Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Solothurn

For one person, living is cheaper in Medellin: $1,639 a month against $2,753 in Solothurn, rent and utilities included – about $13,400 less a year. Other living expenses account for most of the difference.

Medellin, Colombia
Solothurn, Switzerland
Medellin
🇨🇴 Colombia
$1,639
/mo nomad
Solothurn
🇨🇭 Switzerland
$2,753
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Medellin and in Solothurn

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 Solothurn actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $1,639 per month in Medellin vs $2,753 in Solothurn, rent included.

  • Medellin $1,639
  • Solothurn $2,753

A couple spends around $2,413 per month in Medellin vs $4,410 in Solothurn, rent included.

  • Medellin $2,413
  • Solothurn $4,410

A family of three spends $3,186 per month in Medellin vs $6,067 in Solothurn, rent included.

  • Medellin $3,186
  • Solothurn $6,067

Medellin is about 40% cheaper than Solothurn, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both Medellin and Solothurn sit above the global median – Medellin by 20%, Solothurn by 102%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Solothurn
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.09 COP 25.6K
$30.77 CHF 25.48
-73.71%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$47.05 COP 148.9K
$147 CHF 122
-68.05%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.50 COP 30.1K
$18.33 CHF 15.17
-48.17%
Cappuccino
$3.01 COP 9,540
$6.67 CHF 5.52
-54.87%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.80 COP 5,693
$5.31 CHF 4.40
-66.10%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.41 COP 4,469
$5.33 CHF 4.41
-73.55%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.18 COP 10.0K
$6.59 CHF 5.46
-51.75%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.75 COP 18.2K
$5.89 CHF 4.88
-2.38%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Solothurn
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.51 COP 4,778
$2.19 CHF 1.81
-31.05%
White Bread (500g)
$2.38 COP 7,524
$3.76 CHF 3.12
-36.70%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.77 COP 5,606
$3.40 CHF 2.82
-47.94%
Eggs
$2.89 COP 9,146
$8.42 CHF 6.97
-65.68%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.19 COP 32.2K
$22.43 CHF 18.57
-54.57%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.87 COP 31.2K
$26.36 CHF 21.83
-62.56%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.99 COP 44.3K
$60.1 CHF 49.74
-76.71%
Apples (1kg)
$3.97 COP 12.6K
$2.92 CHF 2.41
35.96%
Banana (1kg)
$1.55 COP 4,911
$1.49 CHF 1.23
4.03%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.18 COP 6,907
$3.52 CHF 2.92
-38.07%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.18 COP 6,910
$4.26 CHF 3.52
-48.83%
Potato (1kg)
$1.96 COP 6,210
$1.65 CHF 1.36
18.79%
Onion (1kg)
$1.59 COP 5,029
$1.84 CHF 1.52
-13.59%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.15 COP 3,625
$1.55 CHF 1.29
-25.81%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.24 COP 3,934
$1.01 CHF 0.84
22.77%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.96 COP 12.5K
$10.81 CHF 8.95
-63.37%
Wine (Bottle)
$13.68 COP 43.3K
$14.12 CHF 11.69
-3.12%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.66 COP 5,252
$2.91 CHF 2.41
-42.96%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.26 COP 7,145
$3.11 CHF 2.58
-27.33%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Solothurn
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.17 COP 3,696
$4.68 CHF 3.87
-75.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$77.4 COP 244.8K
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.27 COP 4,013
$7.96 CHF 6.59
-84.05%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.05 COP 6,480
$4.47 CHF 3.70
-54.14%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.55 COP 27.1K
$88.1 CHF 72.9
-90.29%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.35 COP 4,262
$2.23 CHF 1.84
-39.46%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.1K COP 107.8M
$30.4K CHF 25.2K
11.92%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.7K COP 109.7M
$35.0K CHF 29.0K
-0.87%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Solothurn
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$170 COP 536.8K
$97.8 CHF 81.0
73.50%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.55 COP 42.9K
$30.67 CHF 25.39
-55.82%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$28.07 COP 88.8K
$54.3 CHF 44.99
-48.34%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Solothurn
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$43.70 COP 138.3K
$89.4 CHF 74.0
-51.12%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.19 COP 54.4K
$17.05 CHF 14.11
0.82%
Cinema Ticket
$6.91 COP 21.9K
$17.87 CHF 14.79
-61.33%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Solothurn
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$797 COP 2.5M
$3,421 CHF 2,832
-76.71%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$9,112 COP 28.8M
$19.5K CHF 16.1K
-53.28%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Solothurn
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$84.7 COP 268.1K
$138 CHF 114
-38.60%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$58.0 COP 183.4K
$41.96 CHF 34.74
38.13%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$135 COP 427.1K
$159 CHF 132
-15.33%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$97.9 COP 309.7K
$246 CHF 203
-60.14%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Solothurn
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,208 COP 3.8M
$1,154 CHF 955
4.70%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$642 COP 2.0M
$1,043 CHF 864
-38.51%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,028 COP 6.4M
$1,803 CHF 1,493
12.47%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,012 COP 3.2M
$1,718 CHF 1,422
-41.09%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,170 COP 13.2M
$9,576 CHF 7,929
-56.45%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,910 COP 6.0M
$4,801 CHF 3,975
-60.21%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Solothurn
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$657 COP 2.1M
$6,805 CHF 5,634
-90.34%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
10.94
2.03
438.92%

