Cost of Living Comparison Between Baden and Medellin Cost of Living Comparison Between Baden and Medellin

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,863 per month in Baden vs $1,687 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $5,566 per month in Baden vs $2,535 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $7,269 per month in Baden vs $3,383 in Medellin, rent included.

Baden costs about 129% more than Medellin, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Baden and Medellin sit above the global median – Baden by 182%, Medellin by 23%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$36.67 CHF 29.32

$7.89 COP 24.2K

364.77%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$127 CHF 102

$44.53 COP 136.5K

186.12%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$18.22 CHF 14.57

$9.29 COP 28.5K

96.12%

Cappuccino

$6.28 CHF 5.02

$2.90 COP 8,874

116.55%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.04 CHF 4.83

$1.81 COP 5,541

233.70%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.36 CHF 4.29

$1.55 COP 4,741

245.81%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$9.12 CHF 7.29

$3.25 COP 9,962

180.62%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.72 CHF 6.97

$5.88 COP 18.0K

48.30%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.16 CHF 1.73

$1.38 COP 4,230

56.52%

White Bread (500g)

$3.50 CHF 2.80

$2.45 COP 7,517

42.86%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.97 CHF 3.17

$1.51 COP 4,617

162.91%

Eggs

$8.18 CHF 6.54

$2.78 COP 8,516

194.24%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$28.38 CHF 22.69

$9.05 COP 27.7K

213.59%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$27.84 CHF 22.26

$10.65 COP 32.6K

161.41%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$48.80 CHF 39.02

$14.63 COP 44.8K

233.56%

Apples (1kg)

$3.97 CHF 3.18

$3.97 COP 12.2K

Banana (1kg)

$2.78 CHF 2.22

$1.38 COP 4,219

101.45%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.09 CHF 2.47

$2.30 COP 7,056

34.35%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.85 CHF 3.87

$2.02 COP 6,185

140.10%

Potato (1kg)

$2.46 CHF 1.96

$2.09 COP 6,390

17.70%

Onion (1kg)

$2.26 CHF 1.81

$1.63 COP 4,996

38.65%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.60 CHF 2.08

$1.08 COP 3,313

140.74%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.36 CHF 1.09

$1.25 COP 3,843

8.80%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.33 CHF 9.06

$4.03 COP 12.4K

181.14%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.37 CHF 10.69

$13.47 COP 41.3K

-0.74%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.62 CHF 2.10

$1.60 COP 4,904

63.75%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.15 CHF 2.52

$3.00 COP 9,189

5.00%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$5.23 CHF 4.18

$1.18 COP 3,611

343.22%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$79.9 COP 244.9K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$7.95 CHF 6.36

$1.61 COP 4,920

393.79%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$4.70 CHF 3.76

$2.13 COP 6,533

120.66%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$89.8 CHF 71.8

$8.52 COP 26.1K

954.46%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$2.33 CHF 1.86

$1.35 COP 4,142

72.59%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$42.7K CHF 34.1K

$28.3K COP 86.8M

50.72%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$39.8K CHF 31.8K

$35.7K COP 109.4M

11.52%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$285 CHF 228

$151 COP 463.8K

88.43%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$53.2 CHF 42.53

$13.10 COP 40.1K

306.03%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$65.2 CHF 52.2

$32.30 COP 99.0K

101.92%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$160 CHF 128

$46.33 COP 141.9K

244.77%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$50.1 CHF 40.06

$17.26 COP 52.9K

190.27%

Cinema Ticket

$23.28 CHF 18.61

$6.43 COP 19.7K

262.05%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$3,717 CHF 2,972

$835 COP 2.6M

345.19%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$32.6K CHF 26.0K

$8,887 COP 27.2M

266.39%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$144 CHF 116

$89.3 COP 273.7K

61.70%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$81.8 CHF 65.4

$55.3 COP 169.5K

47.93%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$167 CHF 134

$137 COP 418.5K

22.47%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$202 CHF 162

$109 COP 335.1K

85.13%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,092 CHF 1,672

$952 COP 2.9M

119.67%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,772 CHF 1,417

$668 COP 2.0M

165.22%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,453 CHF 2,761

$2,020 COP 6.2M

70.95%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,513 CHF 2,010

$1,148 COP 3.5M

118.84%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$17.1K CHF 13.7K

$3,696 COP 11.3M

362.15%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$13.7K CHF 11.0K

$1,586 COP 4.9M

766.02%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$8,780 CHF 7,021

$625 COP 1.9M

1303.79%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

2.43

10.43

-76.70%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Baden: August 17, 2026

Last update for Medellin: August 17, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,092 in Baden versus $952 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 1304% higher in Baden, 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 $127 in Baden versus $45.00 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $634 vs $297 – 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

Baden vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Baden is pricier by about 129%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $5,795 per month in Baden and $2,530 in Medellin. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $3,863 in Baden and $1,687 in Medellin. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $3,717 per month in Baden and $835 in Medellin. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $2,500 monthly budget goes further in Medellin, where all-in costs run around $1,687, than in Baden at $3,863. In Medellin it covers expenses comfortably, while in Baden it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

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.

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.

If budget matters most, go with Medellin. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Baden makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.