Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Lugano Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Lugano

🙂 Solo nomad: Medellin is 67.3% cheaper than Lugano without rent, and 67.7% cheaper with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: Medellin is 70.4% cheaper than Lugano without rent, and 71.5% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Lugano
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.03 COP 22.7K
$30.61 CHF 23.85
-80.30%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$33.17 COP 124.8K
$181 CHF 141
-81.69%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.29 COP 27.4K
$18.58 CHF 14.47
-60.76%
Cappuccino
$1.63 COP 6,134
$4.48 CHF 3.49
-63.62%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.05 COP 3,948
$4.75 CHF 3.70
-77.89%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.77 COP 2,899
$4.02 CHF 3.13
-80.85%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.73 COP 6,511
$7.53 CHF 5.87
-77.03%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.18 COP 12.0K
$7.26 CHF 5.65
-56.20%
đź›’ Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Lugano
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.07 COP 4,016
$2.25 CHF 1.76
-52.44%
White Bread (500g)
$1.31 COP 4,935
$3.48 CHF 2.71
-62.36%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.38 COP 5,196
$4.91 CHF 3.82
-71.89%
Eggs
$2.25 COP 8,458
$6.97 CHF 5.43
-67.72%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$4.48 COP 16.9K
$26.82 CHF 20.89
-83.30%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.74 COP 21.6K
$36.39 CHF 28.35
-84.23%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$8.86 COP 33.4K
$46.96 CHF 36.59
-81.13%
Apples (1kg)
$2.24 COP 8,440
$3.14 CHF 2.44
-28.66%
Banana (1kg)
$1.06 COP 3,989
$1.97 CHF 1.53
-46.19%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.51 COP 5,698
$2.60 CHF 2.02
-41.92%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.36 COP 5,120
$7.60 CHF 5.92
-82.11%
Potato (1kg)
$1.12 COP 4,219
$2.28 CHF 1.78
-50.88%
Onion (1kg)
$1.17 COP 4,401
$2.22 CHF 1.73
-47.30%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.90 COP 3,396
$2.58 CHF 2.01
-65.12%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.84 COP 3,150
$1.24 CHF 0.96
-32.26%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.26 COP 8,502
$10.80 CHF 8.41
-79.07%
Wine (Bottle)
$9.97 COP 37.5K
$13.06 CHF 10.18
-23.66%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.18 COP 4,452
$2.65 CHF 2.06
-55.47%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.39 COP 8,995
$4.15 CHF 3.24
-42.41%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Lugano
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.86 COP 3,234
$3.15 CHF 2.46
-72.70%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$41.45 COP 156.0K
$87.7 CHF 68.3
-52.75%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.47 COP 5,522
$6.79 CHF 5.29
-78.35%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.95 COP 7,324
$4.40 CHF 3.43
-55.68%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.76 COP 29.2K
$62.1 CHF 48.39
-87.51%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.97 COP 3,641
$2.14 CHF 1.67
-54.67%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$17.9K COP 67.6M
$40.3K CHF 31.4K
-55.42%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.7K COP 100.6M
$37.7K CHF 29.4K
-29.14%
đź§ľ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Lugano
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$81.1 COP 305.2K
$203 CHF 158
-60.09%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.40 COP 35.4K
$71.9 CHF 56.0
-86.92%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$23.61 COP 88.8K
$53.8 CHF 41.87
-56.07%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Lugano
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$25.55 COP 96.1K
$107 CHF 83.3
-76.11%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.29 COP 72.6K
$62.7 CHF 48.81
-69.21%
Cinema Ticket
$4.10 COP 15.4K
$18.33 CHF 14.28
-77.63%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Lugano
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$306 COP 1.2M
$1,230 CHF 958
-75.11%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,899 COP 22.2M
$35.5K CHF 27.7K
-83.40%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Lugano
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$59.8 COP 225.1K
$123 CHF 95.9
-51.42%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$31.96 COP 120.3K
$47.97 CHF 37.37
-33.38%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$103 COP 386.5K
$133 CHF 103
-22.69%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$108 COP 406.0K
$152 CHF 118
-29.00%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Lugano
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$483 COP 1.8M
$1,686 CHF 1,314
-71.35%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$377 COP 1.4M
$1,249 CHF 973
-69.79%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$822 COP 3.1M
$2,789 CHF 2,173
-70.55%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$721 COP 2.7M
$2,654 CHF 2,067
-72.83%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,784 COP 10.5M
$17.7K CHF 13.8K
-84.26%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,320 COP 5.0M
$13.3K CHF 10.4K
-90.10%
đź’µ Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Lugano
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$538 COP 2.0M
$6,824 CHF 5,316
-92.12%
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: March 3, 2026

Last update for Lugano: February 28, 2026

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated December 2025)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

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