Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Stenungsund Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Stenungsund

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,030 per month in Medellin vs $1,823 in Stenungsund, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,586 per month in Medellin vs $2,802 in Stenungsund, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,143 per month in Medellin vs $3,781 in Stenungsund, rent included.

Medellin is about 44% cheaper than Stenungsund, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Medellin sits 23% below the global median, while Stenungsund is 36% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Stenungsund
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.92 COP 21.2K
$12.97 SEK 119
-54.36%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$33.17 COP 118.7K
$68.9 SEK 634
-51.85%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.25 COP 25.9K
$8.98 SEK 82.6
-19.27%
Cappuccino
$1.71 COP 6,137
$4.51 SEK 41.47
-62.08%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.09 COP 3,915
$1.56 SEK 14.32
-30.13%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.77 COP 2,743
$2.41 SEK 22.16
-68.05%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.75 COP 6,254
$7.18 SEK 66.1
-75.63%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.18 COP 11.4K
$7.17 SEK 66.0
-55.65%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Stenungsund
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.06 COP 3,792
$1.45 SEK 13.38
-26.90%
White Bread (500g)
$1.30 COP 4,657
$3.08 SEK 28.29
-57.79%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.38 COP 4,926
$3.92 SEK 36.03
-64.80%
Eggs
$2.21 COP 7,908
$3.94 SEK 36.21
-43.91%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$4.52 COP 16.2K
$13.93 SEK 128
-67.55%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.80 COP 20.7K
$11.94 SEK 110
-51.42%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$8.97 COP 32.1K
$15.85 SEK 146
-43.41%
Apples (1kg)
$2.29 COP 8,182
$3.61 SEK 33.17
-36.57%
Banana (1kg)
$1.06 COP 3,791
$2.58 SEK 23.78
-58.91%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.51 COP 5,411
$1.54 SEK 14.19
-1.95%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.36 COP 4,869
$5.59 SEK 51.4
-75.67%
Potato (1kg)
$1.16 COP 4,146
$1.51 SEK 13.90
-23.18%
Onion (1kg)
$1.17 COP 4,174
$2.10 SEK 19.31
-44.29%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.83 COP 2,960
$2.78 SEK 25.60
-70.14%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.85 COP 3,043
$1.75 SEK 16.10
-51.43%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.35 COP 8,423
$7.60 SEK 69.9
-69.08%
Wine (Bottle)
$11.09 COP 39.7K
$8.87 SEK 81.6
25.03%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.15 COP 4,133
$1.71 SEK 15.78
-32.75%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.47 COP 8,853
$1.96 SEK 18.06
26.02%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Stenungsund
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.79 COP 2,827
$2.71 SEK 24.98
-70.85%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$41.85 COP 149.8K
$73.6 SEK 677
-43.12%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.44 COP 5,140
$5.66 SEK 52.1
-74.56%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.90 COP 6,793
$1.59 SEK 14.62
19.50%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.70 COP 27.6K
$21.22 SEK 195
-63.71%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.03 COP 3,680
$1.98 SEK 18.26
-47.98%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$17.7K COP 63.3M
$32.2K SEK 296.5K
-45.12%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.0K COP 96.7M
$34.0K SEK 312.9K
-20.57%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Stenungsund
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$81.4 COP 291.4K
$89.5 SEK 824
-9.04%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.42 COP 33.7K
$27.93 SEK 257
-66.27%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$23.77 COP 85.1K
$36.86 SEK 339
-35.51%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Stenungsund
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$25.86 COP 92.6K
$40.19 SEK 370
-35.66%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.34 COP 69.2K
$25.02 SEK 230
-22.70%
Cinema Ticket
$4.05 COP 14.5K
$15.67 SEK 144
-74.15%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Stenungsund
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$312 COP 1.1M
$145 SEK 1,333
115.60%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$6,067 COP 21.7M
$729 SEK 6,705
732.35%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Stenungsund
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.9 COP 210.7K
$107 SEK 983
-44.90%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$32.82 COP 117.5K
$43.62 SEK 401
-24.76%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$100 COP 359.6K
$118 SEK 1,088
-15.04%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$106 COP 380.3K
$158 SEK 1,451
-32.62%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Stenungsund
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$490 COP 1.8M
$827 SEK 7,609
-40.80%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$371 COP 1.3M
$650 SEK 5,984
-43.01%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$838 COP 3.0M
$1,390 SEK 12.8K
-39.73%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$715 COP 2.6M
$1,085 SEK 9,982
-34.11%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,952 COP 10.6M
$3,926 SEK 36.1K
-24.80%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,394 COP 5.0M
$3,398 SEK 31.3K
-58.98%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Stenungsund
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$532 COP 1.9M
$2,123 SEK 19.5K
-74.94%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
13.43
4.53
196.47%

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

Last update for Medellin: April 20, 2026

Last update for Stenungsund: April 20, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $490 in Medellin versus $827 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 299% 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 $33 in Medellin versus $69 in Stenungsund. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $190 vs $364 – 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 77%, 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 $1,544 per month in Medellin and $2,735 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 Stenungsund?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $33.00 in Medellin and $69.0 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 vs Stenungsund?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,030 in Medellin and $1,823 in Stenungsund. 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 Stenungsund?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Medellin, where all-in costs run around $1,030, than in Stenungsund at $1,823. 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.

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