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Medellín vs Warsaw

Cost-of-living comparison and salary equivalence. Enter your current salary to see what you'd need to earn to live equally well.

Medellín, CO vs Warsaw, PL at a glance — Warsaw, PL is 46% more expensive than Medellín, CO overall. Median 1-bed rent runs about $900/mo versus $550/mo. Top income tax: 32% vs 39%.

$/ year

To keep the same standard of living in Warsaw, PL, you'd need

$109,632 / year

Warsaw, PL is 46% more expensive overall

Category breakdown (Warsaw, PL vs Medellín, CO)

  • Housing+71%
  • Food & groceries+46%
  • Transport+38%
  • Utilities+82%
  • Healthcare+18%
  • Goods & services+28%

◎ How Medellín, CO and Warsaw, PL compare

HousingFood & groceriesTransportUtilitiesHealthcareGoods & services
Medellín, COWarsaw, PL

Index vs the US average — the line marks 100. Lower is cheaper.

▤ Full comparison

Medellín, COWarsaw, PL
Cost of living
Overall cost index4972
Housing4272
Food4870
Transport4055
Utilities55100
Healthcare5565
Goods & services5874
Housing
Rent, 1-bed centre$550/mo$900/mo
Rent, 1-bed outside$350/mo$650/mo
Rent, 3-bed centre$1,100/mo$1,700/mo
Buy price / m² centre$1,800$4,000
Money & purchasing power
$1,000 goes as far as$2,029$1,388
Inexpensive meal$5$8
Monthly transit pass$40$30
Taxes
Income tax (top rate)39%32%
VAT / sales tax19%23%
Corporate tax35%19%
Capital gains—19%
Economy & salaries
Avg net salary$450/mo$1,200/mo
Avg annual wage (OECD, PPP)—$49,074✓
Minimum wage$330/mo$1,297/mo✓
GDP per capita$6,976✓$28,420✓
Inflation (annual)5.2%✓3.8%✓
Work & digital nomad
Digital-nomad visaYesNo
English proficiencyLowModerate
Coworking spaces4050
Time zoneUTC-5UTC+1
Quality of life
Quality of life (overall)5967
Safety index4868
Healthcare index7072
Pollution index5555
Internet speed80 Mbps150 Mbps
Walkability5580
Public transport6882
Family-friendly5868
Tap waterSafe to drinkSafe to drink
Life expectancy74 yr✓78 yr✓
LGBTQ+ acceptanceHighLow
Climate
January avg+22 °C-2 °C
July avg+22 °C+19 °C
Sunny days / year20090
Rainfall / year1,600 mm550 mm
Connectivity
Flight to nearest hub1.5 h1.5 h

Taxes & Economy & salaries: Colombia vs Poland. Estimates use approximate cost-of-living indices (US average = 100) and are for general guidance only.

✓ = official statistics (OECD (PPP), Eurostat 2026, World Bank 2025, World Bank 2024). Unmarked figures are CostTrek estimates. How we calculate these figures →

Cost of living: Medellín vs Warsaw — in your currency

MedellínWarsaw
1-bed rent, city centre$550$900
1-bed rent, outside centre$350$650
Inexpensive meal$5$8
Monthly transit pass$40$30
Utilities (monthly)$60$200

Converted from USD at approximate rates (2026-09).

Good to know before you move to Medellín

A dramatic turnaround story with a year-round spring climate and a modern metro. El Poblado and Laureles anchor a booming nomad scene; costs are low and healthcare excellent, but safety still varies sharply by neighbourhood.

Currency
Colombian peso ($ COP)
Languages
Spanish
Time zone
UTC-5
Internet
80 Mbps
English
Rarely spoken
Safety
48/100
Climate
❄ 22°C · ☀ 22°C · 200 sunny days/yr
Tap water
Safe to drink
Power
A/B · 110V
Driving
Right-hand side
Popular areas
El Poblado · Laureles · Envigado · Belén

Good to know before you move to Warsaw

Central Europe's fastest-rising business hub — modern, safe and affordable, with cold winters.

Currency
Polish złoty (zł PLN)
Languages
Polish
Time zone
UTC+1
Internet
150 Mbps
English
Fairly common
Safety
68/100
Climate
❄ -2°C · ☀ 19°C · 90 sunny days/yr
Tap water
Safe to drink
Power
E · 230V
Driving
Right-hand side
Popular areas
Śródmieście · Praga · Mokotów

? Frequently asked questions

Moving from Medellín to Warsaw: cheaper or more expensive?

Moving from Medellín to Warsaw, your cost of living will be roughly 46% more expensive. Warsaw’s cost-of-living index is 72 versus 49 for Medellín (US = 100). Use the salary tool above to see the income you’d need to keep the same lifestyle.

Is Medellín cheaper than Warsaw?

Warsaw is about 46% more expensive than Medellín overall — its cost-of-living index is 72 versus 49 for Medellín.

Which is more expensive, Medellín or Warsaw?

Warsaw is more expensive than Medellín. Its cost-of-living index is 72 vs 49 (US = 100) — about 47% higher.

Is rent cheaper in Medellín or Warsaw?

Rent is cheaper in Medellín — about $550/month for a one-bedroom in the city centre, vs $900 in Warsaw.

How much do you need to earn in Warsaw to live like in Medellín?

To keep the same standard of living, a $75,000 salary in Medellín is worth about $109,632 in Warsaw. Enter your own figure in the calculator above.

Which has lower taxes, Medellín or Warsaw?

Poland has the lower top income-tax rate — 32% versus 39% in Colombia.

◷ More comparisons from Medellín

How we calculate these figures →

Estimates use approximate cost-of-living indices (US average = 100) and are for general guidance only.