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Cheapest Places to Live in South America – Cost…

The Cheapest Cities in South America To Live in 2023

South America is increasingly becoming a sought-after destination for digital nomads and those remote workers looking to live abroad and make the most from their income in US dollars, Euros, etc…

Because if you earn a US or European standard income, you are good in most South American cities, at least from the cost of living point of view, and South America has a lot to offer.

The continent has a blend of big cities with modern amenities and smaller, often overlooked cities that offer a slower pace of life. Among these, some stand out as the cheapest countries to live in, offering a relatively high quality of life at a fraction of the cost of cities in North America.

Remember: This is About Cities With Low Cost of Living in South America

So you will not find here Chilean cities, for example, despite Chile being the best country to live in South America, since it is not cheap (at least not compared to the neighbors). You will also not find Uruguay, one of the best places to retire in the region but also relatively pricey.

One of the cheapest places to live in South America is Colombia, with several cities on this list. Known for its violent past, stunning cityscapes, and colonial architecture, Colombia is a perfect place for those seeking a balance between affordability and lifestyle.

Colombia also improved a lot during the last 2 decades, especially in terms of safety, although there is still a long road ahead.

Ecuador and Bolivia, too, offer extremely cheap living options by South American standards. Quito, one of the oldest cities in South America, and Santa Cruz, a city often overlooked thanks to its copious natural beauty, are among the best places for affordable living. A one-bedroom apartment in the city center of these cities can cost as little as a third of what it would in major cities in Brazil.

Argentina and Paraguay are also among the cheapest countries to live in South America. Buenos Aires, despite being one of the more expensive cities in Argentina, is still quite cheap compared to cities in North America thanks to the huge devaluation of the Argentinian Peso.

Asuncion, Paraguay’s capital, is another city where a single person who works remotely for a US or European company can live comfortably without breaking the bank.

Moving Out, Working Abroad and Keeping Your Sanity Cover
Recommended book: Moving Out, Working Abroad, and Keeping Your Sanity

The Criteria to Define the Cheapest Places to Live in South America

Size

Size matters in this case.

Smaller cities are cool, but to analyze thousands of little municipalities would take an enormous amount of time, so we considered only cities with more than 500,000 residents.

The Living Cost Index by Numbeo

Numbeo, the world’s largest cost repository, compiles it. It’s a crowd-sourced database with data on housing, healthcare, and other costs of living around the world.

Lower costs are important for expatriates for the very reason we stated at the beginning of this article: we want to get the maximum benefit from the same amount of money.

The Living Cost Index is a measure of how expensive it is to live in a particular place compared to New York City (which has a standard value of 100 on the Index).

For example, if a city has a Living Cost Index of 50, it means that on average, living costs there are 50% lower than in New York City.

This index is very useful for people considering relocating or traveling. It gives a quick understanding of how much money you might need to maintain your current standard of living in a different city or country.

What Are the Countries in South America?

Another important criterion is to define what is South America and which countries are part of it. 

One important thing to have in mind is that we define South America purely on geographical terms. That means we don’t consider linguist aspects, like we do when we talk about Latin America (a definition that includes only countries that speak languages from the romance (Latin) family, like Spanish, French, and Portuguese, and for this reason excludes Belize, for example, where the official language is English.

Suriname, for example, is not a Latin American country (its official language is Dutch) but is considered one of the of South American countries.

Here is the complete list:

  • Argentina
  • Bolivia
  • Brazil
  • Chile (We wrote a full article about the pros and cons of living in Chile here)
  • Colombia
  • Ecuador
  • Guyana
  • Paraguay
  • Peru
  • Suriname
  • Uruguay
  • Venezuela

Now that is clear what we are talking about, let’s dive into our list of the most inexpensive places in South America.

The Best Cities to Live in South America For a Cheap Lifestyle in 2023!

10 – Quito, Ecuador

Average Cost of Living Index: 34.6

65.4% cheaper than New York. 

Population: Approximately 2 million

Average Square Meter Price in an Upper-Middle-Class Residential Zone (USD): $1,494.44 on average.

Curious low-living cost fact: Quito has the 2nd Cheapest Monthly Public Transportation Pass among major cities in all of the Americas.

Quito, Ecuador, one of the cheapest places to live in South America in terms of capital cities

Opening our top 10 of the cheapest places to live in South America, this city has a wide-ranging economy, with many areas like building and construction, trade, and personal services playing a big part in its wealth. Big companies in Quito include the Corporacion Favorita C.A. and the Central Bank of Ecuador.

Quito has a kind of climate called subtropical highland. This means it has mild temperatures all through the year. Even though it’s near the Equator, the city is high up, so the weather is cool. The average daily temperatures are usually between 10°C (50°F) and 20°C (68°F).

9 – Medellin (Colombia)

Average Cost of Living Index: 31.9

68.1% cheaper than New York.

