🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,003 in Medellin versus $1,753 in Eskilstuna.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,573 in Medellin versus $2,681 in Eskilstuna.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,143 in Medellin versus $3,610 in Eskilstuna.
🌍Living in Medellin costs roughly 43% less than in Eskilstuna, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Medellin is 25% below, Eskilstuna is 32% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Eskilstuna
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.91COP 18.9K
$13.35SEK 129
-55.73%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.96COP 105.2K
$69.3SEK 668
-52.41%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.43COP 23.7K
$10.39SEK 100
-28.49%
Cappuccino
$1.65COP 5,276
$4.55SEK 43.85
-63.74%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.10COP 3,514
$2.71SEK 26.15
-59.41%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.78COP 2,491
$2.43SEK 23.39
-67.90%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.72COP 5,484
$7.21SEK 69.5
-76.14%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.18COP 10.1K
$7.37SEK 71.0
-56.85%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Eskilstuna
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.10COP 3,521
$1.52SEK 14.66
-27.63%
White Bread(500g)
$1.26COP 4,015
$3.07SEK 29.57
-58.96%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.38COP 4,407
$3.45SEK 33.30
-60.00%
Eggs
$2.18COP 6,950
$4.07SEK 39.25
-46.44%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$4.49COP 14.3K
$14.20SEK 137
-68.38%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.79COP 18.5K
$11.81SEK 114
-50.97%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.97COP 28.6K
$13.68SEK 132
-34.43%
Apples(1kg)
$2.32COP 7,405
$3.45SEK 33.23
-32.75%
Banana(1kg)
$1.06COP 3,397
$2.69SEK 25.94
-60.59%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.52COP 4,838
$2.67SEK 25.77
-43.07%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.36COP 4,327
$3.96SEK 38.18
-65.66%
Potato(1kg)
$1.13COP 3,599
$1.51SEK 14.54
-25.17%
Onion(1kg)
$1.17COP 3,738
$2.10SEK 20.20
-44.29%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.90COP 2,876
$2.79SEK 26.92
-67.74%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.90COP 2,861
$1.73SEK 16.70
-47.98%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.23COP 7,128
$7.37SEK 71.0
-69.74%
Wine(Bottle)
$12.12COP 38.7K
$8.29SEK 79.9
46.20%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.19COP 3,793
$2.38SEK 22.95
-50.00%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.48COP 7,920
$1.98SEK 19.12
25.25%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Eskilstuna
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.85COP 2,723
$3.39SEK 32.70
-74.93%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$41.62COP 132.8K
$69.1SEK 666
-39.79%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.42COP 4,518
$6.64SEK 64.0
-78.61%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.95COP 6,223
$1.19SEK 11.48
63.87%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.89COP 25.2K
$62.0SEK 597
-87.26%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.99COP 3,160
$1.98SEK 19.13
-50.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$17.6KCOP 56.2M
$32.8KSEK 316.1K
-46.32%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.8KCOP 85.5M
$34.5KSEK 332.8K
-22.37%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Eskilstuna
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$83.0COP 264.9K
$90.6SEK 873
-8.36%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.70COP 30.9K
$28.35SEK 273
-65.78%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$23.52COP 75.0K
$36.87SEK 355
-36.21%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Eskilstuna
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$25.26COP 80.6K
$26.10SEK 252
-3.22%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.10COP 60.9K
$25.39SEK 245
-24.77%
Cinema Ticket
$3.95COP 12.6K
$11.54SEK 111
-65.77%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Eskilstuna
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$316COP 1.0M
$128SEK 1,233
146.85%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,975COP 19.1M
$725SEK 6,990
724.00%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Eskilstuna
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$60.0COP 191.4K
$105SEK 1,009
-42.66%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$31.82COP 101.5K
$31.92SEK 308
-0.31%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$102COP 324.4K
$94.5SEK 911
7.64%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$107COP 342.8K
$156SEK 1,500
-30.92%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Eskilstuna
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$475COP 1.5M
$728SEK 7,022
-34.80%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$374COP 1.2M
$642SEK 6,187
-41.73%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$849COP 2.7M
$1,231SEK 11.9K
-31.00%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$719COP 2.3M
$1,073SEK 10.3K
-32.95%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,265COP 10.4M
$4,191SEK 40.4K
-22.09%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,441COP 4.6M
$2,827SEK 27.3K
-49.04%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Eskilstuna
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$624COP 2.0M
$4,148SEK 40.0K
-84.95%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
13.43
4.53
196.47%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Medellin: July 27, 2026
Last update for Eskilstuna: July 26, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $475 in Medellin and $728 in Eskilstuna. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Eskilstuna pays 564% 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 $69.0 in Eskilstuna for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $193 vs $356 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 75% 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 564% 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: $475 in Medellin versus $728 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 $1,003 per month in Medellin versus $1,753 in Eskilstuna – a 75% 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 66% less than in Eskilstuna. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Can you live on $1,500/month in Medellin or in Eskilstuna?
At $1,003 in Medellin versus $1,753 in Eskilstuna, a $1,500 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 $1,003 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 75% less than in Eskilstuna. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.