Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Kalmar Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Kalmar

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,013 per month in Medellin vs $1,862 in Kalmar, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,602 per month in Medellin vs $2,801 in Kalmar, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,192 per month in Medellin vs $3,740 in Kalmar, rent included.

Medellin is about 46% cheaper than Kalmar, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Medellin sits 24% below the global median, while Kalmar is 39% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.99 COP 21.4K

$16.05 SEK 150

-62.68%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.86 COP 117.4K

$74.3 SEK 693

-55.76%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.09 COP 25.3K

$10.56 SEK 98.6

-32.86%

Cappuccino

$1.71 COP 6,115

$4.56 SEK 42.55

-62.50%

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

$1.10 COP 3,924

$2.89 SEK 26.97

-61.94%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.78 COP 2,781

$2.66 SEK 24.85

-70.68%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.68 COP 5,997

$9.71 SEK 90.6

-82.70%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.07 COP 11.0K

$7.43 SEK 69.3

-58.68%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.09 COP 3,906

$1.48 SEK 13.77

-26.35%

White Bread (500g)

$1.26 COP 4,508

$2.39 SEK 22.28

-47.28%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.38 COP 4,922

$2.58 SEK 24.05

-46.51%

Eggs

$2.19 COP 7,827

$4.88 SEK 45.52

-55.12%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.40 COP 15.7K

$10.36 SEK 96.7

-57.53%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.63 COP 20.1K

$11.73 SEK 109

-52.00%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.89 COP 31.8K

$16.15 SEK 151

-44.95%

Apples (1kg)

$2.34 COP 8,349

$2.62 SEK 24.42

-10.69%

Banana (1kg)

$1.06 COP 3,777

$2.79 SEK 26.03

-62.01%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.50 COP 5,374

$3.12 SEK 29.16

-51.92%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.38 COP 4,924

$3.70 SEK 34.51

-62.70%

Potato (1kg)

$1.15 COP 4,111

$1.43 SEK 13.33

-19.58%

Onion (1kg)

$1.16 COP 4,155

$2.34 SEK 21.87

-50.43%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.89 COP 3,182

$2.06 SEK 19.19

-56.80%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.84 COP 2,997

$1.66 SEK 15.44

-49.40%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.28 COP 8,145

$7.30 SEK 68.1

-68.77%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.64 COP 38.0K

$9.90 SEK 92.4

7.47%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.20 COP 4,284

$2.11 SEK 19.71

-43.13%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.47 COP 8,824

$1.66 SEK 15.48

48.80%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.86 COP 3,056

$2.83 SEK 26.39

-69.61%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.40 COP 147.9K

$86.2 SEK 804

-51.96%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.47 COP 5,264

$7.25 SEK 67.6

-79.72%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.96 COP 7,009

$1.56 SEK 14.53

25.64%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.74 COP 27.6K

$52.6 SEK 491

-85.30%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.95 COP 3,409

$1.95 SEK 18.19

-51.28%

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

$18.1K COP 64.7M

$27.5K SEK 256.4K

-34.01%

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

$26.5K COP 94.6M

$28.1K SEK 262.2K

-5.76%

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

$82.3 COP 293.7K

$118 SEK 1,104

-30.50%

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

$9.50 COP 33.9K

$28.08 SEK 262

-66.17%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.23 COP 86.5K

$30.58 SEK 285

-20.77%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.89 COP 92.4K

$29.43 SEK 275

-12.03%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.00 COP 67.9K

$15.57 SEK 145

22.03%

Cinema Ticket

$3.93 COP 14.0K

$14.22 SEK 133

-72.36%

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

$309 COP 1.1M

$145 SEK 1,357

112.77%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,965 COP 21.3M

$4,155 SEK 38.8K

43.57%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.7 COP 209.5K

$63.8 SEK 595

-7.98%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$32.35 COP 115.5K

$20.69 SEK 193

56.36%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$103 COP 366.4K

$60.0 SEK 560

71.09%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$108 COP 387.2K

$77.4 SEK 723

40.04%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$476 COP 1.7M

$939 SEK 8,760

-49.28%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$379 COP 1.4M

$795 SEK 7,421

-52.37%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$838 COP 3.0M

$1,389 SEK 13.0K

-39.65%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$724 COP 2.6M

$1,183 SEK 11.0K

-38.82%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,791 COP 10.0M

$4,304 SEK 40.2K

-35.17%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,211 COP 4.3M

$2,931 SEK 27.4K

-58.68%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$512 COP 1.8M

$3,061 SEK 28.6K

-83.28%

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: May 31, 2026

Last update for Kalmar: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $476 in Medellin versus $939 in Kalmar. 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 498% higher in Kalmar, 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 $74.0 in Kalmar. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $188 vs $338 – 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 Kalmar: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $1,013 in Medellin, $1,862 in Kalmar – roughly 84% apart. Kalmar costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,519 per month in Medellin and $2,793 in Kalmar. 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.

Kindergarten costs $309 per month in Medellin and $145 in Kalmar. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 79% more in Kalmar, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Medellin, where all-in costs run around $1,013, than in Kalmar at $1,862. In Medellin it covers expenses comfortably, while in Kalmar 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 $1,013 in Medellin to $1,862 in Kalmar. 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, Kalmar makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.