Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Uddevalla Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Uddevalla

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,018 per month in Medellin vs $1,950 in Uddevalla, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,609 per month in Medellin vs $3,033 in Uddevalla, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,200 per month in Medellin vs $4,116 in Uddevalla, rent included.

Medellin is about 48% cheaper than Uddevalla, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Medellin sits 24% below the global median, while Uddevalla is 46% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Uddevalla
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.93 COP 19.1K
$14.40 SEK 140
-58.82%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$33.12 COP 106.6K
$108 SEK 1,044
-69.21%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.12 COP 22.9K
$10.33 SEK 100
-31.07%
Cappuccino
$1.71 COP 5,487
$4.66 SEK 45.30
-63.30%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.05 COP 3,374
$3.07 SEK 29.85
-65.80%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.72 COP 2,324
$2.79 SEK 27.10
-74.19%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.72 COP 5,531
$7.87 SEK 76.5
-78.14%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.17 COP 10.2K
$7.96 SEK 77.3
-60.18%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Uddevalla
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.06 COP 3,426
$1.53 SEK 14.88
-30.72%
White Bread (500g)
$1.31 COP 4,215
$2.75 SEK 26.69
-52.36%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.33 COP 4,279
$3.78 SEK 36.68
-64.81%
Eggs
$2.28 COP 7,338
$3.92 SEK 38.06
-41.84%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$4.42 COP 14.2K
$12.12 SEK 118
-63.53%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.92 COP 19.0K
$12.54 SEK 122
-52.79%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$8.64 COP 27.8K
$18.84 SEK 183
-54.14%
Apples (1kg)
$2.34 COP 7,545
$3.30 SEK 32.06
-29.09%
Banana (1kg)
$1.10 COP 3,546
$2.54 SEK 24.65
-56.69%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.47 COP 4,724
$3.42 SEK 33.23
-57.02%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.38 COP 4,439
$3.60 SEK 34.93
-61.67%
Potato (1kg)
$1.17 COP 3,774
$2.10 SEK 20.38
-44.29%
Onion (1kg)
$1.17 COP 3,765
$1.99 SEK 19.35
-41.21%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.90 COP 2,905
$2.82 SEK 27.43
-68.09%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.84 COP 2,708
$1.93 SEK 18.79
-56.48%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.33 COP 7,490
$7.69 SEK 74.7
-69.70%
Wine (Bottle)
$11.92 COP 38.3K
$12.31 SEK 120
-3.17%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.15 COP 3,693
$1.46 SEK 14.15
-21.23%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.42 COP 7,791
$2.15 SEK 20.84
12.56%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Uddevalla
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.84 COP 2,702
$3.42 SEK 33.24
-75.44%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$40.83 COP 131.4K
$73.6 SEK 715
-44.55%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.41 COP 4,541
$3.59 SEK 34.89
-60.72%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.91 COP 6,160
$2.55 SEK 24.76
-25.10%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.83 COP 25.2K
$83.4 SEK 810
-90.61%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.94 COP 3,037
$1.91 SEK 18.50
-50.79%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$17.8K COP 57.3M
$22.9K SEK 222.0K
-22.03%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.1K COP 87.1M
$34.4K SEK 334.0K
-21.25%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Uddevalla
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$83.3 COP 267.9K
$194 SEK 1,882
-57.04%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.66 COP 31.1K
$29.15 SEK 283
-66.86%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.22 COP 77.9K
$42.27 SEK 411
-42.70%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Uddevalla
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$25.22 COP 81.2K
$40.85 SEK 397
-38.26%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.33 COP 62.2K
$25.34 SEK 246
-23.72%
Cinema Ticket
$4.07 COP 13.1K
$19.23 SEK 187
-78.84%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Uddevalla
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$307 COP 986.5K
$157 SEK 1,525
95.21%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,981 COP 19.2M
$4,202 SEK 40.8K
42.33%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Uddevalla
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$60.0 COP 192.9K
$94.8 SEK 920
-36.73%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$32.65 COP 105.1K
$42.56 SEK 413
-23.28%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$101 COP 325.2K
$93.1 SEK 904
8.56%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$108 COP 347.6K
$123 SEK 1,190
-11.83%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Uddevalla
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$476 COP 1.5M
$834 SEK 8,097
-42.91%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$379 COP 1.2M
$661 SEK 6,423
-42.73%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$816 COP 2.6M
$1,369 SEK 13.3K
-40.38%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$707 COP 2.3M
$1,065 SEK 10.3K
-33.61%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,190 COP 10.3M
$4,666 SEK 45.3K
-31.64%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,446 COP 4.7M
$3,094 SEK 30.1K
-53.26%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Uddevalla
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$622 COP 2.0M
$2,900 SEK 28.2K
-78.56%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
13.43
4.87
175.77%

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

Last update for Medellin: July 20, 2026

Last update for Uddevalla: July 20, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $476 in Medellin versus $834 in Uddevalla. 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 366% higher in Uddevalla, 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 $108 in Uddevalla. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $192 vs $374 – 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 Uddevalla: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Uddevalla cheaper than Medellin?
Yes – Uddevalla is pricier by about 92%, 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 $1,527 per month in Medellin and $2,925 in Uddevalla. 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 Uddevalla?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $33.00 in Medellin and $108 in Uddevalla. 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 Uddevalla?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,018 in Medellin and $1,950 in Uddevalla. 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 Uddevalla?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Medellin, where all-in costs run around $1,018, than in Uddevalla at $1,950. In Medellin it covers expenses comfortably, while in Uddevalla it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Medellin or Uddevalla 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 Uddevalla?
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, Uddevalla makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

Medellin vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities