Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and HΓ€rnΓΆsand Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and HΓ€rnΓΆsand

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,017 per month in Medellin vs $1,805 in HΓ€rnΓΆsand, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,602 per month in Medellin vs $2,811 in HΓ€rnΓΆsand, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,188 per month in Medellin vs $3,817 in HΓ€rnΓΆsand, rent included.

Medellin is about 44% cheaper than HΓ€rnΓΆsand, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Medellin sits 24% below the global median, while HΓ€rnΓΆsand is 34% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
HΓ€rnΓΆsand
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.95 COPΒ 20.8K
$13.37 SEKΒ 125
-55.50%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$33.33 COPΒ 116.3K
$74.8 SEKΒ 702
-55.44%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.23 COPΒ 25.2K
$10.43 SEKΒ 97.8
-30.68%
Cappuccino
$1.63 COPΒ 5,687
$4.54 SEKΒ 42.58
-64.10%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.09 COPΒ 3,821
$2.74 SEKΒ 25.73
-60.22%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.73 COPΒ 2,548
$2.37 SEKΒ 22.22
-69.20%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.74 COPΒ 6,065
$7.67 SEKΒ 71.9
-77.31%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.23 COPΒ 11.3K
$7.51 SEKΒ 70.4
-56.99%
πŸ›’ Groceries & Markets
Medellin
HΓ€rnΓΆsand
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.05 COPΒ 3,662
$1.67 SEKΒ 15.63
-37.13%
White Bread (500g)
$1.29 COPΒ 4,515
$2.75 SEKΒ 25.84
-53.09%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.32 COPΒ 4,617
$3.93 SEKΒ 36.88
-66.41%
Eggs
$2.27 COPΒ 7,927
$4.21 SEKΒ 39.53
-46.08%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$4.35 COPΒ 15.2K
$12.07 SEKΒ 113
-63.96%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.88 COPΒ 20.5K
$11.92 SEKΒ 112
-50.67%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$8.61 COPΒ 30.0K
$17.31 SEKΒ 162
-50.26%
Apples (1kg)
$2.25 COPΒ 7,844
$3.07 SEKΒ 28.82
-26.71%
Banana (1kg)
$1.07 COPΒ 3,733
$2.67 SEKΒ 25.04
-59.93%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.52 COPΒ 5,322
$3.03 SEKΒ 28.46
-49.83%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.42 COPΒ 4,964
$4.31 SEKΒ 40.41
-67.05%
Potato (1kg)
$1.17 COPΒ 4,084
$1.62 SEKΒ 15.23
-27.78%
Onion (1kg)
$1.17 COPΒ 4,077
$1.86 SEKΒ 17.45
-37.10%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.89 COPΒ 3,096
$2.59 SEKΒ 24.26
-65.64%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.90 COPΒ 3,146
$1.51 SEKΒ 14.21
-40.40%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.25 COPΒ 7,837
$7.30 SEKΒ 68.4
-69.18%
Wine (Bottle)
$11.04 COPΒ 38.5K
$10.92 SEKΒ 102
1.10%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.14 COPΒ 3,977
$1.98 SEKΒ 18.59
-42.42%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.38 COPΒ 8,301
$1.96 SEKΒ 18.40
21.43%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
HΓ€rnΓΆsand
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.84 COPΒ 2,916
$3.37 SEKΒ 31.58
-75.07%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$41.95 COPΒ 146.4K
$73.4 SEKΒ 689
-42.86%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.41 COPΒ 4,912
$6.45 SEKΒ 60.5
-78.14%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.90 COPΒ 6,634
$1.64 SEKΒ 15.35
15.85%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.75 COPΒ 27.0K
$62.1 SEKΒ 583
-87.53%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.01 COPΒ 3,509
$1.90 SEKΒ 17.86
-46.84%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$17.6K COPΒ 61.4M
$32.3K SEKΒ 302.9K
-45.55%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.5K COPΒ 92.5M
$33.9K SEKΒ 317.9K
-21.83%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
HΓ€rnΓΆsand
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$83.7 COPΒ 292.1K
$113 SEKΒ 1,059
-25.87%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.45 COPΒ 33.0K
$28.99 SEKΒ 272
-67.40%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.11 COPΒ 84.1K
$35.90 SEKΒ 337
-32.84%
πŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
HΓ€rnΓΆsand
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$25.31 COPΒ 88.3K
$41.22 SEKΒ 387
-38.60%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.14 COPΒ 66.8K
$25.69 SEKΒ 241
-25.50%
Cinema Ticket
$4.10 COPΒ 14.3K
$15.73 SEKΒ 148
-73.94%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
HΓ€rnΓΆsand
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$312 COPΒ 1.1M
$149 SEKΒ 1,394
109.88%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,993 COPΒ 20.9M
$4,205 SEKΒ 39.4K
42.51%
πŸ‘•πŸ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
HΓ€rnΓΆsand
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.0 COPΒ 202.6K
$95.9 SEKΒ 900
-39.48%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$32.56 COPΒ 113.6K
$41.38 SEKΒ 388
-21.31%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$99.6 COPΒ 347.7K
$96.6 SEKΒ 906
3.12%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$109 COPΒ 378.8K
$151 SEKΒ 1,419
-28.24%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
HΓ€rnΓΆsand
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$482 COPΒ 1.7M
$836 SEKΒ 7,844
-42.32%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$379 COPΒ 1.3M
$643 SEKΒ 6,028
-40.95%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$837 COPΒ 2.9M
$1,382 SEKΒ 13.0K
-39.39%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$723 COPΒ 2.5M
$1,097 SEKΒ 10.3K
-34.08%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,840 COPΒ 9.9M
$3,813 SEKΒ 35.8K
-25.52%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,223 COPΒ 4.3M
$2,804 SEKΒ 26.3K
-56.38%
πŸ’΅ Salaries & Financials
Medellin
HΓ€rnΓΆsand
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$541 COPΒ 1.9M
-
-
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: June 8, 2026

Last update for HΓ€rnΓΆsand: June 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $482 in Medellin versus $836 in HΓ€rnΓΆsand. 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 $75.0 in HΓ€rnΓΆsand. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $190 vs $362 – 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 HΓ€rnΓΆsand: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Medellin or HΓ€rnΓΆsand?
HΓ€rnΓΆsand costs about 78% more than Medellin, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Medellin vs HΓ€rnΓΆsand?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,525 per month in Medellin and $2,707 in HΓ€rnΓΆsand. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Medellin or HΓ€rnΓΆsand?
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 much does it cost to live in Medellin compared to HΓ€rnΓΆsand?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,017 in Medellin and $1,805 in HΓ€rnΓΆsand. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
How expensive is transport in Medellin vs HΓ€rnΓΆsand?
Public transport costs about 75% less in Medellin. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Can you live on $1,500/month in Medellin or HΓ€rnΓΆsand?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Medellin, where all-in costs run around $1,017, than in HΓ€rnΓΆsand at $1,805. In Medellin it covers expenses comfortably, while in HΓ€rnΓΆsand it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Medellin or HΓ€rnΓΆsand?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Medellin costs $1,017 versus $1,805 in HΓ€rnΓΆsand. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Medellin compared to HΓ€rnΓΆsand?
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.
Should I move to Medellin or HΓ€rnΓΆsand?
If budget matters most, go with Medellin. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, HΓ€rnΓΆsand makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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