😐A single person spends $1,408 per month in Szczecin vs $1,013 in Medellin, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,007 per month in Szczecin vs $1,602 in Medellin, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $2,606 per month in Szczecin vs $2,192 in Medellin, rent included.
😐Szczecin costs about 39% more than Medellin, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Szczecin sits 5% above the global median, while Medellin is 24% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Szczecin
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$9.33zł 34.01
$5.99COP 21.4K
55.76%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$49.78zł 181
$32.86COP 117.4K
51.49%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.76zł 31.92
$7.09COP 25.3K
23.55%
Cappuccino
$3.33zł 12.12
$1.71COP 6,115
94.74%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.86zł 6.79
$1.10COP 3,924
69.09%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.41zł 5.15
$0.78COP 2,781
80.77%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.32zł 12.10
$1.68COP 5,997
97.62%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.18zł 11.59
$3.07COP 11.0K
3.58%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Szczecin
Medellin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.96zł 3.51
$1.09COP 3,906
-11.93%
White Bread(500g)
$1.28zł 4.67
$1.26COP 4,508
1.59%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.99zł 3.59
$1.38COP 4,922
-28.26%
Eggs
$3.34zł 12.16
$2.19COP 7,827
52.51%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.64zł 35.14
$4.40COP 15.7K
119.09%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.39zł 23.28
$5.63COP 20.1K
13.50%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.30zł 48.48
$8.89COP 31.8K
49.61%
Apples(1kg)
$0.89zł 3.26
$2.34COP 8,349
-61.97%
Banana(1kg)
$1.78zł 6.48
$1.06COP 3,777
67.92%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.39zł 5.08
$1.50COP 5,374
-7.33%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.18zł 7.96
$1.38COP 4,924
57.97%
Potato(1kg)
$0.89zł 3.24
$1.15COP 4,111
-22.61%
Onion(1kg)
$1.07zł 3.89
$1.16COP 4,155
-7.76%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.03zł 3.76
$0.89COP 3,182
15.73%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.60zł 2.19
$0.84COP 2,997
-28.57%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$5.32zł 19.40
$2.28COP 8,145
133.33%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.03zł 25.62
$10.64COP 38.0K
-33.93%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.14zł 4.14
$1.20COP 4,284
-5.00%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.47zł 5.37
$2.47COP 8,824
-40.49%
🚌 Getting Around
Szczecin
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.82zł 3.00
$0.86COP 3,056
-4.65%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$27.10zł 98.8
$41.40COP 147.9K
-34.54%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.20zł 8.02
$1.47COP 5,264
49.66%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.97zł 3.54
$1.96COP 7,009
-50.51%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$13.44zł 48.99
$7.74COP 27.6K
73.64%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.67zł 6.08
$0.95COP 3,409
75.79%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.7Kzł 119.3K
$18.1KCOP 64.7M
80.58%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$30.7Kzł 112.0K
$26.5KCOP 94.6M
16.00%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Szczecin
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$253zł 922
$82.3COP 293.7K
207.38%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$10.70zł 38.99
$9.50COP 33.9K
12.63%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.06zł 62.2
$24.23COP 86.5K
-29.59%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Szczecin
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$29.59zł 108
$25.89COP 92.4K
14.29%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$15.99zł 58.3
$19.00COP 67.9K
-15.84%
Cinema Ticket
$6.91zł 25.18
$3.93COP 14.0K
75.83%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Szczecin
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$379zł 1,383
$309COP 1.1M
22.62%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$8,219zł 30.0K
$5,965COP 21.3M
37.79%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Szczecin
Medellin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$56.4zł 205
$58.7COP 209.5K
-3.90%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$30.67zł 112
$32.35COP 115.5K
-5.19%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$72.4zł 264
$103COP 366.4K
-29.40%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$85.1zł 310
$108COP 387.2K
-21.49%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Szczecin
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$657zł 2,394
$476COP 1.7M
37.89%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$534zł 1,946
$379COP 1.4M
40.90%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$963zł 3,512
$838COP 3.0M
14.92%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$811zł 2,955
$724COP 2.6M
12.00%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,413zł 12.4K
$2,791COP 10.0M
22.31%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,566zł 9,354
$1,211COP 4.3M
111.85%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Szczecin
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,660zł 6,051
$512COP 1.8M
224.33%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6.36
13.43
-52.64%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Szczecin: June 1, 2026
Last update for Medellin: May 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $657 in Szczecin versus $476 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 224% higher in Szczecin, 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 $50.0 in Szczecin versus $33.00 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $211 vs $188 – 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
Szczecin vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Medellin cheaper than Szczecin?
Yes – Szczecin is pricier by about 39%, 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 $2,113 per month in Szczecin and $1,519 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 Szczecin or Medellin?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $50.0 in Szczecin 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 Szczecin vs Medellin?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,408 in Szczecin and $1,013 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 Szczecin or Medellin?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Medellin, where all-in costs run around $1,013, than in Szczecin at $1,408. In Medellin it covers expenses comfortably, while in Szczecin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Szczecin 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, Szczecin 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, Szczecin makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.