Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Glarus Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Glarus

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,034 per month in Medellin vs $3,333 in Glarus, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,577 per month in Medellin vs $5,201 in Glarus, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,120 per month in Medellin vs $7,070 in Glarus, rent included.

Medellin is about 69% cheaper than Glarus, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Medellin sits 23% below the global median, while Glarus is 149% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.92 COP 21.4K

$30.95 CHF 24.48

-80.87%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.75 COP 118.2K

$142 CHF 112

-76.95%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.20 COP 26.0K

$15.76 CHF 12.47

-54.31%

Cappuccino

$1.70 COP 6,140

$5.73 CHF 4.53

-70.33%

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

$1.10 COP 3,966

$5.43 CHF 4.29

-79.74%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.72 COP 2,605

$4.21 CHF 3.33

-82.90%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.67 COP 6,022

$7.41 CHF 5.86

-77.46%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.10 COP 11.2K

$7.26 CHF 5.75

-57.30%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.06 COP 3,809

$1.98 CHF 1.57

-46.46%

White Bread (500g)

$1.25 COP 4,497

$2.81 CHF 2.22

-55.52%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.39 COP 5,022

$2.26 CHF 1.79

-38.50%

Eggs

$2.26 COP 8,168

$7.98 CHF 6.31

-71.68%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.33 COP 15.6K

$31.03 CHF 24.54

-86.05%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.84 COP 21.1K

$34.83 CHF 27.55

-83.23%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.83 COP 31.9K

$50.4 CHF 39.86

-82.48%

Apples (1kg)

$2.24 COP 8,099

$3.70 CHF 2.93

-39.46%

Banana (1kg)

$1.08 COP 3,882

$2.31 CHF 1.83

-53.25%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.53 COP 5,522

$2.90 CHF 2.30

-47.24%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.37 COP 4,950

$6.15 CHF 4.87

-77.72%

Potato (1kg)

$1.13 COP 4,078

$2.40 CHF 1.90

-52.92%

Onion (1kg)

$1.12 COP 4,036

$2.45 CHF 1.94

-54.29%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.85 COP 3,057

$2.56 CHF 2.03

-66.80%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.91 COP 3,281

$1.22 CHF 0.97

-25.41%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.33 COP 8,414

$11.00 CHF 8.70

-78.82%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.13 COP 40.2K

$14.00 CHF 11.07

-20.50%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.19 COP 4,309

$2.47 CHF 1.96

-51.82%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.37 COP 8,553

$3.31 CHF 2.61

-28.40%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.79 COP 2,838

$6.09 CHF 4.82

-87.03%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.13 COP 148.5K

$109 CHF 86.1

-62.21%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.44 COP 5,184

$8.24 CHF 6.52

-82.52%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.91 COP 6,901

$4.20 CHF 3.32

-54.52%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.02 COP 28.9K

$88.5 CHF 70.0

-90.94%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.94 COP 3,385

$2.13 CHF 1.68

-55.87%

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

$17.9K COP 64.7M

$35.9K CHF 28.4K

-50.07%

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

$26.8K COP 96.7M

$39.2K CHF 31.0K

-31.65%

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

$84.0 COP 303.1K

$220 CHF 174

-61.82%

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

$9.60 COP 34.7K

$75.4 CHF 59.6

-87.27%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.16 COP 87.2K

$49.38 CHF 39.06

-51.07%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.88 COP 93.4K

$92.0 CHF 72.7

-71.85%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.04 COP 68.7K

$43.04 CHF 34.04

-55.76%

Cinema Ticket

$3.92 COP 14.1K

$20.28 CHF 16.04

-80.67%

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

$306 COP 1.1M

$2,868 CHF 2,269

-89.32%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,919 COP 21.4M

$42.9K CHF 33.9K

-86.20%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$57.9 COP 209.1K

$139 CHF 110

-58.43%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$31.82 COP 114.9K

$78.4 CHF 62.0

-59.43%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$99.9 COP 360.6K

$131 CHF 104

-23.89%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$107 COP 386.8K

$160 CHF 126

-32.95%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$487 COP 1.8M

$1,624 CHF 1,285

-70.03%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$368 COP 1.3M

$1,338 CHF 1,059

-72.50%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$826 COP 3.0M

$2,919 CHF 2,309

-71.71%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$716 COP 2.6M

$2,298 CHF 1,818

-68.83%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,925 COP 10.6M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,407 COP 5.1M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$546 COP 2.0M

$5,160 CHF 4,082

-89.43%

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 Glarus: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $487 in Medellin versus $1,624 in Glarus. 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 846% higher in Glarus, 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 $142 in Glarus. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $190 vs $666 – 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 Glarus: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Glarus is pricier by about 222%, 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 $1,550 per month in Medellin and $5,000 in Glarus. 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.

Public transport costs about 165% less in Medellin. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $306 per month in Medellin and $2,868 in Glarus. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Medellin, where all-in costs run around $1,034, than in Glarus at $3,333. In Medellin it covers expenses comfortably, while in Glarus 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.

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, Glarus makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.