Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Kiruna Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Kiruna

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,003 per month in Medellin vs $1,923 in Kiruna, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,573 per month in Medellin vs $3,123 in Kiruna, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,143 per month in Medellin vs $4,323 in Kiruna, rent included.

Medellin is about 48% cheaper than Kiruna, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Medellin sits 25% below the global median, while Kiruna is 45% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.91 COP 18.9K

$12.50 SEK 121

-52.72%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.96 COP 105.2K

$94.2 SEK 909

-65.03%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.43 COP 23.7K

$11.90 SEK 115

-37.56%

Cappuccino

$1.65 COP 5,276

$4.82 SEK 46.44

-65.77%

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

$1.10 COP 3,514

$2.14 SEK 20.67

-48.60%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.78 COP 2,491

$1.06 SEK 10.23

-26.42%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.72 COP 5,484

$8.49 SEK 81.8

-79.74%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.18 COP 10.1K

$6.95 SEK 67.0

-54.24%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.10 COP 3,521

$1.93 SEK 18.64

-43.01%

White Bread (500g)

$1.26 COP 4,015

$3.43 SEK 33.02

-63.27%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.38 COP 4,407

$5.03 SEK 48.51

-72.56%

Eggs

$2.18 COP 6,950

$4.76 SEK 45.92

-54.20%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.49 COP 14.3K

$12.74 SEK 123

-64.76%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.79 COP 18.5K

$14.17 SEK 137

-59.14%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.97 COP 28.6K

$27.29 SEK 263

-67.13%

Apples (1kg)

$2.32 COP 7,405

$2.63 SEK 25.32

-11.79%

Banana (1kg)

$1.06 COP 3,397

$2.83 SEK 27.29

-62.54%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.52 COP 4,838

$2.62 SEK 25.26

-41.98%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.36 COP 4,327

$4.33 SEK 41.71

-68.59%

Potato (1kg)

$1.13 COP 3,599

$2.20 SEK 21.24

-48.64%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 COP 3,738

$1.64 SEK 15.80

-28.66%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.90 COP 2,876

$3.53 SEK 34.07

-74.50%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.90 COP 2,861

$1.45 SEK 14.00

-37.93%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.23 COP 7,128

$7.46 SEK 71.9

-70.11%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.12 COP 38.7K

$9.49 SEK 91.5

27.71%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.19 COP 3,793

$1.87 SEK 18.07

-36.36%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.48 COP 7,920

$1.78 SEK 17.16

39.33%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.85 COP 2,723

$3.34 SEK 32.17

-74.55%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.62 COP 132.8K

$74.8 SEK 721

-44.38%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.42 COP 4,518

$9.40 SEK 90.6

-84.89%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.95 COP 6,223

$1.59 SEK 15.35

22.64%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.89 COP 25.2K

$72.7 SEK 701

-89.15%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.99 COP 3,160

$1.95 SEK 18.79

-49.23%

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

$17.6K COP 56.2M

$32.9K SEK 317.0K

-46.47%

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

$26.8K COP 85.5M

$34.9K SEK 336.2K

-23.15%

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

$83.0 COP 264.9K

$169 SEK 1,634

-51.02%

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

$9.70 COP 30.9K

$32.04 SEK 309

-69.73%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$23.52 COP 75.0K

$27.79 SEK 268

-15.37%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.26 COP 80.6K

$46.83 SEK 451

-46.06%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.10 COP 60.9K

$25.54 SEK 246

-25.22%

Cinema Ticket

$3.95 COP 12.6K

$13.58 SEK 131

-70.91%

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

$316 COP 1.0M

$164 SEK 1,578

92.87%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,975 COP 19.1M

$4,136 SEK 39.9K

44.46%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$60.0 COP 191.4K

$125 SEK 1,202

-51.90%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$31.82 COP 101.5K

$34.11 SEK 329

-6.71%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$102 COP 324.4K

$129 SEK 1,246

-21.34%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$107 COP 342.8K

$169 SEK 1,633

-36.56%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$475 COP 1.5M

$839 SEK 8,090

-43.40%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$374 COP 1.2M

$628 SEK 6,059

-40.49%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$849 COP 2.7M

$1,405 SEK 13.5K

-39.55%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$719 COP 2.3M

$1,141 SEK 11.0K

-36.97%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,265 COP 10.4M

$4,318 SEK 41.6K

-24.39%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,441 COP 4.6M

$2,801 SEK 27.0K

-48.57%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$624 COP 2.0M

$3,319 SEK 32.0K

-81.19%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.43

235.75%

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

Last update for Medellin: July 27, 2026

Last update for Kiruna: July 25, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $475 in Medellin versus $839 in Kiruna. 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 432% higher in Kiruna, 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 $94.0 in Kiruna. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $193 vs $419 – 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 Kiruna: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $1,003 in Medellin, $1,923 in Kiruna – roughly 92% apart. Kiruna costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,504 per month in Medellin and $2,885 in Kiruna. 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.

Groceries cost about 117% more in Kiruna, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $33.00 in Medellin and $94.0 in Kiruna. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Medellin, where all-in costs run around $1,003, than in Kiruna at $1,923. In Medellin it covers expenses comfortably, while in Kiruna 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 $1,923 in Kiruna. 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, Kiruna makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.