Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Chur Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Chur

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,013 per month in Medellin vs $3,127 in Chur, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,602 per month in Medellin vs $5,106 in Chur, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,192 per month in Medellin vs $7,085 in Chur, rent included.

Medellin is about 68% cheaper than Chur, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Medellin sits 24% below the global median, while Chur is 133% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.99 COP 21.4K

$30.26 CHF 23.86

-80.20%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.86 COP 117.4K

$98.7 CHF 77.8

-66.71%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.09 COP 25.3K

$16.12 CHF 12.71

-56.02%

Cappuccino

$1.71 COP 6,115

$5.94 CHF 4.69

-71.21%

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

$1.10 COP 3,924

$4.45 CHF 3.50

-75.28%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.78 COP 2,781

$4.40 CHF 3.47

-82.27%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.68 COP 5,997

$7.44 CHF 5.87

-77.42%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.07 COP 11.0K

$7.44 CHF 5.87

-58.74%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.09 COP 3,906

$2.23 CHF 1.76

-51.12%

White Bread (500g)

$1.26 COP 4,508

$3.69 CHF 2.91

-65.85%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.38 COP 4,922

$4.24 CHF 3.35

-67.45%

Eggs

$2.19 COP 7,827

$7.71 CHF 6.08

-71.60%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.40 COP 15.7K

$29.74 CHF 23.45

-85.21%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.63 COP 20.1K

$34.86 CHF 27.49

-83.85%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.89 COP 31.8K

$35.76 CHF 28.19

-75.14%

Apples (1kg)

$2.34 COP 8,349

$3.75 CHF 2.95

-37.60%

Banana (1kg)

$1.06 COP 3,777

$2.32 CHF 1.83

-54.31%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.50 COP 5,374

$2.55 CHF 2.01

-41.18%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.38 COP 4,924

$5.61 CHF 4.42

-75.40%

Potato (1kg)

$1.15 COP 4,111

$1.72 CHF 1.36

-33.14%

Onion (1kg)

$1.16 COP 4,155

$2.26 CHF 1.78

-48.67%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.89 COP 3,182

$2.27 CHF 1.79

-60.79%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.84 COP 2,997

$1.28 CHF 1.01

-34.38%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.28 COP 8,145

$10.64 CHF 8.38

-78.57%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.64 COP 38.0K

$13.84 CHF 10.91

-23.12%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.20 COP 4,284

$2.50 CHF 1.97

-52.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.47 COP 8,824

$3.35 CHF 2.64

-26.27%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.86 COP 3,056

$5.56 CHF 4.39

-84.53%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.40 COP 147.9K

$191 CHF 150

-78.27%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.47 COP 5,264

$8.06 CHF 6.36

-81.76%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.96 COP 7,009

$4.34 CHF 3.42

-54.84%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.74 COP 27.6K

$61.4 CHF 48.40

-87.39%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.95 COP 3,409

$2.19 CHF 1.73

-56.62%

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

$18.1K COP 64.7M

$38.3K CHF 30.2K

-52.65%

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

$26.5K COP 94.6M

$36.4K CHF 28.7K

-27.27%

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

$82.3 COP 293.7K

$249 CHF 196

-66.91%

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

$9.50 COP 33.9K

$24.39 CHF 19.23

-61.05%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.23 COP 86.5K

$48.80 CHF 38.47

-50.35%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.89 COP 92.4K

$85.1 CHF 67.1

-69.58%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.00 COP 67.9K

$37.06 CHF 29.22

-48.73%

Cinema Ticket

$3.93 COP 14.0K

$21.75 CHF 17.15

-81.93%

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

$309 COP 1.1M

$2,508 CHF 1,977

-87.66%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,965 COP 21.3M

$42.5K CHF 33.5K

-85.98%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.7 COP 209.5K

$136 CHF 107

-56.87%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$32.35 COP 115.5K

$37.30 CHF 29.41

-13.27%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$103 COP 366.4K

$129 CHF 102

-20.77%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$108 COP 387.2K

$162 CHF 128

-33.12%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$476 COP 1.7M

$1,501 CHF 1,183

-68.27%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$379 COP 1.4M

$1,138 CHF 897

-66.72%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$838 COP 3.0M

$2,915 CHF 2,298

-71.25%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$724 COP 2.6M

$2,546 CHF 2,007

-71.57%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,791 COP 10.0M

$10.2K CHF 8,007

-72.52%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,211 COP 4.3M

$7,375 CHF 5,815

-83.58%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$512 COP 1.8M

$7,132 CHF 5,623

-92.82%

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: May 31, 2026

Last update for Chur: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $476 in Medellin versus $1,501 in Chur. 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 1294% higher in Chur, 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 $99.0 in Chur. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $188 vs $630 – 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 Chur: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $1,013 in Medellin, $3,127 in Chur – roughly 209% apart. Chur 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 $4,691 in Chur. 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.

Kindergarten costs $309 per month in Medellin and $2,508 in Chur. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 234% more in Chur, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Medellin, where all-in costs run around $1,013, than in Chur at $3,127. In Medellin it covers expenses comfortably, while in Chur 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 $3,127 in Chur. 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, Chur makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.