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

Last update for Medellin: October 25, 2026

Last update for Solothurn: October 26, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Medellin
$642
Solothurn
$1K 62.6% $402
Groceries & Markets
Medellin
$297
Solothurn
$621 109% $324
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
$211
Solothurn
$183 13.5% $28
Eating Out
Medellin
$170
Solothurn
$468 176% $299
Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
$169
Solothurn
$263 55.8% $94
Getting Around
Medellin
$94
Solothurn
$49 * 47.6% $45
Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
$58
Solothurn
$125 118% $68

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,208 in Medellin versus $1,154 in Solothurn. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries in Solothurn are about 10 times higher. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $47 in Medellin versus $147 in Solothurn. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $297 vs $621 – making Medellin the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇨🇴 Medellin
🇨🇭 Solothurn
🕒 Local time
01:13 1:13 AM
07:13 7:13 AM
6 h ahead of Medellin
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
2,486,723
16,599
💱 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 = 3,164 COP (10,000 COP = 3.16 USD). 1 EUR = 3,523 COP (10,000 COP = 2.84 EUR).

Swiss Franc exchange rates as of October 29, 2026: 1 USD = 0.828 CHF (1 CHF = 1.21 USD). 1 EUR = 0.922 CHF (1 CHF = 1.09 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Medellin Solothurn 8,980 km ≈ 12 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Medellin
  • Solothurn

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 Solothurn: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Medellin cheaper than Solothurn?
Yes – Solothurn is pricier by about 68%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in groceries.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,459 per month in Medellin and $4,130 in Solothurn. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
What is the rent difference between Medellin and Solothurn?
A central 1-bedroom goes for about $1,208 in Medellin and $1,154 in Solothurn. The gap holds across neighborhoods – outer areas show a similar spread, just at lower price points.
Is eating out cheaper in Medellin or in Solothurn?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $47 in Medellin and $147 in Solothurn. That’s a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
How do food prices compare in Medellin and in Solothurn?
Groceries cost about 109% more in Solothurn, though the gap depends on what you buy.
Is $2,500 a realistic budget for living in Medellin or in Solothurn?
A $2,500 monthly budget goes further in Medellin, where all-in costs run around $1,639, than in Solothurn at $2,753. In Medellin it covers expenses comfortably, while in Solothurn it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is it better to live in Medellin or in Solothurn?
It depends on your priorities. Medellin has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,639 in Medellin to $2,753 in Solothurn. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Medellin. If higher salaries or specific career opportunities are the priority, Solothurn makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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