Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Solna Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Solna

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,013 per month in Medellin vs $1,773 in Solna, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,602 per month in Medellin vs $2,691 in Solna, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,192 per month in Medellin vs $3,610 in Solna, rent included.

Medellin is about 43% cheaper than Solna, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Medellin sits 24% below the global median, while Solna is 32% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Solna
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.99 COPΒ 21.4K
$14.78 SEKΒ 138
-59.47%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.86 COPΒ 117.4K
$56.1 SEKΒ 523
-41.38%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.09 COPΒ 25.3K
$10.42 SEKΒ 97.2
-31.96%
Cappuccino
$1.71 COPΒ 6,115
$5.02 SEKΒ 46.87
-65.94%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.10 COPΒ 3,924
$3.19 SEKΒ 29.81
-65.52%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.78 COPΒ 2,781
$1.51 SEKΒ 14.10
-48.34%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.68 COPΒ 5,997
$7.63 SEKΒ 71.2
-77.98%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.07 COPΒ 11.0K
$8.13 SEKΒ 75.8
-62.24%
πŸ›’ Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Solna
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.09 COPΒ 3,906
$1.56 SEKΒ 14.53
-30.13%
White Bread (500g)
$1.26 COPΒ 4,508
$2.67 SEKΒ 24.91
-52.81%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.38 COPΒ 4,922
$3.78 SEKΒ 35.24
-63.49%
Eggs
$2.19 COPΒ 7,827
$3.92 SEKΒ 36.60
-44.13%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$4.40 COPΒ 15.7K
$9.56 SEKΒ 89.2
-53.97%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.63 COPΒ 20.1K
$12.28 SEKΒ 115
-54.15%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$8.89 COPΒ 31.8K
$14.88 SEKΒ 139
-40.26%
Apples (1kg)
$2.34 COPΒ 8,349
$1.66 SEKΒ 15.45
40.96%
Banana (1kg)
$1.06 COPΒ 3,777
$2.16 SEKΒ 20.13
-50.93%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.50 COPΒ 5,374
$2.60 SEKΒ 24.28
-42.31%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.38 COPΒ 4,924
$3.19 SEKΒ 29.74
-56.74%
Potato (1kg)
$1.15 COPΒ 4,111
$1.55 SEKΒ 14.43
-25.81%
Onion (1kg)
$1.16 COPΒ 4,155
$2.04 SEKΒ 19.02
-43.14%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.89 COPΒ 3,182
$2.35 SEKΒ 21.90
-62.13%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.84 COPΒ 2,997
$1.11 SEKΒ 10.38
-24.32%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.28 COPΒ 8,145
$7.55 SEKΒ 70.4
-69.80%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.64 COPΒ 38.0K
$14.78 SEKΒ 138
-28.01%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.20 COPΒ 4,284
$1.40 SEKΒ 13.07
-14.29%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.47 COPΒ 8,824
$0.91 SEKΒ 8.48
171.43%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Solna
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.86 COPΒ 3,056
$4.54 SEKΒ 42.40
-81.06%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$41.40 COPΒ 147.9K
$100 SEKΒ 936
-58.74%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.47 COPΒ 5,264
$3.78 SEKΒ 35.23
-61.11%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.96 COPΒ 7,009
$1.58 SEKΒ 14.74
24.05%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.74 COPΒ 27.6K
$85.5 SEKΒ 798
-90.95%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.95 COPΒ 3,409
$1.96 SEKΒ 18.26
-51.53%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.1K COPΒ 64.7M
$27.2K SEKΒ 253.7K
-33.31%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.5K COPΒ 94.6M
$30.1K SEKΒ 281.2K
-12.11%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Solna
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$82.3 COPΒ 293.7K
$109 SEKΒ 1,014
-24.35%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.50 COPΒ 33.9K
$28.80 SEKΒ 269
-67.01%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.23 COPΒ 86.5K
$41.35 SEKΒ 386
-41.40%
πŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Solna
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$25.89 COPΒ 92.4K
$47.03 SEKΒ 439
-44.95%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.00 COPΒ 67.9K
$25.68 SEKΒ 240
-26.01%
Cinema Ticket
$3.93 COPΒ 14.0K
$15.01 SEKΒ 140
-73.82%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Solna
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$309 COPΒ 1.1M
$157 SEKΒ 1,467
96.78%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,965 COPΒ 21.3M
$4,218 SEKΒ 39.4K
41.43%
πŸ‘•πŸ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Solna
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.7 COPΒ 209.5K
$93.5 SEKΒ 873
-37.28%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$32.35 COPΒ 115.5K
$42.46 SEKΒ 396
-23.81%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$103 COPΒ 366.4K
$93.7 SEKΒ 874
9.52%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$108 COPΒ 387.2K
$52.5 SEKΒ 490
106.45%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Solna
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$476 COPΒ 1.7M
$840 SEKΒ 7,841
-43.34%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$379 COPΒ 1.4M
$657 SEKΒ 6,130
-42.35%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$838 COPΒ 3.0M
$1,416 SEKΒ 13.2K
-40.82%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$724 COPΒ 2.6M
$1,090 SEKΒ 10.2K
-33.61%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,791 COPΒ 10.0M
$7,167 SEKΒ 66.9K
-61.06%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,211 COPΒ 4.3M
$5,298 SEKΒ 49.4K
-77.14%
πŸ’΅ Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Solna
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$512 COPΒ 1.8M
$3,958 SEKΒ 36.9K
-87.07%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
13.43
4.8
179.79%

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

Last update for Medellin: May 31, 2026

Last update for Solna: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $476 in Medellin versus $840 in Solna. 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 673% higher in Solna, 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 $56.0 in Solna. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $188 vs $325 – 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 Solna: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Solna cheaper than Medellin?
Yes – Solna is pricier by about 75%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. 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 $1,519 per month in Medellin and $2,659 in Solna. 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 Solna?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $33.00 in Medellin and $56.0 in Solna. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and cafΓ© pricing gap between the two cities.
What are total monthly expenses in Medellin vs Solna?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,013 in Medellin and $1,773 in Solna. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Medellin or Solna?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Medellin, where all-in costs run around $1,013, than in Solna at $1,773. In Medellin it covers expenses comfortably, while in Solna it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Medellin or Solna 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 Solna?
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, Solna makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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