😐A single person spends $3,351 per month in Glarus vs $1,681 in Medellin, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $5,130 per month in Glarus vs $2,445 in Medellin, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $6,909 per month in Glarus vs $3,210 in Medellin, rent included.
😐Glarus costs about 99% more than Medellin, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both Glarus and Medellin sit above the global median – Glarus by 145%, Medellin by 23%.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Glarus
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$28.95CHF 23.90
$8.02COP 25.0K
260.97%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$124CHF 102
$47.87COP 149.4K
158.62%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$18.03CHF 14.88
$9.89COP 30.8K
82.31%
Cappuccino
$6.28CHF 5.19
$3.13COP 9,767
100.64%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.80CHF 3.14
$1.91COP 5,954
98.95%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.94CHF 3.26
$1.51COP 4,712
160.93%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$8.91CHF 7.36
$3.12COP 9,747
185.58%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$6.62CHF 5.46
$5.75COP 17.9K
15.13%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Glarus
Medellin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.25CHF 1.86
$1.44COP 4,509
56.25%
White Bread(500g)
$3.15CHF 2.60
$2.49COP 7,759
26.51%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.86CHF 2.36
$1.77COP 5,535
61.58%
Eggs
$7.93CHF 6.54
$2.96COP 9,235
167.91%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.36CHF 6.90
$10.07COP 31.4K
-16.98%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$14.64CHF 12.09
$10.12COP 31.6K
44.66%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$38.82CHF 32.04
$14.30COP 44.6K
171.47%
Apples(1kg)
$3.15CHF 2.60
$4.14COP 12.9K
-23.91%
Banana(1kg)
$1.61CHF 1.33
$1.61COP 5,019
-
Oranges(1kg)
$2.37CHF 1.95
$2.25COP 7,007
5.33%
Tomato(1kg)
$5.39CHF 4.45
$2.25COP 7,028
139.56%
Potato(1kg)
$1.75CHF 1.45
$2.04COP 6,375
-14.22%
Onion(1kg)
$2.18CHF 1.80
$1.54COP 4,790
41.56%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.29CHF 1.89
$1.17COP 3,651
95.73%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.19CHF 0.99
$1.31COP 4,077
-9.16%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$11.12CHF 9.17
$3.90COP 12.2K
185.13%
Wine(Bottle)
$11.41CHF 9.42
$14.01COP 43.7K
-18.56%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.15CHF 1.78
$1.74COP 5,439
23.56%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.27CHF 1.87
$2.87COP 8,956
-20.91%
🚌 Getting Around
Glarus
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$6.01CHF 4.96
$1.22COP 3,792
392.62%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$225CHF 186
$80.5COP 251.1K
180.17%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$6.72CHF 5.54
$1.31COP 4,084
412.98%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$4.75CHF 3.92
$2.19COP 6,825
116.89%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$79.6CHF 65.7
$8.71COP 27.2K
814.01%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.11CHF 1.75
$1.37COP 4,260
54.01%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.0KCHF 28.9K
$27.8KCOP 86.9M
25.61%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$40.3KCHF 33.3K
$35.8KCOP 111.6M
12.71%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Glarus
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$314CHF 259
$177COP 553.2K
77.28%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$39.29CHF 32.43
$13.88COP 43.3K
183.07%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$55.2CHF 45.59
$29.72COP 92.8K
85.83%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Glarus
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$163CHF 134
$44.88COP 140.1K
262.77%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$43.42CHF 35.84
$17.12COP 53.4K
153.62%
Cinema Ticket
$25.82CHF 21.31
$6.65COP 20.7K
288.27%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Glarus
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$2,350CHF 1,940
$813COP 2.5M
189.06%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$31.9KCHF 26.4K
$9,187COP 28.7M
247.68%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Glarus
Medellin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$102CHF 84.2
$89.5COP 279.3K
13.97%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.50CHF 35.08
$59.0COP 184.0K
-27.93%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$135CHF 111
$138COP 431.2K
-2.53%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$96.3CHF 79.5
$102COP 318.7K
-5.73%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Glarus
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,680CHF 1,387
$1,062COP 3.3M
58.23%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,398CHF 1,154
$663COP 2.1M
110.92%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,969CHF 2,451
$1,888COP 5.9M
57.26%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,347CHF 1,937
$1,027COP 3.2M
128.53%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$4,183COP 13.1M
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$1,675COP 5.2M
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Glarus
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$678COP 2.1M
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
2.1
10.94
-80.80%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Glarus: September 14, 2026
Last update for Medellin: September 14, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $1,680 in Glarus versus $1,062 in Medellin. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $124 in Glarus versus $48.00 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $445 vs $305 – 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
Glarus vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Medellin cheaper than Glarus?
Yes – Glarus is pricier by about 99%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $5,026 per month in Glarus and $2,521 in Medellin. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
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.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
Public transport costs about 180% less in Medellin. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $2,350 per month in Glarus and $813 in Medellin. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Is $2,500 a realistic budget for living in Glarus or in Medellin?
A $2,500 monthly budget goes further in Medellin, where all-in costs run around $1,681, than in Glarus at $3,351. In Medellin it covers expenses comfortably, while in Glarus it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Glarus or Medellin more family-friendly?
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.
Which city is safer, Glarus or Medellin?
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.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Medellin. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Glarus makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.