Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Kista Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Kista

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,034 per month in Medellin vs $1,793 in Kista, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,577 per month in Medellin vs $2,815 in Kista, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,120 per month in Medellin vs $3,837 in Kista, rent included.

Medellin is about 42% cheaper than Kista, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Medellin sits 23% below the global median, while Kista is 34% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.92 COP 21.4K

$13.70 SEK 127

-56.79%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.75 COP 118.2K

$74.0 SEK 688

-55.75%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.20 COP 26.0K

$10.59 SEK 98.5

-32.01%

Cappuccino

$1.70 COP 6,140

$4.62 SEK 43.01

-63.20%

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

$1.10 COP 3,966

$2.74 SEK 25.47

-59.85%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.72 COP 2,605

$2.47 SEK 22.97

-70.85%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.67 COP 6,022

$7.90 SEK 73.5

-78.86%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.10 COP 11.2K

$7.31 SEK 68.0

-57.59%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.06 COP 3,809

$1.68 SEK 15.60

-36.90%

White Bread (500g)

$1.25 COP 4,497

$2.74 SEK 25.51

-54.38%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.39 COP 5,022

$3.76 SEK 35.01

-63.03%

Eggs

$2.26 COP 8,168

$4.25 SEK 39.51

-46.82%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.33 COP 15.6K

$11.98 SEK 111

-63.86%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.84 COP 21.1K

$11.99 SEK 111

-51.29%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.83 COP 31.9K

$16.81 SEK 156

-47.47%

Apples (1kg)

$2.24 COP 8,099

$3.17 SEK 29.50

-29.34%

Banana (1kg)

$1.08 COP 3,882

$2.57 SEK 23.89

-57.98%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.53 COP 5,522

$3.00 SEK 27.94

-49.00%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.37 COP 4,950

$4.47 SEK 41.59

-69.35%

Potato (1kg)

$1.13 COP 4,078

$1.64 SEK 15.23

-31.10%

Onion (1kg)

$1.12 COP 4,036

$1.80 SEK 16.70

-37.78%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.85 COP 3,057

$2.61 SEK 24.28

-67.43%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.91 COP 3,281

$1.56 SEK 14.48

-41.67%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.33 COP 8,414

$7.30 SEK 67.9

-68.08%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.13 COP 40.2K

$11.71 SEK 109

-4.95%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.19 COP 4,309

$1.90 SEK 17.72

-37.37%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.37 COP 8,553

$1.97 SEK 18.36

20.30%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.79 COP 2,838

$3.46 SEK 32.17

-77.17%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.13 COP 148.5K

$72.9 SEK 678

-43.56%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.44 COP 5,184

$6.32 SEK 58.8

-77.22%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.91 COP 6,901

$1.60 SEK 14.85

19.37%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.02 COP 28.9K

$62.7 SEK 583

-87.20%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.94 COP 3,385

$1.99 SEK 18.46

-52.76%

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

$17.9K COP 64.7M

$32.0K SEK 297.6K

-44.00%

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

$26.8K COP 96.7M

$34.9K SEK 324.2K

-23.14%

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

$84.0 COP 303.1K

$113 SEK 1,048

-25.47%

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

$9.60 COP 34.7K

$28.32 SEK 263

-66.10%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.16 COP 87.2K

$36.33 SEK 338

-33.50%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.88 COP 93.4K

$40.09 SEK 373

-35.45%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.04 COP 68.7K

$25.58 SEK 238

-25.57%

Cinema Ticket

$3.92 COP 14.1K

$15.59 SEK 145

-74.86%

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

$306 COP 1.1M

$144 SEK 1,341

112.41%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,919 COP 21.4M

$4,172 SEK 38.8K

41.85%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$57.9 COP 209.1K

$95.7 SEK 890

-39.46%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$31.82 COP 114.9K

$41.45 SEK 386

-23.23%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$99.9 COP 360.6K

$98.1 SEK 912

1.89%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$107 COP 386.8K

$153 SEK 1,425

-30.06%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$487 COP 1.8M

$841 SEK 7,818

-42.10%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$368 COP 1.3M

$663 SEK 6,166

-44.49%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$826 COP 3.0M

$1,401 SEK 13.0K

-41.06%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$716 COP 2.6M

$1,067 SEK 9,924

-32.89%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,925 COP 10.6M

$4,449 SEK 41.4K

-34.25%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,407 COP 5.1M

$2,664 SEK 24.8K

-47.19%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$546 COP 2.0M

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.43

4.53

196.47%

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

Last update for Medellin: April 27, 2026

Last update for Kista: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $487 in Medellin versus $841 in Kista. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $33.00 in Medellin versus $74.0 in Kista. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $190 vs $363 – 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 Kista: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Kista costs about 73% more than Medellin, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,550 per month in Medellin and $2,689 in Kista. 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.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,034 in Medellin and $1,793 in Kista. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 77% less in Medellin. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Medellin, where all-in costs run around $1,034, than in Kista at $1,793. In Medellin it covers expenses comfortably, while in Kista it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Medellin costs $1,034 versus $1,793 in Kista. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

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