Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Buchs Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Buchs

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,003 in Medellin versus $3,309 in Buchs.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,573 in Medellin versus $5,045 in Buchs.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,143 in Medellin versus $6,781 in Buchs.

Living in Medellin costs roughly 70% less than in Buchs, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Medellin is 25% below, Buchs is 149% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.91 COP 18.6K

$28.74 CHF 23.19

-79.44%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.96 COP 103.8K

$131 CHF 105

-74.77%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.43 COP 23.4K

$11.83 CHF 9.54

-37.19%

Cappuccino

$1.65 COP 5,207

$3.41 CHF 2.75

-51.61%

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

$1.10 COP 3,468

$2.42 CHF 1.95

-54.55%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.78 COP 2,458

$2.05 CHF 1.66

-61.95%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.72 COP 5,412

$4.58 CHF 3.70

-62.45%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.18 COP 10.0K

$5.25 CHF 4.24

-39.43%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.10 COP 3,474

$1.74 CHF 1.40

-36.78%

White Bread (500g)

$1.26 COP 3,962

$3.12 CHF 2.52

-59.62%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.38 COP 4,349

$4.06 CHF 3.27

-66.01%

Eggs

$2.18 COP 6,858

$5.02 CHF 4.05

-56.57%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.49 COP 14.1K

$30.92 CHF 24.95

-85.48%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.79 COP 18.2K

$14.70 CHF 11.87

-60.61%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.97 COP 28.2K

$52.0 CHF 41.99

-82.76%

Apples (1kg)

$2.32 COP 7,308

$3.79 CHF 3.06

-38.79%

Banana (1kg)

$1.06 COP 3,352

$2.04 CHF 1.65

-48.04%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.52 COP 4,774

$3.01 CHF 2.43

-49.50%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.36 COP 4,270

$6.15 CHF 4.96

-77.89%

Potato (1kg)

$1.13 COP 3,552

$2.50 CHF 2.01

-54.80%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 COP 3,689

$2.49 CHF 2.01

-53.01%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.90 COP 2,838

$2.67 CHF 2.15

-66.29%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.90 COP 2,823

$1.24 CHF 1.00

-27.42%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.23 COP 7,034

$11.02 CHF 8.89

-79.76%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.12 COP 38.2K

$13.08 CHF 10.55

-7.34%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.19 COP 3,743

$2.40 CHF 1.94

-50.42%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.48 COP 7,815

$3.44 CHF 2.77

-27.91%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.85 COP 2,687

$2.41 CHF 1.94

-64.73%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.62 COP 131.0K

$84.5 CHF 68.2

-50.76%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.42 COP 4,459

$8.23 CHF 6.64

-82.75%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.95 COP 6,141

$3.36 CHF 2.71

-41.96%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.89 COP 24.8K

$87.4 CHF 70.5

-90.97%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.99 COP 3,118

$2.14 CHF 1.72

-53.74%

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

$17.6K COP 55.4M

$30.3K CHF 24.4K

-41.86%

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

$26.8K COP 84.4M

$42.3K CHF 34.1K

-36.58%

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

$83.0 COP 261.4K

$182 CHF 147

-54.50%

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

$9.70 COP 30.5K

$43.72 CHF 35.28

-77.81%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$23.52 COP 74.1K

$56.6 CHF 45.66

-58.43%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.26 COP 79.5K

$147 CHF 119

-82.80%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.10 COP 60.1K

$17.14 CHF 13.83

11.44%

Cinema Ticket

$3.95 COP 12.4K

$14.66 CHF 11.83

-73.06%

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

$316 COP 994.2K

$2,924 CHF 2,359

-89.20%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,975 COP 18.8M

$32.9K CHF 26.6K

-81.86%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$60.0 COP 188.9K

$139 CHF 112

-56.71%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$31.82 COP 100.2K

$77.8 CHF 62.8

-59.09%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$102 COP 320.1K

$133 CHF 108

-23.81%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$107 COP 338.3K

$163 CHF 131

-33.89%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$475 COP 1.5M

$1,871 CHF 1,510

-74.62%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$374 COP 1.2M

$1,622 CHF 1,309

-76.94%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$849 COP 2.7M

$2,786 CHF 2,248

-69.52%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$719 COP 2.3M

$2,457 CHF 1,983

-70.72%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,265 COP 10.3M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,441 COP 4.5M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$624 COP 2.0M

$8,525 CHF 6,879

-92.67%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.43

571.50%

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

Last update for Medellin: July 27, 2026

Last update for Buchs: July 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $475 in Medellin and $1,871 in Buchs. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Buchs pays 1265% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $33.00 in Medellin vs $131 in Buchs for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $193 vs $564 per month, with Medellin cheaper across the board.

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 Buchs: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Medellin and Buchs differ by about 230% in total monthly costs ($1,003 vs $3,309 including rent). Medellin is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

On paper, salaries run 1265% lower in Buchs. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $475 in Medellin versus $1,871 in Buchs. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Dining out is cheaper in Medellin – a meal for two runs $33.00 versus $131 in Buchs. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $1,003 per month in Medellin versus $3,309 in Buchs – a 230% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $1,003 in Medellin versus $3,309 in Buchs, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Medellin but tight or insufficient in Buchs. The gap between the two cities makes Medellin the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Safety-wise, Medellin and Buchs are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Medellin gentler on the wallet – expenses run 230% less than in Buchs. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.