Cost of Living Comparison Between Sion and Medellin Cost of Living Comparison Between Sion and Medellin

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,806 per month in Sion vs $1,031 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,758 per month in Sion vs $1,599 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $6,709 per month in Sion vs $2,167 in Medellin, rent included.

Sion costs about 172% more than Medellin, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Sion sits 110% above the global median, while Medellin is 23% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Sion
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$30.60 CHF 24.74
$6.16 COP 20.1K
396.75%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$122 CHF 98.8
$32.60 COP 106.1K
274.85%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$18.01 CHF 14.56
$7.34 COP 23.9K
145.37%
Cappuccino
$4.67 CHF 3.77
$1.72 COP 5,600
171.51%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.08 CHF 4.11
$1.05 COP 3,420
383.81%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.38 CHF 3.54
$0.77 COP 2,515
468.83%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$7.60 CHF 6.14
$1.69 COP 5,488
349.70%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.17 CHF 5.80
$3.17 COP 10.3K
126.18%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Sion
Medellin
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.85 CHF 1.50
$1.05 COP 3,423
76.19%
White Bread (500g)
$3.82 CHF 3.09
$1.30 COP 4,236
193.85%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$5.04 CHF 4.07
$1.40 COP 4,544
260.00%
Eggs
$6.20 CHF 5.01
$2.16 COP 7,047
187.04%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$27.38 CHF 22.14
$4.39 COP 14.3K
523.69%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$23.80 CHF 19.25
$5.88 COP 19.1K
304.76%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$44.05 CHF 35.62
$8.64 COP 28.1K
409.84%
Apples (1kg)
$3.58 CHF 2.89
$2.28 COP 7,426
57.02%
Banana (1kg)
$2.72 CHF 2.20
$1.11 COP 3,604
145.05%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.64 CHF 2.94
$1.53 COP 4,983
137.91%
Tomato (1kg)
$6.34 CHF 5.13
$1.35 COP 4,410
369.63%
Potato (1kg)
$3.14 CHF 2.54
$1.13 COP 3,674
177.88%
Onion (1kg)
$2.82 CHF 2.28
$1.13 COP 3,692
149.56%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.54 CHF 2.05
$0.85 COP 2,753
198.82%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.25 CHF 1.01
$0.91 COP 2,975
37.36%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$11.00 CHF 8.89
$2.34 COP 7,630
370.09%
Wine (Bottle)
$13.59 CHF 10.99
$12.37 COP 40.3K
9.86%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.82 CHF 1.47
$1.20 COP 3,909
51.67%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.88 CHF 1.52
$2.49 COP 8,104
-24.50%
🚌 Getting Around
Sion
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$5.14 CHF 4.15
$0.84 COP 2,728
511.90%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$181 CHF 147
$40.57 COP 132.1K
347.30%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$6.30 CHF 5.09
$1.42 COP 4,623
343.66%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$4.24 CHF 3.43
$1.92 COP 6,235
120.83%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$49.32 CHF 39.87
$7.66 COP 24.9K
543.86%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.24 CHF 1.81
$0.99 COP 3,223
126.26%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$40.9K CHF 33.0K
$18.0K COP 58.7M
126.64%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$37.6K CHF 30.4K
$26.6K COP 86.7M
41.28%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Sion
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$307 CHF 248
$80.8 COP 263.1K
279.80%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$37.36 CHF 30.20
$9.95 COP 32.4K
275.48%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$59.0 CHF 47.71
$24.18 COP 78.7K
144.04%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Sion
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$140 CHF 113
$25.08 COP 81.7K
459.65%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$55.6 CHF 44.91
$19.15 COP 62.3K
190.08%
Cinema Ticket
$22.42 CHF 18.12
$3.98 COP 13.0K
463.32%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Sion
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$985 CHF 796
$305 COP 993.5K
222.63%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$35.2K CHF 28.4K
$6,059 COP 19.7M
480.34%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Sion
Medellin
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$133 CHF 107
$58.1 COP 189.2K
128.13%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$60.8 CHF 49.15
$32.20 COP 104.8K
88.79%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$157 CHF 127
$101 COP 327.9K
55.89%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$223 CHF 180
$108 COP 350.8K
106.97%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Sion
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$873 CHF 706
$477 COP 1.6M
83.18%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$743 CHF 601
$376 COP 1.2M
97.61%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,715 CHF 1,386
$845 COP 2.7M
103.02%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,922 CHF 1,554
$730 COP 2.4M
163.19%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$7,432 CHF 6,009
$3,215 COP 10.5M
131.13%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$5,527 CHF 4,469
$1,372 COP 4.5M
302.75%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Sion
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$5,940 CHF 4,802
$617 COP 2.0M
862.99%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
2.5
13.43
-81.38%

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

Last update for Sion: July 12, 2026

Last update for Medellin: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $873 in Sion versus $477 in Medellin. 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 863% higher in Sion, 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 $122 in Sion versus $33.00 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $596 vs $193 – 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
Sion vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Medellin cheaper than Sion?
Yes – Sion is pricier by about 172%, 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 $4,210 per month in Sion and $1,546 in Medellin. 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 Sion or in Medellin?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $122 in Sion and $33.00 in Medellin. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
What are total monthly expenses in Sion and in Medellin?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,806 in Sion and $1,031 in Medellin. 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 Sion or in Medellin?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Medellin, where all-in costs run around $1,031, than in Sion at $2,806. In Medellin it covers expenses comfortably, while in Sion it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Sion or Medellin 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, Sion makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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