😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,753 in Eskilstuna versus $1,003 in Medellin.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,681 in Eskilstuna versus $1,573 in Medellin.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,610 in Eskilstuna versus $2,143 in Medellin.
🌍Living in Eskilstuna is roughly 75% more expensive than in Medellin, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Eskilstuna is 32% above, Medellin is 25% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Eskilstuna
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.35SEK 129
$5.91COP 18.9K
125.89%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$69.3SEK 668
$32.96COP 105.2K
110.13%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.39SEK 100
$7.43COP 23.7K
39.84%
Cappuccino
$4.55SEK 43.85
$1.65COP 5,276
175.76%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.71SEK 26.15
$1.10COP 3,514
146.36%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.43SEK 23.39
$0.78COP 2,491
211.54%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$7.21SEK 69.5
$1.72COP 5,484
319.19%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$7.37SEK 71.0
$3.18COP 10.1K
131.76%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Eskilstuna
Medellin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.52SEK 14.66
$1.10COP 3,521
38.18%
White Bread(500g)
$3.07SEK 29.57
$1.26COP 4,015
143.65%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.45SEK 33.30
$1.38COP 4,407
150.00%
Eggs
$4.07SEK 39.25
$2.18COP 6,950
86.70%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$14.20SEK 137
$4.49COP 14.3K
216.26%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$11.81SEK 114
$5.79COP 18.5K
103.97%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.68SEK 132
$8.97COP 28.6K
52.51%
Apples(1kg)
$3.45SEK 33.23
$2.32COP 7,405
48.71%
Banana(1kg)
$2.69SEK 25.94
$1.06COP 3,397
153.77%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.67SEK 25.77
$1.52COP 4,838
75.66%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.96SEK 38.18
$1.36COP 4,327
191.18%
Potato(1kg)
$1.51SEK 14.54
$1.13COP 3,599
33.63%
Onion(1kg)
$2.10SEK 20.20
$1.17COP 3,738
79.49%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.79SEK 26.92
$0.90COP 2,876
210.00%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.73SEK 16.70
$0.90COP 2,861
92.22%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$7.37SEK 71.0
$2.23COP 7,128
230.49%
Wine(Bottle)
$8.29SEK 79.9
$12.12COP 38.7K
-31.60%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.38SEK 22.95
$1.19COP 3,793
100.00%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.98SEK 19.12
$2.48COP 7,920
-20.16%
🚌 Getting Around
Eskilstuna
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.39SEK 32.70
$0.85COP 2,723
298.82%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$69.1SEK 666
$41.62COP 132.8K
66.10%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$6.64SEK 64.0
$1.42COP 4,518
367.61%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.19SEK 11.48
$1.95COP 6,223
-38.97%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$62.0SEK 597
$7.89COP 25.2K
685.17%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.98SEK 19.13
$0.99COP 3,160
100.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.8KSEK 316.1K
$17.6KCOP 56.2M
86.29%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.5KSEK 332.8K
$26.8KCOP 85.5M
28.81%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Eskilstuna
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$90.6SEK 873
$83.0COP 264.9K
9.12%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$28.35SEK 273
$9.70COP 30.9K
192.27%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$36.87SEK 355
$23.52COP 75.0K
56.76%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Eskilstuna
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$26.10SEK 252
$25.26COP 80.6K
3.33%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$25.39SEK 245
$19.10COP 60.9K
32.93%
Cinema Ticket
$11.54SEK 111
$3.95COP 12.6K
192.15%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Eskilstuna
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$128SEK 1,233
$316COP 1.0M
-59.49%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$725SEK 6,990
$5,975COP 19.1M
-87.86%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Eskilstuna
Medellin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$105SEK 1,009
$60.0COP 191.4K
74.38%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$31.92SEK 308
$31.82COP 101.5K
0.31%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$94.5SEK 911
$102COP 324.4K
-7.10%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$156SEK 1,500
$107COP 342.8K
44.77%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Eskilstuna
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$728SEK 7,022
$475COP 1.5M
53.37%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$642SEK 6,187
$374COP 1.2M
71.61%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,231SEK 11.9K
$849COP 2.7M
44.93%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,073SEK 10.3K
$719COP 2.3M
49.15%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,191SEK 40.4K
$3,265COP 10.4M
28.35%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,827SEK 27.3K
$1,441COP 4.6M
96.25%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Eskilstuna
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$4,148SEK 40.0K
$624COP 2.0M
564.30%
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: July 26, 2026
Last update for Medellin: July 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $728 in Eskilstuna and $475 in Medellin. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Eskilstuna pays 564% 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 $356 vs $193 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 75% 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 in Medellin?
Average pay runs 564% higher in Eskilstuna, 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 compared to Medellin?
Rent for a central apartment: $728 in Eskilstuna versus $475 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 $1,753 per month in Eskilstuna versus $1,003 in Medellin – a 75% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
How expensive is transport in Eskilstuna compared to Medellin?
A monthly transit pass in Medellin runs roughly 66% 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 in Medellin?
At $1,003 in Medellin versus $1,753 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 $1,003 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 75% 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