Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Sala Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Sala

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,028 per month in Medellin vs $1,500 in Sala, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,586 per month in Medellin vs $2,227 in Sala, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,144 per month in Medellin vs $2,954 in Sala, rent included.

Medellin is about 31% cheaper than Sala, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Medellin sits 23% below the global median, while Sala is 13% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.00 COP 20.6K

$12.56 SEK 118

-52.23%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.84 COP 112.5K

$64.2 SEK 600

-48.84%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.42 COP 25.4K

$10.43 SEK 97.6

-28.86%

Cappuccino

$1.65 COP 5,659

$3.25 SEK 30.42

-49.23%

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

$1.07 COP 3,663

$1.82 SEK 17.03

-41.21%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.76 COP 2,607

$2.52 SEK 23.55

-69.84%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.72 COP 5,908

$7.47 SEK 69.9

-76.97%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.20 COP 11.0K

$7.58 SEK 70.9

-57.78%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.05 COP 3,597

$1.77 SEK 16.58

-40.68%

White Bread (500g)

$1.31 COP 4,479

$2.67 SEK 25.01

-50.94%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.34 COP 4,591

$3.73 SEK 34.93

-64.08%

Eggs

$2.19 COP 7,521

$4.03 SEK 37.70

-45.66%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.41 COP 15.1K

$11.89 SEK 111

-62.91%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.69 COP 19.5K

$11.89 SEK 111

-52.14%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.52 COP 29.2K

$15.96 SEK 149

-46.62%

Apples (1kg)

$2.34 COP 8,023

$3.06 SEK 28.64

-23.53%

Banana (1kg)

$1.11 COP 3,804

$2.58 SEK 24.11

-56.98%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.52 COP 5,210

$2.72 SEK 25.46

-44.12%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.37 COP 4,680

$5.30 SEK 49.56

-74.15%

Potato (1kg)

$1.15 COP 3,950

$1.50 SEK 14.06

-23.33%

Onion (1kg)

$1.18 COP 4,043

$1.18 SEK 11.07

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.84 COP 2,885

$2.75 SEK 25.74

-69.45%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.86 COP 2,931

$1.02 SEK 9.53

-15.69%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.26 COP 7,753

$7.57 SEK 70.9

-70.15%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.60 COP 39.8K

$6.31 SEK 59.1

83.84%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.20 COP 4,109

$2.58 SEK 24.17

-53.49%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.48 COP 8,484

$1.91 SEK 17.88

29.84%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.79 COP 2,721

$3.13 SEK 29.23

-74.76%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$40.83 COP 139.9K

$21.99 SEK 206

85.68%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.47 COP 5,023

$6.22 SEK 58.1

-76.37%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.92 COP 6,568

$1.64 SEK 15.35

17.07%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.77 COP 26.6K

$21.15 SEK 198

-63.26%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.01 COP 3,464

$1.92 SEK 17.96

-47.40%

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

$17.7K COP 60.5M

$42.2K SEK 394.8K

-58.16%

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

$26.5K COP 90.7M

$34.5K SEK 322.3K

-23.21%

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

$81.1 COP 277.9K

$90.6 SEK 848

-10.53%

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

$9.43 COP 32.3K

$20.68 SEK 193

-54.40%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$23.86 COP 81.8K

$36.22 SEK 339

-34.12%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.99 COP 89.1K

$48.47 SEK 453

-46.38%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.71 COP 64.1K

$21.08 SEK 197

-11.24%

Cinema Ticket

$4.09 COP 14.0K

$18.63 SEK 174

-78.05%

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

$315 COP 1.1M

$149 SEK 1,397

110.64%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,022 COP 20.6M

$1,259 SEK 11.8K

378.18%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$59.7 COP 204.6K

$46.04 SEK 431

29.67%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$31.97 COP 109.6K

$36.25 SEK 339

-11.81%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$101 COP 346.9K

$54.8 SEK 513

84.71%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$105 COP 360.3K

$58.1 SEK 543

80.97%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$485 COP 1.7M

$756 SEK 7,068

-35.75%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$365 COP 1.3M

$530 SEK 4,954

-31.06%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$827 COP 2.8M

$963 SEK 9,010

-14.17%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$730 COP 2.5M

$720 SEK 6,740

1.36%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,992 COP 10.3M

$3,957 SEK 37.0K

-24.39%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,314 COP 4.5M

$2,730 SEK 25.5K

-51.87%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$551 COP 1.9M

$2,533 SEK 23.7K

-78.26%

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 Sala: June 16, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $485 in Medellin versus $756 in Sala. 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 360% higher in Sala, 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 $64.0 in Sala. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $190 vs $346 – 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 Sala: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Sala is pricier by about 46%, 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 $2,250 in Sala. 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 $64.0 in Sala. 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 $1,500 in Sala. 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 Sala at $1,500. In Medellin it covers expenses comfortably, while in Sala 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, Sala makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.