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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,003 per month in Medellin vs $1,726 in Vasteras, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,573 per month in Medellin vs $2,721 in Vasteras, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,143 per month in Medellin vs $3,716 in Vasteras, rent included.

Medellin is about 42% cheaper than Vasteras, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Medellin sits 25% below the global median, while Vasteras is 30% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.91 COP 18.6K

$14.54 SEK 138

-59.35%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.96 COP 103.8K

$68.1 SEK 647

-51.63%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.43 COP 23.4K

$10.47 SEK 99.5

-29.04%

Cappuccino

$1.65 COP 5,207

$4.48 SEK 42.53

-63.17%

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

$1.10 COP 3,468

$2.69 SEK 25.52

-59.11%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.78 COP 2,458

$2.52 SEK 23.97

-69.05%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.72 COP 5,412

$7.42 SEK 70.5

-76.82%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.18 COP 10.0K

$7.26 SEK 68.9

-56.20%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.10 COP 3,474

$1.53 SEK 14.56

-28.10%

White Bread (500g)

$1.26 COP 3,962

$2.73 SEK 25.89

-53.85%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.38 COP 4,349

$3.73 SEK 35.43

-63.00%

Eggs

$2.18 COP 6,858

$4.05 SEK 38.49

-46.17%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.49 COP 14.1K

$12.04 SEK 114

-62.71%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.79 COP 18.2K

$12.29 SEK 117

-52.89%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.97 COP 28.2K

$15.62 SEK 148

-42.57%

Apples (1kg)

$2.32 COP 7,308

$3.32 SEK 31.53

-30.12%

Banana (1kg)

$1.06 COP 3,352

$2.63 SEK 25.02

-59.70%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.52 COP 4,774

$3.61 SEK 34.28

-57.89%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.36 COP 4,270

$3.79 SEK 36.00

-64.12%

Potato (1kg)

$1.13 COP 3,552

$1.50 SEK 14.29

-24.67%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 COP 3,689

$2.01 SEK 19.09

-41.79%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.90 COP 2,838

$2.68 SEK 25.45

-66.42%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.90 COP 2,823

$1.76 SEK 16.70

-48.86%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.23 COP 7,034

$7.18 SEK 68.2

-68.94%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.12 COP 38.2K

$12.56 SEK 119

-3.50%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.19 COP 3,743

$1.46 SEK 13.82

-18.49%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.48 COP 7,815

$1.98 SEK 18.86

25.25%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.85 COP 2,687

$3.41 SEK 32.40

-75.07%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.62 COP 131.0K

$73.7 SEK 700

-43.52%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.42 COP 4,459

$3.78 SEK 35.92

-62.43%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.95 COP 6,141

$1.59 SEK 15.10

22.64%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.89 COP 24.8K

$84.8 SEK 806

-90.70%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.99 COP 3,118

$1.99 SEK 18.86

-50.25%

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

$17.6K COP 55.4M

$32.2K SEK 306.1K

-45.37%

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

$26.8K COP 84.4M

$34.8K SEK 330.2K

-22.90%

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

$83.0 COP 261.4K

$88.2 SEK 838

-5.92%

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

$9.70 COP 30.5K

$28.82 SEK 274

-66.34%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$23.52 COP 74.1K

$36.67 SEK 348

-35.86%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.26 COP 79.5K

$37.42 SEK 356

-32.50%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.10 COP 60.1K

$21.43 SEK 204

-10.87%

Cinema Ticket

$3.95 COP 12.4K

$19.82 SEK 188

-80.07%

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

$316 COP 994.2K

$160 SEK 1,520

97.32%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,975 COP 18.8M

$5,216 SEK 49.6K

14.54%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$60.0 COP 188.9K

$95.9 SEK 911

-37.44%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$31.82 COP 100.2K

$42.87 SEK 407

-25.78%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$102 COP 320.1K

$92.3 SEK 877

10.18%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$107 COP 338.3K

$125 SEK 1,183

-13.72%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$475 COP 1.5M

$839 SEK 7,971

-43.40%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$374 COP 1.2M

$597 SEK 5,673

-37.37%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$849 COP 2.7M

$1,482 SEK 14.1K

-42.72%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$719 COP 2.3M

$1,133 SEK 10.8K

-36.52%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,265 COP 10.3M

$3,751 SEK 35.6K

-12.94%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,441 COP 4.5M

$2,543 SEK 24.2K

-43.36%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$624 COP 2.0M

$3,080 SEK 29.3K

-79.73%

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 27, 2026

Last update for Vasteras: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $475 in Medellin versus $839 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 393% 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: $193 vs $361 – 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 72%, 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 $2,588 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 $1,003 in Medellin and $1,726 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 $1,003, than in Vasteras at $1,726. 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.