Cost of Living Comparison Between Lund and Medellin Cost 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: Lund 35% above, Medellin 25% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lund
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.54 SEK 130
$8.03 COP 25.3K
68.62%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$94.6 SEK 911
$48.26 COP 152.0K
95.92%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$12.34 SEK 119
$9.77 COP 30.8K
26.31%
Cappuccino
$4.79 SEK 46.16
$2.91 COP 9,167
64.60%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.78 SEK 26.80
$1.94 COP 6,122
43.30%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.12 SEK 20.45
$1.52 COP 4,792
39.47%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$8.13 SEK 78.3
$3.09 COP 9,740
163.11%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.51 SEK 72.4
$5.74 COP 18.1K
30.84%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lund
Medellin
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.73 SEK 16.68
$1.36 COP 4,296
27.21%
White Bread (500g)
$2.74 SEK 26.40
$2.39 COP 7,519
14.64%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.77 SEK 36.31
$1.70 COP 5,356
121.76%
Eggs
$4.58 SEK 44.13
$2.87 COP 9,038
59.58%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.16 SEK 127
$9.94 COP 31.3K
32.39%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$12.10 SEK 117
$10.78 COP 34.0K
12.24%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$17.47 SEK 168
$14.73 COP 46.4K
18.60%
Apples (1kg)
$3.14 SEK 30.28
$4.09 COP 12.9K
-23.23%
Banana (1kg)
$2.98 SEK 28.73
$1.57 COP 4,950
89.81%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.97 SEK 28.56
$2.13 COP 6,695
39.44%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.82 SEK 46.44
$2.21 COP 6,972
118.10%
Potato (1kg)
$1.86 SEK 17.94
$2.05 COP 6,447
-9.27%
Onion (1kg)
$1.43 SEK 13.81
$1.50 COP 4,737
-4.67%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.78 SEK 26.82
$1.19 COP 3,747
133.61%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.52 SEK 14.65
$1.16 COP 3,647
31.03%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$8.29 SEK 79.8
$3.90 COP 12.3K
112.56%
Wine (Bottle)
$11.62 SEK 112
$14.44 COP 45.5K
-19.53%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.99 SEK 19.21
$1.58 COP 4,987
25.95%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.76 SEK 26.61
$2.83 COP 8,905
-2.47%
🚌 Getting Around
Lund
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$3.25 SEK 31.34
$1.17 COP 3,679
177.78%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$66.2 SEK 638
$77.7 COP 244.8K
-14.83%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$5.36 SEK 51.7
$1.28 COP 4,045
318.75%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.16 SEK 11.13
$2.09 COP 6,589
-44.50%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$42.94 SEK 414
$8.62 COP 27.1K
398.14%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.87 SEK 18.02
$1.30 COP 4,088
43.85%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.0K SEK 336.9K
$27.7K COP 87.1M
26.48%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.9K SEK 326.5K
$35.5K COP 111.8M
-4.51%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lund
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$82.2 SEK 792
$176 COP 554.5K
-53.31%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$32.06 SEK 309
$13.37 COP 42.1K
139.79%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$43.65 SEK 420
$29.89 COP 94.1K
46.04%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lund
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$38.47 SEK 371
$44.76 COP 141.0K
-14.05%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$28.42 SEK 274
$17.06 COP 53.7K
66.59%
Cinema Ticket
$15.94 SEK 153
$6.20 COP 19.5K
157.10%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lund
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$167 SEK 1,610
$793 COP 2.5M
-78.92%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
-
$9,019 COP 28.4M
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lund
Medellin
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$84.8 SEK 816
$85.6 COP 269.6K
-1.00%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$60.7 SEK 584
$58.5 COP 184.1K
3.78%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$106 SEK 1,017
$136 COP 429.3K
-22.54%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$130 SEK 1,252
$103 COP 324.7K
26.10%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lund
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$870 SEK 8,380
$1,060 COP 3.3M
-17.89%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$715 SEK 6,891
$680 COP 2.1M
5.29%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,824 SEK 17.6K
$2,012 COP 6.3M
-9.34%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,449 SEK 14.0K
$1,169 COP 3.7M
23.99%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$6,563 SEK 63.2K
$4,111 COP 12.9M
59.64%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,707 SEK 35.7K
$1,701 COP 5.4M
117.88%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lund
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,096 SEK 29.8K
$665 COP 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.

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