Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Giubiasco Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Giubiasco

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,003 per month in Medellin vs $3,340 in Giubiasco, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,573 per month in Medellin vs $5,239 in Giubiasco, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,143 per month in Medellin vs $7,138 in Giubiasco, rent included.

Medellin is about 70% cheaper than Giubiasco, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Medellin sits 25% below the global median, while Giubiasco is 151% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.91 COP 18.6K

$31.28 CHF 25.25

-81.11%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.96 COP 103.8K

$164 CHF 132

-79.87%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.43 COP 23.4K

$18.53 CHF 14.95

-59.90%

Cappuccino

$1.65 COP 5,207

$4.42 CHF 3.57

-62.67%

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

$1.10 COP 3,468

$4.80 CHF 3.87

-77.08%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.78 COP 2,458

$4.15 CHF 3.35

-81.20%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.72 COP 5,412

$7.54 CHF 6.09

-77.19%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.18 COP 10.0K

$7.41 CHF 5.98

-57.09%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.10 COP 3,474

$2.25 CHF 1.82

-51.11%

White Bread (500g)

$1.26 COP 3,962

$3.52 CHF 2.84

-64.20%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.38 COP 4,349

$4.75 CHF 3.83

-70.95%

Eggs

$2.18 COP 6,858

$6.99 CHF 5.64

-68.81%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.49 COP 14.1K

$27.19 CHF 21.94

-83.49%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.79 COP 18.2K

$35.90 CHF 28.97

-83.87%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.97 COP 28.2K

$44.31 CHF 35.76

-79.76%

Apples (1kg)

$2.32 COP 7,308

$3.10 CHF 2.50

-25.16%

Banana (1kg)

$1.06 COP 3,352

$2.03 CHF 1.64

-47.78%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.52 COP 4,774

$2.83 CHF 2.29

-46.29%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.36 COP 4,270

$7.22 CHF 5.83

-81.16%

Potato (1kg)

$1.13 COP 3,552

$2.27 CHF 1.83

-50.22%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 COP 3,689

$2.34 CHF 1.89

-50.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.90 COP 2,838

$2.61 CHF 2.10

-65.52%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.90 COP 2,823

$1.70 CHF 1.37

-47.06%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.23 COP 7,034

$10.49 CHF 8.46

-78.74%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.12 COP 38.2K

$12.37 CHF 9.98

-2.02%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.19 COP 3,743

$3.60 CHF 2.91

-66.94%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.48 COP 7,815

$4.19 CHF 3.38

-40.81%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.85 COP 2,687

$3.84 CHF 3.10

-77.86%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.62 COP 131.0K

$98.5 CHF 79.5

-57.75%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.42 COP 4,459

$6.62 CHF 5.34

-78.55%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.95 COP 6,141

$4.53 CHF 3.65

-56.95%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.89 COP 24.8K

$61.1 CHF 49.27

-87.08%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.99 COP 3,118

$2.21 CHF 1.78

-55.20%

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

$17.6K COP 55.4M

$40.2K CHF 32.5K

-56.26%

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

$26.8K COP 84.4M

$36.9K CHF 29.8K

-27.41%

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

$83.0 COP 261.4K

$202 CHF 163

-58.90%

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

$9.70 COP 30.5K

$67.6 CHF 54.6

-85.66%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$23.52 COP 74.1K

$53.7 CHF 43.35

-56.22%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.26 COP 79.5K

$86.5 CHF 69.8

-70.80%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.10 COP 60.1K

$43.00 CHF 34.70

-55.58%

Cinema Ticket

$3.95 COP 12.4K

$18.67 CHF 15.07

-78.84%

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

$316 COP 994.2K

$1,216 CHF 982

-74.04%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,975 COP 18.8M

$35.3K CHF 28.5K

-83.09%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$60.0 COP 188.9K

$110 CHF 89.1

-45.63%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$31.82 COP 100.2K

$47.29 CHF 38.17

-32.71%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$102 COP 320.1K

$133 CHF 107

-23.31%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$107 COP 338.3K

$153 CHF 123

-29.70%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$475 COP 1.5M

$1,701 CHF 1,373

-72.08%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$374 COP 1.2M

$1,452 CHF 1,172

-74.25%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$849 COP 2.7M

$2,832 CHF 2,285

-70.02%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$719 COP 2.3M

$2,432 CHF 1,963

-70.42%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,265 COP 10.3M

$15.4K CHF 12.4K

-78.82%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,441 COP 4.5M

$11.8K CHF 9,498

-87.76%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$624 COP 2.0M

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: July 27, 2026

Last update for Giubiasco: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $475 in Medellin versus $1,701 in Giubiasco. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $33.00 in Medellin versus $164 in Giubiasco. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $193 vs $667 – 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 Giubiasco: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Giubiasco is pricier by about 233%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,504 per month in Medellin and $5,010 in Giubiasco. 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 $316 per month in Medellin and $1,216 in Giubiasco. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 245% more in Giubiasco, 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 $1,003, than in Giubiasco at $3,340. In Medellin it covers expenses comfortably, while in Giubiasco it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Medellin – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

If budget matters most, go with Medellin. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Giubiasco makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.