😐A single person spends $1,455 per month in Olsztyn vs $1,031 in Medellin, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $1,981 per month in Olsztyn vs $1,599 in Medellin, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $2,506 per month in Olsztyn vs $2,167 in Medellin, rent included.
😐Olsztyn costs about 41% more than Medellin, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Olsztyn sits 9% above the global median, while Medellin is 23% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Olsztyn
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.64zł 40.34
$6.16COP 20.0K
72.73%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.03zł 174
$32.60COP 106.0K
41.20%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.54zł 28.57
$7.34COP 23.9K
2.72%
Cappuccino
$3.02zł 11.46
$1.72COP 5,592
75.58%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.69zł 6.40
$1.05COP 3,416
60.95%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.90zł 7.21
$0.77COP 2,511
146.75%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.30zł 12.50
$1.69COP 5,480
95.27%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.83zł 14.52
$3.17COP 10.3K
20.82%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Olsztyn
Medellin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.05zł 3.98
$1.05COP 3,418
-
White Bread(500g)
$1.36zł 5.16
$1.30COP 4,230
4.62%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.49zł 5.65
$1.40COP 4,538
6.43%
Eggs
$3.27zł 12.40
$2.16COP 7,037
51.39%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.87zł 33.62
$4.39COP 14.3K
102.05%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.02zł 22.82
$5.88COP 19.1K
2.38%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$9.81zł 37.16
$8.64COP 28.1K
13.54%
Apples(1kg)
$1.14zł 4.32
$2.28COP 7,415
-50.00%
Banana(1kg)
$1.50zł 5.67
$1.11COP 3,599
35.14%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.01zł 7.61
$1.53COP 4,976
31.37%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.69zł 10.20
$1.35COP 4,405
99.26%
Potato(1kg)
$0.75zł 2.84
$1.13COP 3,669
-33.63%
Onion(1kg)
$1.19zł 4.52
$1.13COP 3,687
5.31%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.15zł 4.38
$0.85COP 2,749
35.29%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.73zł 2.77
$0.91COP 2,971
-19.78%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$5.44zł 20.61
$2.34COP 7,619
132.48%
Wine(Bottle)
$8.04zł 30.48
$12.37COP 40.2K
-35.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.99zł 3.75
$1.20COP 3,904
-17.50%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.71zł 6.49
$2.49COP 8,094
-31.33%
🚌 Getting Around
Olsztyn
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.07zł 4.04
$0.84COP 2,724
27.38%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$27.54zł 104
$40.57COP 131.9K
-32.12%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.99zł 7.54
$1.42COP 4,617
40.14%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.71zł 2.70
$1.92COP 6,227
-63.02%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$13.84zł 52.4
$7.66COP 24.9K
80.68%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.75zł 6.64
$0.99COP 3,219
76.77%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$33.3Kzł 126.1K
$18.0KCOP 58.6M
84.51%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$31.2Kzł 118.2K
$26.6KCOP 86.6M
17.11%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Olsztyn
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$278zł 1,053
$80.8COP 262.7K
243.73%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.00zł 34.13
$9.95COP 32.3K
-9.55%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.01zł 64.5
$24.18COP 78.6K
-29.65%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Olsztyn
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$32.99zł 125
$25.08COP 81.5K
31.54%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.57zł 62.8
$19.15COP 62.3K
-13.47%
Cinema Ticket
$8.12zł 30.76
$3.98COP 13.0K
104.02%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Olsztyn
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$136zł 515
$305COP 992.2K
-55.50%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.8Kzł 59.9K
$6,059COP 19.7M
160.74%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Olsztyn
Medellin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$96.4zł 365
$58.1COP 189.0K
65.78%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$47.27zł 179
$32.20COP 104.7K
46.80%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$80.9zł 307
$101COP 327.5K
-19.68%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$111zł 422
$108COP 350.3K
3.42%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Olsztyn
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$640zł 2,427
$477COP 1.5M
34.38%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$532zł 2,016
$376COP 1.2M
41.39%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$958zł 3,631
$845COP 2.7M
13.41%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$596zł 2,260
$730COP 2.4M
-18.38%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,909zł 14.8K
$3,215COP 10.5M
21.58%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,714zł 10.3K
$1,372COP 4.5M
97.74%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Olsztyn
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,425zł 5,402
$617COP 2.0M
131.06%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.81
13.43
-56.74%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Olsztyn: July 12, 2026
Last update for Medellin: July 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $640 in Olsztyn versus $477 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 131% 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 $46.00 in Olsztyn versus $33.00 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $208 vs $193 – making Medellin 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
Olsztyn vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Medellin cheaper than Olsztyn?
Yes – Olsztyn is pricier by about 41%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. 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 $2,182 per month in Olsztyn and $1,546 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 $46.00 in Olsztyn and $33.00 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 $1,455 in Olsztyn and $1,031 in Medellin. 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 Olsztyn or in Medellin?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Medellin, where all-in costs run around $1,031, than in Olsztyn at $1,455. 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.