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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,031 per month in Medellin vs $3,137 in Chur, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,599 per month in Medellin vs $5,098 in Chur, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,167 per month in Medellin vs $7,060 in Chur, rent included.

Medellin is about 67% cheaper than Chur, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Medellin sits 23% below the global median, while Chur is 135% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Chur
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.16 COP 20.1K
$31.31 CHF 25.36
-80.33%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.60 COP 106.1K
$99.5 CHF 80.6
-67.22%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.34 COP 23.9K
$16.09 CHF 13.03
-54.38%
Cappuccino
$1.72 COP 5,599
$5.94 CHF 4.81
-71.04%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.05 COP 3,420
$4.56 CHF 3.69
-76.97%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.77 COP 2,515
$4.23 CHF 3.43
-81.80%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.69 COP 5,487
$7.21 CHF 5.84
-76.56%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.17 COP 10.3K
$7.55 CHF 6.12
-58.01%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Chur
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.05 COP 3,423
$2.30 CHF 1.86
-54.35%
White Bread (500g)
$1.30 COP 4,236
$3.67 CHF 2.97
-64.58%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.40 COP 4,544
$4.19 CHF 3.39
-66.59%
Eggs
$2.16 COP 7,046
$7.83 CHF 6.34
-72.41%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$4.39 COP 14.3K
$29.05 CHF 23.53
-84.89%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.88 COP 19.1K
$35.87 CHF 29.06
-83.61%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$8.64 COP 28.1K
$36.50 CHF 29.57
-76.33%
Apples (1kg)
$2.28 COP 7,425
$3.73 CHF 3.02
-38.87%
Banana (1kg)
$1.11 COP 3,603
$2.29 CHF 1.86
-51.53%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.53 COP 4,982
$2.55 CHF 2.07
-40.00%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.35 COP 4,410
$5.51 CHF 4.47
-75.50%
Potato (1kg)
$1.13 COP 3,674
$1.81 CHF 1.47
-37.57%
Onion (1kg)
$1.13 COP 3,692
$2.27 CHF 1.84
-50.22%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.85 COP 2,753
$2.27 CHF 1.84
-62.56%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.91 COP 2,975
$1.27 CHF 1.03
-28.35%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.34 COP 7,629
$10.67 CHF 8.65
-78.07%
Wine (Bottle)
$12.37 COP 40.3K
$12.97 CHF 10.51
-4.63%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.20 COP 3,909
$2.39 CHF 1.94
-49.79%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.49 COP 8,104
$3.33 CHF 2.70
-25.23%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Chur
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.84 COP 2,727
$5.51 CHF 4.46
-84.75%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$40.57 COP 132.1K
$188 CHF 153
-78.46%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.42 COP 4,623
$7.93 CHF 6.42
-82.09%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.92 COP 6,235
$4.25 CHF 3.44
-54.82%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.66 COP 24.9K
$62.8 CHF 50.9
-87.81%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.99 COP 3,223
$2.19 CHF 1.77
-54.79%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.0K COP 58.7M
$38.1K CHF 30.9K
-52.68%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.6K COP 86.7M
$37.5K CHF 30.4K
-29.03%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Chur
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$80.8 COP 263.1K
$250 CHF 202
-67.65%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.95 COP 32.4K
$24.93 CHF 20.19
-60.09%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.18 COP 78.7K
$48.89 CHF 39.60
-50.54%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Chur
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$25.08 COP 81.6K
$86.5 CHF 70.1
-71.00%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.15 COP 62.3K
$37.17 CHF 30.10
-48.48%
Cinema Ticket
$3.98 COP 13.0K
$22.49 CHF 18.22
-82.30%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Chur
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$305 COP 993.4K
$2,500 CHF 2,025
-87.79%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$6,059 COP 19.7M
$43.3K CHF 35.0K
-85.99%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Chur
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.1 COP 189.2K
$138 CHF 112
-57.90%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$32.20 COP 104.8K
$36.49 CHF 29.56
-11.76%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$101 COP 327.9K
$131 CHF 106
-22.97%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$108 COP 350.8K
$158 CHF 128
-31.86%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Chur
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$477 COP 1.6M
$1,489 CHF 1,206
-67.99%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$376 COP 1.2M
$1,133 CHF 918
-66.80%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$845 COP 2.7M
$2,894 CHF 2,344
-70.82%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$730 COP 2.4M
$2,498 CHF 2,023
-70.76%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,215 COP 10.5M
$7,281 CHF 5,897
-55.84%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,372 COP 4.5M
$5,574 CHF 4,515
-75.38%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Chur
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$617 COP 2.0M
$6,981 CHF 5,655
-91.16%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
13.43
2
571.50%

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

Last update for Medellin: July 12, 2026

Last update for Chur: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $477 in Medellin versus $1,489 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 1032% 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: $193 vs $633 – 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
How do living costs in Medellin and in Chur compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $1,031 in Medellin, $3,137 in Chur – roughly 204% apart. Chur costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Medellin compared to Chur?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,546 per month in Medellin and $4,706 in Chur. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Medellin and Chur?
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.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Medellin and Chur?
Kindergarten costs $305 per month in Medellin and $2,500 in Chur. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Groceries cost about 228% more in Chur, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Which city is more doable on $1,500 per month?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Medellin, where all-in costs run around $1,031, than in Chur at $3,137. In Medellin it covers expenses comfortably, while in Chur it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
How does quality of life compare between Medellin and Chur?
It depends on your priorities. Medellin has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,031 in Medellin to $3,137 in Chur. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Is Medellin or Chur safer for residents?
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.
How do I decide between Medellin and Chur?
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.

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