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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,013 per month in Medellin vs $1,768 in Karlskrona, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,602 per month in Medellin vs $2,652 in Karlskrona, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,192 per month in Medellin vs $3,535 in Karlskrona, rent included.

Medellin is about 43% cheaper than Karlskrona, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Medellin sits 24% below the global median, while Karlskrona is 32% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.99 COP 21.4K

$13.32 SEK 125

-55.03%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.86 COP 117.2K

$69.1 SEK 649

-52.46%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.09 COP 25.3K

$9.22 SEK 86.6

-23.10%

Cappuccino

$1.71 COP 6,105

$3.98 SEK 37.40

-57.04%

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

$1.10 COP 3,918

$1.45 SEK 13.57

-24.14%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.78 COP 2,776

$2.51 SEK 23.60

-68.92%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.68 COP 5,987

$7.21 SEK 67.8

-76.70%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.07 COP 10.9K

$5.33 SEK 50.1

-42.40%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.09 COP 3,899

$1.60 SEK 14.98

-31.87%

White Bread (500g)

$1.26 COP 4,500

$2.84 SEK 26.63

-55.63%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.38 COP 4,914

$3.84 SEK 36.04

-64.06%

Eggs

$2.19 COP 7,813

$4.07 SEK 38.27

-46.19%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.40 COP 15.7K

$11.49 SEK 108

-61.71%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.63 COP 20.1K

$11.95 SEK 112

-52.89%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.89 COP 31.7K

$15.94 SEK 150

-44.23%

Apples (1kg)

$2.34 COP 8,334

$3.23 SEK 30.33

-27.55%

Banana (1kg)

$1.06 COP 3,771

$2.43 SEK 22.84

-56.38%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.50 COP 5,365

$3.21 SEK 30.16

-53.27%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.38 COP 4,915

$4.64 SEK 43.60

-70.26%

Potato (1kg)

$1.15 COP 4,104

$1.51 SEK 14.16

-23.84%

Onion (1kg)

$1.16 COP 4,148

$1.60 SEK 14.98

-27.50%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.89 COP 3,176

$2.22 SEK 20.83

-59.91%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.84 COP 2,992

$1.45 SEK 13.57

-42.07%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.28 COP 8,131

$7.48 SEK 70.2

-69.52%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.64 COP 37.9K

$13.48 SEK 127

-21.07%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.20 COP 4,276

$2.10 SEK 19.72

-42.86%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.47 COP 8,809

$1.77 SEK 16.66

39.55%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.86 COP 3,051

$3.03 SEK 28.43

-71.62%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.40 COP 147.6K

$65.2 SEK 612

-36.46%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.47 COP 5,255

$14.57 SEK 137

-89.91%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.96 COP 6,997

$1.66 SEK 15.57

18.07%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.74 COP 27.6K

$21.00 SEK 197

-63.14%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.95 COP 3,403

$1.87 SEK 17.60

-49.20%

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

$18.1K COP 64.6M

$33.1K SEK 310.6K

-45.17%

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

$26.5K COP 94.4M

$34.1K SEK 319.8K

-22.22%

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

$82.3 COP 293.2K

$53.3 SEK 500

54.40%

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

$9.50 COP 33.9K

$28.37 SEK 266

-66.51%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.23 COP 86.4K

$36.87 SEK 346

-34.28%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.89 COP 92.3K

$43.31 SEK 407

-40.22%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.00 COP 67.7K

$24.03 SEK 226

-20.93%

Cinema Ticket

$3.93 COP 14.0K

$17.05 SEK 160

-76.95%

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

$309 COP 1.1M

$146 SEK 1,367

112.59%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,965 COP 21.3M

$753 SEK 7,072

692.25%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.7 COP 209.1K

$104 SEK 974

-43.41%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$32.35 COP 115.3K

$20.86 SEK 196

55.08%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$103 COP 365.7K

$85.2 SEK 800

20.39%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$108 COP 386.5K

$154 SEK 1,443

-29.44%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$476 COP 1.7M

$716 SEK 6,723

-33.47%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$379 COP 1.4M

$690 SEK 6,478

-45.08%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$838 COP 3.0M

$1,149 SEK 10.8K

-27.05%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$724 COP 2.6M

$1,002 SEK 9,410

-27.75%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,791 COP 9.9M

$3,141 SEK 29.5K

-11.16%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,211 COP 4.3M

$2,664 SEK 25.0K

-54.53%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$512 COP 1.8M

$2,640 SEK 24.8K

-80.62%

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: May 31, 2026

Last update for Karlskrona: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $476 in Medellin versus $716 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 416% 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 $69.0 in Karlskrona. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $188 vs $360 – 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 75%, 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 $1,519 per month in Medellin and $2,652 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 $69.0 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 $1,013 in Medellin and $1,768 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 $1,013, than in Karlskrona at $1,768. 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.