🙂A single person spends $1,641 per month in Medellin vs $1,817 in Haparanda, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $2,447 per month in Medellin vs $2,841 in Haparanda, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $3,253 per month in Medellin vs $3,865 in Haparanda, rent included.
🙂Medellin is about 10% cheaper than Haparanda, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both Medellin and Haparanda sit above the global median – Medellin by 19%, Haparanda by 32%.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Haparanda
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.04COP 24.8K
$12.69SEK 123
-36.64%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$48.29COP 148.6K
$86.4SEK 838
-44.12%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.42COP 29.0K
$9.44SEK 91.5
-0.21%
Cappuccino
$2.94COP 9,040
$4.91SEK 47.63
-40.12%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.86COP 5,735
$2.63SEK 25.48
-29.28%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.46COP 4,479
$2.28SEK 22.14
-35.96%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.21COP 9,882
$8.35SEK 81.0
-61.56%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.71COP 17.6K
$6.67SEK 64.7
-14.39%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Haparanda
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.44COP 4,428
$1.51SEK 14.61
-4.64%
White Bread(500g)
$2.40COP 7,389
$2.96SEK 28.69
-18.92%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.70COP 5,228
$3.83SEK 37.12
-55.61%
Eggs
$2.89COP 8,896
$3.92SEK 38.01
-26.28%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.06COP 30.9K
$11.16SEK 108
-9.86%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.97COP 30.7K
$14.05SEK 136
-29.04%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$14.20COP 43.7K
$20.23SEK 196
-29.81%
Apples(1kg)
$3.98COP 12.3K
$3.15SEK 30.53
26.35%
Banana(1kg)
$1.58COP 4,878
$2.67SEK 25.93
-40.82%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.15COP 6,624
$3.54SEK 34.30
-39.27%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.30COP 7,078
$4.69SEK 45.50
-50.96%
Potato(1kg)
$2.00COP 6,169
$1.60SEK 15.46
25.00%
Onion(1kg)
$1.51COP 4,646
$1.47SEK 14.25
2.72%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.20COP 3,701
$2.12SEK 20.54
-43.40%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.28COP 3,946
$1.66SEK 16.10
-22.89%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.84COP 11.8K
$7.36SEK 71.4
-47.83%
Wine(Bottle)
$14.01COP 43.1K
$9.42SEK 91.3
48.73%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.71COP 5,256
$1.81SEK 17.56
-5.52%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.74COP 8,440
$2.22SEK 21.55
23.42%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Haparanda
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.25COP 3,834
$3.60SEK 34.95
-65.28%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$77.9COP 239.7K
$73.5SEK 712
6.04%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.31COP 4,016
$6.88SEK 66.7
-80.96%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.17COP 6,680
$1.70SEK 16.44
27.65%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$8.29COP 25.5K
$58.6SEK 568
-85.86%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.36COP 4,172
$1.79SEK 17.32
-24.02%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.5KCOP 84.5M
$30.3KSEK 294.0K
-9.41%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$36.5KCOP 112.4M
$38.7KSEK 375.1K
-5.58%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Haparanda
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$169COP 519.2K
$97.3SEK 943
73.47%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.57COP 41.8K
$26.46SEK 256
-48.72%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$28.32COP 87.2K
$34.65SEK 336
-18.27%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Haparanda
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$45.71COP 140.7K
$44.83SEK 435
1.96%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.22COP 53.0K
$24.96SEK 242
-31.01%
Cinema Ticket
$6.65COP 20.5K
$14.77SEK 143
-54.98%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Haparanda
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$803COP 2.5M
$177SEK 1,713
354.64%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$9,190COP 28.3M
$5,740SEK 55.6K
60.10%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Haparanda
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$87.4COP 268.8K
$103SEK 1,000
-15.33%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$59.4COP 182.7K
$37.33SEK 362
59.04%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$139COP 427.5K
$87.8SEK 851
58.21%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$102COP 314.0K
$144SEK 1,393
-28.98%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Haparanda
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,071COP 3.3M
$888SEK 8,610
20.57%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$653COP 2.0M
$588SEK 5,698
11.09%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,925COP 5.9M
$1,191SEK 11.5K
61.58%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,048COP 3.2M
$922SEK 8,937
13.66%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,123COP 12.7M
$3,755SEK 36.4K
9.78%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,697COP 5.2M
$2,483SEK 24.1K
-31.63%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Haparanda
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$655COP 2.0M
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
10.94
3.42
219.88%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Medellin: September 7, 2026
Last update for Haparanda: September 7, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $1,071 in Medellin versus $888 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 $48.00 in Medellin versus $86.0 in Haparanda. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $300 vs $378 – 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 11%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. 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 $2,462 per month in Medellin and $2,725 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 26% 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 $48.00 in Medellin and $86.0 in Haparanda. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Is $2,500 a realistic budget for living in Medellin or in Haparanda?
A $2,500 monthly budget goes further in Medellin, where all-in costs run around $1,641, than in Haparanda at $1,817. 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.