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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,641 per month in Medellin vs $2,801 in Solothurn, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,447 per month in Medellin vs $4,577 in Solothurn, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,253 per month in Medellin vs $6,353 in Solothurn, rent included.

Medellin is about 41% cheaper than Solothurn, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Medellin and Solothurn sit above the global median – Medellin by 19%, Solothurn by 103%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Solothurn
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.04 COP 24.8K
$30.41 CHF 24.82
-73.56%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$48.29 COP 148.6K
$149 CHF 122
-67.66%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.42 COP 29.0K
$18.46 CHF 15.06
-48.97%
Cappuccino
$2.94 COP 9,040
$6.68 CHF 5.45
-55.99%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.86 COP 5,735
$5.63 CHF 4.60
-66.96%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.46 COP 4,479
$5.36 CHF 4.37
-72.76%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.21 COP 9,882
$6.92 CHF 5.65
-53.61%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.71 COP 17.6K
$6.23 CHF 5.08
-8.35%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Solothurn
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.44 COP 4,428
$2.23 CHF 1.82
-35.43%
White Bread (500g)
$2.40 COP 7,389
$3.82 CHF 3.12
-37.17%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.70 COP 5,228
$3.53 CHF 2.88
-51.84%
Eggs
$2.89 COP 8,896
$8.83 CHF 7.20
-67.27%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.06 COP 30.9K
$22.83 CHF 18.63
-55.94%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.97 COP 30.7K
$26.51 CHF 21.64
-62.39%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.20 COP 43.7K
$61.7 CHF 50.3
-76.98%
Apples (1kg)
$3.98 COP 12.3K
$2.96 CHF 2.41
34.46%
Banana (1kg)
$1.58 COP 4,878
$1.45 CHF 1.18
8.97%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.15 COP 6,624
$3.52 CHF 2.87
-38.92%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.30 COP 7,078
$4.22 CHF 3.45
-45.50%
Potato (1kg)
$2.00 COP 6,169
$1.67 CHF 1.36
19.76%
Onion (1kg)
$1.51 COP 4,646
$1.78 CHF 1.45
-15.17%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.20 COP 3,701
$1.63 CHF 1.33
-26.38%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.28 COP 3,946
$1.00 CHF 0.81
28.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.84 COP 11.8K
$11.32 CHF 9.24
-66.08%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.01 COP 43.1K
$13.32 CHF 10.87
5.18%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.71 COP 5,256
$2.89 CHF 2.36
-40.83%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.74 COP 8,440
$3.27 CHF 2.67
-16.21%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Solothurn
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.25 COP 3,834
$4.85 CHF 3.96
-74.23%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$77.9 COP 239.7K
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.31 COP 4,016
$8.46 CHF 6.91
-84.52%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.17 COP 6,680
$4.75 CHF 3.88
-54.32%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.29 COP 25.5K
$92.5 CHF 75.5
-91.04%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.36 COP 4,172
$2.36 CHF 1.93
-42.37%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.5K COP 84.5M
$31.4K CHF 25.6K
-12.53%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$36.5K COP 112.4M
$36.2K CHF 29.5K
1.04%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Solothurn
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$169 COP 519.2K
$98.0 CHF 80.0
72.09%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.57 COP 41.8K
$30.80 CHF 25.13
-55.94%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$28.32 COP 87.2K
$58.5 CHF 47.73
-51.57%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Solothurn
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$45.71 COP 140.7K
$91.9 CHF 75.0
-50.28%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.22 COP 53.0K
$17.25 CHF 14.08
-0.17%
Cinema Ticket
$6.65 COP 20.5K
$18.52 CHF 15.11
-64.09%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Solothurn
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$803 COP 2.5M
$3,692 CHF 3,013
-78.24%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$9,190 COP 28.3M
$19.4K CHF 15.9K
-52.68%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Solothurn
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$87.4 COP 268.8K
$143 CHF 117
-38.91%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$59.4 COP 182.7K
$43.91 CHF 35.84
35.21%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$139 COP 427.5K
$171 CHF 139
-18.54%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$102 COP 314.0K
$258 CHF 210
-60.44%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Solothurn
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,071 COP 3.3M
$1,201 CHF 980
-10.81%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$653 COP 2.0M
$1,072 CHF 875
-39.11%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,925 COP 5.9M
$1,861 CHF 1,519
3.41%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,048 COP 3.2M
$1,815 CHF 1,482
-42.28%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,123 COP 12.7M
$9,687 CHF 7,906
-57.44%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,697 COP 5.2M
$5,010 CHF 4,089
-66.12%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Solothurn
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$655 COP 2.0M
$6,908 CHF 5,637
-90.52%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
10.94
2.07
428.50%

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

Last update for Medellin: September 7, 2026

Last update for Solothurn: September 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,071 in Medellin versus $1,201 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 955% 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 $48.00 in Medellin versus $149 in Solothurn. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $300 vs $629 – 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 71%, 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 $2,462 per month in Medellin and $4,202 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 $48.00 in Medellin and $149 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 110% more in Solothurn, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
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 $1,641, than in Solothurn at $2,801. 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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