πMonthly costs for one person with rent: $1,034 in Medellin versus $3,491 in Dietikon.
πEstimated couple costs with rent: $1,577 in Medellin versus $5,391 in Dietikon.
πMonthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,120 in Medellin versus $7,291 in Dietikon.
πLiving in Medellin costs roughly 70% less than in Dietikon, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
πThe two cities straddle the global median: Medellin is 23% below, Dietikon is 161% above.
Currency
π½ Eating Out
Medellin
Dietikon
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.92COPΒ 21.4K
$30.20CHFΒ 23.89
-80.40%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.75COPΒ 118.2K
$149CHFΒ 118
-78.01%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.20COPΒ 26.0K
$18.08CHFΒ 14.30
-60.18%
Cappuccino
$1.70COPΒ 6,140
$6.39CHFΒ 5.05
-73.40%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.10COPΒ 3,966
$5.65CHFΒ 4.47
-80.53%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.72COPΒ 2,605
$5.38CHFΒ 4.26
-86.62%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.67COPΒ 6,022
$7.69CHFΒ 6.08
-78.28%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.10COPΒ 11.2K
$6.89CHFΒ 5.45
-55.01%
π Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Dietikon
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.06COPΒ 3,809
$2.21CHFΒ 1.75
-52.04%
White Bread(500g)
$1.25COPΒ 4,497
$2.71CHFΒ 2.14
-53.87%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.39COPΒ 5,022
$3.66CHFΒ 2.89
-62.02%
Eggs
$2.26COPΒ 8,168
$8.30CHFΒ 6.56
-72.77%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$4.33COPΒ 15.6K
$27.24CHFΒ 21.54
-84.10%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.84COPΒ 21.1K
$32.07CHFΒ 25.37
-81.79%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.83COPΒ 31.9K
$40.41CHFΒ 31.96
-78.15%
Apples(1kg)
$2.24COPΒ 8,099
$3.27CHFΒ 2.59
-31.50%
Banana(1kg)
$1.08COPΒ 3,882
$1.86CHFΒ 1.47
-41.94%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.53COPΒ 5,522
$2.55CHFΒ 2.02
-40.00%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.37COPΒ 4,950
$7.30CHFΒ 5.78
-81.23%
Potato(1kg)
$1.13COPΒ 4,078
$2.54CHFΒ 2.01
-55.51%
Onion(1kg)
$1.12COPΒ 4,036
$2.27CHFΒ 1.79
-50.66%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.85COPΒ 3,057
$2.52CHFΒ 1.99
-66.27%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.91COPΒ 3,281
$1.13CHFΒ 0.90
-19.47%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.33COPΒ 8,414
$10.99CHFΒ 8.69
-78.80%
Wine(Bottle)
$11.13COPΒ 40.2K
$11.61CHFΒ 9.18
-4.13%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.19COPΒ 4,309
$2.19CHFΒ 1.74
-45.66%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.37COPΒ 8,553
$2.28CHFΒ 1.80
3.95%
π Getting Around
Medellin
Dietikon
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.79COPΒ 2,838
$3.95CHFΒ 3.13
-80.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$41.13COPΒ 148.5K
$99.4CHFΒ 78.6
-58.63%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.44COPΒ 5,184
$6.71CHFΒ 5.31
-78.54%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.91COPΒ 6,901
$4.25CHFΒ 3.36
-55.06%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$8.02COPΒ 28.9K
$80.8CHFΒ 63.9
-90.08%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.94COPΒ 3,385
$2.11CHFΒ 1.67
-55.45%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$17.9KCOPΒ 64.7M
$39.6KCHFΒ 31.3K
-54.76%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.8KCOPΒ 96.7M
$41.3KCHFΒ 32.7K
-35.20%
π§Ύ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Dietikon
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$84.0COPΒ 303.1K
$329CHFΒ 260
-74.50%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.60COPΒ 34.7K
$60.0CHFΒ 47.46
-84.00%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.16COPΒ 87.2K
$53.1CHFΒ 41.96
-54.46%
π Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Dietikon
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$25.88COPΒ 93.4K
$88.1CHFΒ 69.7
-70.62%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.04COPΒ 68.7K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$3.92COPΒ 14.1K
$30.29CHFΒ 23.96
-87.06%
π§Έ Childcare & Education
Medellin
Dietikon
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$306COPΒ 1.1M
$2,838CHFΒ 2,245
-89.21%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,919COPΒ 21.4M
$34.0KCHFΒ 26.9K
-82.61%
ππ Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Dietikon
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.9COPΒ 209.1K
$147CHFΒ 116
-60.47%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$31.82COPΒ 114.9K
$66.4CHFΒ 52.6
-52.11%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$99.9COPΒ 360.6K
$157CHFΒ 125
-36.54%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$107COPΒ 386.8K
$231CHFΒ 183
-53.59%
π Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Dietikon
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$487COPΒ 1.8M
$1,695CHFΒ 1,341
-71.28%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$368COPΒ 1.3M
$1,450CHFΒ 1,147
-74.62%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$826COPΒ 3.0M
$2,883CHFΒ 2,281
-71.36%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$716COPΒ 2.6M
$2,439CHFΒ 1,929
-70.64%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,925COPΒ 10.6M
$12.4KCHFΒ 9,770
-76.32%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,407COPΒ 5.1M
$10.8KCHFΒ 8,535
-86.96%
π΅ Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Dietikon
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$546COPΒ 2.0M
$6,458CHFΒ 5,108
-91.55%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
13.43
2.5
437.20%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input β minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Medellin: April 27, 2026
Last update for Dietikon: April 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
π A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $487 in Medellin and $1,695 in Dietikon. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
π°Dietikon pays 1084% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
πDining out: $33.00 in Medellin vs $149 in Dietikon for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $190 vs $609 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 Dietikon: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Medellin or Dietikon?
Medellin wins on cost β living expenses run 238% lower than in Dietikon. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Medellin the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Medellin or Dietikon?
On paper, Dietikon earns 1084% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Medellin vs Dietikon?
Rent for a central apartment: $487 in Medellin versus $1,695 in Dietikon. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do dining costs compare in Medellin vs Dietikon?
Dining out is cheaper in Medellin β a meal for two runs $33.00 versus $149 in Dietikon. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
How much does it cost to live in Medellin compared to Dietikon?
All in, you'll spend $1,034 per month in Medellin versus $3,491 in Dietikon β a 238% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Can you live on $1,500/month in Medellin or Dietikon?
At $1,034 in Medellin versus $3,491 in Dietikon, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Medellin but tight or insufficient in Dietikon. The gap between the two cities makes Medellin the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Medellin or Dietikon?
Both work as nomad bases, but Medellin delivers better value β similar infrastructure at $1,034 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Medellin hard to pass up.
How safe is Medellin compared to Dietikon?
Safety-wise, Medellin and Dietikon are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Medellin gentler on the wallet β expenses run 238% less than in Dietikon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.