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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,013 per month in Medellin vs $3,822 in Bellinzona, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,602 per month in Medellin vs $5,855 in Bellinzona, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,192 per month in Medellin vs $7,889 in Bellinzona, rent included.

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

Medellin sits 24% below the global median, while Bellinzona is 185% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.99 COP 21.4K

$30.37 CHF 24.03

-80.28%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.86 COP 117.2K

$112 CHF 88.7

-70.69%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.09 COP 25.3K

$18.75 CHF 14.84

-62.19%

Cappuccino

$1.71 COP 6,105

$4.43 CHF 3.51

-61.40%

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

$1.10 COP 3,918

$4.85 CHF 3.84

-77.32%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.78 COP 2,776

$4.19 CHF 3.31

-81.38%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.68 COP 5,987

$7.20 CHF 5.70

-76.67%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.07 COP 10.9K

$6.34 CHF 5.02

-51.58%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.09 COP 3,899

$2.22 CHF 1.75

-50.90%

White Bread (500g)

$1.26 COP 4,500

$4.01 CHF 3.17

-68.58%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.38 COP 4,914

$5.30 CHF 4.19

-73.96%

Eggs

$2.19 COP 7,813

$7.93 CHF 6.28

-72.38%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.40 COP 15.7K

$28.51 CHF 22.56

-84.57%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.63 COP 20.1K

$36.99 CHF 29.26

-84.78%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.89 COP 31.7K

$48.13 CHF 38.08

-81.53%

Apples (1kg)

$2.34 COP 8,334

$3.65 CHF 2.89

-35.89%

Banana (1kg)

$1.06 COP 3,771

$2.08 CHF 1.64

-49.04%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.50 COP 5,365

$2.77 CHF 2.19

-45.85%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.38 COP 4,915

$7.42 CHF 5.87

-81.40%

Potato (1kg)

$1.15 COP 4,104

$2.27 CHF 1.79

-49.34%

Onion (1kg)

$1.16 COP 4,148

$2.55 CHF 2.02

-54.51%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.89 COP 3,176

$2.65 CHF 2.10

-66.42%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.84 COP 2,992

$1.67 CHF 1.32

-49.70%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.28 COP 8,131

$11.10 CHF 8.78

-79.46%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.64 COP 37.9K

$19.21 CHF 15.20

-44.61%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.20 COP 4,276

$4.08 CHF 3.23

-70.59%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.47 COP 8,809

$4.29 CHF 3.39

-42.42%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.86 COP 3,051

$6.26 CHF 4.95

-86.26%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.40 COP 147.6K

$97.7 CHF 77.3

-57.62%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.47 COP 5,255

$6.88 CHF 5.44

-78.63%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.96 COP 6,997

$4.35 CHF 3.44

-54.94%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.74 COP 27.6K

$61.2 CHF 48.44

-87.36%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.95 COP 3,403

$2.15 CHF 1.70

-55.81%

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

$18.1K COP 64.6M

$39.8K CHF 31.5K

-54.48%

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

$26.5K COP 94.4M

$37.3K CHF 29.5K

-28.97%

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

$82.3 COP 293.2K

$295 CHF 233

-72.11%

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

$9.50 COP 33.9K

$67.3 CHF 53.2

-85.87%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.23 COP 86.4K

$59.2 CHF 46.82

-59.06%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.89 COP 92.3K

$113 CHF 89.3

-77.06%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.00 COP 67.7K

$65.3 CHF 51.7

-70.90%

Cinema Ticket

$3.93 COP 14.0K

$23.10 CHF 18.27

-82.99%

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

$309 COP 1.1M

$1,866 CHF 1,476

-83.42%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,965 COP 21.3M

$34.7K CHF 27.5K

-82.83%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.7 COP 209.1K

$125 CHF 99.0

-53.12%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$32.35 COP 115.3K

$48.78 CHF 38.59

-33.68%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$103 COP 365.7K

$156 CHF 123

-34.04%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$108 COP 386.5K

$189 CHF 149

-42.50%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$476 COP 1.7M

$1,868 CHF 1,478

-74.51%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$379 COP 1.4M

$1,730 CHF 1,368

-78.10%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$838 COP 3.0M

$2,797 CHF 2,213

-70.03%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$724 COP 2.6M

$3,071 CHF 2,429

-76.43%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,791 COP 9.9M

$17.0K CHF 13.4K

-83.55%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,211 COP 4.3M

$12.2K CHF 9,615

-90.03%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$512 COP 1.8M

$6,300 CHF 4,984

-91.88%

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 Bellinzona: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $476 in Medellin versus $1,868 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 1131% 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: $188 vs $719 – 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: $1,013 in Medellin, $3,822 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 $1,519 per month in Medellin and $5,733 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 $1,013 in Medellin and $3,822 in Bellinzona. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 136% 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 Bellinzona at $3,822. 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 $1,013 in Medellin to $3,822 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.