🙂A single person spends $1,003 per month in Medellin vs $3,267 in Rapperswil, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $1,573 per month in Medellin vs $4,881 in Rapperswil, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $2,143 per month in Medellin vs $6,494 in Rapperswil, rent included.
🙂Medellin is about 69% cheaper than Rapperswil, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Medellin sits 25% below the global median, while Rapperswil is 145% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Rapperswil
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.91COP 18.6K
$30.81CHF 24.87
-80.82%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.96COP 103.8K
$118CHF 94.9
-71.96%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.43COP 23.4K
$18.18CHF 14.67
-59.13%
Cappuccino
$1.65COP 5,207
$5.58CHF 4.50
-70.43%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.10COP 3,468
$5.47CHF 4.42
-79.89%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.78COP 2,458
$4.84CHF 3.91
-83.88%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.72COP 5,412
$7.47CHF 6.03
-76.97%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.18COP 10.0K
$6.07CHF 4.90
-47.61%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Rapperswil
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.10COP 3,474
$1.20CHF 0.97
-8.33%
White Bread(500g)
$1.26COP 3,962
$1.12CHF 0.90
12.50%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.38COP 4,349
$2.51CHF 2.02
-45.02%
Eggs
$2.18COP 6,858
$3.75CHF 3.03
-41.87%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$4.49COP 14.1K
$27.95CHF 22.56
-83.94%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.79COP 18.2K
$32.61CHF 26.31
-82.24%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.97COP 28.2K
$37.63CHF 30.37
-76.16%
Apples(1kg)
$2.32COP 7,308
$2.43CHF 1.96
-4.53%
Banana(1kg)
$1.06COP 3,352
$1.81CHF 1.46
-41.44%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.52COP 4,774
$2.42CHF 1.96
-37.19%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.36COP 4,270
$2.45CHF 1.97
-44.49%
Potato(1kg)
$1.13COP 3,552
$1.89CHF 1.52
-40.21%
Onion(1kg)
$1.17COP 3,689
$1.81CHF 1.46
-35.36%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.90COP 2,838
$2.58CHF 2.08
-65.12%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.90COP 2,823
$0.59CHF 0.48
52.54%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.23COP 7,034
$11.05CHF 8.91
-79.82%
Wine(Bottle)
$12.12COP 38.2K
$13.26CHF 10.70
-8.60%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.19COP 3,743
$0.82CHF 0.67
45.12%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.48COP 7,815
$2.27CHF 1.83
9.25%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Rapperswil
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.85COP 2,687
$3.97CHF 3.20
-78.59%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$41.62COP 131.0K
$99.7CHF 80.5
-58.25%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.42COP 4,459
$6.76CHF 5.45
-78.99%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.95COP 6,141
$4.29CHF 3.47
-54.55%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.89COP 24.8K
$79.5CHF 64.2
-90.08%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.99COP 3,118
$2.11CHF 1.70
-53.08%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$17.6KCOP 55.4M
$40.8KCHF 32.9K
-56.81%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.8KCOP 84.4M
$41.5KCHF 33.5K
-35.43%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Rapperswil
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$83.0COP 261.4K
$336CHF 271
-75.28%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.70COP 30.5K
$59.7CHF 48.20
-83.76%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$23.52COP 74.1K
$53.2CHF 42.96
-55.82%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Rapperswil
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$25.26COP 79.5K
$86.6CHF 69.9
-70.82%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.10COP 60.1K
$49.93CHF 40.29
-61.75%
Cinema Ticket
$3.95COP 12.4K
$21.82CHF 17.61
-81.90%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Rapperswil
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$316COP 994.2K
$2,796CHF 2,257
-88.71%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,975COP 18.8M
$35.2KCHF 28.4K
-83.02%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Rapperswil
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$60.0COP 188.9K
$124CHF 100.0
-51.56%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$31.82COP 100.2K
$37.30CHF 30.10
-14.69%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$102COP 320.1K
$99.3CHF 80.1
2.38%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$107COP 338.3K
$60.5CHF 48.80
77.69%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Rapperswil
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$475COP 1.5M
$1,686CHF 1,360
-71.82%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$374COP 1.2M
$1,452CHF 1,172
-74.24%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$849COP 2.7M
$2,887CHF 2,330
-70.59%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$719COP 2.3M
$2,503CHF 2,020
-71.26%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,265COP 10.3M
$14.4KCHF 11.7K
-77.40%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,441COP 4.5M
$13.3KCHF 10.8K
-89.20%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Rapperswil
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$624COP 2.0M
$8,215CHF 6,630
-92.40%
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: July 27, 2026
Last update for Rapperswil: July 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $475 in Medellin versus $1,686 in Rapperswil. 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 1216% higher in Rapperswil, 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 $118 in Rapperswil. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $193 vs $515 – 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 Rapperswil: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Rapperswil cheaper than Medellin?
Yes – Rapperswil is pricier by about 226%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,504 per month in Medellin and $4,901 in Rapperswil. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
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.
Is eating out cheaper in Medellin or in Rapperswil?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $33.00 in Medellin and $118 in Rapperswil. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
What are total monthly expenses in Medellin and in Rapperswil?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,003 in Medellin and $3,267 in Rapperswil. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Medellin or in Rapperswil?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Medellin, where all-in costs run around $1,003, than in Rapperswil at $3,267. In Medellin it covers expenses comfortably, while in Rapperswil it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Medellin or Rapperswil more family-friendly?
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.
Which city is safer, Medellin or Rapperswil?
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.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Medellin. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Rapperswil makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.