Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Skelleftea

For one person, living is cheaper in Medellin: $1,614 a month against $1,961 in Skelleftea, rent and utilities included – about $4,200 less a year. Other living expenses account for most of the difference.

Medellin
🇨🇴 Colombia
$1,614
/mo nomad
Skelleftea
🇸🇪 Sweden
$1,961
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Medellin and in Skelleftea

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

A single person spends $1,614 per month in Medellin vs $1,961 in Skelleftea, rent included.

  • Medellin $1,614
  • Skelleftea $1,961

A couple spends around $2,402 per month in Medellin vs $2,962 in Skelleftea, rent included.

  • Medellin $2,402
  • Skelleftea $2,962

A family of three spends $3,190 per month in Medellin vs $3,964 in Skelleftea, rent included.

  • Medellin $3,190
  • Skelleftea $3,964

Medellin is about 18% cheaper than Skelleftea, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both Medellin and Skelleftea sit above the global median – Medellin by 20%, Skelleftea by 45%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Skelleftea
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.93 COP 25.2K
$15.89 SEK 157
-50.09%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.13 COP 146.3K
$78.2 SEK 775
-41.04%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.50 COP 30.1K
$13.16 SEK 130
-27.81%
Cappuccino
$3.11 COP 9,866
$4.65 SEK 46.09
-33.12%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.83 COP 5,800
$2.56 SEK 25.38
-28.52%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.38 COP 4,360
$2.30 SEK 22.75
-40.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.05 COP 9,672
$7.88 SEK 78.1
-61.29%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.50 COP 17.4K
$7.69 SEK 76.2
-28.48%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Skelleftea
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.45 COP 4,600
$1.59 SEK 15.76
-8.81%
White Bread (500g)
$2.36 COP 7,496
$2.47 SEK 24.43
-4.45%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.68 COP 5,328
$4.91 SEK 48.67
-65.78%
Eggs
$2.86 COP 9,077
$5.14 SEK 51.0
-44.36%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.19 COP 32.3K
$10.90 SEK 108
-6.51%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.53 COP 30.2K
$10.78 SEK 107
-11.60%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.04 COP 44.5K
$24.10 SEK 239
-41.74%
Apples (1kg)
$4.07 COP 12.9K
$3.17 SEK 31.45
28.39%
Banana (1kg)
$1.50 COP 4,742
$2.40 SEK 23.80
-37.50%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.17 COP 6,891
$3.07 SEK 30.42
-29.32%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.31 COP 7,310
$3.56 SEK 35.25
-35.11%
Potato (1kg)
$1.93 COP 6,113
$2.24 SEK 22.17
-13.84%
Onion (1kg)
$1.64 COP 5,196
$1.62 SEK 16.01
1.23%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.13 COP 3,571
$2.28 SEK 22.58
-50.44%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.25 COP 3,954
$1.57 SEK 15.52
-20.38%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.99 COP 12.6K
$7.34 SEK 72.8
-45.64%
Wine (Bottle)
$13.35 COP 42.3K
$15.00 SEK 149
-11.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.70 COP 5,384
$1.71 SEK 16.90
-0.58%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.37 COP 7,525
$1.59 SEK 15.72
49.06%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Skelleftea
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.21 COP 3,827
$2.78 SEK 27.53
-56.47%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$76.5 COP 242.5K
$51.6 SEK 511
48.21%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.32 COP 4,179
$7.83 SEK 77.6
-83.14%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.14 COP 6,774
$1.73 SEK 17.13
23.70%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.47 COP 26.8K
$58.9 SEK 583
-85.61%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.30 COP 4,114
$1.72 SEK 17.00
-24.42%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.0K COP 88.7M
$32.9K SEK 326.1K
-14.97%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$35.4K COP 112.3M
$32.2K SEK 319.5K
9.83%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Skelleftea
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$172 COP 545.6K
$103 SEK 1,017
67.66%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.37 COP 42.4K
$33.24 SEK 329
-59.78%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$28.73 COP 91.1K
$51.7 SEK 513
-44.46%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Skelleftea
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$45.24 COP 143.5K
$37.65 SEK 373
20.16%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.04 COP 54.0K
$25.55 SEK 253
-33.31%
Cinema Ticket
$6.28 COP 19.9K
$14.79 SEK 147
-57.54%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Skelleftea
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$770 COP 2.4M
$140 SEK 1,388
449.98%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$9,011 COP 28.6M
$5,481 SEK 54.3K
64.42%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Skelleftea
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$86.4 COP 274.0K
$94.8 SEK 940
-8.88%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$57.1 COP 181.1K
$39.10 SEK 387
46.11%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$137 COP 432.9K
$78.9 SEK 781
73.15%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$97.9 COP 310.4K
$153 SEK 1,515
-35.95%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Skelleftea
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,055 COP 3.3M
$1,127 SEK 11.2K
-6.34%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$616 COP 2.0M
$786 SEK 7,792
-21.69%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,892 COP 6.0M
$1,588 SEK 15.7K
19.13%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,023 COP 3.2M
$1,195 SEK 11.8K
-14.40%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,059 COP 12.9M
$4,005 SEK 39.7K
1.35%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,678 COP 5.3M
$2,822 SEK 28.0K
-40.52%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Skelleftea
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$652 COP 2.1M
$2,556 SEK 25.3K
-74.47%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
10.94
3.9
180.51%

