Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Haparanda Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Haparanda

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,003 per month in Medellin vs $1,844 in Haparanda, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,573 per month in Medellin vs $2,788 in Haparanda, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,143 per month in Medellin vs $3,733 in Haparanda, rent included.

Medellin is about 46% cheaper than Haparanda, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Medellin sits 25% below the global median, while Haparanda is 39% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Haparanda
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.91 COP 18.9K
$13.50 SEK 130
-56.22%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.96 COP 105.2K
$73.8 SEK 711
-55.32%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.43 COP 23.7K
$10.45 SEK 101
-28.90%
Cappuccino
$1.65 COP 5,276
$4.68 SEK 45.10
-64.74%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.10 COP 3,514
$2.79 SEK 26.89
-60.57%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.78 COP 2,491
$2.46 SEK 23.68
-68.29%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.72 COP 5,484
$7.89 SEK 76.0
-78.20%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.18 COP 10.1K
$7.21 SEK 69.5
-55.89%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Haparanda
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.10 COP 3,521
$1.59 SEK 15.37
-30.82%
White Bread (500g)
$1.26 COP 4,015
$2.84 SEK 27.38
-55.63%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.38 COP 4,407
$3.89 SEK 37.54
-64.52%
Eggs
$2.18 COP 6,950
$4.25 SEK 40.95
-48.71%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$4.49 COP 14.3K
$11.93 SEK 115
-62.36%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.79 COP 18.5K
$11.58 SEK 112
-50.00%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$8.97 COP 28.6K
$17.24 SEK 166
-47.97%
Apples (1kg)
$2.32 COP 7,405
$3.16 SEK 30.45
-26.58%
Banana (1kg)
$1.06 COP 3,397
$2.58 SEK 24.86
-58.91%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.52 COP 4,838
$3.13 SEK 30.20
-51.44%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.36 COP 4,327
$4.50 SEK 43.43
-69.78%
Potato (1kg)
$1.13 COP 3,599
$1.56 SEK 14.99
-27.56%
Onion (1kg)
$1.17 COP 3,738
$1.79 SEK 17.22
-34.64%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.90 COP 2,876
$2.61 SEK 25.14
-65.52%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.90 COP 2,861
$1.51 SEK 14.58
-40.40%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.23 COP 7,128
$7.26 SEK 70.0
-69.28%
Wine (Bottle)
$12.12 COP 38.7K
$10.31 SEK 99.4
17.56%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.19 COP 3,793
$1.96 SEK 18.91
-39.29%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.48 COP 7,920
$1.99 SEK 19.16
24.62%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Haparanda
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.85 COP 2,723
$3.41 SEK 32.84
-75.07%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$41.62 COP 132.8K
$73.9 SEK 712
-43.68%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.42 COP 4,518
$6.21 SEK 59.9
-77.13%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.95 COP 6,223
$1.65 SEK 15.95
18.18%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.89 COP 25.2K
$60.9 SEK 587
-87.04%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.99 COP 3,160
$1.96 SEK 18.94
-49.49%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$17.6K COP 56.2M
$32.7K SEK 315.7K
-46.25%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.8K COP 85.5M
$34.3K SEK 330.8K
-21.89%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Haparanda
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$83.0 COP 264.9K
$115 SEK 1,108
-27.74%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.70 COP 30.9K
$28.24 SEK 272
-65.65%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$23.52 COP 75.0K
$36.98 SEK 356
-36.40%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Haparanda
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$25.26 COP 80.6K
$40.78 SEK 393
-38.06%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.10 COP 60.9K
$25.33 SEK 244
-24.60%
Cinema Ticket
$3.95 COP 12.6K
$15.84 SEK 153
-75.06%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Haparanda
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$316 COP 1.0M
$145 SEK 1,395
118.27%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,975 COP 19.1M
$4,081 SEK 39.3K
46.42%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Haparanda
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$60.0 COP 191.4K
$95.5 SEK 921
-37.18%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$31.82 COP 101.5K
$40.35 SEK 389
-21.14%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$102 COP 324.4K
$97.6 SEK 941
4.13%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$107 COP 342.8K
$148 SEK 1,428
-27.47%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Haparanda
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$475 COP 1.5M
$846 SEK 8,154
-43.84%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$374 COP 1.2M
$654 SEK 6,302
-42.79%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$849 COP 2.7M
$1,377 SEK 13.3K
-38.34%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$719 COP 2.3M
$1,067 SEK 10.3K
-32.55%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,265 COP 10.4M
$4,713 SEK 45.4K
-30.71%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,441 COP 4.6M
$2,776 SEK 26.8K
-48.11%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Haparanda
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$624 COP 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 27, 2026

Last update for Haparanda: July 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $475 in Medellin versus $846 in Haparanda. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $33.00 in Medellin versus $74.0 in Haparanda. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $193 vs $360 – making Medellin the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 Haparanda: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Haparanda cheaper than Medellin?
Yes – Haparanda is pricier by about 84%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,504 per month in Medellin and $2,766 in Haparanda. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Medellin, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How do food prices compare in Medellin and in Haparanda?
Groceries cost about 86% more in Haparanda, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Is eating out cheaper in Medellin or in Haparanda?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $33.00 in Medellin and $74.0 in Haparanda. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Medellin or in Haparanda?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Medellin, where all-in costs run around $1,003, than in Haparanda at $1,844. In Medellin it covers expenses comfortably, while in Haparanda it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Medellin or Haparanda more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Medellin – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Medellin or Haparanda?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Medellin. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Haparanda makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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