🙂A single person spends $1,031 per month in Medellin vs $2,107 in Skelleftea, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $1,599 per month in Medellin vs $3,130 in Skelleftea, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $2,167 per month in Medellin vs $4,154 in Skelleftea, rent included.
🙂Medellin is about 51% cheaper than Skelleftea, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Medellin sits 23% below the global median, while Skelleftea is 58% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Skelleftea
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.16COP 20.0K
$14.85SEK 143
-58.52%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.60COP 106.0K
$68.2SEK 657
-52.17%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.34COP 23.9K
$13.24SEK 128
-44.56%
Cappuccino
$1.72COP 5,592
$4.80SEK 46.22
-64.17%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.05COP 3,416
$2.54SEK 24.43
-58.66%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.77COP 2,511
$1.99SEK 19.18
-61.31%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.69COP 5,480
$9.21SEK 88.7
-81.65%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.17COP 10.3K
$8.56SEK 82.5
-62.97%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Skelleftea
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.05COP 3,418
$1.67SEK 16.13
-37.13%
White Bread(500g)
$1.30COP 4,230
$2.63SEK 25.30
-50.57%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.40COP 4,538
$5.14SEK 49.55
-72.76%
Eggs
$2.16COP 7,037
$4.77SEK 45.99
-54.72%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$4.39COP 14.3K
$11.52SEK 111
-61.89%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.88COP 19.1K
$11.31SEK 109
-48.01%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.64COP 28.1K
$22.58SEK 218
-61.74%
Apples(1kg)
$2.28COP 7,415
$2.66SEK 25.68
-14.29%
Banana(1kg)
$1.11COP 3,599
$2.63SEK 25.34
-57.79%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.53COP 4,976
$3.24SEK 31.19
-52.78%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.35COP 4,405
$3.79SEK 36.55
-64.38%
Potato(1kg)
$1.13COP 3,669
$2.14SEK 20.62
-47.20%
Onion(1kg)
$1.13COP 3,687
$1.59SEK 15.36
-28.93%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.85COP 2,749
$2.39SEK 23.03
-64.44%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.91COP 2,971
$1.52SEK 14.62
-40.13%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.34COP 7,619
$7.21SEK 69.5
-67.55%
Wine(Bottle)
$12.37COP 40.2K
$15.72SEK 151
-21.31%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.20COP 3,904
$1.86SEK 17.93
-35.48%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.49COP 8,094
$1.67SEK 16.08
49.10%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Skelleftea
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.84COP 2,724
$4.19SEK 40.42
-79.95%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$40.57COP 131.9K
$57.2SEK 551
-29.01%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.42COP 4,617
$8.23SEK 79.3
-82.75%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.92COP 6,227
$1.99SEK 19.16
-3.52%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.66COP 24.9K
$60.2SEK 580
-87.27%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.99COP 3,219
$1.92SEK 18.49
-48.44%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.0KCOP 58.6M
$32.9KSEK 316.9K
-45.17%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.6KCOP 86.6M
$34.5KSEK 332.8K
-22.91%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Skelleftea
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$80.8COP 262.7K
$171SEK 1,646
-52.70%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.95COP 32.3K
$31.44SEK 303
-68.35%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.18COP 78.6K
$28.25SEK 272
-14.41%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Skelleftea
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$25.08COP 81.5K
$40.08SEK 386
-37.43%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.15COP 62.3K
$25.39SEK 245
-24.58%
Cinema Ticket
$3.98COP 13.0K
$16.00SEK 154
-75.13%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Skelleftea
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$305COP 992.2K
$151SEK 1,456
101.97%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$6,059COP 19.7M
$4,070SEK 39.2K
48.88%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Skelleftea
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.1COP 189.0K
$98.5SEK 950
-41.01%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$32.20COP 104.7K
$42.03SEK 405
-23.39%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$101COP 327.5K
$83.8SEK 807
20.25%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$108COP 350.3K
$165SEK 1,588
-34.63%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Skelleftea
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$477COP 1.5M
$1,278SEK 12.3K
-62.72%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$376COP 1.2M
$876SEK 8,446
-57.08%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$845COP 2.7M
$1,750SEK 16.9K
-51.74%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$730COP 2.4M
$1,382SEK 13.3K
-47.15%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,215COP 10.5M
$3,880SEK 37.4K
-17.12%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,372COP 4.5M
$2,733SEK 26.3K
-49.78%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Skelleftea
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$617COP 2.0M
$2,600SEK 25.1K
-76.27%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
13.43
4.5
198.44%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Medellin: July 12, 2026
Last update for Skelleftea: July 14, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $477 in Medellin versus $1,278 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 321% 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 $33.00 in Medellin versus $68.0 in Skelleftea. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $193 vs $384 – 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 Skelleftea: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Skelleftea cheaper than Medellin?
Yes – Skelleftea is pricier by about 104%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,546 per month in Medellin and $3,160 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 $33.00 in Medellin and $68.0 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 $1,031 in Medellin and $2,107 in Skelleftea. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Medellin or in Skelleftea?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Medellin, where all-in costs run around $1,031, than in Skelleftea at $2,107. 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.