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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,034 per month in Medellin vs $1,802 in Marsta, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,577 per month in Medellin vs $2,754 in Marsta, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,120 per month in Medellin vs $3,706 in Marsta, rent included.

Medellin is about 43% cheaper than Marsta, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Medellin sits 23% below the global median, while Marsta is 35% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.92 COP 21.4K

$13.22 SEK 123

-55.22%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.75 COP 118.2K

$68.4 SEK 636

-52.15%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.20 COP 26.0K

$10.60 SEK 98.6

-32.08%

Cappuccino

$1.70 COP 6,140

$4.45 SEK 41.37

-61.80%

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

$1.10 COP 3,966

$2.17 SEK 20.17

-49.31%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.72 COP 2,605

$1.87 SEK 17.44

-61.50%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.67 COP 6,022

$7.41 SEK 68.9

-77.46%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.10 COP 11.2K

$7.34 SEK 68.2

-57.77%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.06 COP 3,809

$1.78 SEK 16.56

-40.45%

White Bread (500g)

$1.25 COP 4,497

$3.22 SEK 29.97

-61.18%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.39 COP 5,022

$3.98 SEK 36.99

-65.08%

Eggs

$2.26 COP 8,168

$3.82 SEK 35.55

-40.84%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.33 COP 15.6K

$14.00 SEK 130

-69.07%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.84 COP 21.1K

$9.60 SEK 89.3

-39.17%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.83 COP 31.9K

$15.73 SEK 146

-43.87%

Apples (1kg)

$2.24 COP 8,099

$3.69 SEK 34.32

-39.30%

Banana (1kg)

$1.08 COP 3,882

$2.56 SEK 23.82

-57.81%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.53 COP 5,522

$3.14 SEK 29.21

-51.27%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.37 COP 4,950

$3.99 SEK 37.12

-65.66%

Potato (1kg)

$1.13 COP 4,078

$1.52 SEK 14.11

-25.66%

Onion (1kg)

$1.12 COP 4,036

$1.62 SEK 15.08

-30.86%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.85 COP 3,057

$2.70 SEK 25.12

-68.52%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.91 COP 3,281

$1.75 SEK 16.32

-48.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.33 COP 8,414

$7.17 SEK 66.7

-67.50%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.13 COP 40.2K

$10.63 SEK 98.9

4.70%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.19 COP 4,309

$1.79 SEK 16.65

-33.52%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.37 COP 8,553

$1.88 SEK 17.45

26.06%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.79 COP 2,838

$4.13 SEK 38.40

-80.87%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.13 COP 148.5K

$101 SEK 936

-59.14%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.44 COP 5,184

$12.25 SEK 114

-88.24%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.91 COP 6,901

$1.63 SEK 15.17

17.18%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.02 COP 28.9K

$60.0 SEK 558

-86.64%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.94 COP 3,385

$2.00 SEK 18.62

-53.00%

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

$17.9K COP 64.7M

$33.0K SEK 306.5K

-45.62%

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

$26.8K COP 96.7M

$34.3K SEK 318.9K

-21.86%

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

$84.0 COP 303.1K

$88.1 SEK 819

-4.68%

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

$9.60 COP 34.7K

$28.80 SEK 268

-66.67%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.16 COP 87.2K

$36.96 SEK 344

-34.63%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.88 COP 93.4K

$29.08 SEK 270

-11.00%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.04 COP 68.7K

$24.91 SEK 232

-23.56%

Cinema Ticket

$3.92 COP 14.1K

$15.84 SEK 147

-75.25%

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

$306 COP 1.1M

$144 SEK 1,338

112.90%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,919 COP 21.4M

$746 SEK 6,936

693.53%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$57.9 COP 209.1K

$77.7 SEK 723

-25.46%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$31.82 COP 114.9K

$42.96 SEK 399

-25.93%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$99.9 COP 360.6K

$101 SEK 938

-0.91%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$107 COP 386.8K

$107 SEK 999

-0.28%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$487 COP 1.8M

$855 SEK 7,952

-43.08%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$368 COP 1.3M

$645 SEK 5,997

-42.92%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$826 COP 3.0M

$1,379 SEK 12.8K

-40.13%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$716 COP 2.6M

$1,086 SEK 10.1K

-34.08%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,925 COP 10.6M

$3,869 SEK 36.0K

-24.39%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,407 COP 5.1M

$2,651 SEK 24.7K

-46.93%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$546 COP 2.0M

$5,003 SEK 46.5K

-89.10%

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: April 27, 2026

Last update for Marsta: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $487 in Medellin versus $855 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 817% 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 $358 – 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 74%, 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 $1,550 per month in Medellin and $2,703 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 $1,034 in Medellin and $1,802 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 $1,034, than in Marsta at $1,802. 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.