Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Karlskrona Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Karlskrona

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,031 per month in Medellin vs $1,727 in Karlskrona, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,599 per month in Medellin vs $2,601 in Karlskrona, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,167 per month in Medellin vs $3,475 in Karlskrona, rent included.

Medellin is about 40% cheaper than Karlskrona, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Medellin sits 23% below the global median, while Karlskrona is 29% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.16 COP 20.1K

$13.17 SEK 127

-53.23%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.60 COP 106.1K

$67.5 SEK 653

-51.68%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.34 COP 23.9K

$9.28 SEK 89.9

-20.91%

Cappuccino

$1.72 COP 5,599

$3.94 SEK 38.16

-56.35%

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

$1.05 COP 3,420

$1.45 SEK 14.06

-27.59%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.77 COP 2,515

$2.51 SEK 24.33

-69.32%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.69 COP 5,487

$7.47 SEK 72.3

-77.38%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.17 COP 10.3K

$5.38 SEK 52.1

-41.08%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.05 COP 3,423

$1.52 SEK 14.69

-30.92%

White Bread (500g)

$1.30 COP 4,236

$2.82 SEK 27.28

-53.90%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.40 COP 4,544

$4.00 SEK 38.69

-65.00%

Eggs

$2.16 COP 7,046

$3.94 SEK 38.11

-45.18%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.39 COP 14.3K

$11.60 SEK 112

-62.16%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.88 COP 19.1K

$11.68 SEK 113

-49.66%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.64 COP 28.1K

$15.98 SEK 155

-45.93%

Apples (1kg)

$2.28 COP 7,425

$3.11 SEK 30.08

-26.69%

Banana (1kg)

$1.11 COP 3,603

$2.53 SEK 24.50

-56.13%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.53 COP 4,982

$3.04 SEK 29.41

-49.67%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.35 COP 4,410

$4.68 SEK 45.31

-71.15%

Potato (1kg)

$1.13 COP 3,674

$1.50 SEK 14.50

-24.67%

Onion (1kg)

$1.13 COP 3,692

$1.56 SEK 15.09

-27.56%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.85 COP 2,753

$2.21 SEK 21.37

-61.54%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.91 COP 2,975

$1.47 SEK 14.20

-38.10%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.34 COP 7,629

$7.16 SEK 69.3

-67.32%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.37 COP 40.3K

$12.85 SEK 124

-3.74%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.20 COP 3,909

$2.02 SEK 19.58

-40.59%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.49 COP 8,104

$1.79 SEK 17.32

39.11%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.84 COP 2,727

$2.93 SEK 28.39

-71.33%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$40.57 COP 132.1K

$65.2 SEK 631

-37.80%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.42 COP 4,623

$14.39 SEK 139

-90.13%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.92 COP 6,235

$1.59 SEK 15.38

20.75%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.66 COP 24.9K

$21.13 SEK 205

-63.75%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.99 COP 3,223

$1.94 SEK 18.77

-48.97%

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

$18.0K COP 58.7M

$33.0K SEK 319.7K

-45.40%

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

$26.6K COP 86.7M

$34.5K SEK 333.9K

-22.80%

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

$80.8 COP 263.1K

$53.1 SEK 514

52.13%

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

$9.95 COP 32.4K

$28.35 SEK 274

-64.90%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.18 COP 78.7K

$37.07 SEK 359

-34.77%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.08 COP 81.6K

$44.47 SEK 431

-43.60%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.15 COP 62.3K

$24.19 SEK 234

-20.84%

Cinema Ticket

$3.98 COP 13.0K

$17.06 SEK 165

-76.67%

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

$305 COP 993.4K

$142 SEK 1,377

114.57%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,059 COP 19.7M

$745 SEK 7,216

712.88%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.1 COP 189.2K

$104 SEK 1,003

-43.91%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$32.20 COP 104.8K

$21.05 SEK 204

52.97%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$101 COP 327.9K

$83.5 SEK 809

20.59%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$108 COP 350.8K

$155 SEK 1,500

-30.46%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$477 COP 1.6M

$705 SEK 6,824

-32.38%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$376 COP 1.2M

$692 SEK 6,699

-45.64%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$845 COP 2.7M

$1,146 SEK 11.1K

-26.29%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$730 COP 2.4M

$998 SEK 9,663

-26.82%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,215 COP 10.5M

$3,021 SEK 29.2K

6.45%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,372 COP 4.5M

$2,550 SEK 24.7K

-46.19%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$617 COP 2.0M

$2,501 SEK 24.2K

-75.34%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.43

4.7

185.74%

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

Last update for Medellin: July 12, 2026

Last update for Karlskrona: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $477 in Medellin versus $705 in Karlskrona. 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 306% higher in Karlskrona, 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 $67.0 in Karlskrona. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $193 vs $356 – 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 Karlskrona: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Karlskrona is pricier by about 68%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,546 per month in Medellin and $2,591 in Karlskrona. 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.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $33.00 in Medellin and $67.0 in Karlskrona. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,031 in Medellin and $1,727 in Karlskrona. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Medellin, where all-in costs run around $1,031, than in Karlskrona at $1,727. In Medellin it covers expenses comfortably, while in Karlskrona it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

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.

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, Karlskrona makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.