Population: Approximately 2.508 million

Average Square Meter Price in an Upper-Middle-Class Residential Zone (USD): $1,355.95 on average, with most offers ranging between $1,004.772 and $2,009.54.

Curious low-living cost fact: Medellin has the 3rd cheapest domestic beer prices among major cities in all of the Americas

Medellin, Colombia, one of the cheapest places to live in South America considering only large cities

Located in the Aburrá Valley, a central region of the Andes Mountains in South America, Medellín is served by José María Córdova International Airport, located about 35 km northeast of the city. The airport offers flights to several destinations in the Americas and Europe, including Miami, Madrid, and New York.

The economy of Medellín is diverse and robust, with key industries including textiles, fashion, construction, infrastructure, and energy. The city is home to many Colombian and international companies, making it a significant economic center in the country.

Medellín’s climate is a tropical rainforest climate, bordering on a tropical monsoon climate.

8 – Santa Cruz, Bolivia

Average Cost of Living Index: 31.3

68.7% cheaper than New York.

Population: Approximately 1.453 million

Average Square Meter Price in an Upper-Middle-Class Residential Zone (USD): $1,159.46 on average, with most offers ranging between $1,013.63 and $1,501.64.

Curious low-living cost fact: Santa Cruz has the Least Expensive Chicken Fillets (1kg) prices among major cities in all of the Americas

Santa Cruz de La Sierra, Bolivia

Santa Cruz is located in the eastern part of the country, and it’s served by Viru Viru International Airport, the largest and most important airport in Bolivia. The airport offers flights to several destinations in the Americas and Europe, including Miami, Madrid, and São Paulo.

The city’s economy is primarily based on agriculture, with Santa Cruz being the most important agricultural department in the country. Other significant industries include oil, natural gas, and manufacturing. 

7 – Cartagena, Colombia

Average Cost of Living Index: 31.0

69.0% cheaper than New York.

Population: Approximately 914,552 residents.

Average Square Meter Price in an Upper-Middle-Class Residential Zone (USD): $2,594.32 on average, with most offers ranging between $1,758.35 and $4,013.73.

Curious low-living cost fact: Cartagena has the Least Expensive Domestic Beer prices among major cities in all of the Americas

Cartagena, Colombia

Cartagena, also known as Cartagena de Indias, is a port city on Colombia’s Caribbean coast. Despite its popularity as a tourist destination, the cost of living in Cartagena remains relatively low. The city is famous for its preserved old town, a UNESCO World Heritage site, with cobbled streets, colonial buildings, and iconic fortress walls.

The city’s economy is primarily based on maritime and petrochemicals industry, tourism, and services. Cartagena is home to the country’s main maritime port.

The city is known for its warm and humid weather, with temperatures often reaching the mid-30s Celsius (90s Fahrenheit). It is served by Rafael Núñez International Airport, located within the city. The airport offers flights to several destinations in the Americas and Europe, including Miami, Panama City, and Amsterdam.

6 – Cali, Colombia

Average Cost of Living Index: 31.0

69.0% cheaper than New York.

Population: Approximately 2,227,642 people.

Average Square Meter Price in an Upper-Middle-Class Residential Zone (USD): $939.46 on average, with most offers ranging between $753.58 and $1,507.16.

Curious low-living cost fact: Cali has the 2nd cheapest fitness club prices among major cities in all of the Americas

Cali, Colombia

Cali’s economy is primarily based on industry and commerce. The city is home to the Pacific Stock Exchange and several multinational companies. It is also the center of an important agricultural region, known for its sugar and coffee production (Colombia is one of the best countries in the world for the hot, bitter liquid).

The city is served by Alfonso Bonilla Aragón International Airport, located in the nearby city of Palmira. The airport offers flights to several destinations in the Americas and Europe, including Miami, Madrid, and Panama City.

Cali has a tropical savanna climate, with a short dry season and a long wet season. The city is known for its warm and humid weather, with temperatures often reaching the mid-30s Celsius (90s Fahrenheit).

5 – Asuncion, Paraguay

Average Cost of Living Index: 30.5

69.5% cheaper than New York.

Population: Approximately 525,252

Average Square Meter Price in an Upper-Middle-Class Residential Zone (USD): $ 1,232.91 on average, with most offers ranging between $825.25 and $2,696.90.

Curious low-living cost fact: Asuncion has the Least Expensive McMeal prices among major cities in all of the Americas

Asuncion, Paraguay

Asuncion, the capital and largest city of Paraguay, is located in the southwestern part of the country, near the Paraguay River.

Surprisingly, Paraguay is one of the countries with the largest community of foreigners in entire South America (mostly Brazilians).

The closest international airport is Silvio Pettirossi International Airport, which is the busiest airport in Paraguay. It offers flights to several cities in the Americas, including Buenos Aires, Sao Paulo, and Miami.

Asuncion is the main economic, cultural, and industrial hub of Paraguay. The city’s economy is based on commerce and services, including banking, telecommunications, and insurance. The city is also home to the National University of Asuncion and several other educational institutions.

