Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and TabyCost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Taby
Monthly Cost of Living
πA single person spends $1,013 per month in Medellin vs $1,865 in Taby, rent included.
πA couple spends around $1,602 per month in Medellin vs $2,902 in Taby, rent included.
πA family of three spends $2,192 per month in Medellin vs $3,939 in Taby, rent included.
πMedellin is about 46% cheaper than Taby, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
πMedellin sits 24% below the global median, while Taby is 39% above β they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
π½ Eating Out
Medellin
Taby
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.99COPΒ 21.3K
$13.23SEKΒ 124
-54.72%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.86COPΒ 116.9K
$68.6SEKΒ 643
-52.06%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.09COPΒ 25.2K
$10.71SEKΒ 100
-33.80%
Cappuccino
$1.71COPΒ 6,093
$4.53SEKΒ 42.48
-62.25%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.10COPΒ 3,910
$3.29SEKΒ 30.84
-66.57%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.78COPΒ 2,771
$2.54SEKΒ 23.79
-69.29%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.68COPΒ 5,976
$7.47SEKΒ 70.1
-77.51%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.07COPΒ 10.9K
$8.55SEKΒ 80.2
-64.09%
π Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Taby
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.09COPΒ 3,892
$1.74SEKΒ 16.31
-37.36%
White Bread(500g)
$1.26COPΒ 4,492
$3.08SEKΒ 28.91
-59.09%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.38COPΒ 4,905
$4.10SEKΒ 38.42
-66.34%
Eggs
$2.19COPΒ 7,799
$4.71SEKΒ 44.14
-53.50%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$4.40COPΒ 15.7K
$12.91SEKΒ 121
-65.92%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.63COPΒ 20.0K
$12.00SEKΒ 113
-53.08%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.89COPΒ 31.6K
$19.55SEKΒ 183
-54.53%
Apples(1kg)
$2.34COPΒ 8,319
$3.51SEKΒ 32.92
-33.33%
Banana(1kg)
$1.06COPΒ 3,764
$2.72SEKΒ 25.49
-61.03%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.50COPΒ 5,355
$1.56SEKΒ 14.63
-3.85%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.38COPΒ 4,906
$4.51SEKΒ 42.33
-69.40%
Potato(1kg)
$1.15COPΒ 4,097
$1.97SEKΒ 18.44
-41.62%
Onion(1kg)
$1.16COPΒ 4,141
$1.83SEKΒ 17.12
-36.61%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.89COPΒ 3,170
$2.53SEKΒ 23.69
-64.82%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.84COPΒ 2,986
$1.55SEKΒ 14.54
-45.81%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.28COPΒ 8,116
$7.20SEKΒ 67.5
-68.33%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.64COPΒ 37.9K
$12.83SEKΒ 120
-17.07%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.20COPΒ 4,268
$1.70SEKΒ 15.92
-29.41%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.47COPΒ 8,793
$2.27SEKΒ 21.28
8.81%
π Getting Around
Medellin
Taby
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.86COPΒ 3,045
$4.01SEKΒ 37.64
-78.55%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$41.40COPΒ 147.3K
$104SEKΒ 978
-60.30%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.47COPΒ 5,245
$6.16SEKΒ 57.7
-76.14%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.96COPΒ 6,984
$1.19SEKΒ 11.15
64.71%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.74COPΒ 27.5K
$21.45SEKΒ 201
-63.92%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.95COPΒ 3,397
$2.00SEKΒ 18.74
-52.50%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.1KCOPΒ 64.5M
$32.3KSEKΒ 302.8K
-43.85%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.5KCOPΒ 94.2M
$34.8KSEKΒ 326.8K
-23.99%
π§Ύ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Taby
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$82.3COPΒ 292.7K
$89.1SEKΒ 835
-7.66%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.50COPΒ 33.8K
$28.50SEKΒ 267
-66.67%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.23COPΒ 86.2K
$38.09SEKΒ 357
-36.39%
π Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Taby
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$25.89COPΒ 92.1K
$47.05SEKΒ 441
-44.97%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.00COPΒ 67.6K
$25.12SEKΒ 236
-24.36%
Cinema Ticket
$3.93COPΒ 14.0K
$17.57SEKΒ 165
-77.63%
π§Έ Childcare & Education
Medellin
Taby
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$309COPΒ 1.1M
$164SEKΒ 1,535
89.10%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,965COPΒ 21.2M
$4,112SEKΒ 38.6K
45.05%
ππ Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Taby
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.7COPΒ 208.7K
$106SEKΒ 994
-44.63%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$32.35COPΒ 115.1K
$42.87SEKΒ 402
-24.54%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$103COPΒ 365.1K
$115SEKΒ 1,078
-10.75%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$108COPΒ 385.8K
$158SEKΒ 1,478
-31.20%
π Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Taby
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$476COPΒ 1.7M
$832SEKΒ 7,804
-42.77%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$379COPΒ 1.3M
$661SEKΒ 6,204
-42.74%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$838COPΒ 3.0M
$1,413SEKΒ 13.3K
-40.68%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$724COPΒ 2.6M
$1,085SEKΒ 10.2K
-33.31%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,791COPΒ 9.9M
$6,572SEKΒ 61.6K
-57.54%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,211COPΒ 4.3M
$7,485SEKΒ 70.2K
-83.82%
π΅ Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Taby
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$512COPΒ 1.8M
$3,558SEKΒ 33.4K
-85.62%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
13.43
4.16
222.84%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input β minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Medellin: May 31, 2026
Last update for Taby: June 2, 2026
Cost Breakdown
π A central one-bedroom costs $476 in Medellin versus $832 in Taby. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.
π°Salaries run about 595% higher in Taby, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.
πA mid-range dinner for two costs $33.00 in Medellin versus $69.0 in Taby. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $188 vs $380 β 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 Taby: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Taby cheaper than Medellin?
Yes β Taby is pricier by about 84%, 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 $1,519 per month in Medellin and $2,797 in Taby. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled β 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.
What are total monthly expenses in Medellin vs Taby?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,013 in Medellin and $1,865 in Taby. The difference isn't just one category β it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Medellin or Taby?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Medellin, where all-in costs run around $1,013, than in Taby at $1,865. 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 β 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 β 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.