Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Ludvika

For one person, living costs are similar in Medellin and in Ludvika: $1,614 and $1,544 a month, rent and utilities included.

Medellin
🇨🇴 Colombia
$1,614
/mo nomad
Ludvika
🇸🇪 Sweden
$1,544
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Medellin and in Ludvika

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Medellin and in Ludvika actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $1,614 per month in Medellin vs $1,544 in Ludvika, rent included.

  • Medellin $1,614
  • Ludvika $1,544

A couple spends around $2,402 per month in Medellin vs $2,587 in Ludvika, rent included.

  • Medellin $2,402
  • Ludvika $2,587

A family of three spends $3,190 per month in Medellin vs $3,629 in Ludvika, rent included.

  • Medellin $3,190
  • Ludvika $3,629

Medellin costs about 5% more than Ludvika, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both Medellin and Ludvika sit above the global median – Medellin by 20%, Ludvika by 14%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Ludvika
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.93 COP 25.2K
$13.65 SEK 135
-41.90%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.13 COP 146.3K
$65.3 SEK 647
-29.40%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.50 COP 30.1K
$9.70 SEK 96.2
-2.06%
Cappuccino
$3.11 COP 9,866
$4.29 SEK 42.50
-27.51%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.83 COP 5,800
$2.54 SEK 25.17
-27.95%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.38 COP 4,360
$2.22 SEK 21.97
-37.84%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.05 COP 9,672
$6.88 SEK 68.2
-55.67%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.50 COP 17.4K
$7.00 SEK 69.3
-21.43%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Ludvika
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.45 COP 4,600
$1.68 SEK 16.63
-13.69%
White Bread (500g)
$2.36 COP 7,496
$2.69 SEK 26.61
-12.27%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.68 COP 5,328
$3.80 SEK 37.67
-55.79%
Eggs
$2.86 COP 9,077
$5.05 SEK 50.0
-43.37%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.19 COP 32.3K
$13.20 SEK 131
-22.80%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.53 COP 30.2K
$12.86 SEK 127
-25.89%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.04 COP 44.5K
$27.00 SEK 268
-48.00%
Apples (1kg)
$4.07 COP 12.9K
$3.12 SEK 30.87
30.45%
Banana (1kg)
$1.50 COP 4,742
$3.41 SEK 33.83
-56.01%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.17 COP 6,891
$3.52 SEK 34.84
-38.35%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.31 COP 7,310
$4.19 SEK 41.49
-44.87%
Potato (1kg)
$1.93 COP 6,113
$1.40 SEK 13.92
37.86%
Onion (1kg)
$1.64 COP 5,196
$1.72 SEK 17.00
-4.65%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.13 COP 3,571
$2.18 SEK 21.63
-48.17%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.25 COP 3,954
$1.45 SEK 14.41
-13.79%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.99 COP 12.6K
$7.15 SEK 70.8
-44.20%
Wine (Bottle)
$13.35 COP 42.3K
$10.05 SEK 99.6
32.84%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.70 COP 5,384
$1.92 SEK 18.99
-11.46%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.37 COP 7,525
$2.25 SEK 22.31
5.33%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Ludvika
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.21 COP 3,827
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$76.5 COP 242.5K
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.32 COP 4,179
$13.11 SEK 130
-89.93%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.14 COP 6,774
$1.96 SEK 19.43
9.18%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.47 COP 26.8K
$79.6 SEK 789
-89.36%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.30 COP 4,114
$1.76 SEK 17.39
-26.14%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.0K COP 88.7M
$33.5K SEK 331.8K
-16.42%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$35.4K COP 112.3M
$32.1K SEK 318.0K
10.35%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Ludvika
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$172 COP 545.6K
$97.8 SEK 969
75.89%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.37 COP 42.4K
$19.65 SEK 195
-31.96%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$28.73 COP 91.1K
$46.53 SEK 461
-38.25%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Ludvika
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$45.24 COP 143.5K
$29.93 SEK 297
51.15%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.04 COP 54.0K
$49.60 SEK 492
-65.65%
Cinema Ticket
$6.28 COP 19.9K
$16.10 SEK 160
-60.99%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Ludvika
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$770 COP 2.4M
$216 SEK 2,138
257.00%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$9,011 COP 28.6M
-
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Ludvika
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$86.4 COP 274.0K
$99.6 SEK 987
-13.24%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$57.1 COP 181.1K
$52.5 SEK 520
8.88%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$137 COP 432.9K
$93.8 SEK 929
45.59%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$97.9 COP 310.4K
$213 SEK 2,113
-54.08%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Ludvika
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,055 COP 3.3M
$448 SEK 4,439
135.50%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$616 COP 2.0M
$428 SEK 4,241
43.87%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,892 COP 6.0M
$945 SEK 9,362
100.29%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,023 COP 3.2M
$980 SEK 9,712
4.35%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,059 COP 12.9M
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,678 COP 5.3M
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Ludvika
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$652 COP 2.1M
$3,711 SEK 36.8K
-82.42%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
10.94
2.8
290.71%

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

Last update for Medellin: October 12, 2026

Last update for Ludvika: October 11, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Medellin
$616
Ludvika
$428 30.5% $188
Groceries & Markets
Medellin
$295
Ludvika
$403 36.8% $108
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
$214
Ludvika
$164 23.4% $50
Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
$170
Ludvika
$207 21.5% $37
Eating Out
Medellin
$168
Ludvika
$257 52.7% $89
Getting Around
Medellin
$93
Ludvika
$23 * 75.5% $70
Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
$58
Ludvika
$62 7.5% $4.3

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,055 in Medellin versus $448 in Ludvika. 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 469% higher in Ludvika, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $46.00 in Medellin versus $65.0 in Ludvika. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $295 vs $403 – making Medellin the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇨🇴 Medellin
🇸🇪 Ludvika
🕒 Local time
06:49 6:49 AM
13:49 1:49 PM
7 h ahead of Medellin
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
2,486,723
26,343
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

SEK, USD, EUR to COP – Colombian Peso Converter

Colombian Peso exchange rates as of October 18, 2026: 1 USD = 3,171 COP (10,000 COP = 3.15 USD). 1 EUR = 3,565 COP (10,000 COP = 2.81 EUR).

Swedish Krona exchange rates as of October 18, 2026: 1 USD = 9.91 SEK (1 SEK = 0.101 USD). 1 EUR = 11.14 SEK (100 SEK = 8.98 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Medellin Ludvika 9,430 km ≈ 12 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Medellin
  • Ludvika

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 Ludvika: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Medellin or Ludvika?
Medellin costs about 5% more than Ludvika, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from groceries. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Medellin and in Ludvika?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,421 per month in Medellin and $2,316 in Ludvika. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Medellin or Ludvika?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Ludvika, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How much does it cost to live in Medellin compared to Ludvika?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,614 in Medellin and $1,544 in Ludvika. That's a gap of about 5%.
How do childcare costs compare in Medellin and in Ludvika?
Kindergarten costs $770 per month in Medellin and $216 in Ludvika. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Medellin or in Ludvika?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Ludvika, where all-in costs run around $1,544, than in Medellin at $1,614. In Ludvika it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Medellin or Ludvika?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Ludvika costs $1,544 versus $1,614 in Medellin. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
Should I move to Medellin or to Ludvika?
If budget matters most, go with Ludvika. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Medellin makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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