😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,311 in Balzers versus $1,716 in Medellin.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $5,214 in Balzers versus $2,527 in Medellin.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $7,118 in Balzers versus $3,338 in Medellin.
🌍Living in Balzers is roughly 93% more expensive than in Medellin, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Balzers141% above, Medellin25% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Balzers
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$31.26CHF 25.24
$8.03COP 25.2K
289.29%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$124CHF 100.0
$48.26COP 151.7K
156.49%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$22.60CHF 18.25
$9.77COP 30.7K
131.32%
Cappuccino
$5.64CHF 4.55
$2.91COP 9,149
93.81%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$6.09CHF 4.92
$1.94COP 6,110
213.92%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.42CHF 4.38
$1.52COP 4,783
256.58%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$7.22CHF 5.83
$3.09COP 9,721
133.66%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$7.29CHF 5.89
$5.74COP 18.1K
27.00%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Balzers
Medellin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.67CHF 2.16
$1.36COP 4,287
96.32%
White Bread(500g)
$3.03CHF 2.45
$2.39COP 7,505
26.78%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.76CHF 2.23
$1.70COP 5,346
62.35%
Eggs
$12.25CHF 9.90
$2.87COP 9,021
326.83%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$26.17CHF 21.13
$9.94COP 31.2K
163.28%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$23.68CHF 19.12
$10.78COP 33.9K
119.67%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$51.2CHF 41.37
$14.73COP 46.3K
247.79%
Apples(1kg)
$3.45CHF 2.78
$4.09COP 12.8K
-15.65%
Banana(1kg)
$3.81CHF 3.07
$1.57COP 4,940
142.68%
Oranges(1kg)
$4.05CHF 3.27
$2.13COP 6,682
90.14%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.53CHF 2.04
$2.21COP 6,959
14.48%
Potato(1kg)
$2.40CHF 1.94
$2.05COP 6,435
17.07%
Onion(1kg)
$2.16CHF 1.74
$1.50COP 4,728
44.00%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.18CHF 1.76
$1.19COP 3,740
83.19%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.62CHF 1.31
$1.16COP 3,640
39.66%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$12.13CHF 9.79
$3.90COP 12.2K
211.03%
Wine(Bottle)
$14.37CHF 11.60
$14.44COP 45.4K
-0.48%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.09CHF 1.69
$1.58COP 4,978
32.28%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.74CHF 1.41
$2.83COP 8,889
-38.52%
🚌 Getting Around
Balzers
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.47CHF 2.80
$1.17COP 3,672
196.58%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$83.3CHF 67.3
$77.7COP 244.3K
7.14%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.75CHF 1.42
$1.28COP 4,038
36.72%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$6.35CHF 5.13
$2.09COP 6,576
203.83%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$8.83CHF 7.13
$8.62COP 27.1K
2.44%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.31CHF 1.86
$1.30COP 4,080
77.69%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.3KCHF 28.5K
$27.7KCOP 86.9M
27.57%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.9KCHF 27.4K
$35.5KCOP 111.6M
-4.60%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Balzers
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$222CHF 179
$176COP 553.4K
26.05%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$40.95CHF 33.07
$13.37COP 42.0K
206.28%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$74.0CHF 59.8
$29.89COP 94.0K
147.67%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Balzers
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$92.4CHF 74.6
$44.76COP 140.7K
106.48%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$24.77CHF 20.00
$17.06COP 53.6K
45.19%
Cinema Ticket
$24.95CHF 20.15
$6.20COP 19.5K
302.42%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Balzers
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$313CHF 253
$793COP 2.5M
-60.50%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$8,927CHF 7,208
$9,019COP 28.4M
-1.03%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Balzers
Medellin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$131CHF 106
$85.6COP 269.1K
52.79%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$53.5CHF 43.18
$58.5COP 183.8K
-8.53%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$178CHF 144
$136COP 428.4K
30.45%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$224CHF 181
$103COP 324.1K
117.60%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Balzers
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$988CHF 798
$1,060COP 3.3M
-6.75%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,323CHF 1,068
$680COP 2.1M
94.63%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,909CHF 2,349
$2,012COP 6.3M
44.55%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,386CHF 1,927
$1,169COP 3.7M
104.17%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$16.7KCHF 13.4K
$4,111COP 12.9M
305.06%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$5,167CHF 4,172
$1,701COP 5.3M
203.67%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Balzers
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$8,724CHF 7,045
$665COP 2.1M
1211.43%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
7.55
10.94
-30.99%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Balzers: August 30, 2026
Last update for Medellin: August 30, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $988 in Balzers and $1,060 in Medellin. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Balzers pays 1211% 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: $124 in Balzers vs $48.00 in Medellin for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $619 vs $303 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, Getting Around. The 93% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Balzers or Medellin?
Average pay runs 1211% higher in Balzers, 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: $988 in Balzers versus $1,060 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 in Medellin?
Supermarket bills run roughly 104% higher in Balzers. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Is eating out cheaper in Balzers or in Medellin?
Dining out is cheaper in Medellin – a meal for two runs $48.00 versus $124 in Balzers. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Is $2,500 a realistic budget for living in Balzers or in Medellin?
At $1,716 in Medellin versus $3,311 in Balzers, a $2,500 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 93% less than in Balzers. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.