The city experiences heavy rainfall throughout the year, especially during the summer months.

Read also: The Best Non-Beach Vacation Getaways (Paraguay is one of them)

4 – Bogota, Colombia

Average Cost of Living Index: 30.4

69.6% cheaper than New York.

Population: Approximately 7.4 million

Average Square Meter Price in an Upper-Middle-Class Residential Zone (USD): $ 1,756.15 on average, with most offers ranging between $1,255.97 and $2,260.74.

A curious fact about living costs: Bogota has the 3rd cheapest Uber rate among 17 national capitals.

Bogota, Colombia

Despite being one of the largest cities in South America, Bogota remains relatively inexpensive. The city is located in the center of Colombia, on a high plateau.

The climate is subtropical highland, with average temperatures remaining constant throughout the year. However, due to its altitude, it has significant temperature variation between day and night.

Bogota is the main economic and industrial center of Colombia. The Colombian government and various international entities have their headquarters in the city. It is a major center for the import and export of goods for Colombia and the Andean Community in South America.

It also has one of the most efficient bus transportation systems on the continent.

The closest international airport is El Dorado International Airport, which is among the busiest in Latin America in terms of passenger traffic. It offers flights to cities in the Americas, Europe, and Asia.

3 – Buenos Aires, Argentina

Average Cost of Living Index: 30.0

Buenos Aires is 70.0% cheaper than New York.

Population: Approximately 13.1 million (Metropolitan Area)

Average Square Meter Price in an Upper-Middle-Class Residential Zone (USD): $ 2,497.58 on average, with most offers ranging between $2000 and $3125.

Curious low-living cost fact: Buenos Aires has the cheapest bottles of mid-range red wine among major cities in all of the Americas

Buenos Aires, Argentina

Buenos Aires is known for its European-style architecture and rich cultural life.

Thanks to the massive devaluation of the Argentinian Peso, it is one of the most inexpensive capital cities in South America, offering a high quality of life (when compared to cities like Rio de Janeiro or Caracas) at a relatively low cost. No surprise that lately retirees are more and more attracted to the idea of retirement in Argentina.

It is the capital of Argentina, a country that tops the list of the best Spanish-Speaking countries to visit.

Buenos Aires is the financial, industrial, and commercial hub of Argentina. Many multinational businesses have their regional headquarters in the city. The Port of Buenos Aires is one of the busiest in South America; navigation is mainly oriented to direct traffic with the ports of the Paraná and Uruguay rivers.

Despite the economic crisis, Buenos Aires is still one of the safest cities on the continent.

There is a large airport called Ministro Pistarini International Airport, commonly known as Ezeiza Airport. It offers flights to many destinations worldwide, including cities in Europe, North America, and other parts of South America.

2 – Barranquilla, Colombia

Average Cost of Living Index: 27.4

It is 72.6% cheaper than New York.

Population: 1.2 million

Average Square Meter Price in an Upper-Middle-Class Residential Zone (USD): $1,188.98 on average, with most offers ranging between $1,004.77 and $1,306.20.

Curious low-living cost fact: Barranquilla has the cheapest Pepsi prices among major cities in all of the Americas

Barranquilla, the 2nd cheapest city to live in South America

Barranquilla is famous for its annual Carnival, which is one of the biggest in the world.

The city’s economy is diverse, with key industries including port activities, manufacturing, and services. Major employers in the city include the port of Barranquilla, Ecopetrol, and several multinational corporations. The climate in Barranquilla is tropical, with high temperatures and humidity throughout the year.

It is also located near the Caribbean Sea, making it a significant port in Colombia.

The closest international airport is the Ernesto Cortissoz International Airport, which offers flights to several destinations in the Americas and Europe.

Read also: The Easiest Countries to Adopt a Baby From (Colombia is one of them).

1 – Bucaramanga, Colombia

Average Cost of Living Index: 23.7

Bucaramanga is 76.3% cheaper than New York.

Population: 528,575 residents.

Average Square Meter Price in an Upper-Middle-Class Residential Zone (USD):  $870.80 on average, with most offers ranging between $552.62 and $1,004.77.

Curious low-living cost fact: Bucaramanga has the cheapest white bread prices among major cities in all of the Americas.

Bucaramanga, the cheapest city to live in South America

Closing our list of the cheapest places to live in South America, Bucaramanga is located in the northeastern part of the country, in the eastern branch of the Colombian Andes. The city is known for its parks and for its nickname “La Ciudad de Los Parques” (“The City of Parks”) and “La Ciudad Bonita de Colombia” (“Colombia’s Beautiful City”).

Sounds enticing, right?

The city has plenty of affordable housing even in upper-scale districts,  making it an attractive destination for both locals and expats. The city is also famous for its vibrant culture and friendly locals, which add to its charm and appeal.

For foreigners that want to retire there, Colombia is one of the 25 countries with special visa schemes for retirees.

