😐A single person spends $3,318 per month in Glarus vs $1,003 in Medellin, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $5,269 per month in Glarus vs $1,573 in Medellin, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $7,219 per month in Glarus vs $2,143 in Medellin, rent included.
😐Glarus costs about 231% more than Medellin, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Glarus sits 149% above the global median, while Medellin is 25% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Glarus
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$31.41CHF 25.35
$5.91COP 18.6K
431.47%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$143CHF 115
$32.96COP 103.8K
333.01%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$15.95CHF 12.87
$7.43COP 23.4K
114.67%
Cappuccino
$5.72CHF 4.61
$1.65COP 5,207
246.67%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.19CHF 4.19
$1.10COP 3,468
371.82%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.38CHF 3.54
$0.78COP 2,458
461.54%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$7.21CHF 5.82
$1.72COP 5,412
319.19%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$7.43CHF 6.00
$3.18COP 10.0K
133.65%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Glarus
Medellin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.00CHF 1.61
$1.10COP 3,474
81.82%
White Bread(500g)
$2.75CHF 2.22
$1.26COP 3,962
118.25%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.28CHF 1.84
$1.38COP 4,349
65.22%
Eggs
$7.85CHF 6.33
$2.18COP 6,858
260.09%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$30.50CHF 24.62
$4.49COP 14.1K
579.29%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$35.93CHF 29.00
$5.79COP 18.2K
520.55%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$51.4CHF 41.49
$8.97COP 28.2K
473.13%
Apples(1kg)
$3.81CHF 3.07
$2.32COP 7,308
64.22%
Banana(1kg)
$2.30CHF 1.85
$1.06COP 3,352
116.98%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.01CHF 2.43
$1.52COP 4,774
98.03%
Tomato(1kg)
$6.36CHF 5.13
$1.36COP 4,270
367.65%
Potato(1kg)
$2.45CHF 1.98
$1.13COP 3,552
116.81%
Onion(1kg)
$2.43CHF 1.97
$1.17COP 3,689
107.69%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.68CHF 2.16
$0.90COP 2,838
197.78%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.24CHF 1.00
$0.90COP 2,823
37.78%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$11.02CHF 8.89
$2.23COP 7,034
394.17%
Wine(Bottle)
$11.16CHF 9.00
$12.12COP 38.2K
-7.92%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.42CHF 1.95
$1.19COP 3,743
103.36%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.29CHF 2.66
$2.48COP 7,815
32.66%
🚌 Getting Around
Glarus
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$6.19CHF 4.99
$0.85COP 2,687
628.24%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$110CHF 88.7
$41.62COP 131.0K
163.96%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$8.34CHF 6.73
$1.42COP 4,459
487.32%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$4.28CHF 3.45
$1.95COP 6,141
119.49%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$88.1CHF 71.1
$7.89COP 24.8K
1016.35%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.05CHF 1.65
$0.99COP 3,118
107.07%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.1KCHF 28.3K
$17.6KCOP 55.4M
99.40%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.9KCHF 32.2K
$26.8KCOP 84.4M
48.96%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Glarus
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$223CHF 180
$83.0COP 261.4K
168.67%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$74.4CHF 60.0
$9.70COP 30.5K
666.49%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$50.0CHF 40.36
$23.52COP 74.1K
112.63%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Glarus
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$94.6CHF 76.3
$25.26COP 79.5K
274.47%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$45.65CHF 36.84
$19.10COP 60.1K
139.01%
Cinema Ticket
$20.47CHF 16.52
$3.95COP 12.4K
418.23%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Glarus
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$2,952CHF 2,382
$316COP 994.2K
834.85%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$41.9KCHF 33.8K
$5,975COP 18.8M
600.58%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Glarus
Medellin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$138CHF 111
$60.0COP 188.9K
129.72%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$77.5CHF 62.5
$31.82COP 100.2K
143.53%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$134CHF 108
$102COP 320.1K
32.22%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$162CHF 130
$107COP 338.3K
50.39%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Glarus
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,617CHF 1,305
$475COP 1.5M
240.47%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,321CHF 1,066
$374COP 1.2M
253.28%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,870CHF 2,316
$849COP 2.7M
237.99%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,295CHF 1,852
$719COP 2.3M
219.00%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$13.3KCHF 10.8K
$3,265COP 10.3M
308.41%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$12.8KCHF 10.4K
$1,441COP 4.5M
791.05%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Glarus
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$624COP 2.0M
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
2.5
13.43
-81.38%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Glarus: July 26, 2026
Last update for Medellin: July 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $1,617 in Glarus versus $475 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 $143 in Glarus versus $33.00 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $669 vs $193 – 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 231%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. 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 $4,977 per month in Glarus and $1,504 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 164% less in Medellin. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $2,952 per month in Glarus and $316 in Medellin. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Glarus or in Medellin?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Medellin, where all-in costs run around $1,003, than in Glarus at $3,318. 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.