🙂A single person spends $1,031 per month in Medellin vs $1,756 in Sundsvall, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $1,599 per month in Medellin vs $2,619 in Sundsvall, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $2,167 per month in Medellin vs $3,482 in Sundsvall, rent included.
🙂Medellin is about 41% cheaper than Sundsvall, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Medellin sits 23% below the global median, while Sundsvall is 31% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Sundsvall
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.16COP 20.1K
$12.87SEK 125
-52.14%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.60COP 106.1K
$85.3SEK 826
-61.77%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.34COP 23.9K
$10.42SEK 101
-29.56%
Cappuccino
$1.72COP 5,599
$4.54SEK 43.91
-62.11%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.05COP 3,420
$2.46SEK 23.78
-57.32%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.77COP 2,515
$2.05SEK 19.89
-62.44%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.69COP 5,487
$7.82SEK 75.7
-78.39%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.17COP 10.3K
$8.15SEK 78.9
-61.10%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Sundsvall
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.05COP 3,423
$1.57SEK 15.23
-33.12%
White Bread(500g)
$1.30COP 4,236
$3.34SEK 32.38
-61.08%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.40COP 4,544
$3.82SEK 36.95
-63.35%
Eggs
$2.16COP 7,046
$3.73SEK 36.09
-42.09%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$4.39COP 14.3K
$10.14SEK 98.1
-56.71%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.88COP 19.1K
$10.31SEK 99.8
-42.97%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.64COP 28.1K
$18.41SEK 178
-53.07%
Apples(1kg)
$2.28COP 7,425
$2.84SEK 27.47
-19.72%
Banana(1kg)
$1.11COP 3,603
$2.44SEK 23.64
-54.51%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.53COP 4,982
$2.57SEK 24.91
-40.47%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.35COP 4,410
$4.06SEK 39.32
-66.75%
Potato(1kg)
$1.13COP 3,674
$1.51SEK 14.66
-25.17%
Onion(1kg)
$1.13COP 3,692
$1.42SEK 13.78
-20.42%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.85COP 2,753
$1.88SEK 18.19
-54.79%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.91COP 2,975
$1.03SEK 10.01
-11.65%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.34COP 7,629
$7.70SEK 74.5
-69.61%
Wine(Bottle)
$12.37COP 40.3K
$9.27SEK 89.8
33.44%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.20COP 3,909
$1.64SEK 15.93
-26.83%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.49COP 8,104
$1.56SEK 15.10
59.62%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Sundsvall
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.84COP 2,727
$3.36SEK 32.52
-75.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$40.57COP 132.1K
$85.8SEK 831
-52.73%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.42COP 4,623
$6.45SEK 62.5
-77.98%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.92COP 6,235
$1.22SEK 11.84
57.38%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.66COP 24.9K
$63.1SEK 611
-87.85%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.99COP 3,223
$1.90SEK 18.39
-47.89%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.0KCOP 58.7M
$26.7KSEK 258.7K
-32.51%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.6KCOP 86.7M
$26.9KSEK 260.8K
-1.15%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Sundsvall
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$80.8COP 263.1K
$132SEK 1,273
-38.55%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.95COP 32.4K
$29.93SEK 290
-66.76%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.18COP 78.7K
$25.77SEK 250
-6.17%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Sundsvall
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$25.08COP 81.6K
$37.95SEK 367
-33.91%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.15COP 62.3K
$26.04SEK 252
-26.46%
Cinema Ticket
$3.98COP 13.0K
$14.75SEK 143
-73.02%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Sundsvall
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$305COP 993.4K
$145SEK 1,404
110.41%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$6,059COP 19.7M
$4,164SEK 40.3K
45.50%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Sundsvall
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.1COP 189.2K
$94.0SEK 910
-38.19%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$32.20COP 104.8K
$30.77SEK 298
4.65%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$101COP 327.9K
$77.5SEK 750
29.99%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$108COP 350.8K
$131SEK 1,266
-17.58%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Sundsvall
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$477COP 1.6M
$837SEK 8,105
-43.07%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$376COP 1.2M
$634SEK 6,140
-40.69%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$845COP 2.7M
$1,191SEK 11.5K
-29.07%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$730COP 2.4M
$869SEK 8,413
-15.94%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,215COP 10.5M
$2,466SEK 23.9K
30.39%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,372COP 4.5M
$1,293SEK 12.5K
6.16%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Sundsvall
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$617COP 2.0M
$3,018SEK 29.2K
-79.56%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
13.43
4.48
199.78%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Medellin: July 12, 2026
Last update for Sundsvall: July 14, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $477 in Medellin versus $837 in Sundsvall. 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 389% higher in Sundsvall, 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 $85.0 in Sundsvall. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $193 vs $333 – 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 Sundsvall: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Sundsvall cheaper than Medellin?
Yes – Sundsvall is pricier by about 70%, 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 $1,546 per month in Medellin and $2,634 in Sundsvall. 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 Sundsvall?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $33.00 in Medellin and $85.0 in Sundsvall. 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 Sundsvall?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,031 in Medellin and $1,756 in Sundsvall. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Medellin or in Sundsvall?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Medellin, where all-in costs run around $1,031, than in Sundsvall at $1,756. In Medellin it covers expenses comfortably, while in Sundsvall it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Medellin or Sundsvall 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 Sundsvall?
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, Sundsvall makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.