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