πMonthly costs for one person with rent: $1,034 in Medellin versus $3,207 in Martigny.
πEstimated couple costs with rent: $1,577 in Medellin versus $4,987 in Martigny.
πMonthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,120 in Medellin versus $6,768 in Martigny.
πLiving in Medellin costs roughly 68% less than in Martigny, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
πThe two cities straddle the global median: Medellin is 23% below, Martigny is 139% above.
Currency
π½ Eating Out
Medellin
Martigny
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.92COPΒ 21.4K
$30.74CHFΒ 24.32
-80.74%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.75COPΒ 118.2K
$131CHFΒ 103
-74.93%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.20COPΒ 26.0K
$18.66CHFΒ 14.76
-61.41%
Cappuccino
$1.70COPΒ 6,140
$4.46CHFΒ 3.53
-61.88%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.10COPΒ 3,966
$4.96CHFΒ 3.93
-77.82%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.72COPΒ 2,605
$4.04CHFΒ 3.19
-82.18%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.67COPΒ 6,022
$7.53CHFΒ 5.95
-77.82%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.10COPΒ 11.2K
$7.52CHFΒ 5.95
-58.78%
π Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Martigny
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.06COPΒ 3,809
$2.23CHFΒ 1.76
-52.47%
White Bread(500g)
$1.25COPΒ 4,497
$3.55CHFΒ 2.80
-64.79%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.39COPΒ 5,022
$4.75CHFΒ 3.76
-70.74%
Eggs
$2.26COPΒ 8,168
$7.05CHFΒ 5.58
-67.94%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$4.33COPΒ 15.6K
$26.99CHFΒ 21.35
-83.96%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.84COPΒ 21.1K
$22.55CHFΒ 17.84
-74.10%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.83COPΒ 31.9K
$35.64CHFΒ 28.19
-75.22%
Apples(1kg)
$2.24COPΒ 8,099
$3.08CHFΒ 2.44
-27.27%
Banana(1kg)
$1.08COPΒ 3,882
$2.01CHFΒ 1.59
-46.27%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.53COPΒ 5,522
$2.54CHFΒ 2.01
-39.76%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.37COPΒ 4,950
$7.40CHFΒ 5.86
-81.49%
Potato(1kg)
$1.13COPΒ 4,078
$2.20CHFΒ 1.74
-48.64%
Onion(1kg)
$1.12COPΒ 4,036
$2.34CHFΒ 1.85
-52.14%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.85COPΒ 3,057
$2.63CHFΒ 2.08
-67.68%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.91COPΒ 3,281
$0.36CHFΒ 0.28
152.78%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.33COPΒ 8,414
$10.71CHFΒ 8.47
-78.24%
Wine(Bottle)
$11.13COPΒ 40.2K
$12.89CHFΒ 10.19
-13.65%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.19COPΒ 4,309
$2.56CHFΒ 2.02
-53.52%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.37COPΒ 8,553
$4.18CHFΒ 3.31
-43.30%
π Getting Around
Medellin
Martigny
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.79COPΒ 2,838
$4.00CHFΒ 3.16
-80.25%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$41.13COPΒ 148.5K
$101CHFΒ 79.5
-59.08%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.44COPΒ 5,184
$6.84CHFΒ 5.41
-78.95%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.91COPΒ 6,901
$4.54CHFΒ 3.59
-57.93%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$8.02COPΒ 28.9K
$62.8CHFΒ 49.65
-87.22%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.94COPΒ 3,385
$2.20CHFΒ 1.74
-57.27%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$17.9KCOPΒ 64.7M
$41.2KCHFΒ 32.6K
-56.46%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.8KCOPΒ 96.7M
$37.9KCHFΒ 30.0K
-29.27%
π§Ύ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Martigny
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$84.0COPΒ 303.1K
$123CHFΒ 97.2
-31.65%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.60COPΒ 34.7K
$73.6CHFΒ 58.2
-86.95%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.16COPΒ 87.2K
$53.3CHFΒ 42.16
-54.68%
π Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Martigny
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$25.88COPΒ 93.4K
$87.0CHFΒ 68.8
-70.25%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.04COPΒ 68.7K
$44.77CHFΒ 35.41
-57.47%
Cinema Ticket
$3.92COPΒ 14.1K
$18.21CHFΒ 14.40
-78.47%
π§Έ Childcare & Education
Medellin
Martigny
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$306COPΒ 1.1M
$1,232CHFΒ 974
-75.12%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,919COPΒ 21.4M
$34.6KCHFΒ 27.4K
-82.90%
ππ Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Martigny
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.9COPΒ 209.1K
$125CHFΒ 99.2
-53.82%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$31.82COPΒ 114.9K
$47.19CHFΒ 37.33
-32.57%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$99.9COPΒ 360.6K
$134CHFΒ 106
-25.63%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$107COPΒ 386.8K
$148CHFΒ 117
-27.61%
π Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Martigny
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$487COPΒ 1.8M
$1,666CHFΒ 1,318
-70.78%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$368COPΒ 1.3M
$1,438CHFΒ 1,137
-74.40%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$826COPΒ 3.0M
$2,799CHFΒ 2,214
-70.50%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$716COPΒ 2.6M
$2,501CHFΒ 1,978
-71.37%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,925COPΒ 10.6M
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,407COPΒ 5.1M
-
-
π΅ Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Martigny
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$546COPΒ 2.0M
$5,826CHFΒ 4,608
-90.64%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
13.43
2.5
437.20%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input β minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Medellin: April 27, 2026
Last update for Martigny: April 25, 2026
Cost Breakdown
π A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $487 in Medellin and $1,666 in Martigny. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
π°Martigny pays 968% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
πDining out: $33.00 in Medellin vs $131 in Martigny for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $190 vs $553 per month, with Medellin cheaper across the board.
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 Martigny: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Medellin or Martigny?
Medellin wins on cost β living expenses run 210% lower than in Martigny. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Medellin the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Medellin or Martigny?
On paper, Martigny earns 968% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Medellin vs Martigny?
Rent for a central apartment: $487 in Medellin versus $1,666 in Martigny. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Are groceries more expensive in Medellin or Martigny?
Supermarket bills run roughly 191% higher in Martigny. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
How do dining costs compare in Medellin vs Martigny?
Dining out is cheaper in Medellin β a meal for two runs $33.00 versus $131 in Martigny. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Can you live on $1,500/month in Medellin or Martigny?
At $1,034 in Medellin versus $3,207 in Martigny, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Medellin but tight or insufficient in Martigny. The gap between the two cities makes Medellin the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Medellin or Martigny?
Both work as nomad bases, but Medellin delivers better value β similar infrastructure at $1,034 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Medellin hard to pass up.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Medellin gentler on the wallet β expenses run 210% less than in Martigny. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.