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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,013 per month in Medellin vs $1,926 in Kiruna, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,602 per month in Medellin vs $3,099 in Kiruna, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,192 per month in Medellin vs $4,272 in Kiruna, rent included.

Medellin is about 47% cheaper than Kiruna, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Medellin sits 24% below the global median, while Kiruna is 44% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.99 COP 21.5K

$12.75 SEK 121

-53.02%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.86 COP 118.1K

$96.7 SEK 915

-66.03%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.09 COP 25.5K

$11.79 SEK 112

-39.86%

Cappuccino

$1.71 COP 6,154

$4.64 SEK 43.94

-63.15%

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

$1.10 COP 3,949

$2.07 SEK 19.61

-46.86%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.78 COP 2,798

$1.06 SEK 10.03

-26.42%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.68 COP 6,035

$8.50 SEK 80.4

-80.24%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.07 COP 11.0K

$6.87 SEK 65.0

-55.31%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.09 COP 3,930

$1.93 SEK 18.28

-43.52%

White Bread (500g)

$1.26 COP 4,536

$3.54 SEK 33.48

-64.41%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.38 COP 4,953

$4.97 SEK 47.05

-72.23%

Eggs

$2.19 COP 7,876

$4.91 SEK 46.42

-55.40%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.40 COP 15.8K

$13.25 SEK 125

-66.79%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.63 COP 20.2K

$13.78 SEK 130

-59.14%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.89 COP 32.0K

$28.10 SEK 266

-68.36%

Apples (1kg)

$2.34 COP 8,401

$2.59 SEK 24.51

-9.65%

Banana (1kg)

$1.06 COP 3,801

$2.72 SEK 25.75

-61.03%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.50 COP 5,408

$2.62 SEK 24.77

-42.75%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.38 COP 4,955

$4.31 SEK 40.75

-67.98%

Potato (1kg)

$1.15 COP 4,137

$2.16 SEK 20.45

-46.76%

Onion (1kg)

$1.16 COP 4,181

$1.59 SEK 15.08

-27.04%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.89 COP 3,202

$3.43 SEK 32.45

-74.05%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.84 COP 3,016

$1.46 SEK 13.83

-42.47%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.28 COP 8,196

$7.19 SEK 68.0

-68.29%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.64 COP 38.2K

$10.16 SEK 96.1

4.72%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.20 COP 4,311

$1.82 SEK 17.25

-34.07%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.47 COP 8,880

$1.88 SEK 17.80

31.38%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.86 COP 3,075

$3.41 SEK 32.27

-74.78%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.40 COP 148.8K

$74.3 SEK 703

-44.29%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.47 COP 5,297

$9.29 SEK 87.9

-84.18%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.96 COP 7,053

$1.60 SEK 15.17

22.50%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.74 COP 27.8K

$73.8 SEK 699

-89.52%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.95 COP 3,430

$1.97 SEK 18.62

-51.78%

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

$18.1K COP 65.2M

$32.4K SEK 307.0K

-44.12%

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

$26.5K COP 95.2M

$36.2K SEK 342.8K

-26.90%

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

$82.3 COP 295.6K

$173 SEK 1,638

-52.48%

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

$9.50 COP 34.1K

$32.94 SEK 312

-71.16%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.23 COP 87.1K

$27.76 SEK 263

-12.72%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.89 COP 93.0K

$46.67 SEK 442

-44.53%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.00 COP 68.3K

$24.86 SEK 235

-23.57%

Cinema Ticket

$3.93 COP 14.1K

$13.70 SEK 130

-71.31%

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

$309 COP 1.1M

$161 SEK 1,522

92.38%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,965 COP 21.4M

$4,100 SEK 38.8K

45.49%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.7 COP 210.8K

$125 SEK 1,180

-52.94%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$32.35 COP 116.2K

$33.76 SEK 319

-4.18%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$103 COP 368.7K

$129 SEK 1,224

-20.71%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$108 COP 389.6K

$166 SEK 1,574

-34.84%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$476 COP 1.7M

$842 SEK 7,963

-43.42%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$379 COP 1.4M

$641 SEK 6,061

-40.87%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$838 COP 3.0M

$1,414 SEK 13.4K

-40.71%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$724 COP 2.6M

$1,182 SEK 11.2K

-38.73%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,791 COP 10.0M

$3,906 SEK 37.0K

-28.56%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,211 COP 4.4M

$3,376 SEK 31.9K

-64.12%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$512 COP 1.8M

$3,449 SEK 32.6K

-85.16%

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: May 31, 2026

Last update for Kiruna: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $476 in Medellin versus $842 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 574% 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 $97.0 in Kiruna. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $188 vs $423 – 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: $1,013 in Medellin, $1,926 in Kiruna – roughly 90% apart. Kiruna costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,519 per month in Medellin and $2,889 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 124% 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 $97.0 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 $1,013, than in Kiruna at $1,926. 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 $1,013 in Medellin to $1,926 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.