Bucaramanga’s economy is diverse, with main industries including footwear and clothing, food processing, and metalworking. The city is also a regional center for the oil and mining industries. One of the major employers in the city is Ecopetrol (the Colombian state oil company), but there are also several multinational corporations.

The city is served by the Palonegro International Airport, which is located about 30 minutes away from the city center. The airport offers flights to several destinations, including Bogotá, Medellín, Panama City, and Miami.

Book: Budget Travelers, Digital Nomads & Expats: The Ultimate Guide: 50 Tips, Tricks, Hacks, and Ways to Free Stuff & Cheaper Flights
Recommended book: Budget Travelers, Digital Nomads & Expats: The Ultimate Guide: 50 Tips, Tricks, Hacks, and Ways to Free Stuff & Cheaper Flights

Enjoyed reading about the best South American cities to live in in terms of cost of living? Check these:

The Mind-Blowing Tourist Scams You Can Find in Europe in 2023

3 Cheap Cities in Europe to Visit This Winter (And 1 to Avoid)

Levi Borba is the founder of The Expatriate Consultancy, creator of the channel The Expat, and best-selling author. Some of the links in this article may be affiliate links, meaning that the author will have a commission for any transactions.

Best Countries Ranking

The Costs of Gastric Sleeve Surgery Abroad in 2023

We compared the costs of Gastric Sleeve surgery abroad in 15 different countries vs the US

Table of Contents
  • What is gastric sleeve surgery, also known as bariatric surgery?
  • Our Sources for Costs of Gastric Sleeve Surgery Abroad
  • The Cost of Gastric Sleeve Surgery Inside the US
  • The Cost of Gastric Sleeve Surgery Abroad

Ps: Check also the Youtube channel The Expat

Some years ago, I was spending holidays with my wife in Brazil (which is also the place where I was born and lived for a good part of my life).

One thing that she noticed is that the prices of dentists in Brazil (at that time) were much smaller than here in Europe. This happened for a few factors:

1st — Devaluated currency,

2nd — Taxes,

and, most important:

3rd — A much higher ratio of dentists per capita. In fact, Brazil has the largest number of dentists per 10.000 people in the world.

Since we realized that, often when I travel to Brazil to visit my family there, I schedule a visit to the dentist and do whatever needs to be done.

This helps me to save some money.

But this article is about something more complicated than going to the dentist.

Traveling somewhere for medical treatment while looking for affordable prices is an increasing practice, called medical tourism. Patients (or medical tourists) can find in other countries private clinics that use modern techniques, and often doctors abroad speak English.

The example of the dentist prices I gave abroad is just to illustrate the reasons why a certain surgery that is gaining extreme popularity may be so much cheaper broader than in the USA.

I am talking about an aesthetical surgery that is often difficult to convince health insurance providers to refund.

Recommended book: Budget Travelers, Digital Nomads & Expats: The Ultimate Guide: 50 Tips, Tricks, Hacks, and Ways to Free Stuff & Cheaper Flights
Recommended book: Budget Travelers, Digital Nomads & Expats: The Ultimate Guide: 50 Tips, Tricks, Hacks, and Ways to Free Stuff & Cheaper Flights

What is gastric sleeve surgery, also known as bariatric surgery?

Gastric sleeve surgery, also known as sleeve gastrectomy, is a weight loss surgery that involves removing a large portion of the stomach and turning it smaller, into the shape of a banana.

It is a major surgical procedure and should only be considered after other weight loss methods, such as diet and exercise, have been unsuccessful. Gastric sleeve surgeons use general anesthesia and advanced equipment to perform small incisions in the patient.

This surgery is typically recommended for people who are severely overweight or have obesity-related health problems. One of the considered thresholds is that only patients with a body mass index above 35 should consider a gastric surgery.

When the surgery reduces the size of the stomach, it limits the amount of food that can be eaten at one time, which can help individuals feel full faster and eat fewer calories and less food. Frequently, obese people after the surgery quickly lose extra pounds and recover their self esteem.

It is important to make clear that gastric sleeve surgery is one type of bariatric surgery (a term that encompasses other procedures intended to reduce body weight). But not the only one.

It is also important to remember that this surgery is not efficient in all cases of obesity problems. Sometimes it also doesn’t work.

Would I submit myself to bariatric surgery? No, because right now I don’t need it.

Would I recommend it to someone? Also not, but just because I am not a doctor but just a random guy on the internet that loves statistics about different countries (proof of that is the time I spent comparing Uber prices in different capitals).

And this is what brought me to the idea of researching the price of this surgery in different countries.

Bariatric Surgeries are among the most popular procedures nowadays, but they are expensive

Differently from the example of the dental treatments I gave at the beginning of this article, plastic surgery like a gastric sleeve operation is a much more complicated procedure and way more expensive. Often health insurance companies in Western countries do not cover such treatment in a private clinic.

The price differences across multiple countries are big enough to define if someone can afford weight loss surgery or not.

