Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Boras Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Boras

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,031 in Medellin versus $1,958 in Boras.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,599 in Medellin versus $2,789 in Boras.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,167 in Medellin versus $3,619 in Boras.

Living in Medellin costs roughly 47% less than in Boras, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Medellin is 23% below, Boras is 47% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.16 COP 20.1K

$12.83 SEK 124

-51.99%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.60 COP 106.1K

$72.6 SEK 703

-55.09%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.34 COP 23.9K

$10.63 SEK 103

-30.95%

Cappuccino

$1.72 COP 5,599

$4.37 SEK 42.27

-60.64%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.05 COP 3,420

$2.22 SEK 21.53

-52.70%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.77 COP 2,515

$2.07 SEK 20.02

-62.80%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.69 COP 5,487

$8.15 SEK 78.9

-79.26%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.17 COP 10.3K

$7.42 SEK 71.9

-57.28%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.05 COP 3,423

$1.67 SEK 16.20

-37.13%

White Bread (500g)

$1.30 COP 4,236

$2.15 SEK 20.84

-39.53%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.40 COP 4,544

$3.07 SEK 29.68

-54.40%

Eggs

$2.16 COP 7,046

$4.48 SEK 43.37

-51.79%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.39 COP 14.3K

$13.07 SEK 127

-66.41%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.88 COP 19.1K

$11.49 SEK 111

-48.83%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.64 COP 28.1K

$16.85 SEK 163

-48.72%

Apples (1kg)

$2.28 COP 7,425

$2.68 SEK 25.92

-14.93%

Banana (1kg)

$1.11 COP 3,603

$2.77 SEK 26.82

-59.93%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.53 COP 4,982

$2.82 SEK 27.29

-45.74%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.35 COP 4,410

$3.77 SEK 36.47

-64.19%

Potato (1kg)

$1.13 COP 3,674

$1.54 SEK 14.92

-26.62%

Onion (1kg)

$1.13 COP 3,692

$1.62 SEK 15.64

-30.25%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.85 COP 2,753

$1.41 SEK 13.68

-39.72%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.91 COP 2,975

$1.50 SEK 14.51

-39.33%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.34 COP 7,629

$8.23 SEK 79.7

-71.57%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.37 COP 40.3K

$9.40 SEK 91.0

31.60%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.20 COP 3,909

$2.03 SEK 19.66

-40.89%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.49 COP 8,104

$1.73 SEK 16.74

43.93%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.84 COP 2,727

$3.74 SEK 36.16

-77.54%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$40.57 COP 132.1K

$86.2 SEK 834

-52.92%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.42 COP 4,623

$6.46 SEK 62.6

-78.02%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.92 COP 6,235

$1.87 SEK 18.15

2.67%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.66 COP 24.9K

$62.5 SEK 605

-87.75%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.99 COP 3,223

$1.96 SEK 19.02

-49.49%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$18.0K COP 58.7M

$26.2K SEK 253.5K

-31.14%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$26.6K COP 86.7M

$25.4K SEK 245.8K

4.90%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$80.8 COP 263.1K

$74.9 SEK 725

7.96%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$9.95 COP 32.4K

$28.64 SEK 277

-65.26%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.18 COP 78.7K

$27.88 SEK 270

-13.27%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.08 COP 81.6K

$34.39 SEK 333

-27.07%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.15 COP 62.3K

$23.82 SEK 231

-19.61%

Cinema Ticket

$3.98 COP 13.0K

$15.85 SEK 153

-74.89%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$305 COP 993.4K

$157 SEK 1,519

94.58%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,059 COP 19.7M

$4,162 SEK 40.3K

45.56%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.1 COP 189.2K

$81.2 SEK 787

-28.45%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$32.20 COP 104.8K

$39.45 SEK 382

-18.38%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$101 COP 327.9K

$94.5 SEK 915

6.59%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$108 COP 350.8K

$108 SEK 1,045

-0.21%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$477 COP 1.6M

$849 SEK 8,223

-43.89%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$376 COP 1.2M

$927 SEK 8,975

-59.42%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$845 COP 2.7M

$1,384 SEK 13.4K

-38.96%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$730 COP 2.4M

$1,064 SEK 10.3K

-31.38%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,215 COP 10.5M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,372 COP 4.5M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$617 COP 2.0M

$2,480 SEK 24.0K

-75.13%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.43

4.8

179.79%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Medellin: July 12, 2026

Last update for Boras: July 11, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $477 in Medellin and $849 in Boras. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Boras pays 302% 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: $33.00 in Medellin vs $73.0 in Boras for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $193 vs $340 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

Medellin vs Boras: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Medellin is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Eating Out, Getting Around, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 90% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, salaries run 302% lower in Boras. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $477 in Medellin versus $849 in Boras. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $1,031 per month in Medellin versus $1,958 in Boras – a 90% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Medellin runs roughly 112% less than in Boras. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $1,031 in Medellin versus $1,958 in Boras, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Medellin but tight or insufficient in Boras. The gap between the two cities makes Medellin the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

For families, Medellin is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Boras, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.

Safety-wise, Medellin and Boras are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Medellin gentler on the wallet – expenses run 90% less than in Boras. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.