Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Varnamo Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Varnamo

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,003 per month in Medellin vs $1,803 in Varnamo, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,573 per month in Medellin vs $2,833 in Varnamo, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,143 per month in Medellin vs $3,863 in Varnamo, rent included.

Medellin is about 44% cheaper than Varnamo, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Medellin sits 25% below the global median, while Varnamo is 35% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.91 COP 18.6K

$12.77 SEK 121

-53.72%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.96 COP 103.8K

$88.7 SEK 843

-62.85%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.43 COP 23.4K

$11.98 SEK 114

-37.98%

Cappuccino

$1.65 COP 5,207

$4.93 SEK 46.85

-66.53%

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

$1.10 COP 3,468

$2.87 SEK 27.24

-61.67%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.78 COP 2,458

$2.13 SEK 20.21

-63.38%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.72 COP 5,412

$8.03 SEK 76.3

-78.58%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.18 COP 10.0K

$7.58 SEK 72.0

-58.05%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.10 COP 3,474

$1.60 SEK 15.25

-31.25%

White Bread (500g)

$1.26 COP 3,962

$2.16 SEK 20.55

-41.67%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.38 COP 4,349

$3.06 SEK 29.04

-54.90%

Eggs

$2.18 COP 6,858

$4.62 SEK 43.84

-52.81%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.49 COP 14.1K

$12.84 SEK 122

-65.03%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.79 COP 18.2K

$11.69 SEK 111

-50.47%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.97 COP 28.2K

$17.16 SEK 163

-47.73%

Apples (1kg)

$2.32 COP 7,308

$3.21 SEK 30.47

-27.73%

Banana (1kg)

$1.06 COP 3,352

$2.87 SEK 27.22

-63.07%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.52 COP 4,774

$2.89 SEK 27.45

-47.40%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.36 COP 4,270

$4.45 SEK 42.23

-69.44%

Potato (1kg)

$1.13 COP 3,552

$1.74 SEK 16.49

-35.06%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 COP 3,689

$1.59 SEK 15.06

-26.42%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.90 COP 2,838

$2.55 SEK 24.27

-64.71%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.90 COP 2,823

$1.24 SEK 11.82

-27.42%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.23 COP 7,034

$7.84 SEK 74.5

-71.56%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.12 COP 38.2K

$11.27 SEK 107

7.54%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.19 COP 3,743

$2.03 SEK 19.29

-41.38%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.48 COP 7,815

$2.23 SEK 21.21

11.21%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.85 COP 2,687

$3.30 SEK 31.39

-74.24%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.62 COP 131.0K

$73.4 SEK 697

-43.27%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.42 COP 4,459

$5.53 SEK 52.5

-74.32%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.95 COP 6,141

$2.53 SEK 24.08

-22.92%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.89 COP 24.8K

$63.9 SEK 607

-87.65%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.99 COP 3,118

$1.97 SEK 18.69

-49.75%

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

$17.6K COP 55.4M

$32.3K SEK 306.9K

-45.51%

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

$26.8K COP 84.4M

$34.2K SEK 325.1K

-21.70%

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

$83.0 COP 261.4K

$119 SEK 1,132

-30.35%

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

$9.70 COP 30.5K

$29.16 SEK 277

-66.74%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$23.52 COP 74.1K

$40.96 SEK 389

-42.58%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.26 COP 79.5K

$41.18 SEK 391

-38.66%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.10 COP 60.1K

$25.42 SEK 242

-24.86%

Cinema Ticket

$3.95 COP 12.4K

$18.14 SEK 172

-78.22%

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

$316 COP 994.2K

$176 SEK 1,674

79.25%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,975 COP 18.8M

$4,148 SEK 39.4K

44.04%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$60.0 COP 188.9K

$81.4 SEK 774

-26.32%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$31.82 COP 100.2K

$60.8 SEK 577

-47.62%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$102 COP 320.1K

$104 SEK 991

-2.57%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$107 COP 338.3K

$128 SEK 1,217

-16.15%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$475 COP 1.5M

$852 SEK 8,094

-44.26%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$374 COP 1.2M

$665 SEK 6,320

-43.79%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$849 COP 2.7M

$1,387 SEK 13.2K

-38.80%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$719 COP 2.3M

$1,098 SEK 10.4K

-34.50%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,265 COP 10.3M

$4,181 SEK 39.7K

-21.90%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,441 COP 4.5M

$2,906 SEK 27.6K

-50.42%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$624 COP 2.0M

$2,092 SEK 19.9K

-70.15%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.43

4.8

179.79%

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

Last update for Medellin: July 27, 2026

Last update for Varnamo: July 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $475 in Medellin versus $852 in Varnamo. 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 235% higher in Varnamo, 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 $89.0 in Varnamo. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $193 vs $355 – 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 Varnamo: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Varnamo is pricier by about 80%, 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 $1,504 per month in Medellin and $2,704 in Varnamo. 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 $89.0 in Varnamo. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,003 in Medellin and $1,803 in Varnamo. 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 $1,003, than in Varnamo at $1,803. In Medellin it covers expenses comfortably, while in Varnamo 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, Varnamo makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.