πMonthly costs for one person with rent: $1,013 in Medellin versus $1,807 in Fagersta.
πEstimated couple costs with rent: $1,602 in Medellin versus $2,789 in Fagersta.
πMonthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,192 in Medellin versus $3,772 in Fagersta.
πLiving in Medellin costs roughly 44% less than in Fagersta, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
πThe two cities straddle the global median: Medellin is 24% below, Fagersta is 35% above.
Currency
π½ Eating Out
Medellin
Fagersta
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.99COPΒ 21.4K
$13.35SEKΒ 125
-55.13%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.86COPΒ 117.4K
$67.7SEKΒ 632
-51.48%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.09COPΒ 25.3K
$10.70SEKΒ 99.9
-33.74%
Cappuccino
$1.71COPΒ 6,115
$4.59SEKΒ 42.84
-62.75%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.10COPΒ 3,924
$2.74SEKΒ 25.59
-59.85%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.78COPΒ 2,781
$2.38SEKΒ 22.22
-67.23%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.68COPΒ 5,997
$7.46SEKΒ 69.6
-77.48%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.07COPΒ 11.0K
$7.44SEKΒ 69.4
-58.74%
π Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Fagersta
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.09COPΒ 3,906
$1.85SEKΒ 17.26
-41.08%
White Bread(500g)
$1.26COPΒ 4,508
$3.15SEKΒ 29.42
-60.00%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.38COPΒ 4,922
$4.10SEKΒ 38.24
-66.34%
Eggs
$2.19COPΒ 7,827
$3.88SEKΒ 36.19
-43.56%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$4.40COPΒ 15.7K
$13.87SEKΒ 129
-68.28%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.63COPΒ 20.1K
$11.93SEKΒ 111
-52.81%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.89COPΒ 31.8K
$16.00SEKΒ 149
-44.44%
Apples(1kg)
$2.34COPΒ 8,349
$3.50SEKΒ 32.66
-33.14%
Banana(1kg)
$1.06COPΒ 3,777
$2.67SEKΒ 24.94
-60.30%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.50COPΒ 5,374
$1.56SEKΒ 14.59
-3.85%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.38COPΒ 4,924
$5.64SEKΒ 52.7
-75.53%
Potato(1kg)
$1.15COPΒ 4,111
$1.52SEKΒ 14.16
-24.34%
Onion(1kg)
$1.16COPΒ 4,155
$2.05SEKΒ 19.11
-43.41%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.89COPΒ 3,182
$2.78SEKΒ 25.97
-67.99%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.84COPΒ 2,997
$1.75SEKΒ 16.33
-52.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.28COPΒ 8,145
$7.40SEKΒ 69.0
-69.19%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.64COPΒ 38.0K
$10.70SEKΒ 99.9
-0.56%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.20COPΒ 4,284
$1.78SEKΒ 16.63
-32.58%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.47COPΒ 8,824
$1.96SEKΒ 18.32
26.02%
π Getting Around
Medellin
Fagersta
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.86COPΒ 3,056
$3.30SEKΒ 30.75
-73.94%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$41.40COPΒ 147.9K
$74.3SEKΒ 694
-44.31%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.47COPΒ 5,264
$5.68SEKΒ 53.0
-74.12%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.96COPΒ 7,009
$1.64SEKΒ 15.34
19.51%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.74COPΒ 27.6K
$21.12SEKΒ 197
-63.35%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.95COPΒ 3,409
$1.95SEKΒ 18.16
-51.28%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.1KCOPΒ 64.7M
$32.1KSEKΒ 300.0K
-43.60%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.5KCOPΒ 94.6M
$34.6KSEKΒ 322.9K
-23.46%
π§Ύ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Fagersta
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$82.3COPΒ 293.7K
$89.1SEKΒ 832
-7.72%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.50COPΒ 33.9K
$28.38SEKΒ 265
-66.53%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.23COPΒ 86.5K
$37.13SEKΒ 346
-34.74%
π Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Fagersta
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$25.89COPΒ 92.4K
$39.91SEKΒ 372
-35.13%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.00COPΒ 67.9K
$25.79SEKΒ 241
-26.33%
Cinema Ticket
$3.93COPΒ 14.0K
$16.12SEKΒ 150
-75.62%
π§Έ Childcare & Education
Medellin
Fagersta
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$309COPΒ 1.1M
$144SEKΒ 1,340
115.51%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,965COPΒ 21.3M
$737SEKΒ 6,873
709.85%
ππ Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Fagersta
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.7COPΒ 209.5K
$106SEKΒ 989
-44.66%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$32.35COPΒ 115.5K
$44.44SEKΒ 415
-27.21%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$103COPΒ 366.4K
$114SEKΒ 1,064
-10.02%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$108COPΒ 387.2K
$159SEKΒ 1,480
-31.63%
π Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Fagersta
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$476COPΒ 1.7M
$854SEKΒ 7,969
-44.24%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$379COPΒ 1.4M
$654SEKΒ 6,103
-42.08%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$838COPΒ 3.0M
$1,403SEKΒ 13.1K
-40.24%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$724COPΒ 2.6M
$1,070SEKΒ 9,988
-32.38%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,791COPΒ 10.0M
$4,453SEKΒ 41.6K
-37.34%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,211COPΒ 4.3M
$3,150SEKΒ 29.4K
-61.54%
π΅ Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Fagersta
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$512COPΒ 1.8M
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
13.43
4.53
196.47%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input β minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Medellin: May 31, 2026
Last update for Fagersta: June 1, 2026
Cost Breakdown
π A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $476 in Medellin and $854 in Fagersta. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
πDining out: $33.00 in Medellin vs $68.0 in Fagersta for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $188 vs $374 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 Fagersta: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Medellin or Fagersta?
Medellin wins on cost β living expenses run 78% lower than in Fagersta. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Medellin the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Medellin vs Fagersta?
You'd need roughly $1,519 in Medellin and $2,710 in Fagersta to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Medellin vs Fagersta?
Rent for a central apartment: $476 in Medellin versus $854 in Fagersta. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Are groceries more expensive in Medellin or Fagersta?
Supermarket bills run roughly 99% higher in Fagersta. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
How do dining costs compare in Medellin vs Fagersta?
Dining out is cheaper in Medellin β a meal for two runs $33.00 versus $68.0 in Fagersta. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Can you live on $1,500/month in Medellin or Fagersta?
At $1,013 in Medellin versus $1,807 in Fagersta, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Medellin but tight or insufficient in Fagersta. 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 Fagersta?
Both work as nomad bases, but Medellin delivers better value β similar infrastructure at $1,013 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 Fagersta?
Safety-wise, Medellin and Fagersta 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 β expenses run 78% less than in Fagersta. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.