%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.74COP 17.9K
$2.47BYN 7.55
132.39%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Orsha
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.36COP 4,262
$0.72BYN 2.20
88.89%
White Bread(500g)
$2.39COP 7,460
$0.57BYN 1.74
319.30%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.70COP 5,314
$1.07BYN 3.28
58.88%
Eggs
$2.87COP 8,967
$1.34BYN 4.11
114.18%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.94COP 31.1K
$6.55BYN 20.05
51.76%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$10.78COP 33.7K
$3.97BYN 12.14
171.54%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$14.73COP 46.0K
$6.09BYN 18.62
141.87%
Apples(1kg)
$4.09COP 12.8K
$1.23BYN 3.78
232.52%
Banana(1kg)
$1.57COP 4,911
$1.75BYN 5.35
-10.29%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.13COP 6,642
$1.78BYN 5.44
19.66%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.21COP 6,917
$1.66BYN 5.09
33.13%
Potato(1kg)
$2.05COP 6,396
$0.38BYN 1.18
439.47%
Onion(1kg)
$1.50COP 4,700
$0.63BYN 1.93
138.10%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.19COP 3,718
$0.95BYN 2.91
25.26%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.16COP 3,619
$0.50BYN 1.54
132.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.90COP 12.2K
$1.91BYN 5.83
104.19%
Wine(Bottle)
$14.44COP 45.1K
$7.70BYN 23.57
87.53%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.58COP 4,948
$1.48BYN 4.52
6.76%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.83COP 8,836
$2.12BYN 6.50
33.49%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Orsha
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.17COP 3,650
$0.68BYN 2.07
72.06%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$77.7COP 242.9K
$14.50BYN 44.37
436.07%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.28COP 4,014
$0.70BYN 2.15
82.86%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.09COP 6,537
$0.32BYN 0.97
553.12%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$8.62COP 26.9K
$9.92BYN 30.36
-13.10%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.30COP 4,056
$0.87BYN 2.67
49.43%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.7KCOP 86.4M
$14.8KBYN 45.4K
86.26%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$35.5KCOP 110.9M
$15.6KBYN 47.6K
128.13%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Orsha
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$176COP 550.1K
$69.0BYN 211
155.21%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.37COP 41.8K
$7.21BYN 22.05
85.44%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.89COP 93.4K
$11.25BYN 34.42
165.69%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Orsha
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$44.76COP 139.8K
$36.61BYN 112
22.26%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.06COP 53.3K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.20COP 19.4K
$3.20BYN 9.80
93.75%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Orsha
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$793COP 2.5M
$329BYN 1,007
141.13%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$9,019COP 28.2M
$9,807BYN 30.0K
-8.04%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Orsha
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$85.6COP 267.5K
$43.90BYN 134
95.01%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$58.5COP 182.7K
$47.12BYN 144
24.09%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$136COP 425.9K
$89.8BYN 275
51.76%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$103COP 322.2K
$104BYN 319
-0.98%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Orsha
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,060COP 3.3M
$342BYN 1,045
210.21%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$680COP 2.1M
$116BYN 355
485.25%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,012COP 6.3M
$597BYN 1,828
236.79%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,169COP 3.7M
$144BYN 441
710.59%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,111COP 12.8M
$1,120BYN 3,426
267.23%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,701COP 5.3M
$881BYN 2,696
93.10%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Orsha
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$665COP 2.1M
$177BYN 542
275.65%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
10.94
18
-39.22%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Medellin: August 30, 2026
Last update for Orsha: August 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $1,060 in Medellin versus $342 in Orsha. 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 276% higher in Medellin, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $48.00 in Medellin versus $30.00 in Orsha. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $303 vs $152 – 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 – Medellin is pricier by about 167%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. 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 $2,574 per month in Medellin and $962 in Orsha. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – 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.
Is eating out cheaper in Medellin or in Orsha?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $48.00 in Medellin and $30.00 in Orsha. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
What are total monthly expenses in Medellin and in Orsha?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,716 in Medellin and $642 in Orsha. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Medellin or in Orsha?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Orsha, where all-in costs run around $642, than in Medellin at $1,716. 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 – 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 – 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.