😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,293 in Balzers versus $1,013 in Medellin.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $5,044 in Balzers versus $1,602 in Medellin.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $6,795 in Balzers versus $2,192 in Medellin.
😐Living in Balzers is roughly 225% more expensive than Medellin, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Balzers is 146% above, Medellin is 24% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Balzers
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$30.54CHF 24.08
$5.99COP 21.4K
409.85%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$123CHF 97.4
$32.86COP 117.4K
275.81%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$22.09CHF 17.41
$7.09COP 25.3K
211.57%
Cappuccino
$5.64CHF 4.45
$1.71COP 6,115
229.82%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$6.20CHF 4.89
$1.10COP 3,924
463.64%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.68CHF 4.48
$0.78COP 2,781
628.21%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$7.54CHF 5.95
$1.68COP 5,997
348.81%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$7.43CHF 5.86
$3.07COP 11.0K
142.02%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Balzers
Medellin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.68CHF 2.11
$1.09COP 3,906
145.87%
White Bread(500g)
$3.11CHF 2.45
$1.26COP 4,508
146.83%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.90CHF 2.29
$1.38COP 4,922
110.14%
Eggs
$11.92CHF 9.40
$2.19COP 7,827
444.29%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$25.58CHF 20.16
$4.40COP 15.7K
481.36%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$23.63CHF 18.63
$5.63COP 20.1K
319.72%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$51.8CHF 40.86
$8.89COP 31.8K
482.90%
Apples(1kg)
$3.39CHF 2.68
$2.34COP 8,349
44.87%
Banana(1kg)
$3.81CHF 3.00
$1.06COP 3,777
259.43%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.98CHF 3.14
$1.50COP 5,374
165.33%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.57CHF 2.03
$1.38COP 4,924
86.23%
Potato(1kg)
$2.40CHF 1.89
$1.15COP 4,111
108.70%
Onion(1kg)
$2.11CHF 1.66
$1.16COP 4,155
81.90%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.20CHF 1.74
$0.89COP 3,182
147.19%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.63CHF 1.29
$0.84COP 2,997
94.05%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$12.45CHF 9.81
$2.28COP 8,145
446.05%
Wine(Bottle)
$14.26CHF 11.24
$10.64COP 38.0K
34.02%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.06CHF 1.62
$1.20COP 4,284
71.67%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.82CHF 1.44
$2.47COP 8,824
-26.32%
🚌 Getting Around
Balzers
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.56CHF 2.81
$0.86COP 3,056
313.95%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$84.6CHF 66.7
$41.40COP 147.9K
104.42%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.82CHF 1.44
$1.47COP 5,264
23.81%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
-
$1.96COP 7,009
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$8.60CHF 6.78
$7.74COP 27.6K
11.11%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.19CHF 1.73
$0.95COP 3,409
130.53%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.5KCHF 27.2K
$18.1KCOP 64.7M
90.13%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.8KCHF 26.7K
$26.5KCOP 94.6M
27.74%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Balzers
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$217CHF 171
$82.3COP 293.7K
163.68%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$39.34CHF 31.02
$9.50COP 33.9K
314.11%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$74.5CHF 58.7
$24.23COP 86.5K
207.30%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Balzers
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$94.7CHF 74.7
$25.89COP 92.4K
265.78%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$24.35CHF 19.20
$19.00COP 67.9K
28.16%
Cinema Ticket
$24.22CHF 19.10
$3.93COP 14.0K
516.28%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Balzers
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$313CHF 247
$309COP 1.1M
1.22%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$8,918CHF 7,031
$5,965COP 21.3M
49.51%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Balzers
Medellin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$129CHF 102
$58.7COP 209.5K
119.86%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$52.1CHF 41.06
$32.35COP 115.5K
60.99%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$177CHF 140
$103COP 366.4K
72.92%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$225CHF 177
$108COP 387.2K
107.30%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Balzers
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,005CHF 792
$476COP 1.7M
110.96%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,335CHF 1,052
$379COP 1.4M
252.42%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,931CHF 2,311
$838COP 3.0M
249.65%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,370CHF 1,869
$724COP 2.6M
227.48%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$17.6KCHF 13.9K
$2,791COP 10.0M
531.55%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$5,368CHF 4,232
$1,211COP 4.3M
343.11%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Balzers
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$9,082CHF 7,161
$512COP 1.8M
1674.67%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
7.55
13.43
-43.78%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Balzers: June 2, 2026
Last update for Medellin: May 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,005 in Balzers and $476 in Medellin. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Balzers pays 1675% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
🛒Dining out: $123 in Balzers vs $33.00 in Medellin for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $618 vs $188 per month, with Medellin cheaper across the board.
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
Balzers vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Medellin cheaper than Balzers?
Medellin is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 225% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Balzers or Medellin?
Balzers pays 1675% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
What is the rent difference between Balzers and Medellin?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,005 in Balzers versus $476 in Medellin. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do food prices compare in Balzers and Medellin?
Supermarket bills run roughly 228% higher in Balzers. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Is eating out cheaper in Balzers or Medellin?
Dining out is cheaper in Medellin – a meal for two runs $33.00 versus $123 in Balzers. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Balzers or Medellin?
At $1,013 in Medellin versus $3,293 in Balzers, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Medellin but tight or insufficient in Balzers. The gap between the two cities makes Medellin the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Balzers or Medellin more family-friendly?
For families, Medellin is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Balzers, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Balzers or Medellin?
Safety-wise, Balzers and Medellin are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Medellin gentler on the wallet – expenses run 225% less than in Balzers. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.