Our Sources for Costs of Gastric Sleeve Surgery Abroad

To research the prices of gastric sleeve surgeries across the globe I used two websites: NewChoiceHealth and WhatClinic.com. Both are updated with recent information.

If we are going to compare costs, it is also important to define what is included in this price. In this article, the cost includes:

The average cost of gastric sleeve surgery is $9,350.1 This cost generally includes the following associated fees:

  1. Anesthesia
  2. Hospital fee
  3. Doctor and Surgeon’s fees
  4. Exams before the procedure (lab and X-ray).
  5. Follow-up care

The Cost of Gastric Sleeve Surgery Inside the US

In the US, according to NewChoiceHealth, the average cost of gastric sleeve surgery is US$16,750.

Since the US is a huge country with big differences in terms of salaries, taxes, and other expenses, naturally there is a large deviation from the data when we analyze individual states.

Some examples of local prices for these types of weight loss surgeries inside the US:

  • Tampa, FL: price ranges from $9,420 to $15,840.
  • Baltimore, MD: price ranges from $9,560 to $16,390.
  • St. Louis, MO: price ranges from $10,260 to $17,710.
  • San Diego, CA: price ranges from $10,500 to $22,550.
  • Boston, MA: price ranges from $12,320 to $26,510.

So inside the US, the same procedure may cost for the pockets of bariatric surgery patients three times more depending on the city.

The Cost of Gastric Sleeve Surgery Abroad

The prices are from WhatClinic.com and are shown together with the name of the clinic that offers the procedure. If the hospital or clinic provided a price range, we consider the higher end.

The author of this article has no relationship with any of these clinics, was given no incentive to mention them, and cannot personally recommend them, as he has never had bariatric surgery. All data is public.

For the list below, we selected only clinics that were listed in a recognized directory of clinics (WhatClinic.com) for treatment abroad and most of them have positive reviews from international patients.

You will notice that many of these places are also among the best countries to study medicine abroad. This is not a coincidence: when you have good medical schools, you form plenty of bariatric surgeons so the prices for treatments and procedures like laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy decrease.

With no further ado, below are the prices of bariatric surgery abroad, considering 14 different countries.

U.A.E — Dubai

Hospital or Clinic: Tonic Surgery Dubai

Price: From US$12111 to US$14802

Comparison to the US average price for a gastric sleeve surgery: 11.6% cheaper.

Dubai is quickly gaining ground in the medical tourism market.
Dubai is quickly gaining ground in the medical tourism market. Image edited by the team of The Expat using Canva

Portugal — Porto

Hospital or Clinic: Instituto Medico Privado

Price: From US$8615

Comparison to the US average price for a gastric sleeve surgery: 48.6% cheaper.

Thailand — Bangkok

Hospital or Clinic: Thailand Gastric Sleeve Center

Price: Up to US$8113

Comparison to the US average price for a gastric sleeve surgery: 51.6% cheaper.

Malaysia — Petaling Jaya

Hospital or Clinic: Andrea Bariatric Surgery

Price: From US$7805

Comparison to the US average price for a gastric sleeve surgery: 53.4% cheaper.

Brazil — Belo Horizonte

Hospital or Clinic: Hospital São Lucas

Price: Up to US$7568

Comparison to the US average price for a gastric sleeve surgery: 54.8% cheaper.

Belo Horizonte is a large city in the middle of Brazil, with numerous private hospitals and clinics, including for gastric sleeve surgery.
Belo Horizonte is a large city in the middle of Brazil, with numerous private hospitals and clinics.

Ireland — Dublin

Hospital or Clinic: Belgium Surgery Services

Price: From US$6569 to US$7108

Comparison to the US average price for a gastric sleeve surgery: 57.6% cheaper. Dublin is also one of the cheapest cities to fly into Europe from America.

Czech Republic — Prague

Hospital or Clinic: Prague Medical Institute

Price: From US$5923 to US$7000

Comparison to the US average price for a gastric sleeve surgery: 58.2% cheaper.

Belgium — Ypres

Hospital or Clinic: ECFS Obesity Solutions

Price: From US$6246

Comparison to the US average price for a gastric sleeve surgery: 62.7% cheaper.

Mexico — Monterrey

Hospital or Clinic: Monterrey Gastro & Bariatric Group

Price: From US$5800 to US$6100

Comparison to the US average price for a gastric sleeve surgery: 63.6% cheaper.

The low private healthcare costs are one of the reasons that made Mexico an interesting destination for retirement abroad.

The small distance to the US and famous medical schools made Monterrey in Mexico a top destination for medical tourism.
The small distance to the US and famous medical schools made Monterrey in Mexico a top destination for medical tourism.

Lithuania — Kaunas

Hospital or Clinic: B&W Medica

Price: From US$5920

Comparison to the US average price for a gastric sleeve procedure: 64.7% cheaper.

