Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Taby

For one person, living is cheaper in Medellin: $1,625 a month against $2,122 in Taby, rent and utilities included – about $6,000 less a year. Rent and utilities account for about half of the difference.

Medellin
🇨🇴 Colombia
$1,625
/mo nomad
Taby
🇸🇪 Sweden
$2,122
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Medellin and in Taby

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Medellin and in Taby actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $1,625 per month in Medellin vs $2,122 in Taby, rent included.

  • Medellin $1,625
  • Taby $2,122

A couple spends around $2,412 per month in Medellin vs $3,043 in Taby, rent included.

  • Medellin $2,412
  • Taby $3,043

A family of three spends $3,199 per month in Medellin vs $3,964 in Taby, rent included.

  • Medellin $3,199
  • Taby $3,964

Medellin is about 23% cheaper than Taby, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both Medellin and Taby sit above the global median – Medellin by 20%, Taby by 57%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Taby
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.30 COP 26.3K
$13.66 SEK 135
-39.24%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.91 COP 148.7K
$65.8 SEK 652
-28.75%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.24 COP 29.3K
$10.09 SEK 100.0
-8.42%
Cappuccino
$3.05 COP 9,676
$4.28 SEK 42.41
-28.74%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.80 COP 5,707
$3.58 SEK 35.48
-49.72%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.38 COP 4,382
$2.34 SEK 23.19
-41.03%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.24 COP 10.3K
$6.95 SEK 68.9
-53.38%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.56 COP 17.6K
$8.79 SEK 87.1
-36.75%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Taby
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.50 COP 4,760
$1.70 SEK 16.83
-11.76%
White Bread (500g)
$2.37 COP 7,508
$3.02 SEK 29.90
-21.52%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.70 COP 5,377
$3.91 SEK 38.75
-56.52%
Eggs
$2.96 COP 9,379
$5.20 SEK 51.5
-43.08%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.22 COP 32.4K
$12.81 SEK 127
-20.22%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.74 COP 30.9K
$12.82 SEK 127
-24.02%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.90 COP 44.1K
$17.59 SEK 174
-20.98%
Apples (1kg)
$4.13 COP 13.1K
$3.13 SEK 31.05
31.95%
Banana (1kg)
$1.53 COP 4,839
$2.62 SEK 25.97
-41.60%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.22 COP 7,052
$1.97 SEK 19.52
12.69%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.27 COP 7,194
$4.50 SEK 44.60
-49.56%
Potato (1kg)
$1.99 COP 6,311
$1.70 SEK 16.88
17.06%
Onion (1kg)
$1.67 COP 5,285
$1.80 SEK 17.80
-7.22%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.18 COP 3,742
$2.33 SEK 23.13
-49.36%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.24 COP 3,919
$1.90 SEK 18.87
-34.74%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.87 COP 12.3K
$7.00 SEK 69.4
-44.71%
Wine (Bottle)
$13.78 COP 43.7K
$12.21 SEK 121
12.86%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.66 COP 5,256
$1.90 SEK 18.84
-12.63%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.40 COP 7,615
$2.21 SEK 21.90
8.60%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Taby
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.24 COP 3,944
$4.17 SEK 41.32
-70.26%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$78.2 COP 248.0K
$101 SEK 1,002
-22.66%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.28 COP 4,044
$5.87 SEK 58.1
-78.19%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.15 COP 6,803
$1.55 SEK 15.38
38.71%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.37 COP 26.5K
$57.4 SEK 569
-85.42%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.35 COP 4,288
$1.84 SEK 18.22
-26.63%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.8K COP 110.2M
$33.3K SEK 330.3K
4.27%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.7K COP 110.0M
$32.7K SEK 324.2K
6.01%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Taby
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$167 COP 528.4K
$177 SEK 1,758
-6.10%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.62 COP 43.2K
$27.61 SEK 274
-50.67%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.12 COP 92.3K
$40.66 SEK 403
-28.38%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Taby
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$45.09 COP 143.0K
-
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.18 COP 54.5K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.97 COP 22.1K
$17.11 SEK 170
-59.26%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Taby
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$790 COP 2.5M
$156 SEK 1,543
407.23%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$9,041 COP 28.7M
$16.3K SEK 161.4K
-44.50%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Taby
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$87.8 COP 278.4K
$98.0 SEK 971
-10.41%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$58.2 COP 184.4K
$53.0 SEK 526
9.63%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$139 COP 440.7K
$94.4 SEK 935
47.24%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$98.9 COP 313.5K
$183 SEK 1,813
-45.95%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Taby
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,028 COP 3.3M
$1,023 SEK 10.1K
0.48%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$620 COP 2.0M
$870 SEK 8,625
-28.83%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,881 COP 6.0M
$1,411 SEK 14.0K
33.28%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,008 COP 3.2M
$1,189 SEK 11.8K
-15.29%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,988 COP 12.6M
$5,994 SEK 59.4K
-33.46%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,702 COP 5.4M
$6,951 SEK 68.9K
-75.51%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Taby
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$663 COP 2.1M
$3,306 SEK 32.8K
-79.93%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
10.94
2.8
290.71%

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

Last update for Medellin: October 19, 2026

Last update for Taby: October 19, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Medellin
$619
Taby
$870 40.5% $251
Groceries & Markets
Medellin
$298
Taby
$380 27.5% $82
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
$209
Taby
$246 17.4% $36
Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
$173
Taby
$193 11.6% $20
Eating Out
Medellin
$171
Taby
$267 56.3% $96
Getting Around
Medellin
$95
Taby
$131 38.1% $36
Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
$59
Taby
$34 * 42% $25

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,028 in Medellin versus $1,023 in Taby. 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 398% higher in Taby, 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 $47.00 in Medellin versus $66.0 in Taby. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $298 vs $380 – making Medellin the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇨🇴 Medellin
🇸🇪 Taby
🕒 Local time
19:52 7:52 PM
02:52 2:52 AM
7 h ahead of Medellin
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
2,486,723
58,123
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

SEK, USD, EUR to COP – Colombian Peso Converter

Colombian Peso exchange rates as of October 21, 2026: 1 USD = 3,171 COP (10,000 COP = 3.15 USD). 1 EUR = 3,565 COP (10,000 COP = 2.81 EUR).

Swedish Krona exchange rates as of October 21, 2026: 1 USD = 9.91 SEK (1 SEK = 0.101 USD). 1 EUR = 11.14 SEK (100 SEK = 8.98 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Medellin Taby 9,610 km ≈ 13 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Medellin
  • Taby

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 Taby: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Taby cheaper than Medellin?
Yes – Taby is pricier by about 31%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in eating out.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,437 per month in Medellin and $3,182 in Taby. 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 Taby?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $47.00 in Medellin and $66.0 in Taby. 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 Taby?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,625 in Medellin and $2,122 in Taby. That's a gap of about 31%.
Is $2,500 a realistic budget for living in Medellin or in Taby?
A $2,500 monthly budget goes further in Medellin, where all-in costs run around $1,625, than in Taby at $2,122. In Medellin it covers expenses comfortably, while in Taby it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Medellin or Taby 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 Taby?
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, Taby makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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