🙂A single person spends $1,681 per month in Medellin vs $3,322 in Rapperswil, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $2,445 per month in Medellin vs $5,118 in Rapperswil, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $3,210 per month in Medellin vs $6,915 in Rapperswil, rent included.
🙂Medellin is about 49% cheaper than Rapperswil, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Medellin and Rapperswil sit above the global median – Medellin by 23%, Rapperswil by 143%.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Rapperswil
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.02COP 25.4K
$25.14CHF 20.66
-68.10%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$47.87COP 152.0K
$98.9CHF 81.3
-51.60%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.89COP 31.4K
$16.52CHF 13.58
-40.13%
Cappuccino
$3.13COP 9,937
$6.04CHF 4.97
-48.18%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.91COP 6,058
$4.88CHF 4.01
-60.86%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.51COP 4,794
$4.83CHF 3.97
-68.74%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.12COP 9,917
$8.49CHF 6.97
-63.25%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.75COP 18.3K
$6.11CHF 5.02
-5.89%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Rapperswil
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.44COP 4,587
$2.21CHF 1.81
-34.84%
White Bread(500g)
$2.49COP 7,894
$3.48CHF 2.86
-28.45%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.77COP 5,631
$4.40CHF 3.61
-59.77%
Eggs
$2.96COP 9,396
$7.67CHF 6.31
-61.41%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.07COP 32.0K
$27.61CHF 22.69
-63.53%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$10.12COP 32.1K
$26.46CHF 21.75
-61.75%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$14.30COP 45.4K
$40.55CHF 33.32
-64.73%
Apples(1kg)
$4.14COP 13.1K
$3.63CHF 2.98
14.05%
Banana(1kg)
$1.61COP 5,106
$2.07CHF 1.70
-22.22%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.25COP 7,129
$2.77CHF 2.28
-18.77%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.25COP 7,150
$4.69CHF 3.86
-52.03%
Potato(1kg)
$2.04COP 6,486
$2.02CHF 1.66
0.99%
Onion(1kg)
$1.54COP 4,873
$2.25CHF 1.85
-31.56%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.17COP 3,715
$2.38CHF 1.95
-50.84%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.31COP 4,148
$1.38CHF 1.14
-5.07%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.90COP 12.4K
$11.04CHF 9.07
-64.67%
Wine(Bottle)
$14.01COP 44.5K
$13.63CHF 11.20
2.79%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.74COP 5,534
$2.21CHF 1.81
-21.27%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.87COP 9,112
$2.79CHF 2.29
2.87%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Rapperswil
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.22COP 3,858
$4.43CHF 3.64
-72.46%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$80.5COP 255.5K
$101CHF 82.8
-20.08%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.31COP 4,155
$7.59CHF 6.24
-82.74%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.19COP 6,944
$4.80CHF 3.95
-54.37%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$8.71COP 27.7K
$89.1CHF 73.3
-90.23%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.37COP 4,334
$2.19CHF 1.80
-37.44%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.8KCOP 88.4M
$43.0KCHF 35.3K
-35.23%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$35.8KCOP 113.6M
$39.8KCHF 32.7K
-10.14%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Rapperswil
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$177COP 562.9K
$238CHF 195
-25.44%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.88COP 44.1K
$32.47CHF 26.69
-57.25%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.72COP 94.4K
$66.1CHF 54.3
-55.06%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Rapperswil
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$44.88COP 142.5K
$92.5CHF 76.1
-51.50%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.12COP 54.4K
$46.83CHF 38.48
-63.44%
Cinema Ticket
$6.65COP 21.1K
$22.36CHF 18.38
-70.26%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Rapperswil
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$813COP 2.6M
$2,918CHF 2,398
-72.14%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$9,187COP 29.2M
$45.4KCHF 37.4K
-79.79%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Rapperswil
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$89.5COP 284.1K
$144CHF 118
-37.70%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$59.0COP 187.2K
$89.9CHF 73.9
-34.40%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$138COP 438.8K
$147CHF 121
-5.76%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$102COP 324.2K
$177CHF 146
-42.34%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Rapperswil
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,062COP 3.4M
$1,738CHF 1,428
-38.89%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$663COP 2.1M
$1,489CHF 1,224
-55.48%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,888COP 6.0M
$2,852CHF 2,343
-33.78%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,027COP 3.3M
$2,553CHF 2,098
-59.77%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,183COP 13.3M
$16.6KCHF 13.6K
-74.73%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,675COP 5.3M
$12.4KCHF 10.2K
-86.48%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Rapperswil
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$678COP 2.2M
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
10.94
1.72
536.05%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Medellin: September 14, 2026
Last update for Rapperswil: September 14, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $1,062 in Medellin versus $1,738 in Rapperswil. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $48.00 in Medellin versus $99.0 in Rapperswil. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $305 vs $588 – 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 98%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. 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 $2,521 per month in Medellin and $4,982 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 $48.00 in Medellin and $99.0 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 $1,681 in Medellin and $3,322 in Rapperswil. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Is $2,500 a realistic budget for living in Medellin or in Rapperswil?
A $2,500 monthly budget goes further in Medellin, where all-in costs run around $1,681, than in Rapperswil at $3,322. 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.