Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Olten Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Olten

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,013 per month in Medellin vs $2,941 in Olten, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,602 per month in Medellin vs $4,458 in Olten, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,192 per month in Medellin vs $5,975 in Olten, rent included.

Medellin is about 66% cheaper than Olten, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Medellin sits 24% below the global median, while Olten is 119% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.99 COP 21.3K

$30.87 CHF 24.36

-80.60%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.86 COP 116.9K

$105 CHF 82.9

-68.71%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.09 COP 25.2K

$17.57 CHF 13.86

-59.65%

Cappuccino

$1.71 COP 6,093

$5.47 CHF 4.31

-68.74%

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

$1.10 COP 3,910

$5.34 CHF 4.22

-79.40%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.78 COP 2,771

$4.62 CHF 3.65

-83.12%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.68 COP 5,976

$6.88 CHF 5.43

-75.58%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.07 COP 10.9K

$6.29 CHF 4.97

-51.19%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.09 COP 3,892

$2.09 CHF 1.65

-47.85%

White Bread (500g)

$1.26 COP 4,492

$3.40 CHF 2.68

-62.94%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.38 COP 4,905

$4.12 CHF 3.26

-66.50%

Eggs

$2.19 COP 7,799

$7.54 CHF 5.95

-70.95%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.40 COP 15.7K

$21.64 CHF 17.07

-79.67%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.63 COP 20.0K

$25.89 CHF 20.43

-78.25%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.89 COP 31.6K

$40.22 CHF 31.74

-77.90%

Apples (1kg)

$2.34 COP 8,319

$4.04 CHF 3.19

-42.08%

Banana (1kg)

$1.06 COP 3,764

$2.40 CHF 1.90

-55.83%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.50 COP 5,355

$2.97 CHF 2.35

-49.49%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.38 COP 4,906

$5.05 CHF 3.99

-72.67%

Potato (1kg)

$1.15 COP 4,097

$2.75 CHF 2.17

-58.18%

Onion (1kg)

$1.16 COP 4,141

$2.37 CHF 1.87

-51.05%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.89 COP 3,170

$2.46 CHF 1.94

-63.82%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.84 COP 2,986

$1.52 CHF 1.20

-44.74%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.28 COP 8,116

$10.95 CHF 8.64

-79.18%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.64 COP 37.9K

$15.42 CHF 12.17

-31.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.20 COP 4,268

$2.15 CHF 1.70

-44.19%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.47 COP 8,793

$2.42 CHF 1.91

2.07%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.86 COP 3,045

$3.93 CHF 3.10

-78.12%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.40 COP 147.3K

$100 CHF 79.0

-58.65%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.47 COP 5,245

$7.53 CHF 5.94

-80.48%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.96 COP 6,984

$4.14 CHF 3.27

-52.66%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.74 COP 27.5K

$61.5 CHF 48.53

-87.41%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.95 COP 3,397

$2.28 CHF 1.80

-58.33%

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

$18.1K COP 64.5M

$40.7K CHF 32.1K

-55.41%

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

$26.5K COP 94.2M

$39.3K CHF 31.0K

-32.63%

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

$82.3 COP 292.7K

$260 CHF 205

-68.38%

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

$9.50 COP 33.8K

$33.65 CHF 26.56

-71.77%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.23 COP 86.2K

$57.7 CHF 45.54

-58.01%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.89 COP 92.1K

$61.3 CHF 48.36

-57.75%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.00 COP 67.6K

$18.65 CHF 14.72

1.88%

Cinema Ticket

$3.93 COP 14.0K

$24.88 CHF 19.64

-84.20%

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

$309 COP 1.1M

$3,433 CHF 2,709

-90.99%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,965 COP 21.2M

$39.9K CHF 31.5K

-85.03%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.7 COP 208.7K

$141 CHF 111

-58.32%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$32.35 COP 115.1K

$61.2 CHF 48.33

-47.18%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$103 COP 365.1K

$150 CHF 118

-31.38%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$108 COP 385.8K

$198 CHF 156

-45.24%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$476 COP 1.7M

$1,248 CHF 985

-61.85%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$379 COP 1.3M

$1,063 CHF 839

-64.38%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$838 COP 3.0M

$1,987 CHF 1,568

-57.80%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$724 COP 2.6M

$1,708 CHF 1,348

-57.61%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,791 COP 9.9M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,211 COP 4.3M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$512 COP 1.8M

$4,351 CHF 3,433

-88.24%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.43

2.09

542.58%

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

Last update for Medellin: May 31, 2026

Last update for Olten: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $476 in Medellin versus $1,248 in Olten. 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 750% higher in Olten, 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 $105 in Olten. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $188 vs $576 – 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 Olten: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Olten is pricier by about 190%, 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 $1,519 per month in Medellin and $4,411 in Olten. 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.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $33.00 in Medellin and $105 in Olten. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,013 in Medellin and $2,941 in Olten. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Medellin, where all-in costs run around $1,013, than in Olten at $2,941. In Medellin it covers expenses comfortably, while in Olten 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, Olten makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.