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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,003 per month in Medellin vs $1,478 in Sala, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,573 per month in Medellin vs $2,218 in Sala, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,143 per month in Medellin vs $2,957 in Sala, rent included.

Medellin is about 32% cheaper than Sala, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Medellin sits 25% below the global median, while Sala is 11% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.91 COP 18.6K

$12.53 SEK 119

-52.83%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.96 COP 103.8K

$63.7 SEK 605

-48.26%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.43 COP 23.4K

$10.20 SEK 96.9

-27.16%

Cappuccino

$1.65 COP 5,207

$3.19 SEK 30.28

-48.28%

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

$1.10 COP 3,468

$1.86 SEK 17.70

-40.86%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.78 COP 2,458

$2.39 SEK 22.67

-67.36%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.72 COP 5,412

$7.42 SEK 70.5

-76.82%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.18 COP 10.0K

$7.24 SEK 68.8

-56.08%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.10 COP 3,474

$1.78 SEK 16.87

-38.20%

White Bread (500g)

$1.26 COP 3,962

$2.69 SEK 25.53

-53.16%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.38 COP 4,349

$3.63 SEK 34.44

-61.98%

Eggs

$2.18 COP 6,858

$3.86 SEK 36.68

-43.52%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.49 COP 14.1K

$12.12 SEK 115

-62.95%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.79 COP 18.2K

$11.89 SEK 113

-51.30%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.97 COP 28.2K

$15.97 SEK 152

-43.83%

Apples (1kg)

$2.32 COP 7,308

$3.14 SEK 29.85

-26.11%

Banana (1kg)

$1.06 COP 3,352

$2.57 SEK 24.45

-58.75%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.52 COP 4,774

$2.84 SEK 27.01

-46.48%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.36 COP 4,270

$5.13 SEK 48.74

-73.49%

Potato (1kg)

$1.13 COP 3,552

$1.56 SEK 14.78

-27.56%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 COP 3,689

$1.18 SEK 11.17

-0.85%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.90 COP 2,838

$2.71 SEK 25.77

-66.79%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.90 COP 2,823

$1.02 SEK 9.71

-11.76%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.23 COP 7,034

$7.20 SEK 68.4

-69.03%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.12 COP 38.2K

$6.24 SEK 59.3

94.23%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.19 COP 3,743

$2.50 SEK 23.73

-52.40%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.48 COP 7,815

$1.92 SEK 18.28

29.17%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.85 COP 2,687

$3.25 SEK 30.83

-73.85%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.62 COP 131.0K

$22.30 SEK 212

86.64%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.42 COP 4,459

$6.15 SEK 58.5

-76.91%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.95 COP 6,141

$1.58 SEK 15.05

23.42%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.89 COP 24.8K

$21.29 SEK 202

-62.94%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.99 COP 3,118

$1.97 SEK 18.69

-49.75%

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

$17.6K COP 55.4M

$41.4K SEK 393.5K

-57.51%

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

$26.8K COP 84.4M

$34.5K SEK 328.1K

-22.41%

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

$83.0 COP 261.4K

$89.6 SEK 852

-7.40%

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

$9.70 COP 30.5K

$21.17 SEK 201

-54.18%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$23.52 COP 74.1K

$36.99 SEK 351

-36.42%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.26 COP 79.5K

$48.67 SEK 462

-48.10%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.10 COP 60.1K

$21.31 SEK 202

-10.37%

Cinema Ticket

$3.95 COP 12.4K

$18.75 SEK 178

-78.93%

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

$316 COP 994.2K

$148 SEK 1,404

113.62%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,975 COP 18.8M

$1,284 SEK 12.2K

365.38%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$60.0 COP 188.9K

$45.96 SEK 437

30.55%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$31.82 COP 100.2K

$36.96 SEK 351

-13.91%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$102 COP 320.1K

$54.4 SEK 517

86.93%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$107 COP 338.3K

$58.4 SEK 554

84.15%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$475 COP 1.5M

$764 SEK 7,261

-37.86%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$374 COP 1.2M

$531 SEK 5,044

-29.57%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$849 COP 2.7M

$985 SEK 9,354

-13.77%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$719 COP 2.3M

$737 SEK 7,002

-2.39%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,265 COP 10.3M

$4,100 SEK 38.9K

-20.36%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,441 COP 4.5M

$3,033 SEK 28.8K

-52.50%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$624 COP 2.0M

$2,507 SEK 23.8K

-75.09%

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: July 27, 2026

Last update for Sala: July 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $475 in Medellin versus $764 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 302% 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: $193 vs $345 – 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 47%, 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 $1,504 per month in Medellin and $2,217 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 $1,003 in Medellin and $1,478 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 $1,003, than in Sala at $1,478. 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.