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