Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Stockholm Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Stockholm

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,031 per month in Medellin vs $2,582 in Stockholm, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,599 per month in Medellin vs $3,840 in Stockholm, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,167 per month in Medellin vs $5,098 in Stockholm, rent included.

Medellin is about 60% cheaper than Stockholm, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Medellin sits 23% below the global median, while Stockholm is 93% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.16 COP 20.1K

$16.09 SEK 156

-61.72%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.60 COP 106.1K

$110 SEK 1,065

-70.42%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.34 COP 23.9K

$11.68 SEK 113

-37.16%

Cappuccino

$1.72 COP 5,600

$5.20 SEK 50.3

-66.92%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.05 COP 3,420

$3.28 SEK 31.74

-67.99%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.77 COP 2,515

$2.47 SEK 23.85

-68.83%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.69 COP 5,488

$8.51 SEK 82.3

-80.14%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.17 COP 10.3K

$8.31 SEK 80.3

-61.85%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.05 COP 3,423

$1.80 SEK 17.38

-41.67%

White Bread (500g)

$1.30 COP 4,236

$3.41 SEK 32.94

-61.88%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.40 COP 4,544

$4.07 SEK 39.31

-65.60%

Eggs

$2.16 COP 7,047

$4.70 SEK 45.47

-54.04%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.39 COP 14.3K

$12.77 SEK 123

-65.62%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.88 COP 19.1K

$13.23 SEK 128

-55.56%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.64 COP 28.1K

$19.40 SEK 187

-55.46%

Apples (1kg)

$2.28 COP 7,426

$3.60 SEK 34.77

-36.67%

Banana (1kg)

$1.11 COP 3,604

$2.90 SEK 28.01

-61.72%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.53 COP 4,983

$3.38 SEK 32.64

-54.73%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.35 COP 4,410

$4.59 SEK 44.35

-70.59%

Potato (1kg)

$1.13 COP 3,674

$1.96 SEK 18.98

-42.35%

Onion (1kg)

$1.13 COP 3,692

$1.89 SEK 18.23

-40.21%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.85 COP 2,753

$2.52 SEK 24.32

-66.27%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.91 COP 2,975

$1.61 SEK 15.60

-43.48%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.34 COP 7,630

$8.06 SEK 77.9

-70.97%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.37 COP 40.3K

$12.53 SEK 121

-1.28%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.20 COP 3,909

$2.19 SEK 21.15

-45.21%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.49 COP 8,104

$2.36 SEK 22.83

5.51%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.84 COP 2,728

$4.55 SEK 44.02

-81.54%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$40.57 COP 132.1K

$112 SEK 1,083

-63.79%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.42 COP 4,623

$6.40 SEK 61.9

-77.81%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.92 COP 6,235

$1.66 SEK 16.00

15.66%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.66 COP 24.9K

$63.3 SEK 612

-87.89%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.99 COP 3,223

$1.86 SEK 17.97

-46.77%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$18.0K COP 58.7M

$33.0K SEK 319.3K

-45.42%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$26.6K COP 86.7M

$34.5K SEK 333.9K

-22.91%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$80.8 COP 263.1K

$227 SEK 2,196

-64.43%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$9.95 COP 32.4K

$29.59 SEK 286

-66.37%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.18 COP 78.7K

$42.03 SEK 406

-42.47%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.08 COP 81.7K

$46.01 SEK 445

-45.49%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.15 COP 62.3K

$38.09 SEK 368

-49.72%

Cinema Ticket

$3.98 COP 13.0K

$17.78 SEK 172

-77.62%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$305 COP 993.5K

$164 SEK 1,587

85.86%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,059 COP 19.7M

$6,573 SEK 63.5K

-7.83%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.1 COP 189.2K

$97.6 SEK 944

-40.46%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$32.20 COP 104.8K

$49.76 SEK 481

-35.29%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$101 COP 327.9K

$120 SEK 1,163

-16.28%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$108 COP 350.8K

$202 SEK 1,951

-46.61%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$477 COP 1.6M

$1,566 SEK 15.1K

-69.56%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$376 COP 1.2M

$1,086 SEK 10.5K

-65.37%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$845 COP 2.7M

$2,754 SEK 26.6K

-69.33%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$730 COP 2.4M

$1,801 SEK 17.4K

-59.45%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,215 COP 10.5M

$11.8K SEK 113.7K

-72.66%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,372 COP 4.5M

$6,496 SEK 62.8K

-78.88%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$617 COP 2.0M

$3,643 SEK 35.2K

-83.07%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.43

4.16

222.84%

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

Last update for Medellin: July 12, 2026

Last update for Stockholm: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $477 in Medellin versus $1,566 in Stockholm. 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 491% higher in Stockholm, 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 $110 in Stockholm. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $193 vs $401 – 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 Stockholm: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Stockholm is pricier by about 150%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,546 per month in Medellin and $3,873 in Stockholm. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $33.00 in Medellin and $110 in Stockholm. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,031 in Medellin and $2,582 in Stockholm. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Medellin, where all-in costs run around $1,031, than in Stockholm at $2,582. In Medellin it covers expenses comfortably, while in Stockholm it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

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.

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.

If budget matters most, go with Medellin. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Stockholm makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.