Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Schaan Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Schaan

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,013 per month in Medellin vs $1,299 in Schaan, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,602 per month in Medellin vs $2,226 in Schaan, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,192 per month in Medellin vs $3,154 in Schaan, rent included.

Medellin is about 22% cheaper than Schaan, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Medellin and Schaan are more affordable than the global median – Medellin 24% lower, Schaan 3% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.99 COP 21.4K

$27.76 CHF 21.89

-78.42%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.86 COP 117.4K

$81.3 CHF 64.1

-59.57%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.09 COP 25.3K

$14.64 CHF 11.54

-51.57%

Cappuccino

$1.71 COP 6,115

$6.60 CHF 5.21

-74.09%

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

$1.10 COP 3,924

$3.09 CHF 2.44

-64.40%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.78 COP 2,781

$5.99 CHF 4.72

-86.98%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.68 COP 5,997

$5.06 CHF 3.99

-66.80%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.07 COP 11.0K

$3.68 CHF 2.90

-16.58%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.09 COP 3,906

$1.94 CHF 1.53

-43.81%

White Bread (500g)

$1.26 COP 4,508

$4.96 CHF 3.91

-74.60%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.38 COP 4,922

Eggs

$2.19 COP 7,827

$6.06 CHF 4.78

-63.86%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.40 COP 15.7K

$29.16 CHF 22.99

-84.91%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.63 COP 20.1K

$24.30 CHF 19.16

-76.83%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.89 COP 31.8K

$48.52 CHF 38.25

-81.68%

Apples (1kg)

$2.34 COP 8,349

Banana (1kg)

$1.06 COP 3,777

Oranges (1kg)

$1.50 COP 5,374

Tomato (1kg)

$1.38 COP 4,924

$8.75 CHF 6.90

-84.23%

Potato (1kg)

$1.15 COP 4,111

Onion (1kg)

$1.16 COP 4,155

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.89 COP 3,182

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.84 COP 2,997

$2.41 CHF 1.90

-65.15%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.28 COP 8,145

Wine (Bottle)

$10.64 COP 38.0K

$12.61 CHF 9.94

-15.62%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.20 COP 4,284

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.47 COP 8,824

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.86 COP 3,056

$2.49 CHF 1.96

-65.46%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.40 COP 147.9K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.47 COP 5,264

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.96 COP 7,009

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.74 COP 27.6K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.95 COP 3,409

$2.43 CHF 1.92

-60.91%

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

$18.1K COP 64.7M

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

$26.5K COP 94.6M

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

$82.3 COP 293.7K

$86.3 CHF 68.0

-4.69%

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

$9.50 COP 33.9K

$33.81 CHF 26.65

-71.90%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.23 COP 86.5K

$44.23 CHF 34.87

-45.22%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.89 COP 92.4K

$124 CHF 98.0

-79.18%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.00 COP 67.9K

Cinema Ticket

$3.93 COP 14.0K

$19.84 CHF 15.65

-80.19%

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

$309 COP 1.1M

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,965 COP 21.3M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.7 COP 209.5K

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$32.35 COP 115.5K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$103 COP 366.4K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$108 COP 387.2K

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$476 COP 1.7M

$1,831 CHF 1,444

-73.99%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$379 COP 1.4M

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$838 COP 3.0M

$3,072 CHF 2,422

-72.71%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$724 COP 2.6M

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,791 COP 10.0M

$10.3K CHF 8,084

-72.79%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,211 COP 4.3M

$6,324 CHF 4,986

-80.85%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$512 COP 1.8M

$9,008 CHF 7,102

-94.32%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.43

235.75%

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

Last update for Medellin: May 31, 2026

Last update for Schaan: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $476 in Medellin versus $1,831 in Schaan. 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 1660% higher in Schaan, 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 $81.0 in Schaan. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $188 vs $546 – 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 Schaan: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Schaan is pricier by about 28%, 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 $1,948 in Schaan. 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.

Groceries cost about 190% more in Schaan, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $33.00 in Medellin and $81.0 in Schaan. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Medellin, where all-in costs run around $1,013, than in Schaan at $1,299. In Medellin it covers expenses comfortably, while in Schaan 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, Schaan makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.