Poland — Nowy Targ

Hospital or Clinic: Allmedica

Price: From US$4826 — $5056

Comparison to the US average price for a gastric sleeve procedure: 69.8% cheaper.

A curious non-related fact: Poland also has one of the cheapest Uber rates in Europe.

Cyprus — Nicosia

Hospital or Clinic: Cosmetic Surgery Cyprus

Price: From US$4686

Comparison to the US average price: 72% cheaper.

Cyprus is one of the most inexpensive countries for medical tourism inside the Eurozone, including gastric sleeve surgery.
Cyprus is one of the most inexpensive countries for medical tourism inside the Eurozone

Egypt — Alexandria

Hospital or Clinic: Dr. Islam Abdelkhalek Clinic

Price: From US$3043 to US$3164

Comparison to the US average price: 81.1% cheaper.

Turkey — Istambul

Hospital or Clinic: APERA Clinic

Price: From US$2434 to US$3104.

Comparison to the US average price: 81.5% cheaper.

Table with the Costs of Gastric Sleeve Surgery Abroad

CountryCityClinic NamePrice (From)Price (To)Price Difference to the US
The United StatesNational Average–16,75016,7500.00%
U.A.EDubaiTonic Surgery Dubai1211114802-11.60%
PortugalPortoInstituto Medico Privado8615-48.60%
ThailandBangkokThailand Gastric Sleeve Center8113-51.60%
MalaysiaPetaling JayaAndrea Bariatric Surgery7805-53.40%
BrazilBelo HorizonteHospital São Lucas7568-54.80%
IrelandDublinBelgium Surgery Services65697108-57.60%
Czech RepublicPraguePrague Medical Institute59237000-58.20%
BelgiumYpresECFS Obesity Solutions6246-62.70%
MexicoMonterreyMonterrey Gastro & Bariatric Group58006100-63.60%
LithuaniaKaunasB&W Medica5920-64.70%
PolandNowy TargAllmedica48265056-69.80%
CyprusNicosiaCosmetic Surgery Cyprus4686-72.00%
EgyptAlexandriaDr. Islam Abdelkhalek Clinic30433164-81.10%
TurkeyIstambulAPERA Clinic24343104-81.50%
Table with the costs of Gastric Sleeve Surgery Abroad (Different Countries).
Recommended book: Moving Out, Working Abroad, and Keeping Your Sanity
Recommended book: Moving Out, Working Abroad, and Keeping Your Sanity

If you enjoyed this article about the costs of gastric sleeve surgery abroad, here are a few other travel tips and reading suggestions for you:

The Most (and The LEAST) Aesthetic Capital Cities in Europe

The 7 Countries With The Worst Work-Life Balance in The OECD

The Best Cities for Remote Workers in 2023

The Mind-Blowing Tourist Scams You Can Find in Europe

Levi Borba is the founder of The Expatriate Consultancy, creator of the channel The Expat, and best-selling author. Some of the links in this article may be affiliate links, meaning that the author will have a commission for any transactions.

Picture of Warsaw, Poland. Warsaw Cost of Living Comparison Living Costs

Cost of Living in Warsaw, Poland, in 2023

What’s the Cost of Living in Warsaw, Poland, for Students, Couples, and Families

Table of Contents
  • What is gastric sleeve surgery, also known as bariatric surgery?
  • Our Sources for Costs of Gastric Sleeve Surgery Abroad
  • The Cost of Gastric Sleeve Surgery Inside the US
  • The Cost of Gastric Sleeve Surgery Abroad

Good News! You just received a work invitation from Poland. Now the possibility of living in Warsaw (Poland, not the one in Indiana) is real. They offer you health insurance and a few other attractive perks that are attractive at first glance, and you are excited to live in one of the cities with most public libraries in the world. Bet you still didn’t enter into details of the cost of living in Warsaw, right?

Yes, Poland. It’s the same country whose economy is growing so much that it’s causing “reverse immigration”, which means that people who left the country years ago are coming back.

And just between us: we know this is not what you want to know. You still have no idea if your income, minus the living costs in Warsaw allows you to have a good life. (To have a perfect idea of Polish living costs, after reading this article check also our complete outlook of the average salaries in Poland).

So, you run your eyes through the email and find it: the proposed salary. 

Great! They will offer me X thousand zlotys! But… what that does really mean?

In this article I am going to tell you:

✔ How much is enough to live in Warsaw as a bachelor, a young couple, and a family.

✔ What is the difference between “just enough”, “comfortably” and “very comfortably”

✔ Why the cost of living in Warsaw should never be compared to any other city in Poland. I will repeat: NEVER. EVER.

Also, check why it is worth applying for a Karta Polaka if you have Polish ancestors.

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Book we recommend: Moving Out, Working Abroad and Keeping Your Sanity

Cost of Living in Warsaw for 3 Different Life Standards

Living Standards in Warsaw, Poland: “Just Enough” X “Comfortably” X “Very Comfortably”

During my first year in Warsaw, I was spending just the necessary. Food, a roof over my head (shared with another person) in a district in the city outskirts, transport pass, and once or twice per month a night out to drink in a local pub. Rarely eating out, no shopping sprees, and a gym pass that costs less than 70zl per month. This is what I call just enough. 

