Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Stenungsund

For one person, living is cheaper in Medellin: $1,639 a month against $1,887 in Stenungsund, rent and utilities included – about $3,000 less a year. The total is higher in Stenungsund despite lower rent and utilities.

Medellin, Colombia
Stenungsund, Sweden
Medellin
🇨🇴 Colombia
$1,639
/mo nomad
Stenungsund
🇸🇪 Sweden
$1,887
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Medellin and in Stenungsund

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

A single person spends $1,639 per month in Medellin vs $1,887 in Stenungsund, rent included.

  • Medellin $1,639
  • Stenungsund $1,887

A couple spends around $2,413 per month in Medellin vs $2,880 in Stenungsund, rent included.

  • Medellin $2,413
  • Stenungsund $2,880

A family of three spends $3,186 per month in Medellin vs $3,872 in Stenungsund, rent included.

  • Medellin $3,186
  • Stenungsund $3,872

Medellin is about 13% cheaper than Stenungsund, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both Medellin and Stenungsund sit above the global median – Medellin by 20%, Stenungsund by 39%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Stenungsund
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.09 COP 25.4K
$14.02 SEK 139
-42.30%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$47.05 COP 148.0K
$66.8 SEK 664
-29.60%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.50 COP 29.9K
$8.64 SEK 85.8
9.95%
Cappuccino
$3.01 COP 9,485
$4.40 SEK 43.67
-31.59%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.80 COP 5,660
$1.47 SEK 14.60
22.45%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.41 COP 4,443
$2.22 SEK 22.03
-36.49%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.18 COP 9,990
$7.03 SEK 69.9
-54.77%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.75 COP 18.1K
$6.89 SEK 68.5
-16.55%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Stenungsund
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.51 COP 4,751
$1.43 SEK 14.21
5.59%
White Bread (500g)
$2.38 COP 7,480
$3.15 SEK 31.26
-24.44%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.77 COP 5,573
$5.60 SEK 55.7
-68.39%
Eggs
$2.89 COP 9,093
$5.23 SEK 51.9
-44.74%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.19 COP 32.1K
$13.62 SEK 135
-25.18%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.87 COP 31.1K
$13.38 SEK 133
-26.23%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.99 COP 44.0K
$16.96 SEK 168
-17.51%
Apples (1kg)
$3.97 COP 12.5K
$3.24 SEK 32.14
22.53%
Banana (1kg)
$1.55 COP 4,883
$2.67 SEK 26.49
-41.95%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.18 COP 6,867
$2.05 SEK 20.39
6.34%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.18 COP 6,870
$4.62 SEK 45.91
-52.81%
Potato (1kg)
$1.96 COP 6,174
$1.43 SEK 14.19
37.06%
Onion (1kg)
$1.59 COP 5,000
$1.74 SEK 17.32
-8.62%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.15 COP 3,604
$2.26 SEK 22.44
-49.12%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.24 COP 3,911
$1.82 SEK 18.04
-31.87%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.96 COP 12.5K
$7.35 SEK 73.0
-46.12%
Wine (Bottle)
$13.68 COP 43.0K
$8.14 SEK 80.8
68.06%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.66 COP 5,221
$2.00 SEK 19.89
-17.00%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.26 COP 7,103
$2.21 SEK 21.93
2.26%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Stenungsund
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.17 COP 3,674
$2.57 SEK 25.52
-54.47%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$77.4 COP 243.4K
$77.9 SEK 773
-0.64%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.27 COP 3,989
$13.37 SEK 133
-90.50%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.05 COP 6,442
$2.05 SEK 20.41
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.55 COP 26.9K
$81.3 SEK 808
-89.49%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.35 COP 4,237
$1.76 SEK 17.48
-23.30%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.1K COP 107.2M
$32.7K SEK 324.5K
4.26%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.7K COP 109.1M
$33.8K SEK 335.9K
2.50%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Stenungsund
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$170 COP 533.7K
$178 SEK 1,768
-4.68%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.55 COP 42.6K
$28.89 SEK 287
-53.10%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$28.07 COP 88.3K
$47.61 SEK 473
-41.04%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Stenungsund
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$43.70 COP 137.5K
$37.19 SEK 369
17.50%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.19 COP 54.1K
$26.84 SEK 267
-35.95%
Cinema Ticket
$6.91 COP 21.7K
$17.15 SEK 170
-59.71%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Stenungsund
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$797 COP 2.5M
$219 SEK 2,176
263.54%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$9,112 COP 28.7M
$5,035 SEK 50.0K
80.97%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Stenungsund
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$84.7 COP 266.5K
$98.0 SEK 973
-13.51%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$58.0 COP 182.3K
$53.0 SEK 527
9.30%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$135 COP 424.6K
$95.1 SEK 944
41.94%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$97.9 COP 307.9K
$218 SEK 2,169
-55.18%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Stenungsund
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,208 COP 3.8M
$813 SEK 8,071
48.63%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$642 COP 2.0M
$606 SEK 6,014
5.95%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,028 COP 6.4M
$1,378 SEK 13.7K
47.17%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,012 COP 3.2M
$1,002 SEK 9,947
1.01%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,170 COP 13.1M
$3,961 SEK 39.3K
5.28%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,910 COP 6.0M
$2,832 SEK 28.1K
-32.54%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Stenungsund
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$657 COP 2.1M
$1,935 SEK 19.2K
-66.03%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
10.94
2.8
290.71%

