🙂A single person spends $1,669 per month in Marsta vs $1,681 in Medellin, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,655 per month in Marsta vs $2,445 in Medellin, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $3,640 per month in Marsta vs $3,210 in Medellin, rent included.
🙂Marsta is about 1% cheaper than Medellin, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both Marsta and Medellin sit above the global median – Marsta by 22%, Medellin by 23%.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Marsta
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.49SEK 133
$8.02COP 25.0K
68.20%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$68.5SEK 675
$47.87COP 149.4K
43.12%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.34SEK 102
$9.89COP 30.8K
4.55%
Cappuccino
$4.59SEK 45.26
$3.13COP 9,767
46.65%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.07SEK 20.37
$1.91COP 5,954
8.38%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.93SEK 18.99
$1.51COP 4,712
27.81%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$7.25SEK 71.4
$3.12COP 9,747
132.37%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$7.40SEK 72.9
$5.75COP 17.9K
28.70%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Marsta
Medellin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.82SEK 17.90
$1.44COP 4,509
26.39%
White Bread(500g)
$3.22SEK 31.78
$2.49COP 7,759
29.32%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$5.47SEK 53.9
$1.77COP 5,535
209.04%
Eggs
$3.83SEK 37.70
$2.96COP 9,235
29.39%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$14.13SEK 139
$10.07COP 31.4K
40.32%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.14SEK 90.0
$10.12COP 31.6K
-9.68%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$17.61SEK 173
$14.30COP 44.6K
23.15%
Apples(1kg)
$3.15SEK 31.06
$4.14COP 12.9K
-23.91%
Banana(1kg)
$2.66SEK 26.23
$1.61COP 5,019
65.22%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.04SEK 20.14
$2.25COP 7,007
-9.33%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.94SEK 38.85
$2.25COP 7,028
75.11%
Potato(1kg)
$1.49SEK 14.72
$2.04COP 6,375
-26.96%
Onion(1kg)
$1.58SEK 15.56
$1.54COP 4,790
2.60%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.04SEK 20.15
$1.17COP 3,651
74.36%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.92SEK 18.89
$1.31COP 4,077
46.56%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$7.15SEK 70.5
$3.90COP 12.2K
83.33%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.51SEK 104
$14.01COP 43.7K
-24.98%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.01SEK 19.79
$1.74COP 5,439
15.52%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.24SEK 22.10
$2.87COP 8,956
-21.95%
🚌 Getting Around
Marsta
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.39SEK 33.41
$1.22COP 3,792
177.87%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$79.2SEK 780
$80.5COP 251.1K
-1.59%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$13.57SEK 134
$1.31COP 4,084
935.88%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.03SEK 20.02
$2.19COP 6,825
-7.31%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$59.4SEK 586
$8.71COP 27.2K
582.32%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.75SEK 17.28
$1.37COP 4,260
27.74%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.7KSEK 341.5K
$27.8KCOP 86.9M
24.50%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.0KSEK 334.9K
$35.8KCOP 111.6M
-4.99%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Marsta
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$62.5SEK 616
$177COP 553.2K
-64.73%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$26.88SEK 265
$13.88COP 43.3K
93.66%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$40.99SEK 404
$29.72COP 92.8K
37.92%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Marsta
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$38.54SEK 380
$44.88COP 140.1K
-14.13%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$25.52SEK 251
$17.12COP 53.4K
49.07%
Cinema Ticket
$16.34SEK 161
$6.65COP 20.7K
145.71%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Marsta
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$224SEK 2,212
$813COP 2.5M
-72.39%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,274SEK 52.0K
$9,187COP 28.7M
-42.59%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Marsta
Medellin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$51.9SEK 511
$89.5COP 279.3K
-42.00%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$30.99SEK 305
$59.0COP 184.0K
-47.45%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$92.3SEK 910
$138COP 431.2K
-33.20%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$106SEK 1,046
$102COP 318.7K
3.96%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Marsta
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$842SEK 8,300
$1,062COP 3.3M
-20.69%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$606SEK 5,974
$663COP 2.1M
-8.55%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,379SEK 13.6K
$1,888COP 5.9M
-26.96%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,074SEK 10.6K
$1,027COP 3.2M
4.60%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,179SEK 41.2K
$4,183COP 13.1M
-0.09%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,874SEK 28.3K
$1,675COP 5.2M
71.59%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Marsta
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$4,836SEK 47.7K
$678COP 2.1M
613.64%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.2
10.94
-70.75%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Marsta: September 15, 2026
Last update for Medellin: September 14, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $842 in Marsta 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 614% higher in Marsta, 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 $69.0 in Marsta versus $48.00 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $362 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
Marsta vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Medellin cheaper than Marsta?
Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 1%, 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 $2,504 per month in Marsta 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 Marsta, 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 Marsta or in Medellin?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $69.0 in Marsta 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 Marsta and in Medellin?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,669 in Marsta 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 Marsta or in Medellin?
A $2,500 monthly budget goes further in Marsta, where all-in costs run around $1,669, than in Medellin at $1,681. In Marsta it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Marsta or Medellin more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Marsta – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Marsta 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 Marsta. 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.