Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Vasteras Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Vasteras

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,028 per month in Medellin vs $1,722 in Vasteras, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,586 per month in Medellin vs $2,724 in Vasteras, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,144 per month in Medellin vs $3,727 in Vasteras, rent included.

Medellin is about 40% cheaper than Vasteras, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Medellin sits 23% below the global median, while Vasteras is 29% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.00 COP 20.6K

$14.57 SEK 136

-58.82%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.84 COP 112.5K

$68.5 SEK 641

-52.04%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.42 COP 25.4K

$10.30 SEK 96.3

-27.96%

Cappuccino

$1.65 COP 5,659

$4.67 SEK 43.72

-64.67%

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

$1.07 COP 3,663

$2.72 SEK 25.48

-60.66%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.76 COP 2,607

$2.38 SEK 22.31

-68.07%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.72 COP 5,908

$7.74 SEK 72.4

-77.78%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.20 COP 11.0K

$7.30 SEK 68.3

-56.16%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.05 COP 3,597

$1.53 SEK 14.33

-31.37%

White Bread (500g)

$1.31 COP 4,479

$2.73 SEK 25.54

-52.01%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.34 COP 4,591

$3.75 SEK 35.08

-64.27%

Eggs

$2.19 COP 7,521

$3.92 SEK 36.66

-44.13%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.41 COP 15.1K

$12.08 SEK 113

-63.49%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.69 COP 19.5K

$12.70 SEK 119

-55.20%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.52 COP 29.2K

$15.68 SEK 147

-45.66%

Apples (1kg)

$2.34 COP 8,023

$3.20 SEK 29.92

-26.88%

Banana (1kg)

$1.11 COP 3,804

$2.55 SEK 23.84

-56.47%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.52 COP 5,210

$3.61 SEK 33.75

-57.89%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.37 COP 4,680

$3.72 SEK 34.81

-63.17%

Potato (1kg)

$1.15 COP 3,950

$1.49 SEK 13.95

-22.82%

Onion (1kg)

$1.18 COP 4,043

$1.94 SEK 18.14

-39.18%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.84 COP 2,885

$2.77 SEK 25.96

-69.68%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.86 COP 2,931

$1.70 SEK 15.89

-49.41%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.26 COP 7,753

$7.34 SEK 68.7

-69.21%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.60 COP 39.8K

$14.50 SEK 136

-20.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.20 COP 4,109

$1.40 SEK 13.09

-14.29%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.48 COP 8,484

$1.91 SEK 17.87

29.84%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.79 COP 2,721

$3.34 SEK 31.29

-76.35%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$40.83 COP 139.9K

$73.5 SEK 687

-44.43%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.47 COP 5,023

$3.61 SEK 33.72

-59.28%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.92 COP 6,568

$1.60 SEK 14.94

20.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.77 COP 26.6K

$84.3 SEK 789

-90.79%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.01 COP 3,464

$1.91 SEK 17.83

-47.12%

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

$17.7K COP 60.5M

$32.9K SEK 307.6K

-46.30%

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

$26.5K COP 90.7M

$33.8K SEK 316.2K

-21.74%

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

$81.1 COP 277.9K

$88.4 SEK 826

-8.21%

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

$9.43 COP 32.3K

$28.82 SEK 270

-67.28%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$23.86 COP 81.8K

$36.11 SEK 338

-33.92%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.99 COP 89.1K

$36.71 SEK 343

-29.20%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.71 COP 64.1K

$20.76 SEK 194

-9.87%

Cinema Ticket

$4.09 COP 14.0K

$19.33 SEK 181

-78.84%

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

$315 COP 1.1M

$160 SEK 1,496

96.70%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,022 COP 20.6M

$5,239 SEK 49.0K

14.94%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$59.7 COP 204.6K

$95.8 SEK 896

-37.65%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$31.97 COP 109.6K

$41.39 SEK 387

-22.76%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$101 COP 346.9K

$92.1 SEK 861

9.93%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$105 COP 360.3K

$125 SEK 1,167

-15.74%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$485 COP 1.7M

$815 SEK 7,619

-40.40%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$365 COP 1.3M

$609 SEK 5,694

-40.01%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$827 COP 2.8M

$1,505 SEK 14.1K

-45.05%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$730 COP 2.5M

$1,162 SEK 10.9K

-37.17%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,992 COP 10.3M

$3,888 SEK 36.4K

-23.04%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,314 COP 4.5M

$2,560 SEK 23.9K

-48.66%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$551 COP 1.9M

$3,122 SEK 29.2K

-82.36%

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: June 15, 2026

Last update for Vasteras: June 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $485 in Medellin versus $815 in Vasteras. 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 467% higher in Vasteras, 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 $68.0 in Vasteras. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $190 vs $364 – 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 Vasteras: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Vasteras is pricier by about 67%, 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 $1,542 per month in Medellin and $2,583 in Vasteras. 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 $68.0 in Vasteras. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,028 in Medellin and $1,722 in Vasteras. 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 $1,028, than in Vasteras at $1,722. In Medellin it covers expenses comfortably, while in Vasteras 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, Vasteras makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.