😐A single person spends $1,808 per month in Olsztyn vs $1,681 in Medellin, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,733 per month in Olsztyn vs $2,445 in Medellin, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $3,659 per month in Olsztyn vs $3,210 in Medellin, rent included.
😐Olsztyn costs about 8% more than Medellin, driven mainly by Getting Around.
📊Both Olsztyn and Medellin sit above the global median – Olsztyn by 32%, Medellin by 23%.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Olsztyn
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.39zł 50.8
$8.02COP 25.4K
66.96%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$51.9zł 197
$47.87COP 152.0K
8.36%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.10zł 34.53
$9.89COP 31.4K
-7.99%
Cappuccino
$3.45zł 13.10
$3.13COP 9,937
10.22%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.52zł 9.57
$1.91COP 6,058
31.94%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.98zł 7.53
$1.51COP 4,794
31.13%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.18zł 12.06
$3.12COP 9,917
1.92%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.98zł 15.10
$5.75COP 18.3K
-30.78%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Olsztyn
Medellin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.07zł 4.07
$1.44COP 4,587
-25.69%
White Bread(500g)
$1.37zł 5.21
$2.49COP 7,894
-44.98%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.50zł 5.69
$1.77COP 5,631
-15.25%
Eggs
$4.06zł 15.42
$2.96COP 9,396
37.16%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.13zł 38.45
$10.07COP 32.0K
0.60%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.73zł 29.34
$10.12COP 32.1K
-23.62%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.62zł 59.3
$14.30COP 45.4K
9.23%
Apples(1kg)
$1.23zł 4.68
$4.14COP 13.1K
-70.29%
Banana(1kg)
$1.75zł 6.62
$1.61COP 5,106
8.70%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.87zł 7.09
$2.25COP 7,129
-16.89%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.49zł 13.25
$2.25COP 7,150
55.11%
Potato(1kg)
$1.02zł 3.87
$2.04COP 6,486
-50.00%
Onion(1kg)
$1.27zł 4.83
$1.54COP 4,873
-17.53%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.36zł 5.15
$1.17COP 3,715
16.24%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.75zł 2.86
$1.31COP 4,148
-42.75%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$5.72zł 21.72
$3.90COP 12.4K
46.67%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.91zł 30.02
$14.01COP 44.5K
-43.54%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.15zł 4.36
$1.74COP 5,534
-33.91%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.63zł 6.17
$2.87COP 9,112
-43.21%
🚌 Getting Around
Olsztyn
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.09zł 4.13
$1.22COP 3,858
-10.66%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$26.74zł 102
$80.5COP 255.5K
-66.77%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.07zł 7.86
$1.31COP 4,155
58.02%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.77zł 2.91
$2.19COP 6,944
-64.84%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$10.58zł 40.15
$8.71COP 27.7K
21.47%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.61zł 6.11
$1.37COP 4,334
17.52%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$33.2Kzł 126.1K
$27.8KCOP 88.4M
19.34%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$29.8Kzł 113.3K
$35.8KCOP 113.6M
-16.58%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Olsztyn
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$305zł 1,157
$177COP 562.9K
71.93%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.77zł 37.09
$13.88COP 44.1K
-29.61%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.85zł 71.6
$29.72COP 94.4K
-36.57%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Olsztyn
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$52.6zł 200
$44.88COP 142.5K
17.18%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$23.45zł 89.0
$17.12COP 54.4K
36.97%
Cinema Ticket
$9.43zł 35.78
$6.65COP 21.1K
41.80%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Olsztyn
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$403zł 1,531
$813COP 2.6M
-50.38%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$14.6Kzł 55.4K
$9,187COP 29.2M
58.90%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Olsztyn
Medellin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$104zł 393
$89.5COP 284.1K
15.73%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$50.7zł 192
$59.0COP 187.2K
-14.11%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$105zł 398
$138COP 438.8K
-24.21%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$108zł 408
$102COP 324.2K
5.34%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Olsztyn
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$919zł 3,487
$1,062COP 3.4M
-13.50%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$735zł 2,791
$663COP 2.1M
10.91%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,785zł 6,777
$1,888COP 6.0M
-5.46%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,404zł 5,329
$1,027COP 3.3M
36.67%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,850zł 14.6K
$4,183COP 13.3M
-7.96%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,698zł 10.2K
$1,675COP 5.3M
61.13%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Olsztyn
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,456zł 5,528
$678COP 2.2M
114.87%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
7.52
10.94
-31.26%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Olsztyn: September 14, 2026
Last update for Medellin: September 14, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $919 in Olsztyn versus $1,062 in Medellin. 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 115% higher in Olsztyn, 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 $52.0 in Olsztyn versus $48.00 in Medellin. Groceries tell a different story – $249 in Olsztyn vs $305 in Medellin – so Olsztyn 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
Olsztyn vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Medellin cheaper than Olsztyn?
Yes – Olsztyn is pricier by about 8%, 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 $2,712 per month in Olsztyn and $2,521 in Medellin. 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 Medellin, 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 Olsztyn or in Medellin?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $52.0 in Olsztyn and $48.00 in Medellin. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
What are total monthly expenses in Olsztyn and in Medellin?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,808 in Olsztyn and $1,681 in Medellin. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Is $2,500 a realistic budget for living in Olsztyn or in Medellin?
A $2,500 monthly budget goes further in Medellin, where all-in costs run around $1,681, than in Olsztyn at $1,808. In Medellin it covers expenses comfortably, while in Olsztyn it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Olsztyn or Medellin more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Medellin – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Olsztyn or Medellin?
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 Medellin. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Olsztyn makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.