Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and La Chaux-de-Fonds

For one person, living is cheaper in Medellin: $1,639 a month against $2,952 in La Chaux-de-Fonds, rent and utilities included – about $15,800 less a year. Other living expenses account for most of the difference.

Medellin, Colombia
La Chaux-de-Fonds, Switzerland
Medellin
🇨🇴 Colombia
$1,639
/mo nomad
La Chaux-de-Fonds
🇨🇭 Switzerland
$2,952
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Medellin and in La Chaux-de-Fonds

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Medellin and in La Chaux-de-Fonds actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $1,639 per month in Medellin vs $2,952 in La Chaux-de-Fonds, rent included.

  • Medellin $1,639
  • La Chaux-de-Fonds $2,952

A couple spends around $2,413 per month in Medellin vs $4,738 in La Chaux-de-Fonds, rent included.

  • Medellin $2,413
  • La Chaux-de-Fonds $4,738

A family of three spends $3,186 per month in Medellin vs $6,524 in La Chaux-de-Fonds, rent included.

  • Medellin $3,186
  • La Chaux-de-Fonds $6,524

Medellin is about 44% cheaper than La Chaux-de-Fonds, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both Medellin and La Chaux-de-Fonds sit above the global median – Medellin by 20%, La Chaux-de-Fonds by 117%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
La Chaux-de-Fonds
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.09 COP 26.1K
$24.18 CHF 19.95
-66.54%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$47.05 COP 151.7K
$83.4 CHF 68.8
-43.58%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.50 COP 30.6K
$17.79 CHF 14.68
-46.60%
Cappuccino
$3.01 COP 9,722
$4.54 CHF 3.74
-33.70%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.80 COP 5,801
$3.54 CHF 2.92
-49.15%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.41 COP 4,554
$4.59 CHF 3.79
-69.28%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.18 COP 10.2K
$7.43 CHF 6.13
-57.20%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.75 COP 18.5K
$6.19 CHF 5.10
-7.11%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
La Chaux-de-Fonds
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.51 COP 4,869
$2.29 CHF 1.89
-34.06%
White Bread (500g)
$2.38 COP 7,667
$3.04 CHF 2.51
-21.71%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.77 COP 5,712
$3.28 CHF 2.71
-46.04%
Eggs
$2.89 COP 9,320
$7.83 CHF 6.46
-63.09%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.19 COP 32.9K
$26.31 CHF 21.70
-61.27%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.87 COP 31.8K
$27.70 CHF 22.85
-64.37%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.99 COP 45.1K
$41.41 CHF 34.16
-66.22%
Apples (1kg)
$3.97 COP 12.8K
$3.56 CHF 2.93
11.52%
Banana (1kg)
$1.55 COP 5,005
$2.23 CHF 1.84
-30.49%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.18 COP 7,039
$2.96 CHF 2.44
-26.35%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.18 COP 7,041
$4.75 CHF 3.92
-54.11%
Potato (1kg)
$1.96 COP 6,328
$1.70 CHF 1.40
15.29%
Onion (1kg)
$1.59 COP 5,125
$2.00 CHF 1.65
-20.50%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.15 COP 3,694
$2.25 CHF 1.85
-48.89%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.24 COP 4,009
$1.57 CHF 1.29
-21.02%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.96 COP 12.8K
$11.10 CHF 9.16
-64.32%
Wine (Bottle)
$13.68 COP 44.1K
$12.27 CHF 10.12
11.49%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.66 COP 5,352
$2.45 CHF 2.02
-32.24%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.26 COP 7,281
$3.08 CHF 2.54
-26.62%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
La Chaux-de-Fonds
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.17 COP 3,766
$4.35 CHF 3.59
-73.10%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$77.4 COP 249.5K
$101 CHF 83.4
-23.50%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.27 COP 4,089
$8.09 CHF 6.67
-84.30%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.05 COP 6,603
$4.70 CHF 3.87
-56.38%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.55 COP 27.6K
$86.6 CHF 71.5
-90.13%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.35 COP 4,343
$2.35 CHF 1.94
-42.55%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.1K COP 109.8M
$39.8K CHF 32.8K
-14.32%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.7K COP 111.8M
$40.1K CHF 33.1K
-13.53%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
La Chaux-de-Fonds
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$170 COP 547.0K
$289 CHF 239
-41.33%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.55 COP 43.7K
$45.95 CHF 37.91
-70.51%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$28.07 COP 90.5K
$62.8 CHF 51.8
-55.32%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
La Chaux-de-Fonds
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$43.70 COP 140.9K
$73.6 CHF 60.7
-40.60%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.19 COP 55.4K
$46.67 CHF 38.50
-63.17%
Cinema Ticket
$6.91 COP 22.3K
$22.60 CHF 18.64
-69.42%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
La Chaux-de-Fonds
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$797 COP 2.6M
$2,918 CHF 2,407
-72.70%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$9,112 COP 29.4M
$20.6K CHF 17.0K
-55.69%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
La Chaux-de-Fonds
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$84.7 COP 273.2K
$144 CHF 119
-41.02%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$58.0 COP 186.9K
$77.8 CHF 64.2
-25.49%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$135 COP 435.2K
$162 CHF 134
-16.67%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$97.9 COP 315.6K
$200 CHF 165
-51.05%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
La Chaux-de-Fonds
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,208 COP 3.9M
$1,465 CHF 1,209
-17.56%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$642 COP 2.1M
$1,053 CHF 868
-39.06%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,028 COP 6.5M
$3,857 CHF 3,181
-47.42%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,012 COP 3.3M
$2,323 CHF 1,916
-56.45%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,170 COP 13.4M
$16.8K CHF 13.9K
-75.16%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,910 COP 6.2M
$12.3K CHF 10.2K
-84.53%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
La Chaux-de-Fonds
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$657 COP 2.1M
$5,123 CHF 4,226
-87.17%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
10.94
2.42
352.07%

