🙂A single person spends $1,030 per month in Medellin vs $1,903 in Uddevalla, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $1,586 per month in Medellin vs $2,967 in Uddevalla, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $2,143 per month in Medellin vs $4,030 in Uddevalla, rent included.
🙂Medellin is about 46% cheaper than Uddevalla, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Medellin sits 23% below the global median, while Uddevalla is 42% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Uddevalla
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.92COP 21.2K
$14.95SEK 137
-60.40%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$33.17COP 118.7K
$106SEK 975
-68.69%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.25COP 25.9K
$10.44SEK 96.1
-30.56%
Cappuccino
$1.71COP 6,137
$4.71SEK 43.29
-63.69%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.09COP 3,915
$3.23SEK 29.72
-66.25%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.77COP 2,743
$2.88SEK 26.51
-73.26%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.75COP 6,254
$7.82SEK 72.0
-77.62%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.18COP 11.4K
$7.82SEK 71.9
-59.34%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Uddevalla
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.06COP 3,792
$1.59SEK 14.60
-33.33%
White Bread(500g)
$1.30COP 4,657
$2.63SEK 24.22
-50.57%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.38COP 4,926
$3.89SEK 35.77
-64.52%
Eggs
$2.21COP 7,908
$3.87SEK 35.61
-42.89%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$4.52COP 16.2K
$11.84SEK 109
-61.82%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.80COP 20.7K
$12.54SEK 115
-53.75%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.97COP 32.1K
$18.82SEK 173
-52.34%
Apples(1kg)
$2.29COP 8,182
$3.35SEK 30.80
-31.64%
Banana(1kg)
$1.06COP 3,791
$2.65SEK 24.39
-60.00%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.51COP 5,411
$3.43SEK 31.59
-55.98%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.36COP 4,869
$3.62SEK 33.27
-62.43%
Potato(1kg)
$1.16COP 4,146
$2.19SEK 20.16
-47.03%
Onion(1kg)
$1.17COP 4,174
$2.00SEK 18.36
-41.50%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.83COP 2,960
$2.82SEK 25.95
-70.57%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.85COP 3,043
$1.93SEK 17.76
-55.96%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.35COP 8,423
$7.82SEK 71.9
-69.95%
Wine(Bottle)
$11.09COP 39.7K
$10.89SEK 100
1.84%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.15COP 4,133
$1.38SEK 12.71
-16.67%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.47COP 8,853
$2.26SEK 20.75
9.29%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Uddevalla
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.79COP 2,827
$3.42SEK 31.44
-76.90%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$41.85COP 149.8K
$72.7SEK 668
-42.40%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.44COP 5,140
$3.66SEK 33.68
-60.66%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.90COP 6,793
$2.67SEK 24.54
-28.84%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.70COP 27.6K
$84.7SEK 779
-90.91%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.03COP 3,680
$1.97SEK 18.13
-47.72%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$17.7KCOP 63.3M
$23.5KSEK 216.4K
-24.83%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.0KCOP 96.7M
$34.9KSEK 321.3K
-22.64%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Uddevalla
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$81.4COP 291.4K
$189SEK 1,735
-56.84%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.42COP 33.7K
$29.16SEK 268
-67.70%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$23.77COP 85.1K
$40.80SEK 375
-41.74%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Uddevalla
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$25.86COP 92.6K
$41.28SEK 380
-37.35%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.34COP 69.2K
$25.11SEK 231
-22.98%
Cinema Ticket
$4.05COP 14.5K
$19.67SEK 181
-79.41%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Uddevalla
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$312COP 1.1M
$161SEK 1,486
93.49%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$6,067COP 21.7M
$4,195SEK 38.6K
44.60%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Uddevalla
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.9COP 210.7K
$95.1SEK 875
-38.09%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$32.82COP 117.5K
$42.24SEK 389
-22.30%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$100COP 359.6K
$93.0SEK 856
8.02%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$106COP 380.3K
$123SEK 1,135
-13.83%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Uddevalla
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$490COP 1.8M
$855SEK 7,866
-42.74%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$371COP 1.3M
$644SEK 5,929
-42.49%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$838COP 3.0M
$1,374SEK 12.6K
-39.01%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$715COP 2.6M
$1,069SEK 9,835
-33.13%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,952COP 10.6M
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,394COP 5.0M
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Uddevalla
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$532COP 1.9M
$3,057SEK 28.1K
-82.59%
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: April 20, 2026
Last update for Uddevalla: April 20, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $490 in Medellin versus $855 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 475% 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 in Medellin versus $106 in Uddevalla. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $190 vs $371 – 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 85%, 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 $1,544 per month in Medellin and $2,855 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 Uddevalla?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $33.00 in Medellin and $106 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 vs Uddevalla?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,030 in Medellin and $1,903 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 Medellin or Uddevalla?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Medellin, where all-in costs run around $1,030, than in Uddevalla at $1,903. 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.