Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Arbon Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Arbon

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,013 per month in Medellin vs $3,362 in Arbon, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,602 per month in Medellin vs $5,166 in Arbon, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,192 per month in Medellin vs $6,970 in Arbon, rent included.

Medellin is about 70% cheaper than Arbon, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Medellin sits 24% below the global median, while Arbon is 151% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.99 COP 21.4K

$30.71 CHF 24.21

-80.49%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.86 COP 117.4K

$140 CHF 110

-76.52%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.09 COP 25.3K

$17.11 CHF 13.49

-58.56%

Cappuccino

$1.71 COP 6,115

$6.33 CHF 4.99

-72.99%

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

$1.10 COP 3,924

$5.27 CHF 4.15

-79.13%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.78 COP 2,781

$4.33 CHF 3.41

-81.99%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.68 COP 5,997

$7.71 CHF 6.08

-78.21%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.07 COP 11.0K

$7.51 CHF 5.92

-59.12%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.09 COP 3,906

$2.17 CHF 1.71

-49.77%

White Bread (500g)

$1.26 COP 4,508

$2.66 CHF 2.10

-52.63%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.38 COP 4,922

$3.64 CHF 2.87

-62.09%

Eggs

$2.19 COP 7,827

$7.87 CHF 6.20

-72.17%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.40 COP 15.7K

$27.41 CHF 21.61

-83.95%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.63 COP 20.1K

$31.88 CHF 25.14

-82.34%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.89 COP 31.8K

$40.41 CHF 31.86

-78.00%

Apples (1kg)

$2.34 COP 8,349

$3.14 CHF 2.47

-25.48%

Banana (1kg)

$1.06 COP 3,777

$1.84 CHF 1.45

-42.39%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.50 COP 5,374

$2.55 CHF 2.01

-41.18%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.38 COP 4,924

$6.51 CHF 5.14

-78.80%

Potato (1kg)

$1.15 COP 4,111

$2.50 CHF 1.97

-54.00%

Onion (1kg)

$1.16 COP 4,155

$2.28 CHF 1.80

-49.12%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.89 COP 3,182

$2.55 CHF 2.01

-65.10%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.84 COP 2,997

$1.15 CHF 0.90

-26.96%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.28 COP 8,145

$10.80 CHF 8.51

-78.89%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.64 COP 38.0K

$11.87 CHF 9.36

-10.36%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.20 COP 4,284

$2.25 CHF 1.77

-46.67%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.47 COP 8,824

$2.29 CHF 1.81

7.86%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.86 COP 3,056

$3.90 CHF 3.07

-77.95%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.40 COP 147.9K

$100 CHF 79.2

-58.79%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.47 COP 5,264

$6.74 CHF 5.32

-78.19%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.96 COP 7,009

$4.26 CHF 3.36

-53.99%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.74 COP 27.6K

$80.5 CHF 63.5

-90.38%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.95 COP 3,409

$2.11 CHF 1.66

-54.98%

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

$18.1K COP 64.7M

$40.5K CHF 31.9K

-55.18%

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

$26.5K COP 94.6M

$43.1K CHF 34.0K

-38.51%

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

$82.3 COP 293.7K

$248 CHF 196

-66.90%

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

$9.50 COP 33.9K

$59.2 CHF 46.67

-83.95%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.23 COP 86.5K

$53.7 CHF 42.31

-54.85%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.89 COP 92.4K

$87.6 CHF 69.1

-70.46%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.00 COP 67.9K

Cinema Ticket

$3.93 COP 14.0K

$22.44 CHF 17.69

-82.49%

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

$309 COP 1.1M

$2,843 CHF 2,242

-89.12%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,965 COP 21.3M

$43.5K CHF 34.3K

-86.28%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.7 COP 209.5K

$140 CHF 111

-58.18%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$32.35 COP 115.5K

$65.8 CHF 51.9

-50.84%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$103 COP 366.4K

$133 CHF 105

-22.89%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$108 COP 387.2K

$162 CHF 127

-32.90%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$476 COP 1.7M

$1,683 CHF 1,327

-71.71%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$379 COP 1.4M

$1,492 CHF 1,176

-74.61%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$838 COP 3.0M

$2,865 CHF 2,259

-70.75%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$724 COP 2.6M

$2,423 CHF 1,910

-70.12%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,791 COP 10.0M

$14.2K CHF 11.2K

-80.38%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,211 COP 4.3M

$11.6K CHF 9,140

-89.55%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$512 COP 1.8M

$11.4K CHF 8,986

-95.51%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.43

2.5

437.20%

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

Last update for Medellin: May 31, 2026

Last update for Arbon: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $476 in Medellin versus $1,683 in Arbon. 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 2127% higher in Arbon, 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 $33.00 in Medellin versus $140 in Arbon. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $188 vs $602 – 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

Medellin vs Arbon: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $1,013 in Medellin, $3,362 in Arbon – roughly 232% apart. Arbon costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,519 per month in Medellin and $5,043 in Arbon. 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 $1,013 in Medellin and $3,362 in Arbon. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 143% less in Medellin. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Medellin, where all-in costs run around $1,013, than in Arbon at $3,362. In Medellin it covers expenses comfortably, while in Arbon it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Medellin has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,013 in Medellin to $3,362 in Arbon. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

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, Arbon makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.