Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Solothurn Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Solothurn

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,031 per month in Medellin vs $2,830 in Solothurn, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,599 per month in Medellin vs $4,520 in Solothurn, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,167 per month in Medellin vs $6,211 in Solothurn, rent included.

Medellin is about 64% cheaper than Solothurn, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Medellin sits 23% below the global median, while Solothurn is 112% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Solothurn
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.16 COP 20.1K
$31.23 CHF 25.30
-80.28%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.60 COP 106.1K
$144 CHF 116
-77.33%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.34 COP 23.9K
$21.30 CHF 17.25
-65.54%
Cappuccino
$1.72 COP 5,599
$6.53 CHF 5.29
-73.66%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.05 COP 3,420
$5.64 CHF 4.57
-81.38%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.77 COP 2,515
$5.39 CHF 4.37
-85.71%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.69 COP 5,487
$6.88 CHF 5.57
-75.44%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.17 COP 10.3K
$6.34 CHF 5.14
-50.00%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Solothurn
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.05 COP 3,423
$2.22 CHF 1.80
-52.70%
White Bread (500g)
$1.30 COP 4,236
$3.26 CHF 2.64
-60.12%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.40 COP 4,544
$3.26 CHF 2.64
-57.06%
Eggs
$2.16 COP 7,046
$7.20 CHF 5.84
-70.00%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$4.39 COP 14.3K
$30.06 CHF 24.35
-85.40%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.88 COP 19.1K
$31.44 CHF 25.47
-81.30%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$8.64 COP 28.1K
$39.66 CHF 32.12
-78.21%
Apples (1kg)
$2.28 COP 7,425
$4.16 CHF 3.37
-45.19%
Banana (1kg)
$1.11 COP 3,603
$2.89 CHF 2.34
-61.59%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.53 COP 4,982
$2.99 CHF 2.42
-48.83%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.35 COP 4,410
$4.21 CHF 3.41
-67.93%
Potato (1kg)
$1.13 COP 3,674
$1.93 CHF 1.56
-41.45%
Onion (1kg)
$1.13 COP 3,692
$2.01 CHF 1.63
-43.78%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.85 COP 2,753
$2.54 CHF 2.06
-66.54%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.91 COP 2,975
$1.06 CHF 0.86
-14.15%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.34 COP 7,629
$11.01 CHF 8.92
-78.75%
Wine (Bottle)
$12.37 COP 40.3K
$9.73 CHF 7.88
27.13%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.20 COP 3,909
$2.61 CHF 2.11
-54.02%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.49 COP 8,104
$2.40 CHF 1.94
3.75%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Solothurn
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.84 COP 2,727
$3.66 CHF 2.97
-77.05%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$40.57 COP 132.1K
$97.0 CHF 78.6
-58.19%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.42 COP 4,623
$7.59 CHF 6.15
-81.29%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.92 COP 6,235
$4.18 CHF 3.39
-54.07%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.66 COP 24.9K
$75.1 CHF 60.8
-89.80%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.99 COP 3,223
$2.33 CHF 1.89
-57.51%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.0K COP 58.7M
$37.2K CHF 30.2K
-51.57%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.6K COP 86.7M
$38.8K CHF 31.5K
-31.45%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Solothurn
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$80.8 COP 263.1K
$96.9 CHF 78.5
-16.56%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.95 COP 32.4K
$30.30 CHF 24.54
-67.16%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.18 COP 78.7K
$59.1 CHF 47.86
-59.08%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Solothurn
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$25.08 COP 81.6K
$73.0 CHF 59.2
-65.66%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.15 COP 62.3K
$24.77 CHF 20.06
-22.69%
Cinema Ticket
$3.98 COP 13.0K
$25.00 CHF 20.25
-84.08%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Solothurn
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$305 COP 993.4K
$3,422 CHF 2,772
-91.08%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$6,059 COP 19.7M
$19.5K CHF 15.8K
-68.87%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Solothurn
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.1 COP 189.2K
$140 CHF 113
-58.43%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$32.20 COP 104.8K
$43.89 CHF 35.55
-26.63%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$101 COP 327.9K
$99.3 CHF 80.4
1.47%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$108 COP 350.8K
$187 CHF 151
-42.24%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Solothurn
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$477 COP 1.6M
$1,278 CHF 1,035
-62.72%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$376 COP 1.2M
$1,083 CHF 877
-65.28%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$845 COP 2.7M
$1,859 CHF 1,506
-54.56%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$730 COP 2.4M
$1,753 CHF 1,420
-58.33%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,215 COP 10.5M
$9,830 CHF 7,962
-67.29%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,372 COP 4.5M
$4,937 CHF 3,999
-72.20%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Solothurn
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$617 COP 2.0M
$6,802 CHF 5,510
-90.93%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
13.43
2.09
542.58%

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

Last update for Medellin: July 12, 2026

Last update for Solothurn: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $477 in Medellin versus $1,278 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 run about 1003% higher in Solothurn, 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 $144 in Solothurn. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $193 vs $604 – 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 Solothurn: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Solothurn cheaper than Medellin?
Yes – Solothurn is pricier by about 175%, 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 $1,546 per month in Medellin and $4,244 in Solothurn. 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 Solothurn?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $33.00 in Medellin and $144 in Solothurn. 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 Solothurn?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,031 in Medellin and $2,830 in Solothurn. 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 Solothurn?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Medellin, where all-in costs run around $1,031, than in Solothurn at $2,830. In Medellin it covers expenses comfortably, while in Solothurn it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Medellin or Solothurn 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 Solothurn?
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, Solothurn makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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