Cost of Living Comparison Between Bålsta and Medellin Cost of Living Comparison Between Bålsta and Medellin

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,592 in Bålsta versus $1,017 in Medellin.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,508 in Bålsta versus $1,602 in Medellin.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,424 in Bålsta versus $2,188 in Medellin.

Living in Bålsta is roughly 57% more expensive than Medellin, driven mainly by Eating Out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Bålsta is 18% above, Medellin is 24% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$12.97 SEK 122

$5.95 COP 20.8K

117.98%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$69.6 SEK 652

$33.33 COP 116.3K

108.70%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.52 SEK 89.3

$7.23 COP 25.2K

31.67%

Cappuccino

$4.26 SEK 39.97

$1.63 COP 5,687

161.35%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.84 SEK 26.66

$1.09 COP 3,821

160.55%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.41 SEK 22.63

$0.73 COP 2,548

230.14%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.49 SEK 70.3

$1.74 COP 6,065

330.46%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.26 SEK 68.2

$3.23 COP 11.3K

124.77%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.54 SEK 14.45

$1.05 COP 3,662

46.67%

White Bread (500g)

$2.06 SEK 19.29

$1.29 COP 4,515

59.69%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.66 SEK 34.32

$1.32 COP 4,617

177.27%

Eggs

$3.69 SEK 34.62

$2.27 COP 7,927

62.56%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.77 SEK 110

$4.35 COP 15.2K

170.57%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$12.01 SEK 113

$5.88 COP 20.5K

104.25%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.40 SEK 107

$8.61 COP 30.0K

32.40%

Apples (1kg)

$2.59 SEK 24.28

$2.25 COP 7,844

15.11%

Banana (1kg)

$2.69 SEK 25.24

$1.07 COP 3,733

151.40%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.30 SEK 21.62

$1.52 COP 5,322

51.32%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.98 SEK 27.94

$1.42 COP 4,964

109.86%

Potato (1kg)

$1.55 SEK 14.50

$1.17 COP 4,084

32.48%

Onion (1kg)

$1.30 SEK 12.17

$1.17 COP 4,077

11.11%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.61 SEK 15.15

$0.89 COP 3,096

80.90%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.07 SEK 10.07

$0.90 COP 3,146

18.89%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$7.58 SEK 71.1

$2.25 COP 7,837

236.89%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.33 SEK 96.9

$11.04 COP 38.5K

-6.43%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.61 SEK 15.14

$1.14 COP 3,977

41.23%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.89 SEK 17.75

$2.38 COP 8,301

-20.59%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$3.31 SEK 31.03

$0.84 COP 2,916

294.05%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$72.9 SEK 684

$41.95 COP 146.4K

73.80%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$6.10 SEK 57.3

$1.41 COP 4,912

332.62%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.20 SEK 11.24

$1.90 COP 6,634

-36.84%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$83.0 SEK 778

$7.75 COP 27.0K

970.58%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.91 SEK 17.89

$1.01 COP 3,509

89.11%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$32.4K SEK 303.9K

$17.6K COP 61.4M

84.29%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$34.2K SEK 321.2K

$26.5K COP 92.5M

29.23%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$51.8 SEK 486

$83.7 COP 292.1K

-38.11%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$21.14 SEK 198

$9.45 COP 33.0K

123.70%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$35.91 SEK 337

$24.11 COP 84.1K

48.94%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$39.95 SEK 375

$25.31 COP 88.3K

57.84%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$25.28 SEK 237

$19.14 COP 66.8K

32.08%

Cinema Ticket

$13.45 SEK 126

$4.10 COP 14.3K

228.05%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$129 SEK 1,206

$312 COP 1.1M

-58.77%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$736 SEK 6,904

$5,993 COP 20.9M

-87.72%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$74.6 SEK 700

$58.0 COP 202.6K

28.51%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$10.50 SEK 98.5

$32.56 COP 113.6K

-67.75%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.0 SEK 788

$99.6 COP 347.7K

-15.72%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$117 SEK 1,099

$109 COP 378.8K

7.97%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$834 SEK 7,825

$482 COP 1.7M

72.97%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$655 SEK 6,146

$379 COP 1.3M

72.64%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,380 SEK 12.9K

$837 COP 2.9M

64.82%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,086 SEK 10.2K

$723 COP 2.5M

50.14%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,805 SEK 45.1K

$2,840 COP 9.9M

69.20%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,705 SEK 25.4K

$1,223 COP 4.3M

121.14%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,170 SEK 39.1K

$541 COP 1.9M

671.06%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.43

-77.66%

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

Last update for Bålsta: June 8, 2026

Last update for Medellin: June 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $834 in Bålsta and $482 in Medellin. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Bålsta pays 671% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $70.0 in Bålsta vs $33.00 in Medellin for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $307 vs $190 per month, with Medellin cheaper across the board.

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

Bålsta vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Medellin wins on cost – living expenses run 57% lower than in Bålsta. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Medellin the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Bålsta pays 671% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $834 in Bålsta versus $482 in Medellin. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $1,592 per month in Bålsta versus $1,017 in Medellin – a 57% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Medellin runs roughly 74% less than in Bålsta. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $1,017 in Medellin versus $1,592 in Bålsta, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Medellin but tight or insufficient in Bålsta. The gap between the two cities makes Medellin the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both work as nomad bases, but Medellin delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,017 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Medellin hard to pass up.

Safety-wise, Bålsta and Medellin are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Medellin gentler on the wallet – expenses run 57% less than in Bålsta. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.