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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,018 per month in Medellin vs $3,322 in Stabio, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,609 per month in Medellin vs $5,272 in Stabio, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,200 per month in Medellin vs $7,222 in Stabio, rent included.

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

Medellin sits 24% below the global median, while Stabio is 149% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Stabio
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.93 COP 19.1K
$30.33 CHF 24.80
-80.45%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$33.12 COP 106.6K
$163 CHF 134
-79.73%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.12 COP 22.9K
$18.49 CHF 15.12
-61.49%
Cappuccino
$1.71 COP 5,487
$4.41 CHF 3.60
-61.22%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.05 COP 3,374
$4.93 CHF 4.03
-78.70%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.72 COP 2,324
$4.15 CHF 3.39
-82.65%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.72 COP 5,531
$7.18 CHF 5.87
-76.04%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.17 COP 10.2K
$7.51 CHF 6.14
-57.79%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Stabio
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.06 COP 3,426
$2.17 CHF 1.77
-51.15%
White Bread (500g)
$1.31 COP 4,215
$3.63 CHF 2.96
-63.91%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.33 COP 4,279
$4.82 CHF 3.94
-72.41%
Eggs
$2.28 COP 7,338
$7.01 CHF 5.73
-67.48%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$4.42 COP 14.2K
$27.55 CHF 22.52
-83.96%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.92 COP 19.0K
$35.34 CHF 28.90
-83.25%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$8.64 COP 27.8K
$44.89 CHF 36.71
-80.75%
Apples (1kg)
$2.34 COP 7,545
$3.10 CHF 2.54
-24.52%
Banana (1kg)
$1.10 COP 3,546
$2.03 CHF 1.66
-45.81%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.47 COP 4,724
$2.54 CHF 2.08
-42.13%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.38 COP 4,439
$7.33 CHF 5.99
-81.17%
Potato (1kg)
$1.17 COP 3,774
$2.25 CHF 1.84
-48.00%
Onion (1kg)
$1.17 COP 3,765
$2.30 CHF 1.88
-49.13%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.90 COP 2,905
$2.56 CHF 2.09
-64.84%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.84 COP 2,708
$1.29 CHF 1.05
-34.88%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.33 COP 7,490
$10.30 CHF 8.42
-77.38%
Wine (Bottle)
$11.92 COP 38.3K
$12.54 CHF 10.26
-4.94%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.15 COP 3,693
$2.65 CHF 2.17
-56.60%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.42 COP 7,791
$4.01 CHF 3.28
-39.65%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Stabio
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.84 COP 2,702
$4.01 CHF 3.28
-79.05%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$40.83 COP 131.4K
$97.4 CHF 79.7
-58.08%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.41 COP 4,541
$6.92 CHF 5.66
-79.62%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.91 COP 6,160
$4.43 CHF 3.62
-56.88%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.83 COP 25.2K
$62.8 CHF 51.3
-87.53%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.94 COP 3,037
$2.20 CHF 1.79
-57.27%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$17.8K COP 57.3M
$40.3K CHF 33.0K
-55.79%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.1K COP 87.1M
$37.6K CHF 30.8K
-28.06%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Stabio
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$83.3 COP 267.9K
$206 CHF 169
-59.60%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.66 COP 31.1K
$69.1 CHF 56.5
-86.02%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.22 COP 77.9K
$53.5 CHF 43.72
-54.70%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Stabio
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$25.22 COP 81.2K
$88.6 CHF 72.5
-71.54%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.33 COP 62.2K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.07 COP 13.1K
$18.12 CHF 14.82
-77.54%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Stabio
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$307 COP 986.5K
$1,235 CHF 1,010
-75.18%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,981 COP 19.2M
$34.8K CHF 28.5K
-82.84%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Stabio
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$60.0 COP 192.9K
$107 CHF 87.8
-44.14%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$32.65 COP 105.1K
$47.87 CHF 39.14
-31.79%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$101 COP 325.2K
$132 CHF 108
-23.49%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$108 COP 347.6K
$152 CHF 124
-29.01%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Stabio
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$476 COP 1.5M
$1,666 CHF 1,363
-71.44%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$379 COP 1.2M
$1,471 CHF 1,203
-74.25%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$816 COP 2.6M
$2,835 CHF 2,318
-71.20%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$707 COP 2.3M
$2,422 CHF 1,980
-70.79%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,190 COP 10.3M
$16.3K CHF 13.4K
-80.48%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,446 COP 4.7M
$11.5K CHF 9,421
-87.45%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Stabio
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$622 COP 2.0M
-
-
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: July 20, 2026

Last update for Stabio: July 21, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $476 in Medellin versus $1,666 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 $33.00 in Medellin versus $163 in Stabio. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $192 vs $657 – 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 226%, 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 $1,527 per month in Medellin and $4,983 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 $33.00 in Medellin and $163 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 $1,018 in Medellin and $3,322 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 living in Medellin or in Stabio?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Medellin, where all-in costs run around $1,018, than in Stabio at $3,322. 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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