Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Schaan

For one person, living is cheaper in Schaan: $1,281 a month against $1,639 in Medellin, rent and utilities included – about $4,300 less a year. Higher rent and utilities in Medellin outweigh lower spending on other living expenses.

Medellin, Colombia
Schaan, Liechtenstein
Medellin
🇨🇴 Colombia
$1,639
/mo nomad
Schaan
🇱🇮 Liechtenstein
$1,281
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Medellin and in Schaan

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Medellin and in Schaan actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $1,639 per month in Medellin vs $1,281 in Schaan, rent included.

  • Medellin $1,639
  • Schaan $1,281

A couple spends around $2,413 per month in Medellin vs $2,181 in Schaan, rent included.

  • Medellin $2,413
  • Schaan $2,181

A family of three spends $3,186 per month in Medellin vs $3,082 in Schaan, rent included.

  • Medellin $3,186
  • Schaan $3,082

Medellin costs about 28% more than Schaan, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in transport.

Medellin sits 20% above the global median, while Schaan is 6% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Schaan
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.09 COP 25.4K
$27.20 CHF 22.57
-70.26%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$47.05 COP 148.0K
$83.7 CHF 69.5
-43.79%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.50 COP 29.9K
$14.59 CHF 12.10
-34.89%
Cappuccino
$3.01 COP 9,485
$6.80 CHF 5.64
-55.74%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.80 COP 5,660
$2.93 CHF 2.43
-38.57%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.41 COP 4,443
$6.20 CHF 5.15
-77.26%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.18 COP 9,990
$4.94 CHF 4.10
-35.63%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.75 COP 18.1K
$3.61 CHF 3.00
59.28%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Schaan
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.51 COP 4,751
$1.95 CHF 1.62
-22.56%
White Bread (500g)
$2.38 COP 7,480
$4.70 CHF 3.90
-49.36%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.77 COP 5,573
-
-
Eggs
$2.89 COP 9,093
$5.78 CHF 4.79
-50.00%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.19 COP 32.1K
$28.74 CHF 23.84
-64.54%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.87 COP 31.1K
$24.42 CHF 20.25
-59.58%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.99 COP 44.0K
$47.49 CHF 39.40
-70.54%
Apples (1kg)
$3.97 COP 12.5K
-
-
Banana (1kg)
$1.55 COP 4,883
-
-
Oranges (1kg)
$2.18 COP 6,867
-
-
Tomato (1kg)
$2.18 COP 6,870
$8.51 CHF 7.06
-74.38%
Potato (1kg)
$1.96 COP 6,174
-
-
Onion (1kg)
$1.59 COP 5,000
-
-
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.15 COP 3,604
-
-
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.24 COP 3,911
$2.47 CHF 2.05
-49.80%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.96 COP 12.5K
-
-
Wine (Bottle)
$13.68 COP 43.0K
$12.29 CHF 10.20
11.31%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.66 COP 5,221
-
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.26 COP 7,103
-
-
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Schaan
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.17 COP 3,674
$2.38 CHF 1.97
-50.84%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$77.4 COP 243.4K
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.27 COP 3,989
-
-
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.05 COP 6,442
-
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.55 COP 26.9K
-
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.35 COP 4,237
$2.46 CHF 2.04
-45.12%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.1K COP 107.2M
-
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.7K COP 109.1M
-
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Schaan
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$170 COP 533.7K
$86.1 CHF 71.4
97.08%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.55 COP 42.6K
$32.04 CHF 26.58
-57.71%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$28.07 COP 88.3K
$43.01 CHF 35.68
-34.74%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Schaan
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$43.70 COP 137.5K
$122 CHF 101
-64.23%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.19 COP 54.1K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.91 COP 21.7K
$19.58 CHF 16.25
-64.71%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Schaan
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$797 COP 2.5M
-
-
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$9,112 COP 28.7M
-
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Schaan
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$84.7 COP 266.5K
-
-
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$58.0 COP 182.3K
-
-
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$135 COP 424.6K
-
-
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$97.9 COP 307.9K
-
-
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Schaan
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,208 COP 3.8M
$1,827 CHF 1,516
-33.89%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$642 COP 2.0M
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,028 COP 6.4M
$3,052 CHF 2,532
-33.57%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,012 COP 3.2M
-
-
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,170 COP 13.1M
$9,554 CHF 7,926
-56.35%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,910 COP 6.0M
$6,145 CHF 5,098
-68.91%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Schaan
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$657 COP 2.1M
$8,508 CHF 7,058
-92.28%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
10.94
4
173.50%

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

Last update for Medellin: October 25, 2026

Last update for Schaan: October 27, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Medellin
$642
Schaan
–
Groceries & Markets
Medellin
$297
Schaan
–
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
$211
Schaan
–
Eating Out
Medellin
$170
Schaan
–
Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
$169
Schaan
–
Getting Around
Medellin
$94
Schaan
–
Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
$58
Schaan
–

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,208 in Medellin versus $1,827 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 in Schaan are about 13 times higher, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $47 in Medellin versus $84 in Schaan. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $297 vs $537 – making Medellin the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇨🇴 Medellin
🇱🇮 Schaan
🕒 Local time
22:08 10:08 PM
04:08 4:08 AM
6 h ahead of Medellin
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
2,486,723
6,000
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

CHF, USD, EUR to COP – Colombian Peso Converter

Colombian Peso exchange rates as of October 29, 2026: 1 USD = 3,146 COP (10,000 COP = 3.18 USD). 1 EUR = 3,502 COP (10,000 COP = 2.86 EUR).

Swiss Franc exchange rates as of October 29, 2026: 1 USD = 0.83 CHF (1 CHF = 1.21 USD). 1 EUR = 0.924 CHF (1 CHF = 1.08 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Medellin Schaan 9,130 km ≈ 12 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Medellin
  • Schaan

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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
Is Schaan cheaper than Medellin?
Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 28%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in clothing.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,459 per month in Medellin and $1,921 in Schaan. 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: a one-bedroom in the center costs $1,208 there versus $1,827 in Schaan.
How do food prices compare in Medellin and in Schaan?
Interestingly, groceries are about 45% cheaper in Medellin – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value.
Is eating out cheaper in Medellin or in Schaan?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $47 in Medellin and $84 in Schaan. That’s a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Is $1,000 enough to cover costs in Medellin or in Schaan?
$1,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $1,639 in Medellin and $1,281 in Schaan. You’ll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.
Is it better to live in Medellin or in Schaan?
It depends on your priorities. Medellin has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,281 in Schaan to $1,639 in Medellin. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

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