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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,284 per month in Sion vs $1,716 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,960 per month in Sion vs $2,527 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $6,636 per month in Sion vs $3,338 in Medellin, rent included.

Sion costs about 91% more than Medellin, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Sion and Medellin sit above the global median – Sion by 139%, Medellin by 25%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Sion
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$30.27 CHF 24.61
$8.03 COP 25.3K
276.96%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$93.3 CHF 75.8
$48.26 COP 152.0K
93.24%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$20.37 CHF 16.56
$9.77 COP 30.8K
108.50%
Cappuccino
$4.48 CHF 3.64
$2.91 COP 9,167
53.95%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.93 CHF 4.01
$1.94 COP 6,122
154.12%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.07 CHF 3.31
$1.52 COP 4,792
167.76%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$7.27 CHF 5.91
$3.09 COP 9,740
135.28%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.36 CHF 5.98
$5.74 COP 18.1K
28.22%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Sion
Medellin
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.99 CHF 1.62
$1.36 COP 4,296
46.32%
White Bread (500g)
$3.70 CHF 3.01
$2.39 COP 7,519
54.81%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$4.30 CHF 3.49
$1.70 COP 5,356
152.94%
Eggs
$7.49 CHF 6.09
$2.87 COP 9,038
160.98%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$25.80 CHF 20.98
$9.94 COP 31.3K
159.56%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$23.59 CHF 19.18
$10.78 COP 34.0K
118.83%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$40.76 CHF 33.13
$14.73 COP 46.4K
176.71%
Apples (1kg)
$3.29 CHF 2.68
$4.09 COP 12.9K
-19.56%
Banana (1kg)
$1.66 CHF 1.35
$1.57 COP 4,950
5.73%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.50 CHF 2.03
$2.13 COP 6,695
17.37%
Tomato (1kg)
$6.25 CHF 5.08
$2.21 COP 6,972
182.81%
Potato (1kg)
$1.92 CHF 1.56
$2.05 COP 6,447
-6.34%
Onion (1kg)
$2.15 CHF 1.74
$1.50 COP 4,737
43.33%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.44 CHF 1.98
$1.19 COP 3,747
105.04%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.18 CHF 0.96
$1.16 COP 3,647
1.72%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$11.00 CHF 8.94
$3.90 COP 12.3K
182.05%
Wine (Bottle)
$12.49 CHF 10.16
$14.44 COP 45.5K
-13.50%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.82 CHF 1.48
$1.58 COP 4,987
15.19%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.87 CHF 1.52
$2.83 COP 8,905
-33.92%
🚌 Getting Around
Sion
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$5.39 CHF 4.39
$1.17 COP 3,679
360.68%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$187 CHF 152
$77.7 COP 244.8K
140.54%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$6.06 CHF 4.93
$1.28 COP 4,045
373.44%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$5.52 CHF 4.49
$2.09 COP 6,589
164.11%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$49.88 CHF 40.55
$8.62 COP 27.1K
478.65%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.29 CHF 1.86
$1.30 COP 4,088
76.15%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.8K CHF 29.1K
$27.7K COP 87.1M
29.44%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.8K CHF 32.3K
$35.5K COP 111.8M
12.02%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Sion
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$295 CHF 240
$176 COP 554.5K
67.56%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.71 CHF 18.46
$13.37 COP 42.1K
69.86%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$49.88 CHF 40.55
$29.89 COP 94.1K
66.88%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Sion
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$142 CHF 116
$44.76 COP 141.0K
218.30%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$55.6 CHF 45.23
$17.06 COP 53.7K
226.08%
Cinema Ticket
$20.28 CHF 16.49
$6.20 COP 19.5K
227.10%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Sion
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,002 CHF 814
$793 COP 2.5M
26.27%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$35.3K CHF 28.7K
$9,019 COP 28.4M
291.34%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Sion
Medellin
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$167 CHF 136
$85.6 COP 269.6K
94.77%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$58.4 CHF 47.45
$58.5 COP 184.1K
-0.19%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$182 CHF 148
$136 COP 429.3K
33.29%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$151 CHF 123
$103 COP 324.7K
46.78%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Sion
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,260 CHF 1,024
$1,060 COP 3.3M
18.88%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,284 CHF 1,044
$680 COP 2.1M
89.00%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,305 CHF 1,874
$2,012 COP 6.3M
14.55%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,106 CHF 1,712
$1,169 COP 3.7M
80.19%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$7,652 CHF 6,221
$4,111 COP 12.9M
86.12%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$5,660 CHF 4,602
$1,701 COP 5.4M
232.70%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Sion
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$5,995 CHF 4,874
$665 COP 2.1M
801.14%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
2.15
10.94
-80.35%

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

Last update for Sion: August 29, 2026

Last update for Medellin: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,260 in Sion versus $1,060 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 801% 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 $93.0 in Sion versus $48.00 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $561 vs $303 – 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 91%, 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 $4,925 per month in Sion and $2,574 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 $93.0 in Sion and $48.00 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 $3,284 in Sion and $1,716 in Medellin. 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 Sion or in Medellin?
A $2,500 monthly budget goes further in Medellin, where all-in costs run around $1,716, than in Sion at $3,284. 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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