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