Some people would say that a gym is superfluous. I give them some reason. But it was cheap. Differently than living alone in a premium location, which is superfluous and expensive.

On the other hand, what I mean by comfortably is a small place to live by yourself. A place not far from the city, but also not in Aleje Ujazdowskie or other fancy addresses.

This definition includes occasional dinners in middle-range restaurants, annual trips, and a healthy amount of entertainment. But no private schools if you have kids (they can be expensive, at least by Polish standards). Not that this would be a problem, since Poland is among the best countries in the world in terms of public educational quality.

Very-Comfortably is the definition that requires the least explanation. It is the complete package, with weekends spent at rooftop bars and fancy bistros, plenty of international trips, and a nice apartment near some embassy. Plus education for your children in international, private schools.

Check also: Study in Poland: Why it is an Increasingly Popular Idea

How much is Just Enough to live in Warsaw

Tram line 9 goes to affordable, suburban districts that are among the lowest cost of living in Warsaw.
Tram line 9 goes to affordable, suburban districts that are among the lowest cost of living in Warsaw. Photo by Valik Chernetskyi on Unsplash

Probably this is the section tending to polemics. Students that survive in semi-expired food – it is not a shame, I was one of them not long ago – will say that you can survive on much less than that. Young couples who consider a must on international travel per semester may say that it is not enough.

Be aware that any value below and in this entire article is netto. That means money on hand. Depending on your contract, the discounts over your total salary can be very significant, so to use gross numbers can be misleading.

All disclaimers made, here go the incomes that I consider just enough to live in Warsaw.

Single person: 2000 zlotys per month. In fact, I was living with a bit less than that when I came to Warsaw. Cost of sharing a 35 sqm mieszkania in the district of Praga: 800zl per person. 

Young Couple: 4000 zlotys per month. Cost of a 35 sqm mieszkania in Praga district: 1800zl per couple.

Family with 2 kids: 6000 zlotys per month. Cost of a 55 sqm miezkania in Bielany: 2600 zl per month. Important to stress is that I am considering public education at this point, which is regularly offered in the Polish language.

Living Comfortably Costs in Warsaw.

(If your idea of comfort is a life similar to the characters of a Warner Channel sitcom, just jump to the next section). The values below include provisions to build, slowly, a savings account or a private retirement fund.

Single person: 5000 zlotys per month. Cost of living alone in a 36 sqm mieszkania in the district of Ochota: 2200zl. 

Young Couple: 7000 zlotys per month. Cost of a 45 sqm mieszkania in Ochota: 2500zl per couple.

Family with 2 kids: 12.000 zlotys per month. Cost of a 70 sqm apartment in Ochota: 3700 zl per month. Here I am still considering public education.

How much do you need to live Very-Comfortably in Warsaw

The palace of Wilanow gives its name to the surrounding affluent district that is among the highest cost of living in Warsaw.
The palace of Wilanow gives its name to the surrounding affluent district that is among the highest cost of living in Warsaw. Photo by Lāsma Artmane on Unsplash

Single person: 11000 zlotys per month. Cost of living alone in a 70 sqm apartment near Rondo ONZ (the financial district of Warsaw): 5000zl. 

Young Couple: 17000 zlotys per month. Cost of a 70 sqm apartment near Rondo ONZ: 5000zl per couple.

Family with 2 kids: 28000 zlotys per month. Cost of a 200 sqm apartment in Wilanow: 12000 zl per month. Here I am including private education.

The rent prices are based on searches made in July 2020 at the website Otodom.

Why You Should Never Make a Warsaw Cost of Living Comparison against Other Cities in Poland.

The Answer to this subtitle is simple: Because Warsaw is much more expensive than any other Polish city. (Not considering resort-cities like Sopot or Zakopane though). The question “How expensive is living in Poland” totally depends if we are talking about Warsaw or, let’s say, Rzeszów.

Cities in the eastern part of Poland (often called, impolitely, Poland B) are famous for having very attractive prices, and is not uncommon to find living costs that are half of a similar standard in Warsaw.

Even a touristic hotspot like Krakow is considerably cheaper than Warsaw (that is why the first and not the former is considered one of the best cities for remote workers in the World).

In fact, nowadays the Polish capital has prices comparable to Berlin (which, on the other side, may not be as safe as Warsaw). On another occasion, I wrote about a few items that have shocking prices in Poland.

If you read until this point, there is a good chance that you are holding yourself to criticize me because either you consider I overstated or understated some numbers. 

Feel free to tell me your thoughts about living in Poland and make any suggestions in the comment section! Also, check some Polish habits that are true productivity boosters

Cost of Living Warsaw vs London

London is one of the most popular cities for young professionals to relocate to for work. Is it the best choice though?

