Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Eskilstuna Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Eskilstuna

Monthly Cost of Living

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
$5.91 COP 18.9K
$13.35 SEK 129
-55.73%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.96 COP 105.2K
$69.3 SEK 668
-52.41%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.43 COP 23.7K
$10.39 SEK 100
-28.49%
Cappuccino
$1.65 COP 5,276
$4.55 SEK 43.85
-63.74%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.10 COP 3,514
$2.71 SEK 26.15
-59.41%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.78 COP 2,491
$2.43 SEK 23.39
-67.90%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.72 COP 5,484
$7.21 SEK 69.5
-76.14%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.18 COP 10.1K
$7.37 SEK 71.0
-56.85%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Eskilstuna
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.10 COP 3,521
$1.52 SEK 14.66
-27.63%
White Bread (500g)
$1.26 COP 4,015
$3.07 SEK 29.57
-58.96%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.38 COP 4,407
$3.45 SEK 33.30
-60.00%
Eggs
$2.18 COP 6,950
$4.07 SEK 39.25
-46.44%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$4.49 COP 14.3K
$14.20 SEK 137
-68.38%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.79 COP 18.5K
$11.81 SEK 114
-50.97%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$8.97 COP 28.6K
$13.68 SEK 132
-34.43%
Apples (1kg)
$2.32 COP 7,405
$3.45 SEK 33.23
-32.75%
Banana (1kg)
$1.06 COP 3,397
$2.69 SEK 25.94
-60.59%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.52 COP 4,838
$2.67 SEK 25.77
-43.07%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.36 COP 4,327
$3.96 SEK 38.18
-65.66%
Potato (1kg)
$1.13 COP 3,599
$1.51 SEK 14.54
-25.17%
Onion (1kg)
$1.17 COP 3,738
$2.10 SEK 20.20
-44.29%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.90 COP 2,876
$2.79 SEK 26.92
-67.74%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.90 COP 2,861
$1.73 SEK 16.70
-47.98%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.23 COP 7,128
$7.37 SEK 71.0
-69.74%
Wine (Bottle)
$12.12 COP 38.7K
$8.29 SEK 79.9
46.20%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.19 COP 3,793
$2.38 SEK 22.95
-50.00%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.48 COP 7,920
$1.98 SEK 19.12
25.25%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Eskilstuna
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.85 COP 2,723
$3.39 SEK 32.70
-74.93%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$41.62 COP 132.8K
$69.1 SEK 666
-39.79%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.42 COP 4,518
$6.64 SEK 64.0
-78.61%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.95 COP 6,223
$1.19 SEK 11.48
63.87%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.89 COP 25.2K
$62.0 SEK 597
-87.26%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.99 COP 3,160
$1.98 SEK 19.13
-50.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$17.6K COP 56.2M
$32.8K SEK 316.1K
-46.32%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.8K COP 85.5M
$34.5K SEK 332.8K
-22.37%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Eskilstuna
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$83.0 COP 264.9K
$90.6 SEK 873
-8.36%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.70 COP 30.9K
$28.35 SEK 273
-65.78%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$23.52 COP 75.0K
$36.87 SEK 355
-36.21%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Eskilstuna
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$25.26 COP 80.6K
$26.10 SEK 252
-3.22%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.10 COP 60.9K
$25.39 SEK 245
-24.77%
Cinema Ticket
$3.95 COP 12.6K
$11.54 SEK 111
-65.77%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Eskilstuna
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$316 COP 1.0M
$128 SEK 1,233
146.85%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,975 COP 19.1M
$725 SEK 6,990
724.00%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Eskilstuna
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$60.0 COP 191.4K
$105 SEK 1,009
-42.66%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$31.82 COP 101.5K
$31.92 SEK 308
-0.31%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$102 COP 324.4K
$94.5 SEK 911
7.64%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$107 COP 342.8K
$156 SEK 1,500
-30.92%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Eskilstuna
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$475 COP 1.5M
$728 SEK 7,022
-34.80%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$374 COP 1.2M
$642 SEK 6,187
-41.73%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$849 COP 2.7M
$1,231 SEK 11.9K
-31.00%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$719 COP 2.3M
$1,073 SEK 10.3K
-32.95%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,265 COP 10.4M
$4,191 SEK 40.4K
-22.09%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,441 COP 4.6M
$2,827 SEK 27.3K
-49.04%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Eskilstuna
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$624 COP 2.0M
$4,148 SEK 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.

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