Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Marsta Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Marsta

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,028 per month in Medellin vs $1,739 in Marsta, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,586 per month in Medellin vs $2,707 in Marsta, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,144 per month in Medellin vs $3,675 in Marsta, rent included.

Medellin is about 41% cheaper than Marsta, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Medellin sits 23% below the global median, while Marsta is 30% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.00 COP 20.6K

$12.93 SEK 124

-53.60%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.84 COP 112.9K

$67.6 SEK 648

-51.42%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.42 COP 25.5K

$10.73 SEK 103

-30.85%

Cappuccino

$1.65 COP 5,675

$4.68 SEK 44.85

-64.74%

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

$1.07 COP 3,673

$2.07 SEK 19.85

-48.31%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.76 COP 2,614

$1.86 SEK 17.82

-59.14%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.72 COP 5,925

$7.52 SEK 72.1

-77.13%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.20 COP 11.0K

$7.42 SEK 71.1

-56.87%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.05 COP 3,607

$1.85 SEK 17.71

-43.24%

White Bread (500g)

$1.31 COP 4,492

$3.08 SEK 29.49

-57.47%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.34 COP 4,604

$3.93 SEK 37.69

-65.90%

Eggs

$2.19 COP 7,543

$3.79 SEK 36.29

-42.22%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.41 COP 15.2K

$13.85 SEK 133

-68.16%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.69 COP 19.6K

$9.33 SEK 89.4

-39.01%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.52 COP 29.3K

$15.40 SEK 148

-44.68%

Apples (1kg)

$2.34 COP 8,046

$3.53 SEK 33.82

-33.71%

Banana (1kg)

$1.11 COP 3,815

$2.66 SEK 25.49

-58.27%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.52 COP 5,225

$3.13 SEK 30.02

-51.44%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.37 COP 4,694

$3.94 SEK 37.80

-65.23%

Potato (1kg)

$1.15 COP 3,962

$1.52 SEK 14.53

-24.34%

Onion (1kg)

$1.18 COP 4,055

$1.56 SEK 14.96

-24.36%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.84 COP 2,893

$2.67 SEK 25.60

-68.54%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.86 COP 2,940

$1.67 SEK 16.00

-48.50%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.26 COP 7,776

$7.31 SEK 70.1

-69.08%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.60 COP 39.9K

$10.49 SEK 101

10.58%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.20 COP 4,121

$1.77 SEK 17.00

-32.20%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.48 COP 8,508

$1.88 SEK 18.05

31.91%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.79 COP 2,729

$4.11 SEK 39.43

-80.78%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$40.83 COP 140.4K

$98.6 SEK 944

-58.57%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.47 COP 5,038

$12.14 SEK 116

-87.89%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.92 COP 6,587

$1.59 SEK 15.22

20.75%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.77 COP 26.7K

$58.9 SEK 564

-86.80%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.01 COP 3,474

$1.93 SEK 18.45

-47.67%

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

$17.7K COP 60.7M

$32.2K SEK 308.9K

-45.22%

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

$26.5K COP 90.9M

$34.8K SEK 333.9K

-24.08%

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

$81.1 COP 278.8K

$88.2 SEK 845

-8.07%

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

$9.43 COP 32.4K

$28.33 SEK 271

-66.71%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$23.86 COP 82.0K

$36.86 SEK 353

-35.27%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.99 COP 89.4K

$29.01 SEK 278

-10.41%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.71 COP 64.3K

$25.52 SEK 245

-26.68%

Cinema Ticket

$4.09 COP 14.1K

$16.10 SEK 154

-74.60%

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

$315 COP 1.1M

$146 SEK 1,396

115.91%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,022 COP 20.7M

$728 SEK 6,981

726.69%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$59.7 COP 205.2K

$80.1 SEK 768

-25.49%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$31.97 COP 109.9K

$44.34 SEK 425

-27.90%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$101 COP 347.9K

$99.5 SEK 953

1.78%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$105 COP 361.3K

$105 SEK 1,004

0.36%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$485 COP 1.7M

$852 SEK 8,164

-43.02%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$365 COP 1.3M

$657 SEK 6,296

-44.42%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$827 COP 2.8M

$1,390 SEK 13.3K

-40.51%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$730 COP 2.5M

$1,075 SEK 10.3K

-32.05%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,992 COP 10.3M

$4,294 SEK 41.1K

-30.32%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,314 COP 4.5M

$3,015 SEK 28.9K

-56.41%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$551 COP 1.9M

$4,972 SEK 47.6K

-88.92%

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: June 15, 2026

Last update for Marsta: June 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $485 in Medellin versus $852 in Marsta. 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 803% higher in Marsta, 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 $68.0 in Marsta. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $190 vs $352 – 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 Marsta: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Marsta is pricier by about 69%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,542 per month in Medellin and $2,609 in Marsta. 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.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $33.00 in Medellin and $68.0 in Marsta. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,028 in Medellin and $1,739 in Marsta. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Medellin, where all-in costs run around $1,028, than in Marsta at $1,739. In Medellin it covers expenses comfortably, while in Marsta it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Medellin – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

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