😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,722 in Eskilstuna versus $1,017 in Medellin.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,646 in Eskilstuna versus $1,602 in Medellin.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,570 in Eskilstuna versus $2,188 in Medellin.
😐Living in Eskilstuna is roughly 69% more expensive than Medellin, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Eskilstuna is 28% above, Medellin is 24% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Eskilstuna
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.25SEK 124
$5.95COP 20.8K
122.69%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$68.6SEK 644
$33.33COP 116.3K
105.91%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.50SEK 98.5
$7.23COP 25.2K
45.23%
Cappuccino
$4.64SEK 43.48
$1.63COP 5,687
184.66%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.77SEK 26.03
$1.09COP 3,821
154.13%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.41SEK 22.56
$0.73COP 2,548
230.14%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$7.28SEK 68.3
$1.74COP 6,065
318.39%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$7.29SEK 68.4
$3.23COP 11.3K
125.70%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Eskilstuna
Medellin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.52SEK 14.24
$1.05COP 3,662
44.76%
White Bread(500g)
$3.05SEK 28.61
$1.29COP 4,515
136.43%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.43SEK 32.13
$1.32COP 4,617
159.85%
Eggs
$3.99SEK 37.44
$2.27COP 7,927
75.77%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$14.20SEK 133
$4.35COP 15.2K
226.44%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$11.73SEK 110
$5.88COP 20.5K
99.49%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.61SEK 128
$8.61COP 30.0K
58.07%
Apples(1kg)
$3.34SEK 31.32
$2.25COP 7,844
48.44%
Banana(1kg)
$2.71SEK 25.43
$1.07COP 3,733
153.27%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.56SEK 24.03
$1.52COP 5,322
68.42%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.91SEK 36.72
$1.42COP 4,964
175.35%
Potato(1kg)
$1.49SEK 13.95
$1.17COP 4,084
27.35%
Onion(1kg)
$2.12SEK 19.93
$1.17COP 4,077
81.20%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.69SEK 25.23
$0.89COP 3,096
202.25%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.69SEK 15.86
$0.90COP 3,146
87.78%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$7.46SEK 70.0
$2.25COP 7,837
231.56%
Wine(Bottle)
$8.58SEK 80.5
$11.04COP 38.5K
-22.28%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.42SEK 22.66
$1.14COP 3,977
112.28%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.90SEK 17.85
$2.38COP 8,301
-20.17%
🚌 Getting Around
Eskilstuna
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.38SEK 31.74
$0.84COP 2,916
302.38%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$67.8SEK 636
$41.95COP 146.4K
61.55%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$6.52SEK 61.2
$1.41COP 4,912
362.41%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.22SEK 11.48
$1.90COP 6,634
-35.79%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$60.7SEK 570
$7.75COP 27.0K
683.61%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.97SEK 18.49
$1.01COP 3,509
95.05%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$33.2KSEK 311.0K
$17.6KCOP 61.4M
88.61%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.4KSEK 323.0K
$26.5KCOP 92.5M
29.98%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Eskilstuna
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$91.2SEK 856
$83.7COP 292.1K
9.02%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$28.02SEK 263
$9.45COP 33.0K
196.51%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$36.73SEK 345
$24.11COP 84.1K
52.34%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Eskilstuna
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$26.21SEK 246
$25.31COP 88.3K
3.56%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$25.22SEK 237
$19.14COP 66.8K
31.77%
Cinema Ticket
$11.72SEK 110
$4.10COP 14.3K
185.85%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Eskilstuna
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$126SEK 1,185
$312COP 1.1M
-59.51%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$727SEK 6,823
$5,993COP 20.9M
-87.86%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Eskilstuna
Medellin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$103SEK 965
$58.0COP 202.6K
77.19%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$31.77SEK 298
$32.56COP 113.6K
-2.43%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$94.6SEK 888
$99.6COP 347.7K
-5.01%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$156SEK 1,465
$109COP 378.8K
43.88%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Eskilstuna
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$727SEK 6,817
$482COP 1.7M
50.67%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$632SEK 5,932
$379COP 1.3M
66.65%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,217SEK 11.4K
$837COP 2.9M
45.27%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,058SEK 9,924
$723COP 2.5M
46.30%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,165SEK 29.7K
$2,840COP 9.9M
11.46%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,685SEK 25.2K
$1,223COP 4.3M
119.54%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Eskilstuna
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$4,274SEK 40.1K
$541COP 1.9M
690.17%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.53
13.43
-66.27%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Eskilstuna: June 7, 2026
Last update for Medellin: June 8, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $727 in Eskilstuna and $482 in Medellin. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Eskilstuna pays 690% 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: $69.0 in Eskilstuna vs $33.00 in Medellin for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $353 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
Eskilstuna vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Eskilstuna or Medellin?
Medellin wins on cost – living expenses run 69% lower than in Eskilstuna. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Medellin the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Eskilstuna or Medellin?
Eskilstuna pays 690% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Eskilstuna vs Medellin?
Rent for a central apartment: $727 in Eskilstuna versus $482 in Medellin. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How much does it cost to live in Eskilstuna compared to Medellin?
All in, you'll spend $1,722 per month in Eskilstuna versus $1,017 in Medellin – a 69% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
How expensive is transport in Eskilstuna vs Medellin?
A monthly transit pass in Medellin runs roughly 62% less than in Eskilstuna. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Can you live on $1,500/month in Eskilstuna or Medellin?
At $1,017 in Medellin versus $1,722 in Eskilstuna, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Medellin but tight or insufficient in Eskilstuna. The gap between the two cities makes Medellin the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Eskilstuna or Medellin?
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.
How safe is Eskilstuna compared to Medellin?
Safety-wise, Eskilstuna 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.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Medellin gentler on the wallet – expenses run 69% less than in Eskilstuna. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Eskilstuna vs other spots: cost of living compared