Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Helsingborg Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Helsingborg

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,003 per month in Medellin vs $1,812 in Helsingborg, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,573 per month in Medellin vs $2,764 in Helsingborg, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,143 per month in Medellin vs $3,715 in Helsingborg, rent included.

Medellin is about 45% cheaper than Helsingborg, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Medellin sits 25% below the global median, while Helsingborg is 36% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.91 COP 18.6K

$15.99 SEK 152

-63.04%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.96 COP 103.8K

$73.5 SEK 698

-55.15%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.43 COP 23.4K

$10.64 SEK 101

-30.17%

Cappuccino

$1.65 COP 5,207

$4.76 SEK 45.23

-65.34%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.10 COP 3,468

$2.89 SEK 27.45

-61.94%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.78 COP 2,458

$2.75 SEK 26.16

-71.64%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.72 COP 5,412

$7.60 SEK 72.2

-77.37%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.18 COP 10.0K

$6.29 SEK 59.7

-49.44%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.10 COP 3,474

$1.53 SEK 14.52

-28.10%

White Bread (500g)

$1.26 COP 3,962

$2.46 SEK 23.36

-48.78%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.38 COP 4,349

$2.71 SEK 25.74

-49.08%

Eggs

$2.18 COP 6,858

$4.66 SEK 44.25

-53.22%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.49 COP 14.1K

$10.32 SEK 98.0

-56.49%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.79 COP 18.2K

$11.98 SEK 114

-51.67%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.97 COP 28.2K

$16.48 SEK 157

-45.57%

Apples (1kg)

$2.32 COP 7,308

$2.82 SEK 26.81

-17.73%

Banana (1kg)

$1.06 COP 3,352

$2.82 SEK 26.76

-62.41%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.52 COP 4,774

$3.14 SEK 29.87

-51.59%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.36 COP 4,270

$3.71 SEK 35.26

-63.34%

Potato (1kg)

$1.13 COP 3,552

$1.48 SEK 14.08

-23.65%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 COP 3,689

$1.48 SEK 14.07

-20.95%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.90 COP 2,838

$1.97 SEK 18.73

-54.31%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.90 COP 2,823

$1.71 SEK 16.25

-47.37%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.23 COP 7,034

$7.43 SEK 70.6

-69.99%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.12 COP 38.2K

$9.56 SEK 90.8

26.78%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.19 COP 3,743

$2.40 SEK 22.83

-50.42%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.48 COP 7,815

$1.65 SEK 15.69

50.30%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.85 COP 2,687

$3.25 SEK 30.88

-73.85%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.62 COP 131.0K

$65.1 SEK 618

-36.05%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.42 COP 4,459

$3.19 SEK 30.30

-55.49%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.95 COP 6,141

$1.61 SEK 15.28

21.12%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.89 COP 24.8K

$19.68 SEK 187

-59.91%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.99 COP 3,118

$1.95 SEK 18.48

-49.23%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$17.6K COP 55.4M

$32.5K SEK 308.5K

-45.80%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$26.8K COP 84.4M

$33.7K SEK 319.9K

-20.42%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$83.0 COP 261.4K

$118 SEK 1,117

-29.41%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$9.70 COP 30.5K

$28.76 SEK 273

-66.27%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$23.52 COP 74.1K

$36.40 SEK 346

-35.38%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.26 COP 79.5K

$39.53 SEK 376

-36.10%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.10 COP 60.1K

$22.10 SEK 210

-13.57%

Cinema Ticket

$3.95 COP 12.4K

$21.41 SEK 203

-81.55%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$316 COP 994.2K

$145 SEK 1,376

118.07%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,975 COP 18.8M

$4,127 SEK 39.2K

44.79%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$60.0 COP 188.9K

$84.1 SEK 799

-28.64%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$31.82 COP 100.2K

$43.79 SEK 416

-27.34%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$102 COP 320.1K

$86.5 SEK 822

17.55%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$107 COP 338.3K

$112 SEK 1,066

-4.24%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$475 COP 1.5M

$836 SEK 7,938

-43.16%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$374 COP 1.2M

$661 SEK 6,275

-43.39%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$849 COP 2.7M

$1,341 SEK 12.7K

-36.67%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$719 COP 2.3M

$1,135 SEK 10.8K

-36.59%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,265 COP 10.3M

$3,150 SEK 29.9K

3.66%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,441 COP 4.5M

$2,351 SEK 22.3K

-38.72%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$624 COP 2.0M

$2,952 SEK 28.0K

-78.85%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.43

4.66

188.20%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Medellin: July 27, 2026

Last update for Helsingborg: July 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $475 in Medellin versus $836 in Helsingborg. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 373% higher in Helsingborg, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $33.00 in Medellin versus $73.0 in Helsingborg. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $193 vs $342 – 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 Helsingborg: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $1,003 in Medellin, $1,812 in Helsingborg – roughly 81% apart. Helsingborg costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,504 per month in Medellin and $2,718 in Helsingborg. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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.

Public transport costs about 56% less in Medellin. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $316 per month in Medellin and $145 in Helsingborg. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Medellin, where all-in costs run around $1,003, than in Helsingborg at $1,812. In Medellin it covers expenses comfortably, while in Helsingborg it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Medellin has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,003 in Medellin to $1,812 in Helsingborg. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

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.

If budget matters most, go with Medellin. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Helsingborg makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.