Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Lidingo Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Lidingo

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,003 per month in Medellin vs $1,862 in Lidingo, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,573 per month in Medellin vs $2,750 in Lidingo, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,143 per month in Medellin vs $3,637 in Lidingo, rent included.

Medellin is about 46% cheaper than Lidingo, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Medellin sits 25% below the global median, while Lidingo is 40% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Lidingo
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.91 COP 19.1K
$10.91 SEK 104
-45.83%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.96 COP 106.5K
$55.4 SEK 530
-40.54%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.43 COP 24.0K
$8.60 SEK 82.2
-13.60%
Cappuccino
$1.65 COP 5,343
$3.21 SEK 30.75
-48.60%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.10 COP 3,559
$3.23 SEK 30.94
-65.94%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.78 COP 2,523
$2.61 SEK 24.95
-70.11%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.72 COP 5,553
$5.33 SEK 51.0
-67.73%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.18 COP 10.3K
$4.69 SEK 44.89
-32.20%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Lidingo
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.10 COP 3,565
$1.61 SEK 15.38
-31.68%
White Bread (500g)
$1.26 COP 4,066
$2.62 SEK 25.05
-51.91%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.38 COP 4,463
$3.83 SEK 36.62
-63.97%
Eggs
$2.18 COP 7,038
$3.83 SEK 36.65
-43.08%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$4.49 COP 14.5K
$11.91 SEK 114
-62.30%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.79 COP 18.7K
$12.27 SEK 117
-52.81%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$8.97 COP 29.0K
$18.84 SEK 180
-52.39%
Apples (1kg)
$2.32 COP 7,499
$3.37 SEK 32.21
-31.16%
Banana (1kg)
$1.06 COP 3,440
$2.56 SEK 24.50
-58.59%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.52 COP 4,899
$3.46 SEK 33.05
-56.07%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.36 COP 4,381
$3.72 SEK 35.63
-63.44%
Potato (1kg)
$1.13 COP 3,645
$2.08 SEK 19.94
-45.67%
Onion (1kg)
$1.17 COP 3,785
$2.02 SEK 19.33
-42.08%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.90 COP 2,912
$2.91 SEK 27.88
-69.07%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.90 COP 2,897
$1.84 SEK 17.58
-51.09%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.23 COP 7,218
$7.89 SEK 75.4
-71.74%
Wine (Bottle)
$12.12 COP 39.2K
$12.51 SEK 120
-3.12%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.19 COP 3,841
$1.45 SEK 13.91
-17.93%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.48 COP 8,020
$2.27 SEK 21.68
9.25%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Lidingo
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.85 COP 2,758
$3.47 SEK 33.16
-75.50%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$41.62 COP 134.5K
$73.1 SEK 699
-43.05%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.42 COP 4,575
$3.80 SEK 36.36
-62.63%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.95 COP 6,302
$1.60 SEK 15.34
21.87%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.89 COP 25.5K
$85.3 SEK 816
-90.75%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.99 COP 3,200
$1.97 SEK 18.87
-49.75%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$17.6K COP 56.9M
$32.1K SEK 306.7K
-45.09%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.8K COP 86.6M
$34.8K SEK 332.8K
-22.97%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Lidingo
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$83.0 COP 268.2K
$191 SEK 1,823
-56.43%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.70 COP 31.3K
$29.33 SEK 281
-66.93%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$23.52 COP 76.0K
$41.18 SEK 394
-42.88%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Lidingo
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$25.26 COP 81.6K
$39.80 SEK 381
-36.53%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.10 COP 61.7K
$24.85 SEK 238
-23.14%
Cinema Ticket
$3.95 COP 12.8K
$19.33 SEK 185
-79.57%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Lidingo
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$316 COP 1.0M
$156 SEK 1,488
102.95%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,975 COP 19.3M
$4,159 SEK 39.8K
43.66%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Lidingo
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$60.0 COP 193.8K
$94.4 SEK 903
-36.47%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$31.82 COP 102.8K
$41.92 SEK 401
-24.09%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$102 COP 328.5K
$92.8 SEK 888
9.52%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$107 COP 347.2K
$126 SEK 1,207
-14.84%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Lidingo
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$475 COP 1.5M
$846 SEK 8,091
-43.85%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$374 COP 1.2M
$657 SEK 6,288
-43.11%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$849 COP 2.7M
$1,378 SEK 13.2K
-38.39%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$719 COP 2.3M
$1,077 SEK 10.3K
-33.20%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,265 COP 10.5M
$4,031 SEK 38.6K
-18.99%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,441 COP 4.7M
$2,872 SEK 27.5K
-49.84%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Lidingo
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$624 COP 2.0M
$2,581 SEK 24.7K
-75.81%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
13.43
4.87
175.77%

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

Last update for Medellin: July 27, 2026

Last update for Lidingo: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $475 in Medellin versus $846 in Lidingo. 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 313% higher in Lidingo, 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 $55.0 in Lidingo. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $193 vs $372 – 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 Lidingo: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Medellin and in Lidingo compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $1,003 in Medellin, $1,862 in Lidingo – roughly 86% apart. Lidingo costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Medellin compared to Lidingo?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,504 per month in Medellin and $2,793 in Lidingo. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Medellin and Lidingo?
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.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Medellin and Lidingo?
Kindergarten costs $316 per month in Medellin and $156 in Lidingo. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Groceries cost about 92% more in Lidingo, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Which city is more doable on $1,500 per month?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Medellin, where all-in costs run around $1,003, than in Lidingo at $1,862. In Medellin it covers expenses comfortably, while in Lidingo it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
How does quality of life compare between Medellin and Lidingo?
It depends on your priorities. Medellin has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,003 in Medellin to $1,862 in Lidingo. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Is Medellin or Lidingo safer for residents?
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.
How do I decide between Medellin and Lidingo?
If budget matters most, go with Medellin. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Lidingo makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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