Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Orsha Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Orsha

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,013 per month in Medellin vs $655 in Orsha, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,602 per month in Medellin vs $1,027 in Orsha, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,192 per month in Medellin vs $1,399 in Orsha, rent included.

Medellin costs about 55% more than Orsha, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Medellin and Orsha are more affordable than the global median – Medellin 24% lower, Orsha 51% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Orsha
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.99 COPΒ 21.5K
$9.43 BYNΒ 26.40
-36.48%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.86 COPΒ 118.1K
$31.19 BYNΒ 87.3
5.35%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.09 COPΒ 25.5K
$5.50 BYNΒ 15.40
28.91%
Cappuccino
$1.71 COPΒ 6,155
$1.75 BYNΒ 4.91
-2.29%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.10 COPΒ 3,950
$0.61 BYNΒ 1.71
80.33%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.78 COPΒ 2,799
$0.42 BYNΒ 1.17
85.71%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.68 COPΒ 6,037
$1.20 BYNΒ 3.36
40.00%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.07 COPΒ 11.0K
$2.17 BYNΒ 6.06
41.47%
πŸ›’ Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Orsha
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.09 COPΒ 3,931
$0.72 BYNΒ 2.03
51.39%
White Bread (500g)
$1.26 COPΒ 4,537
$0.57 BYNΒ 1.60
121.05%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.38 COPΒ 4,955
$1.18 BYNΒ 3.31
16.95%
Eggs
$2.19 COPΒ 7,878
$1.32 BYNΒ 3.69
65.91%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$4.40 COPΒ 15.8K
$6.56 BYNΒ 18.37
-32.93%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.63 COPΒ 20.2K
$4.21 BYNΒ 11.80
33.73%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$8.89 COPΒ 32.0K
$8.00 BYNΒ 22.41
11.13%
Apples (1kg)
$2.34 COPΒ 8,403
$1.17 BYNΒ 3.27
100.00%
Banana (1kg)
$1.06 COPΒ 3,802
$1.71 BYNΒ 4.78
-38.01%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.50 COPΒ 5,409
$1.75 BYNΒ 4.90
-14.29%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.38 COPΒ 4,956
$2.49 BYNΒ 6.99
-44.58%
Potato (1kg)
$1.15 COPΒ 4,138
$0.47 BYNΒ 1.32
144.68%
Onion (1kg)
$1.16 COPΒ 4,183
$0.58 BYNΒ 1.62
100.00%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.89 COPΒ 3,203
$1.29 BYNΒ 3.62
-31.01%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.84 COPΒ 3,016
$0.59 BYNΒ 1.66
42.37%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.28 COPΒ 8,198
$1.88 BYNΒ 5.27
21.28%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.64 COPΒ 38.3K
$8.75 BYNΒ 24.50
21.60%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.20 COPΒ 4,312
$0.95 BYNΒ 2.65
26.32%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.47 COPΒ 8,882
$1.74 BYNΒ 4.87
41.95%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Orsha
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.86 COPΒ 3,076
$0.28 BYNΒ 0.78
207.14%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$41.40 COPΒ 148.8K
$12.66 BYNΒ 35.46
227.01%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.47 COPΒ 5,298
$1.37 BYNΒ 3.84
7.30%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.96 COPΒ 7,055
$0.32 BYNΒ 0.90
512.50%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.74 COPΒ 27.8K
$5.83 BYNΒ 16.33
32.76%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.95 COPΒ 3,431
$0.78 BYNΒ 2.18
21.79%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.1K COPΒ 65.2M
$20.0K BYNΒ 56.0K
-9.39%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.5K COPΒ 95.2M
$24.0K BYNΒ 67.3K
10.16%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Orsha
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$82.3 COPΒ 295.7K
$53.3 BYNΒ 149
54.37%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.50 COPΒ 34.2K
$7.70 BYNΒ 21.57
23.38%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.23 COPΒ 87.1K
$10.69 BYNΒ 29.92
126.66%
πŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Orsha
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$25.89 COPΒ 93.0K
$30.10 BYNΒ 84.3
-13.99%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.00 COPΒ 68.3K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$3.93 COPΒ 14.1K
$4.68 BYNΒ 13.11
-16.03%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Orsha
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$309 COPΒ 1.1M
$300 BYNΒ 840
3.18%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,965 COPΒ 21.4M
$10.1K BYNΒ 28.4K
-41.09%
πŸ‘•πŸ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Orsha
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.7 COPΒ 210.8K
$51.3 BYNΒ 144
14.32%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$32.35 COPΒ 116.3K
$42.02 BYNΒ 118
-23.01%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$103 COPΒ 368.8K
$114 BYNΒ 319
-9.91%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$108 COPΒ 389.7K
$98.0 BYNΒ 274
10.70%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Orsha
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$476 COPΒ 1.7M
$139 BYNΒ 389
243.14%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$379 COPΒ 1.4M
$108 BYNΒ 303
250.54%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$838 COPΒ 3.0M
$170 BYNΒ 476
392.65%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$724 COPΒ 2.6M
$139 BYNΒ 389
421.17%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,791 COPΒ 10.0M
$1,133 BYNΒ 3,173
146.22%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,211 COPΒ 4.4M
$865 BYNΒ 2,421
40.09%
πŸ’΅ Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Orsha
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$512 COPΒ 1.8M
$182 BYNΒ 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 – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Medellin: May 31, 2026

Last update for Orsha: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

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.

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.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $33.00 in Medellin versus $31.00 in Orsha. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $188 vs $164 – 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 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 – 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 Orsha?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $33.00 in Medellin and $31.00 in Orsha. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and cafΓ© pricing gap between the 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 – 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 – 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.

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