😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,807 in Fagersta versus $1,013 in Medellin.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,789 in Fagersta versus $1,602 in Medellin.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,772 in Fagersta versus $2,192 in Medellin.
😐Living in Fagersta is roughly 78% more expensive than Medellin, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Fagersta is 35% above, Medellin is 24% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Fagersta
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.35SEK 125
$5.99COP 21.4K
122.87%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$67.7SEK 632
$32.86COP 117.4K
106.09%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.70SEK 99.9
$7.09COP 25.3K
50.92%
Cappuccino
$4.59SEK 42.84
$1.71COP 6,115
168.42%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.74SEK 25.59
$1.10COP 3,924
149.09%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.38SEK 22.22
$0.78COP 2,781
205.13%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$7.46SEK 69.6
$1.68COP 5,997
344.05%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$7.44SEK 69.4
$3.07COP 11.0K
142.35%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Fagersta
Medellin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.85SEK 17.26
$1.09COP 3,906
69.72%
White Bread(500g)
$3.15SEK 29.42
$1.26COP 4,508
150.00%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$4.10SEK 38.24
$1.38COP 4,922
197.10%
Eggs
$3.88SEK 36.19
$2.19COP 7,827
77.17%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.87SEK 129
$4.40COP 15.7K
215.23%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$11.93SEK 111
$5.63COP 20.1K
111.90%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$16.00SEK 149
$8.89COP 31.8K
79.98%
Apples(1kg)
$3.50SEK 32.66
$2.34COP 8,349
49.57%
Banana(1kg)
$2.67SEK 24.94
$1.06COP 3,777
151.89%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.56SEK 14.59
$1.50COP 5,374
4.00%
Tomato(1kg)
$5.64SEK 52.7
$1.38COP 4,924
308.70%
Potato(1kg)
$1.52SEK 14.16
$1.15COP 4,111
32.17%
Onion(1kg)
$2.05SEK 19.11
$1.16COP 4,155
76.72%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.78SEK 25.97
$0.89COP 3,182
212.36%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.75SEK 16.33
$0.84COP 2,997
108.33%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$7.40SEK 69.0
$2.28COP 8,145
224.56%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.70SEK 99.9
$10.64COP 38.0K
0.56%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.78SEK 16.63
$1.20COP 4,284
48.33%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.96SEK 18.32
$2.47COP 8,824
-20.65%
🚌 Getting Around
Fagersta
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.30SEK 30.75
$0.86COP 3,056
283.72%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$74.3SEK 694
$41.40COP 147.9K
79.57%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$5.68SEK 53.0
$1.47COP 5,264
286.39%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.64SEK 15.34
$1.96COP 7,009
-16.33%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$21.12SEK 197
$7.74COP 27.6K
172.87%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.95SEK 18.16
$0.95COP 3,409
105.26%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.1KSEK 300.0K
$18.1KCOP 64.7M
77.31%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.6KSEK 322.9K
$26.5KCOP 94.6M
30.65%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Fagersta
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$89.1SEK 832
$82.3COP 293.7K
8.36%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$28.38SEK 265
$9.50COP 33.9K
198.74%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$37.13SEK 346
$24.23COP 86.5K
53.24%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Fagersta
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$39.91SEK 372
$25.89COP 92.4K
54.15%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$25.79SEK 241
$19.00COP 67.9K
35.74%
Cinema Ticket
$16.12SEK 150
$3.93COP 14.0K
310.18%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Fagersta
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$144SEK 1,340
$309COP 1.1M
-53.60%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$737SEK 6,873
$5,965COP 21.3M
-87.65%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Fagersta
Medellin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$106SEK 989
$58.7COP 209.5K
80.69%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.44SEK 415
$32.35COP 115.5K
37.37%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$114SEK 1,064
$103COP 366.4K
11.13%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$159SEK 1,480
$108COP 387.2K
46.27%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Fagersta
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$854SEK 7,969
$476COP 1.7M
79.35%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$654SEK 6,103
$379COP 1.4M
72.66%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,403SEK 13.1K
$838COP 3.0M
67.34%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,070SEK 9,988
$724COP 2.6M
47.88%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,453SEK 41.6K
$2,791COP 10.0M
59.59%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$3,150SEK 29.4K
$1,211COP 4.3M
160.01%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Fagersta
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$512COP 1.8M
-
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 Fagersta: June 1, 2026
Last update for Medellin: May 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $854 in Fagersta and $476 in Medellin. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $68.0 in Fagersta vs $33.00 in Medellin for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $374 vs $188 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
Fagersta vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Fagersta or Medellin?
Medellin wins on cost – living expenses run 78% lower than in Fagersta. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Medellin the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Fagersta vs Medellin?
You'd need roughly $2,710 in Fagersta and $1,519 in Medellin to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Fagersta vs Medellin?
Rent for a central apartment: $854 in Fagersta versus $476 in Medellin. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Are groceries more expensive in Fagersta or Medellin?
Supermarket bills run roughly 99% higher in Fagersta. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
How do dining costs compare in Fagersta vs Medellin?
Dining out is cheaper in Medellin – a meal for two runs $33.00 versus $68.0 in Fagersta. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Can you live on $1,500/month in Fagersta or Medellin?
At $1,013 in Medellin versus $1,807 in Fagersta, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Medellin but tight or insufficient in Fagersta. The gap between the two cities makes Medellin the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Fagersta or Medellin?
Both work as nomad bases, but Medellin delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,013 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Medellin hard to pass up.
How safe is Fagersta compared to Medellin?
Safety-wise, Fagersta 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 78% less than in Fagersta. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.