Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Vaxjo Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Vaxjo

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,681 per month in Medellin vs $1,695 in Vaxjo, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,445 per month in Medellin vs $2,576 in Vaxjo, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,210 per month in Medellin vs $3,457 in Vaxjo, rent included.

Medellin is about 1% cheaper than Vaxjo, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Medellin and Vaxjo sit above the global median – Medellin by 23%, Vaxjo by 24%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Vaxjo
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.02 COP 25.0K
$13.66 SEK 135
-41.29%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$47.87 COP 149.4K
$65.4 SEK 644
-26.80%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.89 COP 30.8K
$10.30 SEK 101
-3.98%
Cappuccino
$3.13 COP 9,767
$4.09 SEK 40.31
-23.47%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.91 COP 5,954
$1.55 SEK 15.24
23.23%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.51 COP 4,712
$1.38 SEK 13.62
9.42%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.12 COP 9,747
$7.25 SEK 71.4
-56.97%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.75 COP 17.9K
$6.77 SEK 66.7
-15.07%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Vaxjo
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.44 COP 4,509
$1.81 SEK 17.82
-20.44%
White Bread (500g)
$2.49 COP 7,759
$2.47 SEK 24.36
0.81%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.77 COP 5,535
$4.07 SEK 40.09
-56.51%
Eggs
$2.96 COP 9,235
$4.69 SEK 46.21
-36.89%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.07 COP 31.4K
$13.55 SEK 134
-25.68%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.12 COP 31.6K
$10.88 SEK 107
-6.99%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.30 COP 44.6K
$12.15 SEK 120
17.70%
Apples (1kg)
$4.14 COP 12.9K
$3.17 SEK 31.28
30.60%
Banana (1kg)
$1.61 COP 5,019
$2.10 SEK 20.74
-23.33%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.25 COP 7,007
$2.10 SEK 20.66
7.14%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.25 COP 7,028
$4.66 SEK 45.89
-51.72%
Potato (1kg)
$2.04 COP 6,375
$1.46 SEK 14.38
39.73%
Onion (1kg)
$1.54 COP 4,790
$1.63 SEK 16.04
-5.52%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.17 COP 3,651
$2.38 SEK 23.44
-50.84%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.31 COP 4,077
$1.41 SEK 13.92
-7.09%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.90 COP 12.2K
$7.35 SEK 72.4
-46.94%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.01 COP 43.7K
$7.85 SEK 77.4
78.47%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.74 COP 5,439
$2.02 SEK 19.88
-13.86%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.87 COP 8,956
$1.68 SEK 16.56
70.83%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Vaxjo
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.22 COP 3,792
$3.10 SEK 30.58
-60.65%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$80.5 COP 251.1K
$65.5 SEK 646
22.80%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.31 COP 4,084
$8.12 SEK 80.0
-83.87%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.19 COP 6,825
$2.07 SEK 20.42
5.80%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.71 COP 27.2K
$83.2 SEK 820
-89.53%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.37 COP 4,260
$1.80 SEK 17.70
-23.89%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.8K COP 86.9M
$34.4K SEK 339.3K
-19.16%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$35.8K COP 111.6M
$33.5K SEK 330.1K
6.80%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Vaxjo
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$177 COP 553.2K
$92.2 SEK 909
92.26%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.88 COP 43.3K
$31.17 SEK 307
-55.47%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.72 COP 92.8K
$31.30 SEK 308
-5.05%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Vaxjo
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$44.88 COP 140.1K
$35.43 SEK 349
26.67%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.12 COP 53.4K
$20.21 SEK 199
-15.29%
Cinema Ticket
$6.65 COP 20.7K
$16.47 SEK 162
-59.62%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Vaxjo
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$813 COP 2.5M
$155 SEK 1,530
423.49%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$9,187 COP 28.7M
-
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Vaxjo
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$89.5 COP 279.3K
$101 SEK 998
-11.68%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$59.0 COP 184.0K
$30.63 SEK 302
92.52%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$138 COP 431.2K
$71.3 SEK 702
93.94%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$102 COP 318.7K
$88.5 SEK 872
15.40%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Vaxjo
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,062 COP 3.3M
$819 SEK 8,075
29.60%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$663 COP 2.1M
$656 SEK 6,464
1.06%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,888 COP 5.9M
$1,528 SEK 15.1K
23.57%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,027 COP 3.2M
$967 SEK 9,527
6.25%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,183 COP 13.1M
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,675 COP 5.2M
$2,500 SEK 24.6K
-33.01%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Vaxjo
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$678 COP 2.1M
$3,260 SEK 32.1K
-79.21%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
10.94
3.2
241.87%

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

Last update for Medellin: September 14, 2026

Last update for Vaxjo: September 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,062 in Medellin versus $819 in Vaxjo. 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 381% higher in Vaxjo, 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 $48.00 in Medellin versus $65.0 in Vaxjo. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $305 vs $333 – 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 Vaxjo: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Vaxjo cheaper than Medellin?
Yes – Vaxjo is pricier by about 1%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. 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 $2,521 per month in Medellin and $2,543 in Vaxjo. 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 in Vaxjo?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $48.00 in Medellin and $65.0 in Vaxjo. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
What are total monthly expenses in Medellin and in Vaxjo?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,681 in Medellin and $1,695 in Vaxjo. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Is $2,500 a realistic budget for living in Medellin or in Vaxjo?
A $2,500 monthly budget goes further in Medellin, where all-in costs run around $1,681, than in Vaxjo at $1,695. In Medellin it covers expenses comfortably, while in Vaxjo it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Medellin or Vaxjo 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 Vaxjo?
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, Vaxjo makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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