😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,699 in Eskilstuna versus $1,034 in Medellin.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,696 in Eskilstuna versus $1,577 in Medellin.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,693 in Eskilstuna versus $2,120 in Medellin.
😐Living in Eskilstuna is roughly 64% more expensive than Medellin, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Eskilstuna is 27% above, Medellin is 23% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Eskilstuna
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.00SEK 121
$5.92COP 21.4K
119.59%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$67.4SEK 627
$32.75COP 118.2K
105.86%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.51SEK 97.8
$7.20COP 26.0K
45.97%
Cappuccino
$4.61SEK 42.90
$1.70COP 6,140
171.18%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.80SEK 26.07
$1.10COP 3,966
154.55%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.46SEK 22.89
$0.72COP 2,605
241.67%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$7.47SEK 69.5
$1.67COP 6,022
347.31%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$7.56SEK 70.3
$3.10COP 11.2K
143.87%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Eskilstuna
Medellin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.44SEK 13.39
$1.06COP 3,809
35.85%
White Bread(500g)
$3.12SEK 29.06
$1.25COP 4,497
149.60%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.52SEK 32.72
$1.39COP 5,022
153.24%
Eggs
$4.06SEK 37.78
$2.26COP 8,168
79.65%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$14.19SEK 132
$4.33COP 15.6K
227.71%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$11.94SEK 111
$5.84COP 21.1K
104.45%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.42SEK 125
$8.83COP 31.9K
51.98%
Apples(1kg)
$3.42SEK 31.81
$2.24COP 8,099
52.68%
Banana(1kg)
$2.71SEK 25.20
$1.08COP 3,882
150.93%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.66SEK 24.78
$1.53COP 5,522
73.86%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.77SEK 35.07
$1.37COP 4,950
175.18%
Potato(1kg)
$1.57SEK 14.57
$1.13COP 4,078
38.94%
Onion(1kg)
$2.09SEK 19.44
$1.12COP 4,036
86.61%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.70SEK 25.08
$0.85COP 3,057
217.65%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.70SEK 15.78
$0.91COP 3,281
86.81%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$7.44SEK 69.2
$2.33COP 8,414
219.31%
Wine(Bottle)
$8.69SEK 80.8
$11.13COP 40.2K
-21.92%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.35SEK 21.81
$1.19COP 4,309
97.48%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.95SEK 18.10
$2.37COP 8,553
-17.72%
🚌 Getting Around
Eskilstuna
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.41SEK 31.68
$0.79COP 2,838
331.65%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$69.7SEK 648
$41.13COP 148.5K
69.34%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$6.59SEK 61.3
$1.44COP 5,184
357.64%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.23SEK 11.43
$1.91COP 6,901
-35.60%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$61.2SEK 570
$8.02COP 28.9K
663.59%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.95SEK 18.09
$0.94COP 3,385
107.45%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.8KSEK 304.9K
$17.9KCOP 64.7M
82.95%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.3KSEK 318.8K
$26.8KCOP 96.7M
27.96%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Eskilstuna
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$88.1SEK 819
$84.0COP 303.1K
4.94%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$28.89SEK 269
$9.60COP 34.7K
200.94%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$36.46SEK 339
$24.16COP 87.2K
50.91%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Eskilstuna
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$25.39SEK 236
$25.88COP 93.4K
-1.89%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$24.86SEK 231
$19.04COP 68.7K
30.57%
Cinema Ticket
$11.68SEK 109
$3.92COP 14.1K
197.96%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Eskilstuna
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$126SEK 1,170
$306COP 1.1M
-58.93%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$738SEK 6,865
$5,919COP 21.4M
-87.53%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Eskilstuna
Medellin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$106SEK 984
$57.9COP 209.1K
82.73%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$31.44SEK 292
$31.82COP 114.9K
-1.19%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$94.6SEK 880
$99.9COP 360.6K
-5.29%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$156SEK 1,454
$107COP 386.8K
45.88%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Eskilstuna
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$736SEK 6,848
$487COP 1.8M
51.27%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$623SEK 5,796
$368COP 1.3M
69.31%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,234SEK 11.5K
$826COP 3.0M
49.46%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,037SEK 9,648
$716COP 2.6M
44.87%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,293SEK 30.6K
$2,925COP 10.6M
12.56%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,713SEK 25.2K
$1,407COP 5.1M
92.88%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Eskilstuna
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$4,387SEK 40.8K
$546COP 2.0M
704.19%
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: April 26, 2026
Last update for Medellin: April 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $736 in Eskilstuna and $487 in Medellin. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Eskilstuna pays 704% 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: $67.0 in Eskilstuna vs $33.00 in Medellin for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $354 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 64% 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 704% 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: $736 in Eskilstuna versus $487 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 $1,699 per month in Eskilstuna versus $1,034 in Medellin – a 64% 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 69% 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 $1,034 in Medellin versus $1,699 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 $1,034 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 64% 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