Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Malmo Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Malmo

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,013 per month in Medellin vs $2,047 in Malmo, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,602 per month in Medellin vs $3,170 in Malmo, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,192 per month in Medellin vs $4,292 in Malmo, rent included.

Medellin is about 51% cheaper than Malmo, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Medellin sits 24% below the global median, while Malmo is 53% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.99 COP 21.4K

$13.48 SEK 127

-55.56%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.86 COP 117.2K

$85.6 SEK 804

-61.63%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.09 COP 25.3K

$12.67 SEK 119

-44.04%

Cappuccino

$1.71 COP 6,105

$5.05 SEK 47.48

-66.14%

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

$1.10 COP 3,918

$2.69 SEK 25.24

-59.11%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.78 COP 2,776

$2.15 SEK 20.21

-63.72%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.68 COP 5,987

$8.00 SEK 75.2

-79.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.07 COP 10.9K

$8.20 SEK 77.1

-62.56%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.09 COP 3,899

$1.67 SEK 15.72

-34.73%

White Bread (500g)

$1.26 COP 4,500

$3.11 SEK 29.19

-59.49%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.38 COP 4,914

$3.61 SEK 33.93

-61.77%

Eggs

$2.19 COP 7,813

$4.42 SEK 41.49

-50.45%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.40 COP 15.7K

$12.05 SEK 113

-63.49%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.63 COP 20.1K

$12.78 SEK 120

-55.95%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.89 COP 31.7K

$27.50 SEK 258

-67.67%

Apples (1kg)

$2.34 COP 8,334

$3.27 SEK 30.69

-28.44%

Banana (1kg)

$1.06 COP 3,771

$2.78 SEK 26.12

-61.87%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.50 COP 5,365

$3.24 SEK 30.45

-53.70%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.38 COP 4,915

$4.79 SEK 44.97

-71.19%

Potato (1kg)

$1.15 COP 4,104

$1.83 SEK 17.19

-37.16%

Onion (1kg)

$1.16 COP 4,148

$1.95 SEK 18.34

-40.51%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.89 COP 3,176

$2.57 SEK 24.14

-65.37%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.84 COP 2,992

$1.34 SEK 12.58

-37.31%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.28 COP 8,131

$8.13 SEK 76.4

-71.96%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.64 COP 37.9K

$12.10 SEK 114

-12.07%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.20 COP 4,276

$2.53 SEK 23.75

-52.57%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.47 COP 8,809

$2.66 SEK 24.96

-7.14%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.86 COP 3,051

$3.36 SEK 31.58

-74.40%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.40 COP 147.6K

$69.3 SEK 651

-40.27%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.47 COP 5,255

$6.44 SEK 60.5

-77.17%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.96 COP 6,997

$2.64 SEK 24.80

-25.76%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.74 COP 27.6K

$56.2 SEK 528

-86.23%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.95 COP 3,403

$1.92 SEK 18.04

-50.52%

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

$18.1K COP 64.6M

$33.1K SEK 310.7K

-45.18%

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

$26.5K COP 94.4M

$33.8K SEK 317.4K

-21.63%

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

$82.3 COP 293.2K

$154 SEK 1,442

-46.44%

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

$9.50 COP 33.9K

$30.36 SEK 285

-68.71%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.23 COP 86.4K

$40.38 SEK 379

-40.00%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.89 COP 92.3K

$38.30 SEK 360

-32.40%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.00 COP 67.7K

$23.78 SEK 223

-20.10%

Cinema Ticket

$3.93 COP 14.0K

$17.81 SEK 167

-77.93%

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

$309 COP 1.1M

$162 SEK 1,518

91.42%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,965 COP 21.3M

$4,876 SEK 45.8K

22.34%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.7 COP 209.1K

$105 SEK 983

-43.95%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$32.35 COP 115.3K

$45.70 SEK 429

-29.21%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$103 COP 365.7K

$124 SEK 1,166

-17.37%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$108 COP 386.5K

$165 SEK 1,552

-34.37%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$476 COP 1.7M

$932 SEK 8,751

-48.89%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$379 COP 1.4M

$773 SEK 7,264

-51.02%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$838 COP 3.0M

$1,721 SEK 16.2K

-51.28%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$724 COP 2.6M

$1,343 SEK 12.6K

-46.08%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,791 COP 9.9M

$4,311 SEK 40.5K

-35.27%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,211 COP 4.3M

$3,360 SEK 31.6K

-63.94%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$512 COP 1.8M

$3,353 SEK 31.5K

-84.73%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.43

4.86

176.34%

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

Last update for Medellin: May 31, 2026

Last update for Malmo: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $476 in Medellin versus $932 in Malmo. 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 555% higher in Malmo, 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 $86.0 in Malmo. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $188 vs $410 – 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 Malmo: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Malmo costs about 102% 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 $1,519 per month in Medellin and $3,071 in Malmo. 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.

Kindergarten costs $309 per month in Medellin and $162 in Malmo. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 118% more in Malmo, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Medellin, where all-in costs run around $1,013, than in Malmo at $2,047. In Medellin it covers expenses comfortably, while in Malmo it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Medellin costs $1,013 versus $2,047 in Malmo. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

If budget matters most, go with Medellin. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Malmo makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.