Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Biel Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Biel

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,687 per month in Medellin vs $2,916 in Biel, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,535 per month in Medellin vs $4,536 in Biel, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,383 per month in Medellin vs $6,157 in Biel, rent included.

Medellin is about 42% cheaper than Biel, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Medellin and Biel sit above the global median – Medellin by 23%, Biel by 113%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.89 COP 24.2K

$31.25 CHF 24.99

-74.75%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$44.53 COP 136.5K

$110 CHF 88.2

-59.64%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.29 COP 28.5K

$17.96 CHF 14.36

-48.27%

Cappuccino

$2.90 COP 8,874

$6.28 CHF 5.02

-53.82%

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

$1.81 COP 5,541

$5.10 CHF 4.08

-64.51%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.55 COP 4,741

$4.28 CHF 3.43

-63.79%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.25 COP 9,962

$7.81 CHF 6.24

-58.39%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.88 COP 18.0K

$4.92 CHF 3.93

19.51%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.38 COP 4,230

$2.22 CHF 1.78

-37.84%

White Bread (500g)

$2.45 COP 7,517

$4.06 CHF 3.25

-39.66%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.51 COP 4,617

$3.43 CHF 2.74

-55.98%

Eggs

$2.78 COP 8,516

$7.24 CHF 5.79

-61.60%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.05 COP 27.7K

$23.22 CHF 18.56

-61.02%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.65 COP 32.6K

$26.97 CHF 21.56

-60.51%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.63 COP 44.8K

$44.39 CHF 35.49

-67.04%

Apples (1kg)

$3.97 COP 12.2K

$3.22 CHF 2.58

23.29%

Banana (1kg)

$1.38 COP 4,219

$2.20 CHF 1.76

-37.27%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.30 COP 7,056

$2.47 CHF 1.97

-6.88%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.02 COP 6,185

$3.29 CHF 2.63

-38.60%

Potato (1kg)

$2.09 COP 6,390

$1.50 CHF 1.20

39.33%

Onion (1kg)

$1.63 COP 4,996

$1.90 CHF 1.52

-14.21%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.08 COP 3,313

$2.21 CHF 1.77

-51.13%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.25 COP 3,843

$1.14 CHF 0.91

9.65%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.03 COP 12.4K

$11.05 CHF 8.83

-63.53%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.47 COP 41.3K

$15.93 CHF 12.74

-15.44%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.60 COP 4,904

$0.91 CHF 0.73

75.82%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.00 COP 9,189

$1.84 CHF 1.47

63.04%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.18 COP 3,611

$4.90 CHF 3.92

-75.92%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$79.9 COP 244.9K

$95.0 CHF 76.0

-15.84%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.61 COP 4,920

$8.00 CHF 6.40

-79.88%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.13 COP 6,533

$4.59 CHF 3.67

-53.59%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.52 COP 26.1K

$85.1 CHF 68.1

-89.99%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.35 COP 4,142

$2.22 CHF 1.78

-39.19%

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

$28.3K COP 86.8M

$43.1K CHF 34.5K

-34.34%

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

$35.7K COP 109.4M

$35.0K CHF 28.0K

1.99%

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

$151 COP 463.8K

$141 CHF 113

6.99%

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

$13.10 COP 40.1K

$36.50 CHF 29.18

-64.11%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$32.30 COP 99.0K

$51.7 CHF 41.33

-37.50%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$46.33 COP 141.9K

$76.9 CHF 61.5

-39.78%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.26 COP 52.9K

Cinema Ticket

$6.43 COP 19.7K

$22.20 CHF 17.75

-71.04%

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

$835 COP 2.6M

$2,665 CHF 2,131

-68.67%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,887 COP 27.2M

$37.5K CHF 30.0K

-76.33%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$89.3 COP 273.7K

$110 CHF 87.6

-18.48%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$55.3 COP 169.5K

$49.60 CHF 39.66

11.51%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$137 COP 418.5K

$143 CHF 114

-4.51%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$109 COP 335.1K

$222 CHF 177

-50.65%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$952 COP 2.9M

$1,293 CHF 1,034

-26.35%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$668 COP 2.0M

$1,143 CHF 914

-41.54%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,020 COP 6.2M

$2,278 CHF 1,822

-11.32%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,148 COP 3.5M

$2,045 CHF 1,635

-43.83%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,696 COP 11.3M

$9,821 CHF 7,853

-62.37%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,586 COP 4.9M

$7,971 CHF 6,373

-80.11%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$625 COP 1.9M

$5,625 CHF 4,498

-88.88%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

10.43

1.68

520.83%

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

Last update for Medellin: August 17, 2026

Last update for Biel: August 17, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $952 in Medellin versus $1,293 in Biel. 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 799% higher in Biel, 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 $45.00 in Medellin versus $110 in Biel. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $297 vs $570 – 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 Biel: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Biel is pricier by about 73%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,530 per month in Medellin and $4,374 in Biel. 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.

Public transport costs about 19% less in Medellin. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $835 per month in Medellin and $2,665 in Biel. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $2,500 monthly budget goes further in Medellin, where all-in costs run around $1,687, than in Biel at $2,916. In Medellin it covers expenses comfortably, while in Biel it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

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.

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