Warsaw and London are two great cities for young professionals, but if you’re looking for a lower cost of living and higher quality of life, Warsaw should be your pick.

Living in the city center costs less in Warsaw.

One month of public transport in London is equivalent to half a year of city transport pass in Warsaw (other shocking costs from London you can check in this article).

The median rent price for a one-bedroom apartment in the middle of the financial center of Warsaw (near rondo ONZ, the most expensive part of the town) is roughly 5000zl, less than 1000 British pounds. This would barely cover a studio in the outskirts of London.

Yes, the salaries in London are also higher than in Warsaw, but often not in the same proportion that the costs in the English capital are much higher.

In addition to rent being cheaper, food and transportation are also much less expensive in Warsaw than in London. Eating out is both cheaper and safer.

So, TL;DR:

Is it cheaper to live in Poland?

Yes, it is definitely cheaper to live in Poland than in England, to the point that even with a smaller salary, multiple polish professionals are returning to their homeland because they can afford a better standard of life in Poland than in London.

Cost of Living for a Family of 4 in Poland

The cost of living for a family of 4 in Warsaw will be Cost of Living for a Family of 4 in Warsaw, living comfortably, will be around 12.000 zlotys. Rent of a 70 sqm apartment: 3700zl per month.

Living expenses in Warsaw, PolandWarsaw average cost (PLN)Warsaw average cost (EUR)
Single person, per month45631007,36
Single person, per year5475612088,38
University student, per month3510774,90
4 person family, per month120102 652,39
4 person family, per year14412031 828,63
Costs of Living in Warsaw, Average for 2022, based on the data from Numbeo.

Cost of Living in Warsaw, Poland: Conclusion

Living in Warsaw is not as expensive as in other European capitals, but it is a lot more expensive than in small Polish towns (and that is why Warsaw was not voted among the best Polish cities to live in).

For a comfortable life, a single person will need (net values) close to 5000 zlotys per month, a young Couple, 7000 zlotys per month, and a Family with 2 kids, 12.000 zlotys per month. But considering a very frugal lifestyle, one could live with less than 2000 zlotys per month by sharing an apartment.

The cheapest place to live in Warsaw is Praga district (right bank of the Vistula river). There are many cheap hotels, hostels, and apartments there. The average price for an apartment per month there is around 1600 zlotys (330 euro).

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Bonus:

Cost of Living in Warsaw for International Students

Studnets in front of the Palace of culture and science in Warsaw. The cost of living in Warsaw for international students is lower than in most EU capitals.
The cost of living in Warsaw for international students is lower than in most EU capitals.

Considering a very frugal life, an international student could survive in Warsaw with 2000zl per month, considering the cost of sharing a 35 sqm mieszkania in the district of Praga to be around 800zl per person. 

For a more comfortable lifestyle, with money enough to go out at night, eat/drink out once in a while, and with a residence in a more central location the amount should be closer to 5000zl per month. For that, we consider the cost of living alone in a 36 sqm mieszkania in the district of Ochota, which is 2200zl. 

What are the living expenses in Poland for international students

The amount of money you need to study in Warsaw depends on many factors.

The most important ones are:

  • How long will you be there
  • What kind of lifestyle would you like to have
  • Your budget.

Often there are possibilities to get a scholarship or grant. The amount of money that a scholarship covers depends on: who gives it to you, when and where you apply, what study program you choose, whether it’s an individual or group scholarship, and so on.

Sometimes even small grants can help you with living expenses while studying abroad. This is why it’s better to apply as soon as possible so that there is enough time to receive and send all necessary documents.

Living expenses in Warsaw and entire Poland for international students vary depending on the available budget. According to the Numbeo database, which contains more than 300 cost indicators for over 1200 cities around the world, the average cost of a meal in Poland is 18.77 zł.

This amount may be enough to buy one or two meals in some little towns, but if you intend to live in one of the biggest cities, this sum will not even cover a single lunch. But in Warsaw, it will barely cover a single dish.

If you are planning to stay longer than three months, it’s worth considering accommodation costs as well: according to Numbeo database, the average monthly rent price for a 40 m2 apartment in Warsaw is about 2,700 zł. That is why often students share rooms or prefer to live in student housing (akademik).


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Asylum seekers in Poland, read this before paying for accommodation.


Author: Levi Borba, founder of the Expatriate Consultancy, former RM specialist for the world´s greatest airline,  co-founder of Nearby Airport Hostel Warsaw, and author of the book Moving Out, Living Abroad and Keeping Your Sanity. You can check some of his articles here.

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About me

Expatriate Consultancy Levi Borba

I'm Levi Borba, and after living on multiple continents during my career as an airline specialist, I started a company to help expatriates, producing 3 books about moving abroad. Check out Expat Life: What They Don't Tell You, our YouTube channel The Expat, my LinkedIn profile, or my Twitter. Also, you can find my writings on Medium (where I am one of the top-writers on my field of expertise).

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