🙂A single person spends $1,641 per month in Medellin vs $1,909 in Stenungsund, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $2,447 per month in Medellin vs $2,961 in Stenungsund, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $3,253 per month in Medellin vs $4,014 in Stenungsund, rent included.
🙂Medellin is about 14% cheaper than Stenungsund, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both Medellin and Stenungsund sit above the global median – Medellin by 19%, Stenungsund by 38%.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Stenungsund
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.04COP 24.8K
$14.15SEK 137
-43.18%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$48.29COP 148.6K
$67.2SEK 651
-28.14%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.42COP 29.0K
$9.23SEK 89.5
2.06%
Cappuccino
$2.94COP 9,040
$4.39SEK 42.57
-33.03%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.86COP 5,735
$1.58SEK 15.36
17.72%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.46COP 4,479
$2.29SEK 22.16
-36.24%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.21COP 9,882
$7.14SEK 69.3
-55.04%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.71COP 17.6K
$7.18SEK 69.6
-20.47%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Stenungsund
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.44COP 4,428
$1.48SEK 14.33
-2.70%
White Bread(500g)
$2.40COP 7,389
$3.23SEK 31.31
-25.70%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.70COP 5,228
$5.60SEK 54.3
-69.64%
Eggs
$2.89COP 8,896
$4.96SEK 48.07
-41.73%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.06COP 30.9K
$14.15SEK 137
-28.90%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.97COP 30.7K
$13.41SEK 130
-25.65%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$14.20COP 43.7K
$17.74SEK 172
-19.95%
Apples(1kg)
$3.98COP 12.3K
$3.22SEK 31.19
23.60%
Banana(1kg)
$1.58COP 4,878
$2.70SEK 26.16
-41.48%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.15COP 6,624
$2.13SEK 20.60
0.94%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.30COP 7,078
$4.94SEK 47.93
-53.44%
Potato(1kg)
$2.00COP 6,169
$1.49SEK 14.41
34.23%
Onion(1kg)
$1.51COP 4,646
$1.84SEK 17.84
-17.93%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.20COP 3,701
$2.30SEK 22.31
-47.83%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.28COP 3,946
$1.88SEK 18.18
-31.91%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.84COP 11.8K
$7.34SEK 71.2
-47.68%
Wine(Bottle)
$14.01COP 43.1K
$8.38SEK 81.2
67.18%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.71COP 5,256
$2.04SEK 19.78
-16.18%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.74COP 8,440
$2.27SEK 22.03
20.70%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Stenungsund
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.25COP 3,834
$2.54SEK 24.65
-50.79%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$77.9COP 239.7K
$79.4SEK 770
-1.89%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.31COP 4,016
$13.32SEK 129
-90.17%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.17COP 6,680
$2.05SEK 19.85
5.85%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$8.29COP 25.5K
$84.3SEK 817
-90.17%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.36COP 4,172
$1.84SEK 17.79
-26.09%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.5KCOP 84.5M
$34.6KSEK 335.7K
-20.67%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$36.5KCOP 112.4M
$34.5KSEK 334.7K
5.82%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Stenungsund
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$169COP 519.2K
$180SEK 1,743
-6.18%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.57COP 41.8K
$27.27SEK 264
-50.24%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$28.32COP 87.2K
$48.86SEK 474
-42.04%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Stenungsund
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$45.71COP 140.7K
$39.05SEK 379
17.06%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.22COP 53.0K
$26.37SEK 256
-34.70%
Cinema Ticket
$6.65COP 20.5K
$16.75SEK 162
-60.30%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Stenungsund
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$803COP 2.5M
$223SEK 2,161
260.39%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$9,190COP 28.3M
$5,145SEK 49.9K
78.63%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Stenungsund
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$87.4COP 268.8K
$104SEK 1,007
-15.89%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$59.4COP 182.7K
$55.0SEK 533
7.98%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$139COP 427.5K
$99.4SEK 963
39.82%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$102COP 314.0K
$224SEK 2,172
-54.45%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Stenungsund
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,071COP 3.3M
$937SEK 9,085
14.27%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$653COP 2.0M
$532SEK 5,162
22.63%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,925COP 5.9M
$1,306SEK 12.7K
47.41%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,048COP 3.2M
$1,196SEK 11.6K
-12.36%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,123COP 12.7M
$3,674SEK 35.6K
12.21%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,697COP 5.2M
$2,799SEK 27.1K
-39.36%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Stenungsund
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$655COP 2.0M
$1,998SEK 19.4K
-67.22%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
10.94
3.2
241.87%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Medellin: September 7, 2026
Last update for Stenungsund: September 6, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $1,071 in Medellin versus $937 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 run about 205% higher in Stenungsund, 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 $48.00 in Medellin versus $67.0 in Stenungsund. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $300 vs $389 – 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 Stenungsund: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Stenungsund cheaper than Medellin?
Yes – Stenungsund is pricier by about 16%, 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 $2,462 per month in Medellin and $2,863 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 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 Stenungsund?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $48.00 in Medellin and $67.0 in Stenungsund. 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 Stenungsund?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,641 in Medellin and $1,909 in Stenungsund. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Is $2,500 a realistic budget for living in Medellin or in Stenungsund?
A $2,500 monthly budget goes further in Medellin, where all-in costs run around $1,641, than in Stenungsund at $1,909. In Medellin it covers expenses comfortably, while in Stenungsund it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Medellin or Stenungsund 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 Stenungsund?
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, Stenungsund makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.