😐A single person spends $1,681 per month in Medellin vs $1,570 in Suwalki, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,445 per month in Medellin vs $2,136 in Suwalki, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $3,210 per month in Medellin vs $2,701 in Suwalki, rent included.
😐Medellin costs about 7% more than Suwalki, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Medellin and Suwalki sit above the global median – Medellin by 23%, Suwalki by 15%.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Suwalki
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.02COP 25.4K
$5.38zł 20.43
49.07%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$47.87COP 152.0K
$21.13zł 80.2
126.55%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.89COP 31.4K
$9.51zł 36.11
4.00%
Cappuccino
$3.13COP 9,937
$3.44zł 13.06
-9.01%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.91COP 6,058
$0.90zł 3.43
112.22%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.51COP 4,794
$2.32zł 8.80
-34.91%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.12COP 9,917
$4.65zł 17.67
-32.90%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.75COP 18.3K
$5.36zł 20.36
7.28%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Suwalki
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.44COP 4,587
$1.02zł 3.87
41.18%
White Bread(500g)
$2.49COP 7,894
$0.97zł 3.67
156.70%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.77COP 5,631
$1.17zł 4.43
51.28%
Eggs
$2.96COP 9,396
$2.85zł 10.82
3.86%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.07COP 32.0K
$7.99zł 30.34
26.03%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$10.12COP 32.1K
$5.43zł 20.60
86.37%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$14.30COP 45.4K
$6.57zł 24.94
117.66%
Apples(1kg)
$4.14COP 13.1K
$0.83zł 3.14
398.80%
Banana(1kg)
$1.61COP 5,106
$1.81zł 6.87
-11.05%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.25COP 7,129
$1.76zł 6.67
27.84%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.25COP 7,150
$4.02zł 15.25
-44.03%
Potato(1kg)
$2.04COP 6,486
$0.52zł 1.96
292.31%
Onion(1kg)
$1.54COP 4,873
$0.97zł 3.69
58.76%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.17COP 3,715
$1.21zł 4.60
-3.31%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.31COP 4,148
$0.39zł 1.47
235.90%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.90COP 12.4K
$6.45zł 24.49
-39.53%
Wine(Bottle)
$14.01COP 44.5K
$6.57zł 24.94
113.24%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.74COP 5,534
$1.12zł 4.25
55.36%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.87COP 9,112
$1.82zł 6.90
57.69%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Suwalki
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.22COP 3,858
$0.97zł 3.67
25.77%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$80.5COP 255.5K
$29.24zł 111
175.24%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.31COP 4,155
$2.65zł 10.05
-50.57%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.19COP 6,944
$1.31zł 4.99
67.18%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$8.71COP 27.7K
$13.34zł 50.7
-34.71%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.37COP 4,334
$1.76zł 6.68
-22.16%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.8KCOP 88.4M
$31.5Kzł 119.7K
-11.75%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$35.8KCOP 113.6M
$31.2Kzł 118.3K
14.84%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Suwalki
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$177COP 562.9K
$373zł 1,417
-52.51%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.88COP 44.1K
$8.92zł 33.86
55.61%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.72COP 94.4K
$17.77zł 67.4
67.25%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Suwalki
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$44.88COP 142.5K
$41.97zł 159
6.93%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.12COP 54.4K
$22.09zł 83.9
-22.50%
Cinema Ticket
$6.65COP 21.1K
$9.58zł 36.37
-30.58%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Suwalki
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$813COP 2.6M
$614zł 2,333
32.30%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$9,187COP 29.2M
$15.5Kzł 58.7K
-40.57%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Suwalki
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$89.5COP 284.1K
$112zł 424
-19.83%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$59.0COP 187.2K
$42.51zł 161
38.72%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$138COP 438.8K
$111zł 423
24.00%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$102COP 324.2K
$126zł 478
-18.87%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Suwalki
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,062COP 3.4M
$626zł 2,376
69.68%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$663COP 2.1M
$518zł 1,968
27.90%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,888COP 6.0M
$1,030zł 3,908
83.40%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,027COP 3.3M
$858zł 3,258
19.67%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,183COP 13.3M
$3,186zł 12.1K
31.29%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,675COP 5.3M
$2,652zł 10.1K
-36.86%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Suwalki
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$678COP 2.2M
$1,545zł 5,865
-56.14%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
10.94
6.65
64.51%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Medellin: September 14, 2026
Last update for Suwalki: September 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $1,062 in Medellin versus $626 in Suwalki. 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 128% higher in Suwalki, 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 $21.00 in Suwalki. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $305 vs $184 – making Suwalki 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 Suwalki: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Suwalki cheaper than Medellin?
Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 7%, 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 $2,356 in Suwalki. 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 Suwalki, 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 Suwalki?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $48.00 in Medellin and $21.00 in Suwalki. 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 Suwalki?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,681 in Medellin and $1,570 in Suwalki. 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 Suwalki?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Suwalki, where all-in costs run around $1,570, than in Medellin at $1,681. In Suwalki it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Medellin or Suwalki more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Suwalki – 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 Suwalki?
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 Suwalki. 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.