🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,681 in Medellin versus $1,774 in Eskilstuna.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,445 in Medellin versus $2,755 in Eskilstuna.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,210 in Medellin versus $3,736 in Eskilstuna.
🌍Living in Medellin costs roughly 5% less than in Eskilstuna, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Medellin23% above, Eskilstuna30% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Eskilstuna
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.02COP 25.0K
$14.12SEK 139
-43.20%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$47.87COP 149.4K
$66.6SEK 656
-28.14%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.89COP 30.8K
$10.25SEK 101
-3.51%
Cappuccino
$3.13COP 9,767
$4.48SEK 44.14
-30.13%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.91COP 5,954
$2.77SEK 27.31
-31.05%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.51COP 4,712
$2.21SEK 21.74
-31.67%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.12COP 9,747
$5.19SEK 51.2
-39.88%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.75COP 17.9K
$5.31SEK 52.3
8.29%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Eskilstuna
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.44COP 4,509
$1.45SEK 14.31
-0.69%
White Bread(500g)
$2.49COP 7,759
$3.28SEK 32.29
-24.09%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.77COP 5,535
$3.59SEK 35.37
-50.70%
Eggs
$2.96COP 9,235
$4.26SEK 42.02
-30.52%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.07COP 31.4K
$14.08SEK 139
-28.48%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$10.12COP 31.6K
$13.21SEK 130
-23.39%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$14.30COP 44.6K
$13.39SEK 132
6.80%
Apples(1kg)
$4.14COP 12.9K
$3.37SEK 33.18
22.85%
Banana(1kg)
$1.61COP 5,019
$2.66SEK 26.21
-39.47%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.25COP 7,007
$2.63SEK 25.94
-14.45%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.25COP 7,028
$3.83SEK 37.75
-41.25%
Potato(1kg)
$2.04COP 6,375
$1.49SEK 14.66
36.91%
Onion(1kg)
$1.54COP 4,790
$1.84SEK 18.10
-16.30%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.17COP 3,651
$3.36SEK 33.13
-65.18%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.31COP 4,077
$1.72SEK 16.93
-23.84%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.90COP 12.2K
$7.29SEK 71.9
-46.50%
Wine(Bottle)
$14.01COP 43.7K
$8.13SEK 80.1
72.32%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.74COP 5,439
$2.06SEK 20.31
-15.53%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.87COP 8,956
$2.32SEK 22.87
23.71%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Eskilstuna
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.22COP 3,792
$3.31SEK 32.59
-63.14%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$80.5COP 251.1K
$67.7SEK 667
18.97%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.31COP 4,084
$13.42SEK 132
-90.24%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.19COP 6,825
$2.13SEK 21.02
2.82%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$8.71COP 27.2K
$82.0SEK 808
-89.37%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.37COP 4,260
$1.76SEK 17.38
-22.16%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.8KCOP 86.9M
$33.8KSEK 333.1K
-17.65%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$35.8KCOP 111.6M
$33.9KSEK 333.8K
5.62%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Eskilstuna
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$177COP 553.2K
$181SEK 1,782
-1.94%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.88COP 43.3K
$26.97SEK 266
-48.54%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.72COP 92.8K
$40.60SEK 400
-26.80%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Eskilstuna
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$44.88COP 140.1K
$25.19SEK 248
78.17%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.12COP 53.4K
$26.27SEK 259
-34.83%
Cinema Ticket
$6.65COP 20.7K
$11.27SEK 111
-40.99%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Eskilstuna
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$813COP 2.5M
$158SEK 1,558
414.25%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$9,187COP 28.7M
$5,155SEK 50.8K
78.22%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Eskilstuna
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$89.5COP 279.3K
$104SEK 1,025
-13.94%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$59.0COP 184.0K
$30.82SEK 304
91.34%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$138COP 431.2K
$92.3SEK 909
49.79%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$102COP 318.7K
$156SEK 1,533
-34.34%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Eskilstuna
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,062COP 3.3M
$826SEK 8,136
28.62%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$663COP 2.1M
$619SEK 6,096
7.16%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,888COP 5.9M
$1,199SEK 11.8K
57.52%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,027COP 3.2M
$1,077SEK 10.6K
-4.62%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,183COP 13.1M
$4,262SEK 42.0K
-1.86%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,675COP 5.2M
$2,895SEK 28.5K
-42.15%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Eskilstuna
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$678COP 2.1M
$4,305SEK 42.4K
-84.26%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
10.94
3.2
241.87%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Medellin: September 14, 2026
Last update for Eskilstuna: September 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,062 in Medellin and $826 in Eskilstuna. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Eskilstuna pays 535% 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: $48.00 in Medellin vs $67.0 in Eskilstuna for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $305 vs $363 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 Eskilstuna: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Medellin or Eskilstuna?
Medellin wins on cost – living expenses run 6% lower than in Eskilstuna. 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 Medellin or in Eskilstuna?
On paper, salaries run 535% lower in Eskilstuna. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Medellin compared to Eskilstuna?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,062 in Medellin versus $826 in Eskilstuna. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How much does it cost to live in Medellin compared to Eskilstuna?
All in, you'll spend $1,681 per month in Medellin versus $1,774 in Eskilstuna – a 6% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
How expensive is transport in Medellin compared to Eskilstuna?
A monthly transit pass in Medellin runs roughly 19% less than in Eskilstuna. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Can you live on $2,500/month in Medellin or in Eskilstuna?
At $1,681 in Medellin versus $1,774 in Eskilstuna, a $2,500 budget is realistic in Medellin but tight or insufficient in Eskilstuna. The gap between the two cities makes Medellin the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Medellin or Eskilstuna?
Both work as nomad bases, but Medellin delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,681 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Medellin hard to pass up.
How safe is Medellin compared to Eskilstuna?
Safety-wise, Medellin and Eskilstuna 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 6% less than in Eskilstuna. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.