😐A single person spends $1,484 per month in Suwalki vs $1,031 in Medellin, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,037 per month in Suwalki vs $1,599 in Medellin, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $2,591 per month in Suwalki vs $2,167 in Medellin, rent included.
😐Suwalki costs about 44% more than Medellin, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Suwalki sits 11% above the global median, while Medellin is 23% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Suwalki
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.57zł 21.15
$6.16COP 20.1K
-9.58%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$21.60zł 81.9
$32.60COP 106.1K
-33.74%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.53zł 36.16
$7.34COP 23.9K
29.84%
Cappuccino
$3.45zł 13.08
$1.72COP 5,599
100.58%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.93zł 3.55
$1.05COP 3,420
-11.43%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.82zł 6.91
$0.77COP 2,515
136.36%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$4.38zł 16.63
$1.69COP 5,487
159.17%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.55zł 17.26
$3.17COP 10.3K
43.53%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Suwalki
Medellin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.01zł 3.84
$1.05COP 3,423
-3.81%
White Bread(500g)
$0.99zł 3.75
$1.30COP 4,236
-23.85%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.18zł 4.50
$1.40COP 4,544
-15.71%
Eggs
$2.96zł 11.23
$2.16COP 7,046
37.04%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.23zł 31.24
$4.39COP 14.3K
87.47%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.35zł 20.31
$5.88COP 19.1K
-9.01%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$6.91zł 26.22
$8.64COP 28.1K
-20.02%
Apples(1kg)
$0.83zł 3.14
$2.28COP 7,425
-63.60%
Banana(1kg)
$1.80zł 6.84
$1.11COP 3,603
62.16%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.01zł 7.64
$1.53COP 4,982
31.37%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.63zł 13.78
$1.35COP 4,410
168.89%
Potato(1kg)
$0.52zł 1.97
$1.13COP 3,674
-53.98%
Onion(1kg)
$1.18zł 4.47
$1.13COP 3,692
4.42%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.24zł 4.71
$0.85COP 2,753
45.88%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.38zł 1.45
$0.91COP 2,975
-58.24%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$5.54zł 21.00
$2.34COP 7,629
136.75%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.85zł 29.79
$12.37COP 40.3K
-36.54%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.38zł 5.25
$1.20COP 3,909
15.00%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.96zł 7.42
$2.49COP 8,104
-21.29%
🚌 Getting Around
Suwalki
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.11zł 4.19
$0.84COP 2,727
32.14%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$31.79zł 121
$40.57COP 132.1K
-21.64%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.73zł 10.36
$1.42COP 4,623
92.25%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.02zł 3.88
$1.92COP 6,235
-46.87%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$13.80zł 52.4
$7.66COP 24.9K
80.16%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.70zł 6.46
$0.99COP 3,223
71.72%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.6Kzł 123.7K
$18.0KCOP 58.7M
80.83%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.3Kzł 126.5K
$26.6KCOP 86.7M
25.24%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Suwalki
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$362zł 1,373
$80.8COP 263.1K
347.64%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$10.20zł 38.70
$9.95COP 32.4K
2.51%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.52zł 66.5
$24.18COP 78.7K
-27.54%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Suwalki
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$36.74zł 139
$25.08COP 81.6K
46.49%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.26zł 73.1
$19.15COP 62.3K
0.57%
Cinema Ticket
$9.45zł 35.87
$3.98COP 13.0K
137.44%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Suwalki
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$591zł 2,243
$305COP 993.4K
93.73%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.8Kzł 59.8K
$6,059COP 19.7M
160.19%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Suwalki
Medellin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$100zł 381
$58.1COP 189.2K
72.63%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$46.46zł 176
$32.20COP 104.8K
44.29%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$95.2zł 361
$101COP 327.9K
-5.54%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$108zł 411
$108COP 350.8K
0.58%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Suwalki
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$642zł 2,436
$477COP 1.6M
34.69%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$490zł 1,858
$376COP 1.2M
30.16%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$978zł 3,711
$845COP 2.7M
15.80%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$812zł 3,081
$730COP 2.4M
11.18%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,979zł 11.3K
$3,215COP 10.5M
-7.35%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,394zł 9,084
$1,372COP 4.5M
74.46%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Suwalki
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,511zł 5,733
$617COP 2.0M
144.99%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
7.55
13.43
-43.78%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Suwalki: July 13, 2026
Last update for Medellin: July 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $642 in Suwalki 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 145% higher in Suwalki, 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 $22.00 in Suwalki versus $33.00 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $190 vs $193 – 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
Suwalki vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Medellin cheaper than Suwalki?
Yes – Suwalki is pricier by about 44%, 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 $2,226 per month in Suwalki 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 Suwalki or in Medellin?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $22.00 in Suwalki 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 Suwalki and in Medellin?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,484 in Suwalki 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 Suwalki or in Medellin?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Medellin, where all-in costs run around $1,031, than in Suwalki at $1,484. In Medellin it covers expenses comfortably, while in Suwalki it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Suwalki 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, Suwalki 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, Suwalki makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.