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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,030 per month in Medellin vs $3,292 in Stabio, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,586 per month in Medellin vs $5,216 in Stabio, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,143 per month in Medellin vs $7,141 in Stabio, rent included.

Medellin is about 69% cheaper than Stabio, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Medellin sits 23% below the global median, while Stabio is 146% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Stabio
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.92 COP 21.2K
$30.35 CHF 23.80
-80.49%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$33.17 COP 118.7K
$165 CHF 130
-79.95%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.25 COP 25.9K
$18.53 CHF 14.53
-60.87%
Cappuccino
$1.71 COP 6,137
$4.34 CHF 3.40
-60.60%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.09 COP 3,915
$4.90 CHF 3.84
-77.76%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.77 COP 2,743
$4.06 CHF 3.18
-81.03%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.75 COP 6,254
$7.25 CHF 5.69
-75.86%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.18 COP 11.4K
$7.59 CHF 5.95
-58.10%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Stabio
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.06 COP 3,792
$2.28 CHF 1.79
-53.51%
White Bread (500g)
$1.30 COP 4,657
$3.61 CHF 2.83
-63.99%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.38 COP 4,926
$4.66 CHF 3.66
-70.39%
Eggs
$2.21 COP 7,908
$6.99 CHF 5.48
-68.38%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$4.52 COP 16.2K
$27.48 CHF 21.55
-83.55%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.80 COP 20.7K
$36.63 CHF 28.72
-84.17%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$8.97 COP 32.1K
$44.71 CHF 35.05
-79.94%
Apples (1kg)
$2.29 COP 8,182
$3.07 CHF 2.41
-25.41%
Banana (1kg)
$1.06 COP 3,791
$2.01 CHF 1.58
-47.26%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.51 COP 5,411
$2.53 CHF 1.98
-40.32%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.36 COP 4,869
$7.45 CHF 5.84
-81.74%
Potato (1kg)
$1.16 COP 4,146
$2.18 CHF 1.71
-46.79%
Onion (1kg)
$1.17 COP 4,174
$2.26 CHF 1.77
-48.23%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.83 COP 2,960
$2.55 CHF 2.00
-67.45%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.85 COP 3,043
$1.25 CHF 0.98
-32.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.35 COP 8,423
$10.55 CHF 8.27
-77.73%
Wine (Bottle)
$11.09 COP 39.7K
$12.93 CHF 10.14
-14.23%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.15 COP 4,133
$2.54 CHF 1.99
-54.72%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.47 COP 8,853
$4.19 CHF 3.29
-41.05%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Stabio
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.79 COP 2,827
$3.95 CHF 3.10
-80.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$41.85 COP 149.8K
$99.4 CHF 77.9
-57.90%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.44 COP 5,140
$6.60 CHF 5.18
-78.18%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.90 COP 6,793
$4.44 CHF 3.48
-57.21%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.70 COP 27.6K
$62.4 CHF 48.93
-87.66%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.03 COP 3,680
$2.16 CHF 1.69
-52.31%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$17.7K COP 63.3M
$40.5K CHF 31.8K
-56.36%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.0K COP 96.7M
$37.6K CHF 29.4K
-28.07%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Stabio
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$81.4 COP 291.4K
$202 CHF 158
-59.68%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.42 COP 33.7K
$68.4 CHF 53.6
-86.22%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$23.77 COP 85.1K
$54.2 CHF 42.46
-56.11%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Stabio
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$25.86 COP 92.6K
$86.9 CHF 68.2
-70.26%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.34 COP 69.2K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.05 COP 14.5K
$18.26 CHF 14.32
-77.82%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Stabio
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$312 COP 1.1M
$1,226 CHF 961
-74.51%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$6,067 COP 21.7M
$34.6K CHF 27.2K
-82.49%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Stabio
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.9 COP 210.7K
$107 CHF 84.2
-45.22%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$32.82 COP 117.5K
$47.79 CHF 37.47
-31.32%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$100 COP 359.6K
$136 CHF 106
-25.96%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$106 COP 380.3K
$152 CHF 120
-30.29%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Stabio
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$490 COP 1.8M
$1,708 CHF 1,339
-71.33%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$371 COP 1.3M
$1,486 CHF 1,165
-75.05%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$838 COP 3.0M
$2,847 CHF 2,232
-70.57%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$715 COP 2.6M
$2,457 CHF 1,926
-70.90%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,952 COP 10.6M
$13.8K CHF 10.8K
-78.54%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,394 COP 5.0M
$12.1K CHF 9,451
-88.44%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Stabio
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$532 COP 1.9M
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
13.43
2.5
437.20%

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

Last update for Medellin: April 20, 2026

Last update for Stabio: April 20, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $490 in Medellin versus $1,708 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 $33 in Medellin versus $165 in Stabio. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $190 vs $663 – 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 220%, 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 $1,544 per month in Medellin and $4,938 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 Stabio?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $33.00 in Medellin and $165 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 vs Stabio?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,030 in Medellin and $3,292 in Stabio. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Medellin or Stabio?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Medellin, where all-in costs run around $1,030, than in Stabio at $3,292. 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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