Last update: Nov 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Ostersund

For one person, living is cheaper in Medellin: $1,692 a month against $1,761 in Ostersund, rent and utilities included – about $830 less a year. The total is higher in Ostersund despite lower rent and utilities.

Medellin, Colombia
Ostersund, Sweden
Medellin
🇨🇴 Colombia
$1,692
/mo nomad
Ostersund
🇸🇪 Sweden
$1,761
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Medellin and in Ostersund

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 Ostersund actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $1,692 per month in Medellin vs $1,761 in Ostersund, rent included.

  • Medellin $1,692
  • Ostersund $1,761

A couple spends around $2,471 per month in Medellin vs $2,732 in Ostersund, rent included.

  • Medellin $2,471
  • Ostersund $2,732

A family of three spends $3,249 per month in Medellin vs $3,703 in Ostersund, rent included.

  • Medellin $3,249
  • Ostersund $3,703

Medellin is about 4% cheaper than Ostersund, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both Medellin and Ostersund sit above the global median – Medellin by 25%, Ostersund by 30%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Ostersund
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.34 COP 26.9K
$14.51 SEK 142
-42.52%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.53 COP 150.3K
$68.6 SEK 673
-32.15%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.47 COP 30.6K
$9.03 SEK 88.6
4.87%
Cappuccino
$3.13 COP 10.1K
$4.35 SEK 42.71
-28.05%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.77 COP 5,705
$2.57 SEK 25.21
-31.13%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.42 COP 4,601
$2.03 SEK 19.89
-30.05%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.15 COP 10.2K
$7.80 SEK 76.6
-59.62%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.70 COP 18.4K
$7.36 SEK 72.3
-22.55%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Ostersund
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.53 COP 4,950
$1.44 SEK 14.13
6.25%
White Bread (500g)
$2.29 COP 7,401
$3.03 SEK 29.74
-24.42%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.94 COP 6,282
$4.78 SEK 46.89
-59.41%
Eggs
$3.07 COP 9,905
$3.34 SEK 32.72
-8.08%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.99 COP 32.3K
$13.80 SEK 135
-27.61%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.45 COP 33.7K
$11.78 SEK 116
-11.29%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.96 COP 45.1K
$15.72 SEK 154
-11.20%
Apples (1kg)
$4.05 COP 13.1K
$4.30 SEK 42.22
-5.81%
Banana (1kg)
$1.53 COP 4,937
$2.92 SEK 28.66
-47.60%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.10 COP 6,797
$3.53 SEK 34.64
-40.51%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.29 COP 7,409
$4.21 SEK 41.28
-45.61%
Potato (1kg)
$2.11 COP 6,813
$1.61 SEK 15.78
31.06%
Onion (1kg)
$1.71 COP 5,521
$1.61 SEK 15.84
6.21%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.17 COP 3,780
$2.33 SEK 22.86
-49.79%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.58 COP 5,104
$1.56 SEK 15.31
1.28%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.91 COP 12.6K
$7.70 SEK 75.6
-49.22%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.04 COP 45.4K
$10.05 SEK 98.6
39.70%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.76 COP 5,690
$2.15 SEK 21.08
-18.14%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.71 COP 8,760
$2.27 SEK 22.32
19.38%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Ostersund
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.18 COP 3,811
$3.26 SEK 32.01
-63.80%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$76.3 COP 246.4K
$76.3 SEK 748
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.81 COP 5,836
$6.12 SEK 60.1
-70.42%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.13 COP 6,878
$1.69 SEK 16.57
26.04%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.13 COP 26.3K
$60.8 SEK 596
-86.62%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.28 COP 4,119
$1.78 SEK 17.47
-28.09%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.4K COP 111.2M
$30.7K SEK 301.0K
12.27%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.1K COP 110.3M
$36.5K SEK 358.0K
-6.46%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Ostersund
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$178 COP 574.1K
$118 SEK 1,154
51.09%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.89 COP 44.9K
$23.84 SEK 234
-41.74%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.74 COP 99.3K
$39.29 SEK 385
-21.76%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Ostersund
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$41.94 COP 135.5K
$37.62 SEK 369
11.48%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.80 COP 54.3K
$26.52 SEK 260
-36.65%
Cinema Ticket
$7.47 COP 24.1K
$15.13 SEK 148
-50.63%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Ostersund
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$790 COP 2.6M
$127 SEK 1,243
523.44%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$12.3K COP 39.7M
$5,587 SEK 54.8K
120.09%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Ostersund
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$86.3 COP 278.9K
$93.2 SEK 915
-7.40%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$59.3 COP 191.4K
$42.48 SEK 417
39.50%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$138 COP 446.9K
$79.4 SEK 779
74.28%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$98.8 COP 319.2K
$142 SEK 1,395
-30.49%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Ostersund
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,341 COP 4.3M
$812 SEK 7,971
65.06%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$667 COP 2.2M
$610 SEK 5,987
9.34%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,976 COP 6.4M
$1,394 SEK 13.7K
41.77%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,033 COP 3.3M
$1,038 SEK 10.2K
-0.47%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,098 COP 13.2M
$3,784 SEK 37.1K
8.31%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,940 COP 6.3M
$2,495 SEK 24.5K
-22.25%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Ostersund
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$646 COP 2.1M
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
10.94
3.38
223.67%

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

Last update for Medellin: November 2, 2026

Last update for Ostersund: November 1, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Medellin
$667
Ostersund
$610 8.5% $57
Groceries & Markets
Medellin
$307
Ostersund
$370 20.5% $63
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
$222
Ostersund
$181 18.7% $42
Eating Out
Medellin
$173
Ostersund
$268 55% $95
Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
$172
Ostersund
$161 6.7% $11
Getting Around
Medellin
$93
Ostersund
$104 11.2% $10
Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
$57
Ostersund
$68 19.3% $11

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,341 in Medellin versus $812 in Ostersund. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $47 in Medellin versus $69 in Ostersund. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $307 vs $370 – making Medellin the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇨🇴 Medellin
🇸🇪 Ostersund
🕒 Local time
07:20 7:20 AM
13:20 1:20 PM
6 h ahead of Medellin
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
2,486,723
44,000
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

SEK, USD, EUR to COP – Colombian Peso Converter

Colombian Peso exchange rates as of November 6, 2026: 1 USD = 3,230 COP (10,000 COP = 3.1 USD). 1 EUR = 3,628 COP (10,000 COP = 2.76 EUR).

Swedish Krona exchange rates as of November 6, 2026: 1 USD = 9.81 SEK (1 SEK = 0.102 USD). 1 EUR = 11.02 SEK (100 SEK = 9.08 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Medellin Ostersund 9,400 km ≈ 12 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Medellin
  • Ostersund

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 Ostersund: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Medellin cheaper than Ostersund?
Yes – Ostersund is pricier by about 4%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in eating out.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,538 per month in Medellin and $2,642 in Ostersund. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Ostersund, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $812 there versus $1,341 in Medellin.
Is eating out cheaper in Medellin or in Ostersund?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $47 in Medellin and $69 in Ostersund. That’s a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
How do food prices compare in Medellin and in Ostersund?
Groceries cost about 20% more in Ostersund, though the gap depends on what you buy.
Is $2,500 enough for either Medellin or Ostersund?
$2,500 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $1,692 in Medellin and $1,761 in Ostersund, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.
Which city suits remote workers better?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Medellin costs $1,692 versus $1,761 in Ostersund. Both appeal to remote workers, and the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

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