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

Last update for Medellin: October 25, 2026

Last update for Stenungsund: October 26, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Medellin
$642
Stenungsund
$606 5.6% $36
Groceries & Markets
Medellin
$297
Stenungsund
$381 28.2% $84
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
$211
Stenungsund
$254 20.5% $43
Eating Out
Medellin
$170
Stenungsund
$255 50.1% $85
Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
$169
Stenungsund
$209 23.7% $40
Getting Around
Medellin
$94
Stenungsund
$112 19.5% $18
Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
$58
Stenungsund
$72 24.3% $14

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,208 in Medellin versus $813 in Stenungsund. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries in Stenungsund are about 2.9 times higher. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $47 in Medellin versus $67 in Stenungsund. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $297 vs $381 – making Medellin the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇨🇴 Medellin
🇸🇪 Stenungsund
🕒 Local time
09:03 9:03 AM
15:03 3:03 PM
6 h ahead of Medellin
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
2,486,723
27,842
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

SEK, USD, EUR to COP – Colombian Peso Converter

Colombian Peso exchange rates as of October 28, 2026: 1 USD = 3,146 COP (10,000 COP = 3.18 USD). 1 EUR = 3,501 COP (10,000 COP = 2.86 EUR).

Swedish Krona exchange rates as of October 28, 2026: 1 USD = 9.93 SEK (1 SEK = 0.101 USD). 1 EUR = 11.05 SEK (100 SEK = 9.05 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Medellin Stenungsund 9,270 km ≈ 12 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Medellin
  • Stenungsund

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 Stenungsund: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Medellin cheaper than Stenungsund?
Yes – Stenungsund is pricier by about 15%, 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 $2,459 per month in Medellin and $2,831 in Stenungsund. 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 Stenungsund, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $813 there versus $1,208 in Medellin.
Is eating out cheaper in Medellin or in Stenungsund?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $47 in Medellin and $67 in Stenungsund. That’s a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
How do food prices compare in Medellin and in Stenungsund?
Groceries cost about 28% more in Stenungsund, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Is $2,500 enough for either Medellin or Stenungsund?
$2,500 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $1,639 in Medellin and $1,887 in Stenungsund, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.
Is it better to live in Medellin or in Stenungsund?
It depends on your priorities. Medellin has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,639 in Medellin to $1,887 in Stenungsund. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
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, Stenungsund makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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