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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,031 per month in Medellin vs $3,886 in Bellinzona, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,599 per month in Medellin vs $5,897 in Bellinzona, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,167 per month in Medellin vs $7,908 in Bellinzona, rent included.

Medellin is about 73% cheaper than Bellinzona, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Medellin sits 23% below the global median, while Bellinzona is 191% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.16 COP 20.1K

$30.64 CHF 24.82

-79.90%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.60 COP 106.1K

$112 CHF 91.1

-71.01%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.34 COP 23.9K

$18.84 CHF 15.26

-61.04%

Cappuccino

$1.72 COP 5,599

$4.47 CHF 3.62

-61.52%

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

$1.05 COP 3,420

$4.78 CHF 3.87

-78.03%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.77 COP 2,515

$3.99 CHF 3.23

-80.70%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.69 COP 5,487

$7.59 CHF 6.14

-77.73%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.17 COP 10.3K

$6.08 CHF 4.92

-47.86%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.05 COP 3,423

$2.21 CHF 1.79

-52.49%

White Bread (500g)

$1.30 COP 4,236

$3.89 CHF 3.15

-66.58%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.40 COP 4,544

$5.30 CHF 4.29

-73.58%

Eggs

$2.16 COP 7,046

$8.00 CHF 6.48

-73.00%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.39 COP 14.3K

$29.22 CHF 23.67

-84.98%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.88 COP 19.1K

$37.01 CHF 29.97

-84.11%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.64 COP 28.1K

$47.21 CHF 38.24

-81.70%

Apples (1kg)

$2.28 COP 7,425

$3.70 CHF 3.00

-38.38%

Banana (1kg)

$1.11 COP 3,603

$2.12 CHF 1.72

-47.64%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.53 COP 4,982

$2.86 CHF 2.32

-46.50%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.35 COP 4,410

$7.61 CHF 6.16

-82.26%

Potato (1kg)

$1.13 COP 3,674

$2.26 CHF 1.83

-50.00%

Onion (1kg)

$1.13 COP 3,692

$2.43 CHF 1.97

-53.50%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.85 COP 2,753

$2.54 CHF 2.06

-66.54%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.91 COP 2,975

$1.68 CHF 1.36

-45.83%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.34 COP 7,629

$11.08 CHF 8.97

-78.88%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.37 COP 40.3K

$18.37 CHF 14.88

-32.66%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.20 COP 3,909

$3.95 CHF 3.20

-69.62%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.49 COP 8,104

$4.33 CHF 3.51

-42.49%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.84 COP 2,727

$6.08 CHF 4.92

-86.18%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$40.57 COP 132.1K

$97.7 CHF 79.1

-58.47%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.42 COP 4,623

$6.98 CHF 5.65

-79.66%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.92 COP 6,235

$4.47 CHF 3.62

-57.05%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.66 COP 24.9K

$60.6 CHF 49.08

-87.36%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.99 COP 3,223

$2.13 CHF 1.73

-53.52%

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

$18.0K COP 58.7M

$40.5K CHF 32.8K

-55.54%

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

$26.6K COP 86.7M

$37.8K CHF 30.7K

-29.64%

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

$80.8 COP 263.1K

$296 CHF 240

-72.69%

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

$9.95 COP 32.4K

$68.2 CHF 55.3

-85.42%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.18 COP 78.7K

$58.1 CHF 47.08

-58.40%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.08 COP 81.6K

$112 CHF 91.0

-77.67%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.15 COP 62.3K

$64.7 CHF 52.4

-70.42%

Cinema Ticket

$3.98 COP 13.0K

$23.08 CHF 18.69

-82.76%

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

$305 COP 993.4K

$1,862 CHF 1,508

-83.61%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,059 COP 19.7M

$34.9K CHF 28.3K

-82.63%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.1 COP 189.2K

$122 CHF 98.9

-52.38%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$32.20 COP 104.8K

$48.48 CHF 39.27

-33.58%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$101 COP 327.9K

$157 CHF 127

-35.64%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$108 COP 350.8K

$189 CHF 153

-43.01%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$477 COP 1.6M

$1,865 CHF 1,511

-74.44%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$376 COP 1.2M

$1,745 CHF 1,414

-78.45%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$845 COP 2.7M

$2,832 CHF 2,294

-70.17%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$730 COP 2.4M

$3,010 CHF 2,438

-75.73%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,215 COP 10.5M

$13.8K CHF 11.2K

-76.75%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,372 COP 4.5M

$10.5K CHF 8,502

-86.93%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$617 COP 2.0M

$6,045 CHF 4,896

-89.80%

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: July 12, 2026

Last update for Bellinzona: July 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $477 in Medellin versus $1,865 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 880% 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 $33.00 in Medellin versus $112 in Bellinzona. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $193 vs $716 – 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: $1,031 in Medellin, $3,886 in Bellinzona – roughly 277% apart. Bellinzona costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,546 per month in Medellin and $5,829 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 $1,031 in Medellin and $3,886 in Bellinzona. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 141% 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 $1,031, than in Bellinzona at $3,886. 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 $1,031 in Medellin to $3,886 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.