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

Last update for Medellin: October 25, 2026

Last update for La Chaux-de-Fonds: October 24, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Medellin
$642
La Chaux-de-Fonds
$1.1K 64.1% $411
Groceries & Markets
Medellin
$297
La Chaux-de-Fonds
$586 97.3% $289
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
$211
La Chaux-de-Fonds
$398 88.4% $187
Eating Out
Medellin
$170
La Chaux-de-Fonds
$383 126% $214
Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
$169
La Chaux-de-Fonds
$263 55.3% $94
Getting Around
Medellin
$94
La Chaux-de-Fonds
$150 60.5% $57
Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
$58
La Chaux-de-Fonds
$119 106% $61

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,208 in Medellin versus $1,465 in La Chaux-de-Fonds. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries in La Chaux-de-Fonds are about 7.8 times higher. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $47 in Medellin versus $83 in La Chaux-de-Fonds. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $297 vs $586 – making Medellin the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇨🇴 Medellin
🇨🇭 La Chaux-de-Fonds
🕒 Local time
22:56 10:56 PM
04:56 4:56 AM
6 h ahead of Medellin
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
2,486,723
39,027
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

CHF, USD, EUR to COP – Colombian Peso Converter

Colombian Peso exchange rates as of November 1, 2026: 1 USD = 3,224 COP (10,000 COP = 3.1 USD). 1 EUR = 3,600 COP (10,000 COP = 2.78 EUR).

Swiss Franc exchange rates as of November 1, 2026: 1 USD = 0.825 CHF (1 CHF = 1.21 USD). 1 EUR = 0.921 CHF (1 CHF = 1.09 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Medellin La Chaux-de-Fonds 8,930 km ≈ 12 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Medellin
  • La Chaux-de-Fonds

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 La Chaux-de-Fonds: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Medellin or La Chaux-de-Fonds?
La Chaux-de-Fonds costs about 80% more than Medellin, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from groceries. That’s enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Medellin and in La Chaux-de-Fonds?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,459 per month in Medellin and $4,427 in La Chaux-de-Fonds. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Medellin or La Chaux-de-Fonds?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Medellin, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $1,208 there versus $1,465 in La Chaux-de-Fonds.
How do dining costs compare in Medellin and in La Chaux-de-Fonds?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $47 in Medellin and $83 in La Chaux-de-Fonds. That’s a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
How much does it cost to live in Medellin compared to La Chaux-de-Fonds?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,639 in Medellin and $2,952 in La Chaux-de-Fonds. That makes Medellin about 44% cheaper.
Can you live on $2,500/month in Medellin or in La Chaux-de-Fonds?
A $2,500 monthly budget goes further in Medellin, where all-in costs run around $1,639, than in La Chaux-de-Fonds at $2,952. In Medellin it covers expenses comfortably, while in La Chaux-de-Fonds it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for families?
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.
Should I move to Medellin or to La Chaux-de-Fonds?
If budget matters most, go with Medellin. If higher salaries or specific career opportunities are the priority, La Chaux-de-Fonds makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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