Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Bellinzona Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Bellinzona

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,681 per month in Medellin vs $3,570 in Bellinzona, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,445 per month in Medellin vs $5,499 in Bellinzona, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,210 per month in Medellin vs $7,427 in Bellinzona, rent included.

Medellin is about 53% cheaper than Bellinzona, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Medellin and Bellinzona sit above the global median – Medellin by 23%, Bellinzona by 161%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$8.02 COP 25.0K

$31.14 CHF 25.70

-74.25%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$47.87 COP 149.4K

$123 CHF 101

-60.93%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.89 COP 30.8K

$18.23 CHF 15.05

-45.75%

Cappuccino

$3.13 COP 9,767

$4.59 CHF 3.79

-31.81%

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

$1.91 COP 5,954

$5.12 CHF 4.23

-62.70%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.51 COP 4,712

$4.58 CHF 3.78

-67.03%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.12 COP 9,747

$7.42 CHF 6.12

-57.95%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.75 COP 17.9K

$6.05 CHF 4.99

-4.96%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.44 COP 4,509

$2.23 CHF 1.84

-35.43%

White Bread (500g)

$2.49 COP 7,759

$4.08 CHF 3.37

-38.97%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.77 COP 5,535

$4.37 CHF 3.61

-59.50%

Eggs

$2.96 COP 9,235

$7.92 CHF 6.54

-62.63%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.07 COP 31.4K

$26.91 CHF 22.21

-62.58%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.12 COP 31.6K

$31.87 CHF 26.31

-68.25%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.30 COP 44.6K

$42.10 CHF 34.75

-66.03%

Apples (1kg)

$4.14 COP 12.9K

$3.73 CHF 3.08

10.99%

Banana (1kg)

$1.61 COP 5,019

$1.96 CHF 1.62

-17.86%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.25 COP 7,007

$2.86 CHF 2.36

-21.33%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.25 COP 7,028

$6.22 CHF 5.13

-63.83%

Potato (1kg)

$2.04 COP 6,375

$2.04 CHF 1.69

Onion (1kg)

$1.54 COP 4,790

$2.16 CHF 1.79

-28.70%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.17 COP 3,651

$2.40 CHF 1.98

-51.25%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.31 COP 4,077

$1.39 CHF 1.14

-5.76%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.90 COP 12.2K

$10.83 CHF 8.94

-63.99%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.01 COP 43.7K

$18.20 CHF 15.02

-23.02%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.74 COP 5,439

$2.79 CHF 2.31

-37.63%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.87 COP 8,956

$3.94 CHF 3.26

-27.16%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.22 COP 3,792

$2.82 CHF 2.33

-56.74%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$80.5 COP 251.1K

$122 CHF 100

-33.78%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.31 COP 4,084

$7.38 CHF 6.09

-82.25%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.19 COP 6,825

$5.55 CHF 4.58

-60.54%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.71 COP 27.2K

$37.43 CHF 30.89

-76.73%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.37 COP 4,260

$2.24 CHF 1.85

-38.84%

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

$27.8K COP 86.9M

$34.8K CHF 28.7K

-20.04%

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

$35.8K COP 111.6M

$40.5K CHF 33.4K

-11.57%

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

$177 COP 553.2K

$299 CHF 247

-40.66%

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

$13.88 COP 43.3K

$37.22 CHF 30.72

-62.71%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$29.72 COP 92.8K

$63.3 CHF 52.2

-53.04%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$44.88 COP 140.1K

$148 CHF 123

-69.78%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.12 COP 53.4K

$55.2 CHF 45.59

-69.01%

Cinema Ticket

$6.65 COP 20.7K

$23.94 CHF 19.76

-72.22%

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

$813 COP 2.5M

$1,806 CHF 1,490

-54.98%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$9,187 COP 28.7M

$34.3K CHF 28.3K

-73.23%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$89.5 COP 279.3K

$166 CHF 137

-46.04%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$59.0 COP 184.0K

$57.2 CHF 47.23

3.06%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$138 COP 431.2K

$194 CHF 160

-28.79%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$102 COP 318.7K

$149 CHF 123

-31.27%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,062 COP 3.3M

$1,603 CHF 1,323

-33.74%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$663 COP 2.1M

$1,422 CHF 1,173

-53.37%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,888 COP 5.9M

$2,575 CHF 2,125

-26.67%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,027 COP 3.2M

$2,574 CHF 2,125

-60.10%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,183 COP 13.1M

$13.8K CHF 11.4K

-69.79%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,675 COP 5.2M

$10.3K CHF 8,477

-83.69%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$678 COP 2.1M

$6,739 CHF 5,562

-89.94%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

10.94

2.23

390.58%

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

Last update for Medellin: September 14, 2026

Last update for Bellinzona: September 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,062 in Medellin versus $1,603 in Bellinzona. 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 894% higher in Bellinzona, 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 $48.00 in Medellin versus $123 in Bellinzona. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $305 vs $647 – 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 Bellinzona: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $1,681 in Medellin, $3,570 in Bellinzona – roughly 112% apart. Bellinzona costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,521 per month in Medellin and $5,356 in Bellinzona. 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 $1,681 in Medellin and $3,570 in Bellinzona. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 51% less in Medellin. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

A $2,500 monthly budget goes further in Medellin, where all-in costs run around $1,681, than in Bellinzona at $3,570. In Medellin it covers expenses comfortably, while in Bellinzona 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 $1,681 in Medellin to $3,570 in Bellinzona. 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, Bellinzona makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.