Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Embrach Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Embrach

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,034 per month in Medellin vs $3,522 in Embrach, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,577 per month in Medellin vs $5,426 in Embrach, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,120 per month in Medellin vs $7,330 in Embrach, rent included.

Medellin is about 71% cheaper than Embrach, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Medellin sits 23% below the global median, while Embrach is 163% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.92 COP 21.4K

$30.83 CHF 24.38

-80.80%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.75 COP 118.2K

$144 CHF 114

-77.18%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.20 COP 26.0K

$18.23 CHF 14.42

-60.50%

Cappuccino

$1.70 COP 6,140

$5.87 CHF 4.64

-71.04%

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

$1.10 COP 3,966

$5.28 CHF 4.17

-79.17%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.72 COP 2,605

$4.69 CHF 3.71

-84.65%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.67 COP 6,022

$8.48 CHF 6.71

-80.31%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.10 COP 11.2K

$7.37 CHF 5.83

-57.94%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.06 COP 3,809

$2.26 CHF 1.79

-53.10%

White Bread (500g)

$1.25 COP 4,497

$3.45 CHF 2.73

-63.77%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.39 COP 5,022

$4.08 CHF 3.22

-65.93%

Eggs

$2.26 COP 8,168

$7.25 CHF 5.74

-68.83%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.33 COP 15.6K

$29.48 CHF 23.32

-85.31%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.84 COP 21.1K

$32.93 CHF 26.05

-82.27%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.83 COP 31.9K

$48.04 CHF 38.00

-81.62%

Apples (1kg)

$2.24 COP 8,099

$3.78 CHF 2.99

-40.74%

Banana (1kg)

$1.08 COP 3,882

$2.21 CHF 1.75

-51.13%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.53 COP 5,522

$2.85 CHF 2.25

-46.32%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.37 COP 4,950

$6.17 CHF 4.88

-77.80%

Potato (1kg)

$1.13 COP 4,078

$2.51 CHF 1.99

-54.98%

Onion (1kg)

$1.12 COP 4,036

$2.40 CHF 1.90

-53.33%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.85 COP 3,057

$2.58 CHF 2.04

-67.05%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.91 COP 3,281

$1.33 CHF 1.05

-31.58%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.33 COP 8,414

$11.28 CHF 8.92

-79.34%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.13 COP 40.2K

$14.05 CHF 11.11

-20.78%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.19 COP 4,309

$2.38 CHF 1.88

-50.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.37 COP 8,553

$3.23 CHF 2.55

-26.63%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.79 COP 2,838

$4.00 CHF 3.16

-80.25%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.13 COP 148.5K

$98.3 CHF 77.8

-58.18%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.44 COP 5,184

$7.74 CHF 6.12

-81.40%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.91 COP 6,901

$4.12 CHF 3.26

-53.64%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.02 COP 28.9K

$80.3 CHF 63.5

-90.01%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.94 COP 3,385

$2.24 CHF 1.77

-58.04%

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

$17.9K COP 64.7M

$40.4K CHF 31.9K

-55.59%

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

$26.8K COP 96.7M

$41.2K CHF 32.6K

-35.05%

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

$84.0 COP 303.1K

$256 CHF 202

-67.19%

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

$9.60 COP 34.7K

$47.83 CHF 37.84

-79.93%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.16 COP 87.2K

$59.3 CHF 46.93

-59.28%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.88 COP 93.4K

$87.4 CHF 69.1

-70.39%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.04 COP 68.7K

$73.0 CHF 57.7

-73.91%

Cinema Ticket

$3.92 COP 14.1K

$22.74 CHF 17.99

-82.76%

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

$306 COP 1.1M

$2,919 CHF 2,309

-89.51%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,919 COP 21.4M

$35.4K CHF 28.0K

-83.28%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$57.9 COP 209.1K

$136 CHF 108

-57.42%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$31.82 COP 114.9K

$68.5 CHF 54.2

-53.57%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$99.9 COP 360.6K

$151 CHF 119

-33.76%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$107 COP 386.8K

$185 CHF 146

-42.10%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$487 COP 1.8M

$1,677 CHF 1,326

-70.97%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$368 COP 1.3M

$1,444 CHF 1,142

-74.51%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$826 COP 3.0M

$2,876 CHF 2,275

-71.29%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$716 COP 2.6M

$2,496 CHF 1,974

-71.31%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,925 COP 10.6M

$13.8K CHF 10.9K

-78.85%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,407 COP 5.1M

$10.8K CHF 8,533

-86.96%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$546 COP 2.0M

$6,959 CHF 5,504

-92.16%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.43

2.5

437.20%

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

Last update for Medellin: April 27, 2026

Last update for Embrach: April 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $487 in Medellin versus $1,677 in Embrach. 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 1176% higher in Embrach, 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 $144 in Embrach. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $190 vs $659 – 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 Embrach: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $1,034 in Medellin, $3,522 in Embrach – roughly 241% apart. Embrach costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,550 per month in Medellin and $5,283 in Embrach. 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.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,034 in Medellin and $3,522 in Embrach. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 139% less in Medellin. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Medellin, where all-in costs run around $1,034, than in Embrach at $3,522. In Medellin it covers expenses comfortably, while in Embrach 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 $1,034 in Medellin to $3,522 in Embrach. 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, Embrach makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.