Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Zgorzelec Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Zgorzelec

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,618 per month in Medellin vs $1,479 in Zgorzelec, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,460 per month in Medellin vs $2,177 in Zgorzelec, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,302 per month in Medellin vs $2,875 in Zgorzelec, rent included.

Medellin costs about 9% more than Zgorzelec, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Medellin and Zgorzelec sit above the global median – Medellin by 19%, Zgorzelec by 9%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Zgorzelec
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.69 COP 24.6K
$9.36 zł 34.86
-17.84%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$43.28 COP 138.2K
$52.1 zł 194
-16.93%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.50 COP 30.4K
$8.22 zł 30.60
15.57%
Cappuccino
$2.81 COP 8,973
$3.23 zł 12.02
-13.00%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.84 COP 5,862
$0.96 zł 3.59
91.67%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.51 COP 4,813
$1.71 zł 6.37
-11.70%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.08 COP 9,849
$1.63 zł 6.07
88.96%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.49 COP 17.5K
$2.10 zł 7.80
161.43%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Zgorzelec
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.34 COP 4,293
$1.00 zł 3.74
34.00%
White Bread (500g)
$2.31 COP 7,363
$1.28 zł 4.76
80.47%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.47 COP 4,692
$1.45 zł 5.38
1.38%
Eggs
$2.69 COP 8,583
$3.61 zł 13.43
-25.48%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.87 COP 28.3K
$9.38 zł 34.94
-5.44%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.64 COP 34.0K
$6.19 zł 23.03
71.89%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.47 COP 46.2K
$13.10 zł 48.79
10.46%
Apples (1kg)
$3.75 COP 12.0K
$0.94 zł 3.52
298.94%
Banana (1kg)
$1.39 COP 4,429
$1.64 zł 6.09
-15.24%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.22 COP 7,096
$1.76 zł 6.56
26.14%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.98 COP 6,324
$1.64 zł 6.10
20.73%
Potato (1kg)
$2.05 COP 6,562
$0.66 zł 2.44
210.61%
Onion (1kg)
$1.60 COP 5,109
$1.10 zł 4.11
45.45%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.04 COP 3,327
$1.33 zł 4.95
-21.80%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.27 COP 4,052
$0.73 zł 2.73
73.97%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.75 COP 12.0K
$5.08 zł 18.91
-26.18%
Wine (Bottle)
$13.10 COP 41.8K
$8.07 zł 30.06
62.33%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.58 COP 5,035
$0.89 zł 3.32
77.53%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.02 COP 9,642
$1.42 zł 5.28
112.68%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Zgorzelec
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.17 COP 3,730
$1.28 zł 4.75
-8.59%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$76.0 COP 242.6K
$27.63 zł 103
174.92%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.50 COP 4,800
$2.47 zł 9.20
-39.27%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.09 COP 6,662
$1.05 zł 3.89
99.05%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.10 COP 25.9K
$13.23 zł 49.25
-38.78%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.26 COP 4,032
$1.63 zł 6.06
-22.70%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.9K COP 85.9M
$32.0K zł 119.2K
-15.95%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.9K COP 111.4M
$28.6K zł 106.4K
22.03%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Zgorzelec
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$148 COP 473.7K
$306 zł 1,139
-51.50%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.03 COP 41.6K
$8.14 zł 30.30
60.07%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$31.48 COP 100.5K
$20.35 zł 75.8
54.69%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Zgorzelec
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$45.50 COP 145.3K
$39.98 zł 149
13.81%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.02 COP 54.3K
$24.28 zł 90.4
-29.90%
Cinema Ticket
$6.32 COP 20.2K
$7.87 zł 29.31
-19.70%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Zgorzelec
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$837 COP 2.7M
$513 zł 1,909
63.23%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$8,663 COP 27.7M
$7,804 zł 29.1K
11.01%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Zgorzelec
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$88.8 COP 283.6K
$84.5 zł 315
5.09%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$54.9 COP 175.4K
$39.11 zł 146
40.45%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$134 COP 429.5K
$91.5 zł 341
46.95%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$108 COP 345.9K
$113 zł 422
-4.48%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Zgorzelec
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$939 COP 3.0M
$712 zł 2,651
31.90%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$646 COP 2.1M
$460 zł 1,714
40.37%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,941 COP 6.2M
$1,171 zł 4,361
65.68%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,126 COP 3.6M
$893 zł 3,326
26.05%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,638 COP 11.6M
$3,437 zł 12.8K
5.87%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,553 COP 5.0M
$2,017 zł 7,512
-23.02%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Zgorzelec
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$628 COP 2.0M
$1,405 zł 5,233
-55.33%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
10.43
6.65
56.84%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Medellin: August 3, 2026

Last update for Zgorzelec: August 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $939 in Medellin versus $712 in Zgorzelec. 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 124% higher in Zgorzelec, 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 $43.00 in Medellin versus $52.0 in Zgorzelec. Groceries tell a different story – $291 in Medellin vs $213 in Zgorzelec – so Zgorzelec wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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 Zgorzelec: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Zgorzelec cheaper than Medellin?
Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 9%, 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 $2,427 per month in Medellin and $2,219 in Zgorzelec. 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 Zgorzelec, 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 Zgorzelec?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $43.00 in Medellin and $52.0 in Zgorzelec. 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 Zgorzelec?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,618 in Medellin and $1,479 in Zgorzelec. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Is $2,000 a realistic budget for living in Medellin or in Zgorzelec?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Zgorzelec, where all-in costs run around $1,479, than in Medellin at $1,618. In Zgorzelec it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Medellin or Zgorzelec more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Zgorzelec – 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 Zgorzelec?
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 Zgorzelec. 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.

Medellin vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities