Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Thun Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Thun

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,716 per month in Medellin vs $3,573 in Thun, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,527 per month in Medellin vs $5,324 in Thun, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,338 per month in Medellin vs $7,074 in Thun, rent included.

Medellin is about 52% cheaper than Thun, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Medellin and Thun sit above the global median – Medellin by 25%, Thun by 160%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Thun
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.03 COP 25.2K
$29.64 CHF 23.93
-72.91%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$48.26 COP 151.7K
$126 CHF 102
-61.78%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.77 COP 30.7K
$16.30 CHF 13.17
-40.06%
Cappuccino
$2.91 COP 9,149
$6.70 CHF 5.41
-56.57%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.94 COP 6,110
$6.46 CHF 5.21
-69.97%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.52 COP 4,783
$6.26 CHF 5.05
-75.72%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.09 COP 9,721
$9.23 CHF 7.46
-66.52%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.74 COP 18.1K
$8.29 CHF 6.70
-30.76%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Thun
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.36 COP 4,287
$2.33 CHF 1.88
-41.63%
White Bread (500g)
$2.39 COP 7,505
$3.01 CHF 2.43
-20.60%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.70 COP 5,346
$3.40 CHF 2.74
-50.00%
Eggs
$2.87 COP 9,021
$8.04 CHF 6.50
-64.30%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.94 COP 31.2K
$25.49 CHF 20.58
-61.00%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.78 COP 33.9K
$28.69 CHF 23.16
-62.43%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.73 COP 46.3K
$39.66 CHF 32.02
-62.86%
Apples (1kg)
$4.09 COP 12.8K
$3.65 CHF 2.95
12.05%
Banana (1kg)
$1.57 COP 4,940
$2.35 CHF 1.90
-33.19%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.13 COP 6,682
$2.97 CHF 2.40
-28.28%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.21 COP 6,959
$4.79 CHF 3.87
-53.86%
Potato (1kg)
$2.05 COP 6,435
$1.56 CHF 1.26
31.41%
Onion (1kg)
$1.50 COP 4,728
$2.07 CHF 1.68
-27.54%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.19 COP 3,740
$2.33 CHF 1.88
-48.93%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.16 COP 3,640
$1.36 CHF 1.10
-14.71%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.90 COP 12.2K
$11.81 CHF 9.53
-66.98%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.44 COP 45.4K
$12.56 CHF 10.14
14.97%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.58 COP 4,978
$2.24 CHF 1.81
-29.46%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.83 COP 8,889
$2.92 CHF 2.36
-3.08%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Thun
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.17 COP 3,672
$4.39 CHF 3.54
-73.35%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$77.7 COP 244.3K
$104 CHF 83.7
-25.01%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.28 COP 4,038
$8.04 CHF 6.49
-84.08%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.09 COP 6,576
$4.60 CHF 3.72
-54.57%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.62 COP 27.1K
$86.6 CHF 69.9
-90.05%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.30 COP 4,080
$2.39 CHF 1.93
-45.61%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.7K COP 86.9M
$44.3K CHF 35.8K
-37.62%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$35.5K COP 111.6M
$40.6K CHF 32.8K
-12.52%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Thun
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$176 COP 553.4K
$306 CHF 247
-42.41%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.37 COP 42.0K
$53.9 CHF 43.55
-75.21%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.89 COP 94.0K
$65.1 CHF 52.6
-54.11%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Thun
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$44.76 COP 140.7K
$95.3 CHF 76.9
-53.01%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.06 COP 53.6K
$46.55 CHF 37.59
-63.35%
Cinema Ticket
$6.20 COP 19.5K
$23.69 CHF 19.13
-73.83%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Thun
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$793 COP 2.5M
$3,089 CHF 2,494
-74.31%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$9,019 COP 28.4M
$31.9K CHF 25.7K
-71.68%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Thun
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$85.6 COP 269.1K
$153 CHF 123
-43.87%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$58.5 COP 183.8K
$82.9 CHF 67.0
-29.50%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$136 COP 428.4K
$166 CHF 134
-17.96%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$103 COP 324.1K
$202 CHF 163
-48.91%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Thun
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,060 COP 3.3M
$1,816 CHF 1,466
-41.64%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$680 COP 2.1M
$1,512 CHF 1,221
-55.06%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,012 COP 6.3M
$2,925 CHF 2,362
-31.20%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,169 COP 3.7M
$2,496 CHF 2,016
-53.18%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,111 COP 12.9M
$16.3K CHF 13.2K
-74.83%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,701 COP 5.3M
$12.6K CHF 10.2K
-86.52%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Thun
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$665 COP 2.1M
$6,082 CHF 4,911
-89.06%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
10.94
2.43
350.21%

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

Last update for Medellin: August 30, 2026

Last update for Thun: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,060 in Medellin versus $1,816 in Thun. 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 814% higher in Thun, 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 $126 in Thun. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $303 vs $583 – 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 Thun: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Thun cheaper than Medellin?
Yes – Thun is pricier by about 108%, 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 $2,574 per month in Medellin and $5,360 in Thun. 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 Thun?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $48.00 in Medellin and $126 in Thun. 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 Thun?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,716 in Medellin and $3,573 in Thun. 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 Thun?
A $2,500 monthly budget goes further in Medellin, where all-in costs run around $1,716, than in Thun at $3,573. In Medellin it covers expenses comfortably, while in Thun it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Medellin or Thun 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 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, Thun makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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