🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,031 in Medellin versus $1,780 in Jonkoping.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,599 in Medellin versus $2,895 in Jonkoping.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,167 in Medellin versus $4,010 in Jonkoping.
🌍Living in Medellin costs roughly 42% less than in Jonkoping, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Medellin is 23% below, Jonkoping is 33% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Jonkoping
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.16COP 20.1K
$12.63SEK 122
-51.23%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.60COP 106.1K
$86.5SEK 838
-62.33%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.34COP 23.9K
$11.77SEK 114
-37.64%
Cappuccino
$1.72COP 5,599
$4.85SEK 47.00
-64.54%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.05COP 3,420
$1.90SEK 18.38
-44.74%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.77COP 2,515
$2.10SEK 20.30
-63.33%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.69COP 5,487
$8.05SEK 77.9
-79.01%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.17COP 10.3K
$7.50SEK 72.6
-57.73%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Jonkoping
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.05COP 3,423
$1.61SEK 15.56
-34.78%
White Bread(500g)
$1.30COP 4,236
$2.15SEK 20.78
-39.53%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.40COP 4,544
$2.96SEK 28.61
-52.70%
Eggs
$2.16COP 7,046
$3.95SEK 38.23
-45.32%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$4.39COP 14.3K
$13.10SEK 127
-66.49%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.88COP 19.1K
$11.37SEK 110
-48.28%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.64COP 28.1K
$17.22SEK 167
-49.83%
Apples(1kg)
$2.28COP 7,425
$3.30SEK 31.91
-30.91%
Banana(1kg)
$1.11COP 3,603
$2.56SEK 24.83
-56.64%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.53COP 4,982
$2.78SEK 26.90
-44.96%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.35COP 4,410
$4.37SEK 42.32
-69.11%
Potato(1kg)
$1.13COP 3,674
$1.67SEK 16.19
-32.34%
Onion(1kg)
$1.13COP 3,692
$1.63SEK 15.78
-30.67%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.85COP 2,753
$1.99SEK 19.25
-57.29%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.91COP 2,975
$1.28SEK 12.38
-28.91%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.34COP 7,629
$7.41SEK 71.8
-68.42%
Wine(Bottle)
$12.37COP 40.3K
$11.38SEK 110
8.70%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.20COP 3,909
$1.88SEK 18.23
-36.17%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.49COP 8,104
$2.24SEK 21.72
11.16%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Jonkoping
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.84COP 2,727
$4.27SEK 41.38
-80.33%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$40.57COP 132.1K
$80.3SEK 778
-49.49%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.42COP 4,623
$5.59SEK 54.1
-74.60%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.92COP 6,235
$0.89SEK 8.64
115.73%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.66COP 24.9K
$78.4SEK 759
-90.22%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.99COP 3,223
$1.91SEK 18.53
-48.17%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.0KCOP 58.7M
$24.8KSEK 239.7K
-27.18%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.6KCOP 86.7M
$33.1KSEK 320.4K
-19.54%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Jonkoping
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$80.8COP 263.1K
$119SEK 1,153
-32.13%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.95COP 32.4K
$29.28SEK 284
-66.02%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.18COP 78.7K
$40.22SEK 389
-39.88%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Jonkoping
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$25.08COP 81.6K
$43.01SEK 416
-41.69%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.15COP 62.3K
$26.68SEK 258
-28.22%
Cinema Ticket
$3.98COP 13.0K
$16.75SEK 162
-76.24%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Jonkoping
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$305COP 993.4K
$151SEK 1,457
102.75%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$6,059COP 19.7M
$4,190SEK 40.6K
44.60%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Jonkoping
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.1COP 189.2K
$81.7SEK 791
-28.85%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$32.20COP 104.8K
$34.67SEK 336
-7.12%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$101COP 327.9K
$104SEK 1,011
-3.57%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$108COP 350.8K
$129SEK 1,247
-16.36%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Jonkoping
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$477COP 1.6M
$846SEK 8,193
-43.68%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$376COP 1.2M
$675SEK 6,535
-44.27%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$845COP 2.7M
$1,439SEK 13.9K
-41.31%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$730COP 2.4M
$1,234SEK 12.0K
-40.83%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,215COP 10.5M
$3,381SEK 32.7K
-4.90%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,372COP 4.5M
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Jonkoping
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$617COP 2.0M
$2,876SEK 27.8K
-78.55%
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 Jonkoping: July 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $477 in Medellin and $846 in Jonkoping. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Jonkoping pays 366% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
🛒Dining out: $33.00 in Medellin vs $87.0 in Jonkoping for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $193 vs $346 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 Jonkoping: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Jonkoping cheaper than Medellin?
Medellin is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Eating Out, Getting Around, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 73% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Medellin or Jonkoping?
On paper, salaries run 366% lower in Jonkoping. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
What is the rent difference between Medellin and Jonkoping?
Rent for a central apartment: $477 in Medellin versus $846 in Jonkoping. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $305 in Medellin versus $151 in Jonkoping. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
How do food prices compare in Medellin and in Jonkoping?
Supermarket bills run roughly 79% higher in Jonkoping. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Medellin or in Jonkoping?
At $1,031 in Medellin versus $1,780 in Jonkoping, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Medellin but tight or insufficient in Jonkoping. The gap between the two cities makes Medellin the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Medellin or Jonkoping more family-friendly?
For families, Medellin is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Jonkoping, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Medellin or Jonkoping?
Safety-wise, Medellin and Jonkoping 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 easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Medellin gentler on the wallet – expenses run 73% less than in Jonkoping. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.