😐A single person spends $1,405 per month in Szczecin vs $1,031 in Medellin, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,031 per month in Szczecin vs $1,599 in Medellin, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $2,657 per month in Szczecin vs $2,167 in Medellin, rent included.
😐Szczecin costs about 36% more than Medellin, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Szczecin sits 5% above the global median, while Medellin is 23% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Szczecin
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$9.39zł 35.60
$6.16COP 20.0K
52.44%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$48.78zł 185
$32.60COP 106.0K
49.63%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.52zł 32.29
$7.34COP 23.9K
16.08%
Cappuccino
$3.35zł 12.69
$1.72COP 5,592
94.77%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.85zł 7.00
$1.05COP 3,416
76.19%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.42zł 5.37
$0.77COP 2,511
84.42%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.29zł 12.46
$1.69COP 5,480
94.67%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.19zł 12.09
$3.17COP 10.3K
0.63%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Szczecin
Medellin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.96zł 3.65
$1.05COP 3,418
-8.57%
White Bread(500g)
$1.33zł 5.04
$1.30COP 4,230
2.31%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.99zł 3.77
$1.40COP 4,538
-29.29%
Eggs
$3.28zł 12.44
$2.16COP 7,037
51.85%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.42zł 35.69
$4.39COP 14.3K
114.58%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.36zł 24.10
$5.88COP 19.1K
8.16%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$12.98zł 49.18
$8.64COP 28.1K
50.23%
Apples(1kg)
$0.89zł 3.38
$2.28COP 7,415
-60.96%
Banana(1kg)
$1.79zł 6.77
$1.11COP 3,599
61.26%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.39zł 5.26
$1.53COP 4,976
-9.15%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.15zł 8.15
$1.35COP 4,405
59.26%
Potato(1kg)
$0.89zł 3.39
$1.13COP 3,669
-21.24%
Onion(1kg)
$1.08zł 4.08
$1.13COP 3,687
-4.42%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.02zł 3.87
$0.85COP 2,749
20.00%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.56zł 2.14
$0.91COP 2,971
-38.46%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$5.40zł 20.45
$2.34COP 7,619
130.77%
Wine(Bottle)
$6.41zł 24.30
$12.37COP 40.2K
-48.18%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.09zł 4.13
$1.20COP 3,904
-9.17%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.44zł 5.46
$2.49COP 8,094
-42.17%
🚌 Getting Around
Szczecin
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.79zł 3.01
$0.84COP 2,724
-5.95%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$27.49zł 104
$40.57COP 131.9K
-32.24%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.15zł 8.13
$1.42COP 4,617
51.41%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.01zł 3.83
$1.92COP 6,227
-47.40%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$13.67zł 51.8
$7.66COP 24.9K
78.46%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.75zł 6.63
$0.99COP 3,219
76.77%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$33.4Kzł 126.7K
$18.0KCOP 58.6M
85.38%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$30.8Kzł 116.9K
$26.6KCOP 86.6M
15.85%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Szczecin
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$257zł 974
$80.8COP 262.7K
218.02%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$10.70zł 40.56
$9.95COP 32.3K
7.54%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.65zł 66.9
$24.18COP 78.6K
-27.01%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Szczecin
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$30.13zł 114
$25.08COP 81.5K
20.14%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.53zł 62.7
$19.15COP 62.3K
-13.68%
Cinema Ticket
$6.85zł 25.95
$3.98COP 13.0K
72.11%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Szczecin
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$376zł 1,424
$305COP 992.2K
23.07%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$8,122zł 30.8K
$6,059COP 19.7M
34.06%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Szczecin
Medellin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$56.9zł 216
$58.1COP 189.0K
-2.05%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$30.91zł 117
$32.20COP 104.7K
-4.01%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$74.2zł 281
$101COP 327.5K
-26.31%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$84.2zł 319
$108COP 350.3K
-21.90%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Szczecin
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$658zł 2,495
$477COP 1.5M
38.10%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$527zł 1,999
$376COP 1.2M
40.22%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$981zł 3,718
$845COP 2.7M
16.13%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$817zł 3,097
$730COP 2.4M
11.86%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,435zł 13.0K
$3,215COP 10.5M
6.81%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,448zł 9,280
$1,372COP 4.5M
78.41%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Szczecin
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,622zł 6,150
$617COP 2.0M
163.05%
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: July 14, 2026
Last update for Medellin: July 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $658 in Szczecin 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 163% 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 $49.00 in Szczecin versus $33.00 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $207 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
Szczecin vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Medellin cheaper than Szczecin?
Yes – Szczecin is pricier by about 36%, 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 $2,107 per month in Szczecin 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 Szczecin or in Medellin?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $49.00 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 and in Medellin?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,405 in Szczecin 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 Szczecin or in Medellin?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Medellin, where all-in costs run around $1,031, than in Szczecin at $1,405. 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.