😐A single person spends $1,681 per month in Medellin vs $1,521 in Ostroda, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,445 per month in Medellin vs $2,152 in Ostroda, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $3,210 per month in Medellin vs $2,783 in Ostroda, rent included.
😐Medellin costs about 10% more than Ostroda, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Medellin and Ostroda sit above the global median – Medellin by 23%, Ostroda by 11%.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Ostroda
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.02COP 25.4K
$10.45zł 39.69
-23.25%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$47.87COP 152.0K
$36.80zł 140
30.08%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.89COP 31.4K
$7.91zł 30.01
25.03%
Cappuccino
$3.13COP 9,937
$3.10zł 11.77
0.97%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.91COP 6,058
$2.19zł 8.32
-12.79%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.51COP 4,794
$1.63zł 6.18
-7.36%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.12COP 9,917
$3.78zł 14.37
-17.46%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.75COP 18.3K
$3.65zł 13.86
57.53%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Ostroda
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.44COP 4,587
$0.89zł 3.36
61.80%
White Bread(500g)
$2.49COP 7,894
$1.35zł 5.11
84.44%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.77COP 5,631
$1.29zł 4.91
37.21%
Eggs
$2.96COP 9,396
$3.25zł 12.34
-8.92%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.07COP 32.0K
$8.10zł 30.76
24.32%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$10.12COP 32.1K
$6.59zł 25.01
53.57%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$14.30COP 45.4K
$12.21zł 46.36
17.12%
Apples(1kg)
$4.14COP 13.1K
$0.79zł 2.98
424.05%
Banana(1kg)
$1.61COP 5,106
$1.07zł 4.07
50.47%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.25COP 7,129
$1.31zł 4.99
71.76%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.25COP 7,150
$1.37zł 5.19
64.23%
Potato(1kg)
$2.04COP 6,486
$0.83zł 3.17
145.78%
Onion(1kg)
$1.54COP 4,873
$0.83zł 3.13
85.54%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.17COP 3,715
$1.32zł 5.00
-11.36%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.31COP 4,148
$0.52zł 1.96
151.92%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.90COP 12.4K
$5.13zł 19.46
-23.98%
Wine(Bottle)
$14.01COP 44.5K
$6.58zł 24.98
112.92%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.74COP 5,534
$1.07zł 4.07
62.62%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.87COP 9,112
$1.65zł 6.25
73.94%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Ostroda
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.22COP 3,858
$1.18zł 4.49
3.39%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$80.5COP 255.5K
$32.21zł 122
149.86%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.31COP 4,155
$2.35zł 8.92
-44.26%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.19COP 6,944
$1.09zł 4.14
100.92%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$8.71COP 27.7K
$13.42zł 50.9
-35.10%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.37COP 4,334
$1.59zł 6.04
-13.84%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.8KCOP 88.4M
$32.1Kzł 122.0K
-13.40%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$35.8KCOP 113.6M
$28.8Kzł 109.5K
24.02%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Ostroda
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$177COP 562.9K
$306zł 1,163
-42.13%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.88COP 44.1K
$10.60zł 40.25
30.94%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.72COP 94.4K
$19.55zł 74.2
52.02%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Ostroda
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$44.88COP 142.5K
$39.18zł 149
14.55%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.12COP 54.4K
$20.51zł 77.9
-16.53%
Cinema Ticket
$6.65COP 21.1K
$9.43zł 35.81
-29.48%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Ostroda
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$813COP 2.6M
$421zł 1,598
93.15%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$9,187COP 29.2M
$5,822zł 22.1K
57.80%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Ostroda
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$89.5COP 284.1K
$96.3zł 365
-7.04%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$59.0COP 187.2K
$42.07zł 160
40.17%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$138COP 438.8K
$109zł 413
26.95%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$102COP 324.2K
$109zł 413
-6.09%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Ostroda
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,062COP 3.4M
$691zł 2,622
53.78%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$663COP 2.1M
$473zł 1,796
40.09%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,888COP 6.0M
$1,072zł 4,068
76.21%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,027COP 3.3M
$920zł 3,491
11.69%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,183COP 13.3M
$2,595zł 9,853
61.17%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,675COP 5.3M
$2,594zł 9,847
-35.44%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Ostroda
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$678COP 2.2M
$1,329zł 5,045
-49.00%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
10.94
6.6
65.76%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Medellin: September 14, 2026
Last update for Ostroda: September 14, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $1,062 in Medellin versus $691 in Ostroda. 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 96% higher in Ostroda, 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 $48.00 in Medellin versus $37.00 in Ostroda. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $305 vs $194 – making Ostroda 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 Ostroda: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Ostroda cheaper than Medellin?
Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 10%, 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 $2,521 per month in Medellin and $2,282 in Ostroda. 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 Ostroda, 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 Ostroda?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $48.00 in Medellin and $37.00 in Ostroda. 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 Ostroda?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,681 in Medellin and $1,521 in Ostroda. 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 Ostroda?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Ostroda, where all-in costs run around $1,521, than in Medellin at $1,681. In Ostroda it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Medellin or Ostroda more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Ostroda – 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 Ostroda?
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 Ostroda. 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.