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

Last update for Medellin: October 12, 2026

Last update for Skelleftea: October 13, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Medellin
$616
Skelleftea
$786 27.7% $171
Groceries & Markets
Medellin
$295
Skelleftea
$380 28.8% $85
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
$214
Skelleftea
$188 12.4% $27
Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
$170
Skelleftea
$165 3.3% $5.6
Eating Out
Medellin
$168
Skelleftea
$297 76.2% $128
Getting Around
Medellin
$93
Skelleftea
$79 15.1% $14
Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
$58
Skelleftea
$67 16.3% $9.4

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,055 in Medellin versus $1,127 in Skelleftea. 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 292% higher in Skelleftea, 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 $46.00 in Medellin versus $78.0 in Skelleftea. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $295 vs $380 – making Medellin the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇨🇴 Medellin
🇸🇪 Skelleftea
🕒 Local time
08:41 8:41 AM
15:41 3:41 PM
7 h ahead of Medellin
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
2,486,723
32,775
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

SEK, USD, EUR to COP – Colombian Peso Converter

Colombian Peso exchange rates as of October 17, 2026: 1 USD = 3,171 COP (10,000 COP = 3.15 USD). 1 EUR = 3,565 COP (10,000 COP = 2.81 EUR).

Swedish Krona exchange rates as of October 17, 2026: 1 USD = 9.91 SEK (1 SEK = 0.101 USD). 1 EUR = 11.14 SEK (100 SEK = 8.98 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Medellin Skelleftea 9,690 km ≈ 13 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Medellin
  • Skelleftea

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 Skelleftea: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Skelleftea cheaper than Medellin?
Yes – Skelleftea is pricier by about 21%, 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 $2,421 per month in Medellin and $2,942 in Skelleftea. 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 Medellin, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Is eating out cheaper in Medellin or in Skelleftea?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $46.00 in Medellin and $78.0 in Skelleftea. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
What are total monthly expenses in Medellin and in Skelleftea?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,614 in Medellin and $1,961 in Skelleftea. That's a gap of about 21%.
Is $2,500 a realistic budget for living in Medellin or in Skelleftea?
A $2,500 monthly budget goes further in Medellin, where all-in costs run around $1,614, than in Skelleftea at $1,961. In Medellin it covers expenses comfortably, while in Skelleftea it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Medellin or Skelleftea more family-friendly?
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.
Which city is safer, Medellin or Skelleftea?
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.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Medellin. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Skelleftea makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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