Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Varberg Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Varberg

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,030 per month in Medellin vs $1,873 in Varberg, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,586 per month in Medellin vs $2,861 in Varberg, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,143 per month in Medellin vs $3,850 in Varberg, rent included.

Medellin is about 45% cheaper than Varberg, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Medellin sits 23% below the global median, while Varberg is 40% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.92 COP 21.2K

$13.52 SEK 124

-56.21%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$33.17 COP 118.7K

$85.8 SEK 789

-61.34%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.25 COP 25.9K

$10.16 SEK 93.4

-28.64%

Cappuccino

$1.71 COP 6,137

$4.10 SEK 37.70

-58.29%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.09 COP 3,915

$0.99 SEK 9.13

10.10%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.77 COP 2,743

$0.98 SEK 8.99

-21.43%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.75 COP 6,254

$7.92 SEK 72.9

-77.90%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.18 COP 11.4K

$7.89 SEK 72.5

-59.70%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.06 COP 3,792

$1.49 SEK 13.73

-28.86%

White Bread (500g)

$1.30 COP 4,657

$3.15 SEK 29.02

-58.73%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.38 COP 4,926

$3.51 SEK 32.29

-60.68%

Eggs

$2.21 COP 7,908

$4.45 SEK 40.90

-50.34%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.52 COP 16.2K

$12.13 SEK 112

-62.74%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.80 COP 20.7K

$11.62 SEK 107

-50.09%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.97 COP 32.1K

$21.32 SEK 196

-57.93%

Apples (1kg)

$2.29 COP 8,182

$3.32 SEK 30.51

-31.02%

Banana (1kg)

$1.06 COP 3,791

$2.83 SEK 26.00

-62.54%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.51 COP 5,411

$3.43 SEK 31.58

-55.98%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.36 COP 4,869

$4.81 SEK 44.24

-71.73%

Potato (1kg)

$1.16 COP 4,146

$1.53 SEK 14.11

-24.18%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 COP 4,174

$1.94 SEK 17.88

-39.69%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.83 COP 2,960

$2.52 SEK 23.17

-67.06%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.85 COP 3,043

$1.14 SEK 10.46

-25.44%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.35 COP 8,423

$7.21 SEK 66.4

-67.41%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.09 COP 39.7K

$10.74 SEK 98.8

3.26%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.15 COP 4,133

$2.08 SEK 19.17

-44.71%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.47 COP 8,853

$1.30 SEK 11.96

90.00%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.79 COP 2,827

$2.93 SEK 26.99

-73.04%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.85 COP 149.8K

$74.6 SEK 686

-43.88%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.44 COP 5,140

$5.32 SEK 48.97

-72.93%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.90 COP 6,793

$2.56 SEK 23.55

-25.78%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.70 COP 27.6K

$56.0 SEK 515

-86.25%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.03 COP 3,680

$1.92 SEK 17.65

-46.35%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$17.7K COP 63.3M

$32.9K SEK 302.4K

-46.20%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$27.0K COP 96.7M

$33.3K SEK 306.8K

-18.99%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$81.4 COP 291.4K

$154 SEK 1,419

-47.22%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$9.42 COP 33.7K

$21.13 SEK 194

-55.42%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$23.77 COP 85.1K

$32.27 SEK 297

-26.34%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.86 COP 92.6K

$41.09 SEK 378

-37.06%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.34 COP 69.2K

$25.52 SEK 235

-24.22%

Cinema Ticket

$4.05 COP 14.5K

$16.57 SEK 152

-75.56%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$312 COP 1.1M

$156 SEK 1,432

100.80%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,067 COP 21.7M

$4,124 SEK 37.9K

47.10%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.9 COP 210.7K

$89.5 SEK 824

-34.25%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$32.82 COP 117.5K

$41.66 SEK 383

-21.22%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$100 COP 359.6K

$101 SEK 925

-0.09%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$106 COP 380.3K

$160 SEK 1,468

-33.42%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$490 COP 1.8M

$847 SEK 7,795

-42.21%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$371 COP 1.3M

$664 SEK 6,109

-44.18%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$838 COP 3.0M

$1,395 SEK 12.8K

-39.93%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$715 COP 2.6M

$1,089 SEK 10.0K

-34.36%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,952 COP 10.6M

$4,272 SEK 39.3K

-30.90%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,394 COP 5.0M

$2,993 SEK 27.5K

-53.42%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$532 COP 1.9M

$3,434 SEK 31.6K

-84.51%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.43

1.9

606.84%

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

Last update for Medellin: April 20, 2026

Last update for Varberg: April 20, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $490 in Medellin versus $847 in Varberg. 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 546% higher in Varberg, 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 $86 in Varberg. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $190 vs $375 – 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 Varberg: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Varberg is pricier by about 82%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,544 per month in Medellin and $2,809 in Varberg. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $33.00 in Medellin and $86.0 in Varberg. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,030 in Medellin and $1,873 in Varberg. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Medellin, where all-in costs run around $1,030, than in Varberg at $1,873. In Medellin it covers expenses comfortably, while in Varberg it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

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.

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.

If budget matters most, go with Medellin. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Varberg makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.