Cost of Living Comparison Between Lund and MedellinCost of Living Comparison Between Lund and Medellin
Monthly Cost of Living
😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,854 in Lund versus $1,716 in Medellin.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,027 in Lund versus $2,527 in Medellin.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,201 in Lund versus $3,338 in Medellin.
🌍Living in Lund is roughly 8% more expensive than in Medellin, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Lund35% above, Medellin25% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lund
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.54SEK 130
$8.03COP 25.3K
68.62%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$94.6SEK 911
$48.26COP 152.0K
95.92%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$12.34SEK 119
$9.77COP 30.8K
26.31%
Cappuccino
$4.79SEK 46.16
$2.91COP 9,167
64.60%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.78SEK 26.80
$1.94COP 6,122
43.30%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.12SEK 20.45
$1.52COP 4,792
39.47%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$8.13SEK 78.3
$3.09COP 9,740
163.11%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$7.51SEK 72.4
$5.74COP 18.1K
30.84%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lund
Medellin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.73SEK 16.68
$1.36COP 4,296
27.21%
White Bread(500g)
$2.74SEK 26.40
$2.39COP 7,519
14.64%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.77SEK 36.31
$1.70COP 5,356
121.76%
Eggs
$4.58SEK 44.13
$2.87COP 9,038
59.58%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.16SEK 127
$9.94COP 31.3K
32.39%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$12.10SEK 117
$10.78COP 34.0K
12.24%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$17.47SEK 168
$14.73COP 46.4K
18.60%
Apples(1kg)
$3.14SEK 30.28
$4.09COP 12.9K
-23.23%
Banana(1kg)
$2.98SEK 28.73
$1.57COP 4,950
89.81%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.97SEK 28.56
$2.13COP 6,695
39.44%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.82SEK 46.44
$2.21COP 6,972
118.10%
Potato(1kg)
$1.86SEK 17.94
$2.05COP 6,447
-9.27%
Onion(1kg)
$1.43SEK 13.81
$1.50COP 4,737
-4.67%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.78SEK 26.82
$1.19COP 3,747
133.61%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.52SEK 14.65
$1.16COP 3,647
31.03%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$8.29SEK 79.8
$3.90COP 12.3K
112.56%
Wine(Bottle)
$11.62SEK 112
$14.44COP 45.5K
-19.53%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.99SEK 19.21
$1.58COP 4,987
25.95%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.76SEK 26.61
$2.83COP 8,905
-2.47%
🚌 Getting Around
Lund
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.25SEK 31.34
$1.17COP 3,679
177.78%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$66.2SEK 638
$77.7COP 244.8K
-14.83%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$5.36SEK 51.7
$1.28COP 4,045
318.75%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.16SEK 11.13
$2.09COP 6,589
-44.50%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$42.94SEK 414
$8.62COP 27.1K
398.14%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.87SEK 18.02
$1.30COP 4,088
43.85%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.0KSEK 336.9K
$27.7KCOP 87.1M
26.48%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.9KSEK 326.5K
$35.5KCOP 111.8M
-4.51%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lund
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$82.2SEK 792
$176COP 554.5K
-53.31%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$32.06SEK 309
$13.37COP 42.1K
139.79%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$43.65SEK 420
$29.89COP 94.1K
46.04%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lund
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$38.47SEK 371
$44.76COP 141.0K
-14.05%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$28.42SEK 274
$17.06COP 53.7K
66.59%
Cinema Ticket
$15.94SEK 153
$6.20COP 19.5K
157.10%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lund
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$167SEK 1,610
$793COP 2.5M
-78.92%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
-
$9,019COP 28.4M
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lund
Medellin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$84.8SEK 816
$85.6COP 269.6K
-1.00%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$60.7SEK 584
$58.5COP 184.1K
3.78%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$106SEK 1,017
$136COP 429.3K
-22.54%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$130SEK 1,252
$103COP 324.7K
26.10%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lund
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$870SEK 8,380
$1,060COP 3.3M
-17.89%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$715SEK 6,891
$680COP 2.1M
5.29%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,824SEK 17.6K
$2,012COP 6.3M
-9.34%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,449SEK 14.0K
$1,169COP 3.7M
23.99%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$6,563SEK 63.2K
$4,111COP 12.9M
59.64%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$3,707SEK 35.7K
$1,701COP 5.4M
117.88%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lund
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$3,096SEK 29.8K
$665COP 2.1M
365.41%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.03
10.94
-72.30%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Lund: August 31, 2026
Last update for Medellin: August 30, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $870 in Lund and $1,060 in Medellin. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Lund pays 365% 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: $95.0 in Lund vs $48.00 in Medellin for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $377 vs $303 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
Lund vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Lund or Medellin?
Medellin wins on cost – living expenses run 8% lower than in Lund. 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 Lund or in Medellin?
Average pay runs 365% higher in Lund, 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 Lund compared to Medellin?
Rent for a central apartment: $870 in Lund versus $1,060 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 Lund compared to Medellin?
All in, you'll spend $1,854 per month in Lund versus $1,716 in Medellin – a 8% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
How expensive is transport in Lund compared to Medellin?
A monthly transit pass in Medellin runs roughly 17% less than in Lund. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Can you live on $2,500/month in Lund or in Medellin?
At $1,716 in Medellin versus $1,854 in Lund, a $2,500 budget is realistic in Medellin but tight or insufficient in Lund. The gap between the two cities makes Medellin the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Lund or Medellin?
Both work as nomad bases, but Medellin delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,716 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Medellin hard to pass up.
How safe is Lund compared to Medellin?
Safety-wise, Lund 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 8% less than in Lund. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.