😐A single person spends $2,801 per month in Solothurn vs $1,641 in Medellin, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $4,577 per month in Solothurn vs $2,447 in Medellin, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $6,353 per month in Solothurn vs $3,253 in Medellin, rent included.
😐Solothurn costs about 71% more than Medellin, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Solothurn and Medellin sit above the global median – Solothurn by 103%, Medellin by 19%.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Solothurn
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$30.41CHF 24.82
$8.04COP 24.8K
278.23%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$149CHF 122
$48.29COP 148.6K
209.22%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$18.46CHF 15.06
$9.42COP 29.0K
95.97%
Cappuccino
$6.68CHF 5.45
$2.94COP 9,040
127.21%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.63CHF 4.60
$1.86COP 5,735
202.69%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.36CHF 4.37
$1.46COP 4,479
267.12%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$6.92CHF 5.65
$3.21COP 9,882
115.58%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$6.23CHF 5.08
$5.71COP 17.6K
9.11%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Solothurn
Medellin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.23CHF 1.82
$1.44COP 4,428
54.86%
White Bread(500g)
$3.82CHF 3.12
$2.40COP 7,389
59.17%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.53CHF 2.88
$1.70COP 5,228
107.65%
Eggs
$8.83CHF 7.20
$2.89COP 8,896
205.54%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$22.83CHF 18.63
$10.06COP 30.9K
126.94%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$26.51CHF 21.64
$9.97COP 30.7K
165.90%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$61.7CHF 50.3
$14.20COP 43.7K
334.37%
Apples(1kg)
$2.96CHF 2.41
$3.98COP 12.3K
-25.63%
Banana(1kg)
$1.45CHF 1.18
$1.58COP 4,878
-8.23%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.52CHF 2.87
$2.15COP 6,624
63.72%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.22CHF 3.45
$2.30COP 7,078
83.48%
Potato(1kg)
$1.67CHF 1.36
$2.00COP 6,169
-16.50%
Onion(1kg)
$1.78CHF 1.45
$1.51COP 4,646
17.88%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.63CHF 1.33
$1.20COP 3,701
35.83%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.00CHF 0.81
$1.28COP 3,946
-21.88%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$11.32CHF 9.24
$3.84COP 11.8K
194.79%
Wine(Bottle)
$13.32CHF 10.87
$14.01COP 43.1K
-4.93%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.89CHF 2.36
$1.71COP 5,256
69.01%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.27CHF 2.67
$2.74COP 8,440
19.34%
🚌 Getting Around
Solothurn
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$4.85CHF 3.96
$1.25COP 3,834
288.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$77.9COP 239.7K
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$8.46CHF 6.91
$1.31COP 4,016
545.80%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$4.75CHF 3.88
$2.17COP 6,680
118.89%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$92.5CHF 75.5
$8.29COP 25.5K
1015.68%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.36CHF 1.93
$1.36COP 4,172
73.53%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$31.4KCHF 25.6K
$27.5KCOP 84.5M
14.33%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$36.2KCHF 29.5K
$36.5KCOP 112.4M
-1.03%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Solothurn
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$98.0CHF 80.0
$169COP 519.2K
-41.89%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$30.80CHF 25.13
$13.57COP 41.8K
126.97%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$58.5CHF 47.73
$28.32COP 87.2K
106.50%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Solothurn
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$91.9CHF 75.0
$45.71COP 140.7K
101.14%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.25CHF 14.08
$17.22COP 53.0K
0.17%
Cinema Ticket
$18.52CHF 15.11
$6.65COP 20.5K
178.50%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Solothurn
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$3,692CHF 3,013
$803COP 2.5M
359.61%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$19.4KCHF 15.9K
$9,190COP 28.3M
111.35%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Solothurn
Medellin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$143CHF 117
$87.4COP 268.8K
63.69%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$43.91CHF 35.84
$59.4COP 182.7K
-26.04%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$171CHF 139
$139COP 427.5K
22.76%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$258CHF 210
$102COP 314.0K
152.76%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Solothurn
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,201CHF 980
$1,071COP 3.3M
12.12%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,072CHF 875
$653COP 2.0M
64.23%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,861CHF 1,519
$1,925COP 5.9M
-3.30%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,815CHF 1,482
$1,048COP 3.2M
73.25%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$9,687CHF 7,906
$4,123COP 12.7M
134.97%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$5,010CHF 4,089
$1,697COP 5.2M
195.17%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Solothurn
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$6,908CHF 5,637
$655COP 2.0M
954.56%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
2.07
10.94
-81.08%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Solothurn: September 8, 2026
Last update for Medellin: September 7, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $1,201 in Solothurn versus $1,071 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 955% higher in Solothurn, 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 $149 in Solothurn versus $48.00 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $629 vs $300 – 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
Solothurn vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Medellin cheaper than Solothurn?
Yes – Solothurn is pricier by about 71%, 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 $4,202 per month in Solothurn and $2,462 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 Solothurn or in Medellin?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $149 in Solothurn and $48.00 in Medellin. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
How do food prices compare in Solothurn and in Medellin?
Groceries cost about 110% more in Solothurn, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Is $2,500 a realistic budget for living in Solothurn or in Medellin?
A $2,500 monthly budget goes further in Medellin, where all-in costs run around $1,641, than in Solothurn at $2,801. In Medellin it covers expenses comfortably, while in Solothurn it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Solothurn 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 safer, Solothurn or Medellin?
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, Solothurn makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.