🙂A single person spends $1,639 per month in Karlskrona vs $1,681 in Medellin, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,583 per month in Karlskrona vs $2,445 in Medellin, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $3,528 per month in Karlskrona vs $3,210 in Medellin, rent included.
🙂Karlskrona is about 2% cheaper than Medellin, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both Karlskrona and Medellin sit above the global median – Karlskrona by 20%, Medellin by 23%.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Karlskrona
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.36SEK 132
$8.02COP 25.0K
66.58%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$67.3SEK 663
$47.87COP 149.4K
40.57%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.46SEK 93.2
$9.89COP 30.8K
-4.35%
Cappuccino
$4.09SEK 40.27
$3.13COP 9,767
30.67%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.35SEK 13.29
$1.91COP 5,954
-29.32%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.28SEK 22.49
$1.51COP 4,712
50.99%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$7.32SEK 72.2
$3.12COP 9,747
134.62%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.14SEK 50.7
$5.75COP 17.9K
-10.61%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Karlskrona
Medellin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.48SEK 14.55
$1.44COP 4,509
2.78%
White Bread(500g)
$2.71SEK 26.75
$2.49COP 7,759
8.84%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.74SEK 36.84
$1.77COP 5,535
111.30%
Eggs
$4.61SEK 45.44
$2.96COP 9,235
55.74%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.87SEK 107
$10.07COP 31.4K
7.94%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$13.28SEK 131
$10.12COP 31.6K
31.23%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$17.32SEK 171
$14.30COP 44.6K
21.12%
Apples(1kg)
$3.15SEK 30.99
$4.14COP 12.9K
-23.91%
Banana(1kg)
$2.37SEK 23.33
$1.61COP 5,019
47.20%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.95SEK 29.10
$2.25COP 7,007
31.11%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.55SEK 44.87
$2.25COP 7,028
102.22%
Potato(1kg)
$1.51SEK 14.89
$2.04COP 6,375
-25.98%
Onion(1kg)
$1.51SEK 14.91
$1.54COP 4,790
-1.95%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.15SEK 21.19
$1.17COP 3,651
83.76%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.47SEK 14.51
$1.31COP 4,077
12.21%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$7.15SEK 70.5
$3.90COP 12.2K
83.33%
Wine(Bottle)
$12.79SEK 126
$14.01COP 43.7K
-8.71%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.97SEK 19.43
$1.74COP 5,439
13.22%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.76SEK 17.30
$2.87COP 8,956
-38.68%
🚌 Getting Around
Karlskrona
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.03SEK 29.91
$1.22COP 3,792
148.36%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$73.5SEK 725
$80.5COP 251.1K
-8.64%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$13.58SEK 134
$1.31COP 4,084
936.64%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.00SEK 19.76
$2.19COP 6,825
-8.68%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$82.2SEK 810
$8.71COP 27.2K
843.51%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.71SEK 16.84
$1.37COP 4,260
24.82%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$33.2KSEK 327.0K
$27.8KCOP 86.9M
19.22%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.4KSEK 329.3K
$35.8KCOP 111.6M
-6.60%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Karlskrona
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$52.6SEK 518
$177COP 553.2K
-70.33%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$28.34SEK 279
$13.88COP 43.3K
104.18%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$37.87SEK 373
$29.72COP 92.8K
27.42%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Karlskrona
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$42.28SEK 417
$44.88COP 140.1K
-5.79%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$24.72SEK 244
$17.12COP 53.4K
44.39%
Cinema Ticket
$16.62SEK 164
$6.65COP 20.7K
149.92%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Karlskrona
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$164SEK 1,618
$813COP 2.5M
-79.81%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
-
$9,187COP 28.7M
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Karlskrona
Medellin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$98.9SEK 975
$89.5COP 279.3K
10.50%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$20.68SEK 204
$59.0COP 184.0K
-64.93%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$81.8SEK 806
$138COP 431.2K
-40.81%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$178SEK 1,756
$102COP 318.7K
74.51%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Karlskrona
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$686SEK 6,762
$1,062COP 3.3M
-35.38%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$597SEK 5,879
$663COP 2.1M
-10.01%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,140SEK 11.2K
$1,888COP 5.9M
-39.61%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$963SEK 9,494
$1,027COP 3.2M
-6.20%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,944SEK 29.0K
$4,183COP 13.1M
-29.62%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,555SEK 25.2K
$1,675COP 5.2M
52.58%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Karlskrona
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,546SEK 25.1K
$678COP 2.1M
275.74%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.22
10.94
-61.43%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Karlskrona: September 15, 2026
Last update for Medellin: September 14, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $686 in Karlskrona versus $1,062 in Medellin. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.
💰Salaries run about 276% higher in Karlskrona, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $67.0 in Karlskrona versus $48.00 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $364 vs $305 – making Medellin the more affordable choice for daily food spending.
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
Karlskrona vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Medellin cheaper than Karlskrona?
Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 3%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,459 per month in Karlskrona and $2,521 in Medellin. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Karlskrona, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Is eating out cheaper in Karlskrona or in Medellin?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $67.0 in Karlskrona and $48.00 in Medellin. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
What are total monthly expenses in Karlskrona and in Medellin?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,639 in Karlskrona and $1,681 in Medellin. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Is $2,500 a realistic budget for living in Karlskrona or in Medellin?
A $2,500 monthly budget goes further in Karlskrona, where all-in costs run around $1,639, than in Medellin at $1,681. In Karlskrona it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Karlskrona or Medellin more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Karlskrona – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Karlskrona or Medellin?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Karlskrona. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Medellin makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.
Karlskrona vs other spots: cost of living compared