Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Stabio Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Stabio

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,641 per month in Medellin vs $3,494 in Stabio, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,447 per month in Medellin vs $5,483 in Stabio, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,253 per month in Medellin vs $7,473 in Stabio, rent included.

Medellin is about 53% cheaper than Stabio, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Medellin and Stabio sit above the global median – Medellin by 19%, Stabio by 153%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Stabio
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.04 COP 24.8K
$34.98 CHF 28.44
-77.02%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$48.29 COP 149.1K
$173 CHF 141
-72.15%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.42 COP 29.1K
$20.37 CHF 16.56
-53.76%
Cappuccino
$2.94 COP 9,070
$4.55 CHF 3.70
-35.38%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.86 COP 5,754
$4.96 CHF 4.04
-62.50%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.46 COP 4,494
$4.08 CHF 3.32
-64.22%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.21 COP 9,915
$9.64 CHF 7.84
-66.70%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.71 COP 17.6K
$7.50 CHF 6.09
-23.87%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Stabio
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.44 COP 4,443
$2.24 CHF 1.82
-35.71%
White Bread (500g)
$2.40 COP 7,413
$3.80 CHF 3.09
-36.84%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.70 COP 5,245
$4.10 CHF 3.34
-58.54%
Eggs
$2.89 COP 8,925
$7.38 CHF 6.00
-60.84%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.06 COP 31.1K
$26.03 CHF 21.16
-61.35%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.97 COP 30.8K
$29.67 CHF 24.13
-66.40%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.20 COP 43.9K
$41.74 CHF 33.94
-65.98%
Apples (1kg)
$3.98 COP 12.3K
$3.38 CHF 2.75
17.75%
Banana (1kg)
$1.58 COP 4,894
$1.66 CHF 1.35
-4.82%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.15 COP 6,646
$2.65 CHF 2.15
-18.87%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.30 COP 7,101
$5.45 CHF 4.43
-57.80%
Potato (1kg)
$2.00 COP 6,189
$1.90 CHF 1.55
5.26%
Onion (1kg)
$1.51 COP 4,661
$2.14 CHF 1.74
-29.44%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.20 COP 3,713
$2.36 CHF 1.92
-49.15%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.28 COP 3,959
$1.17 CHF 0.95
9.40%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.84 COP 11.8K
$11.17 CHF 9.08
-65.62%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.01 COP 43.3K
$12.71 CHF 10.34
10.23%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.71 COP 5,273
$2.81 CHF 2.29
-39.15%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.74 COP 8,468
$3.95 CHF 3.22
-30.63%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Stabio
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.25 COP 3,847
$4.36 CHF 3.55
-71.33%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$77.9 COP 240.5K
$108 CHF 88.2
-28.17%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.31 COP 4,030
$7.91 CHF 6.43
-83.44%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.17 COP 6,702
$5.71 CHF 4.65
-62.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.29 COP 25.6K
$81.1 CHF 66.0
-89.78%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.36 COP 4,186
$2.29 CHF 1.86
-40.61%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.5K COP 84.8M
$35.6K CHF 29.0K
-22.85%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$36.5K COP 112.8M
$39.8K CHF 32.3K
-8.13%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Stabio
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$169 COP 521.0K
$231 CHF 187
-26.83%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.57 COP 41.9K
$22.47 CHF 18.27
-39.61%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$28.32 COP 87.5K
$49.95 CHF 40.61
-43.30%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Stabio
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$45.71 COP 141.1K
$84.6 CHF 68.8
-45.96%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.22 COP 53.2K
$50.1 CHF 40.74
-65.64%
Cinema Ticket
$6.65 COP 20.5K
$20.39 CHF 16.58
-67.39%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Stabio
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$803 COP 2.5M
$1,257 CHF 1,022
-36.09%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$9,190 COP 28.4M
$35.6K CHF 28.9K
-74.17%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Stabio
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$87.4 COP 269.7K
$166 CHF 135
-47.40%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$59.4 COP 183.3K
$57.7 CHF 46.95
2.82%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$139 COP 428.9K
$198 CHF 161
-29.80%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$102 COP 315.1K
$155 CHF 126
-34.27%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Stabio
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,071 COP 3.3M
$1,737 CHF 1,413
-38.36%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$653 COP 2.0M
$1,538 CHF 1,251
-57.56%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,925 COP 5.9M
$2,583 CHF 2,100
-25.49%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,048 COP 3.2M
$2,476 CHF 2,013
-57.68%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,123 COP 12.7M
$17.9K CHF 14.6K
-76.99%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,697 COP 5.2M
$12.8K CHF 10.4K
-86.75%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Stabio
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$655 COP 2.0M
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
10.94
1.9
475.79%

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

Last update for Medellin: September 7, 2026

Last update for Stabio: September 5, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,071 in Medellin versus $1,737 in Stabio. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $48.00 in Medellin versus $173 in Stabio. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $300 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 Stabio: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Stabio cheaper than Medellin?
Yes – Stabio is pricier by about 113%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. 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 $5,240 in Stabio. 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 Stabio?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $48.00 in Medellin and $173 in Stabio. 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 Stabio?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,641 in Medellin and $3,494 in Stabio. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Is $2,500 a realistic budget for living in Medellin or in Stabio?
A $2,500 monthly budget goes further in Medellin, where all-in costs run around $1,641, than in Stabio at $3,494. In Medellin it covers expenses comfortably, while in Stabio it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Medellin or Stabio 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 Stabio?
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, Stabio makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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