🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,031 in Medellin versus $1,802 in Fagersta.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,599 in Medellin versus $2,786 in Fagersta.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,167 in Medellin versus $3,771 in Fagersta.
🌍Living in Medellin costs roughly 43% less than in Fagersta, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Medellin is 23% below, Fagersta is 35% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Fagersta
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.16COP 20.1K
$13.44SEK 130
-54.17%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.60COP 106.1K
$69.1SEK 669
-52.85%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.34COP 23.9K
$10.61SEK 103
-30.82%
Cappuccino
$1.72COP 5,599
$4.49SEK 43.49
-61.69%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.05COP 3,420
$2.71SEK 26.21
-61.25%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.77COP 2,515
$2.43SEK 23.49
-68.31%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.69COP 5,487
$7.31SEK 70.8
-76.88%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.17COP 10.3K
$7.16SEK 69.3
-55.73%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Fagersta
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.05COP 3,423
$1.84SEK 17.77
-42.93%
White Bread(500g)
$1.30COP 4,236
$3.20SEK 30.95
-59.38%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.40COP 4,544
$3.99SEK 38.62
-64.91%
Eggs
$2.16COP 7,046
$3.91SEK 37.81
-44.76%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$4.39COP 14.3K
$13.90SEK 135
-68.42%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.88COP 19.1K
$11.70SEK 113
-49.74%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.64COP 28.1K
$15.92SEK 154
-45.73%
Apples(1kg)
$2.28COP 7,425
$3.54SEK 34.27
-35.59%
Banana(1kg)
$1.11COP 3,603
$2.57SEK 24.84
-56.81%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.53COP 4,982
$1.62SEK 15.69
-5.56%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.35COP 4,410
$5.59SEK 54.1
-75.85%
Potato(1kg)
$1.13COP 3,674
$1.55SEK 15.01
-27.10%
Onion(1kg)
$1.13COP 3,692
$2.06SEK 19.98
-45.15%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.85COP 2,753
$2.78SEK 26.94
-69.42%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.91COP 2,975
$1.69SEK 16.33
-46.15%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.34COP 7,629
$7.19SEK 69.7
-67.45%
Wine(Bottle)
$12.37COP 40.3K
$10.32SEK 99.9
19.86%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.20COP 3,909
$1.73SEK 16.79
-30.64%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.49COP 8,104
$1.90SEK 18.43
31.05%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Fagersta
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.84COP 2,727
$3.47SEK 33.63
-75.79%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$40.57COP 132.1K
$75.1SEK 727
-45.99%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.42COP 4,623
$5.54SEK 53.7
-74.37%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.92COP 6,235
$1.63SEK 15.81
17.79%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.66COP 24.9K
$20.88SEK 202
-63.31%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.99COP 3,223
$2.00SEK 19.36
-50.50%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.0KCOP 58.7M
$33.2KSEK 321.8K
-45.76%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.6KCOP 86.7M
$34.6KSEK 334.8K
-23.01%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Fagersta
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$80.8COP 263.1K
$90.2SEK 873
-10.40%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.95COP 32.4K
$27.87SEK 270
-64.30%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.18COP 78.7K
$36.31SEK 352
-33.41%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Fagersta
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$25.08COP 81.6K
$40.11SEK 388
-37.47%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.15COP 62.3K
$24.85SEK 241
-22.94%
Cinema Ticket
$3.98COP 13.0K
$15.60SEK 151
-74.49%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Fagersta
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$305COP 993.4K
$146SEK 1,411
109.40%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$6,059COP 19.7M
$731SEK 7,080
728.55%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Fagersta
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.1COP 189.2K
$105SEK 1,014
-44.50%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$32.20COP 104.8K
$43.43SEK 421
-25.86%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$101COP 327.9K
$116SEK 1,126
-13.41%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$108COP 350.8K
$157SEK 1,516
-31.19%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Fagersta
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$477COP 1.6M
$841SEK 8,142
-43.33%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$376COP 1.2M
$655SEK 6,337
-42.53%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$845COP 2.7M
$1,420SEK 13.8K
-40.54%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$730COP 2.4M
$1,083SEK 10.5K
-32.56%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,215COP 10.5M
$4,235SEK 41.0K
-24.08%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,372COP 4.5M
$2,858SEK 27.7K
-51.98%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Fagersta
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$617COP 2.0M
-
-
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 12, 2026
Last update for Fagersta: July 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $477 in Medellin and $841 in Fagersta. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $33.00 in Medellin vs $69.0 in Fagersta for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $193 vs $371 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 – living expenses run 75% 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 and in Fagersta?
You'd need roughly $1,546 in Medellin and $2,703 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 compared to Fagersta?
Rent for a central apartment: $477 in Medellin versus $841 in Fagersta. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Are groceries more expensive in Medellin or in Fagersta?
Supermarket bills run roughly 92% higher in Fagersta. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
How do dining costs compare in Medellin and in Fagersta?
Dining out is cheaper in Medellin – a meal for two runs $33.00 versus $69.0 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 in Fagersta?
At $1,031 in Medellin versus $1,802 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 – similar infrastructure at $1,031 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 – expenses run 75% less than in Fagersta. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.