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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,031 per month in Medellin vs $1,737 in Vaxjo, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,599 per month in Medellin vs $2,640 in Vaxjo, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,167 per month in Medellin vs $3,544 in Vaxjo, rent included.

Medellin is about 41% cheaper than Vaxjo, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Medellin sits 23% below the global median, while Vaxjo is 30% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Vaxjo
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.16 COP 20.1K
$12.59 SEK 122
-51.07%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.60 COP 106.1K
$68.0 SEK 658
-52.03%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.34 COP 23.9K
$10.54 SEK 102
-30.36%
Cappuccino
$1.72 COP 5,599
$4.04 SEK 39.07
-57.43%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.05 COP 3,420
$1.27 SEK 12.32
-17.32%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.77 COP 2,515
$1.29 SEK 12.53
-40.31%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.69 COP 5,487
$7.32 SEK 70.9
-76.91%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.17 COP 10.3K
$7.00 SEK 67.8
-54.71%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Vaxjo
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.05 COP 3,423
$1.77 SEK 17.14
-40.68%
White Bread (500g)
$1.30 COP 4,236
$2.37 SEK 22.96
-45.15%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.40 COP 4,544
$4.06 SEK 39.31
-65.52%
Eggs
$2.16 COP 7,046
$4.02 SEK 38.95
-46.27%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$4.39 COP 14.3K
$13.82 SEK 134
-68.23%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.88 COP 19.1K
$11.58 SEK 112
-49.22%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$8.64 COP 28.1K
$13.82 SEK 134
-37.48%
Apples (1kg)
$2.28 COP 7,425
$3.52 SEK 34.13
-35.23%
Banana (1kg)
$1.11 COP 3,603
$2.69 SEK 26.07
-58.74%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.53 COP 4,982
$1.55 SEK 14.97
-1.29%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.35 COP 4,410
$4.67 SEK 45.25
-71.09%
Potato (1kg)
$1.13 COP 3,674
$1.57 SEK 15.18
-28.03%
Onion (1kg)
$1.13 COP 3,692
$2.02 SEK 19.60
-44.06%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.85 COP 2,753
$2.78 SEK 26.94
-69.42%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.91 COP 2,975
$1.69 SEK 16.37
-46.15%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.34 COP 7,629
$7.17 SEK 69.4
-67.36%
Wine (Bottle)
$12.37 COP 40.3K
$9.43 SEK 91.3
31.18%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.20 COP 3,909
$1.71 SEK 16.57
-29.82%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.49 COP 8,104
$1.95 SEK 18.89
27.69%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Vaxjo
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.84 COP 2,727
$3.11 SEK 30.11
-72.99%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$40.57 COP 132.1K
$67.3 SEK 652
-39.72%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.42 COP 4,623
$10.64 SEK 103
-86.65%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.92 COP 6,235
$1.60 SEK 15.46
20.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.66 COP 24.9K
$21.41 SEK 207
-64.22%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.99 COP 3,223
$1.97 SEK 19.11
-49.75%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.0K COP 58.7M
$32.6K SEK 315.5K
-44.67%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.6K COP 86.7M
$31.1K SEK 301.1K
-14.37%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Vaxjo
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$80.8 COP 263.1K
$91.5 SEK 886
-11.64%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.95 COP 32.4K
$27.97 SEK 271
-64.43%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.18 COP 78.7K
$32.21 SEK 312
-24.93%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Vaxjo
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$25.08 COP 81.6K
$39.24 SEK 380
-36.09%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.15 COP 62.3K
$25.72 SEK 249
-25.54%
Cinema Ticket
$3.98 COP 13.0K
$16.85 SEK 163
-76.38%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Vaxjo
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$305 COP 993.4K
$146 SEK 1,415
108.77%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$6,059 COP 19.7M
$731 SEK 7,076
729.01%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Vaxjo
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.1 COP 189.2K
$107 SEK 1,035
-45.60%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$32.20 COP 104.8K
$25.93 SEK 251
24.18%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$101 COP 327.9K
$101 SEK 976
-0.08%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$108 COP 350.8K
$142 SEK 1,379
-24.38%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Vaxjo
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$477 COP 1.6M
$839 SEK 8,121
-43.18%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$376 COP 1.2M
$680 SEK 6,583
-44.67%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$845 COP 2.7M
$1,593 SEK 15.4K
-46.98%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$730 COP 2.4M
$991 SEK 9,599
-26.33%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,215 COP 10.5M
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,372 COP 4.5M
$2,516 SEK 24.4K
-45.45%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Vaxjo
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$617 COP 2.0M
$3,239 SEK 31.4K
-80.96%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
13.43
4.53
196.47%

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

Last update for Medellin: July 12, 2026

Last update for Vaxjo: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $477 in Medellin versus $839 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 425% 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 $33.00 in Medellin versus $68.0 in Vaxjo. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $193 vs $349 – 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 69%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. 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 $1,546 per month in Medellin and $2,605 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 $33.00 in Medellin and $68.0 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 $1,031 in Medellin and $1,737 in Vaxjo. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Medellin or in Vaxjo?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Medellin, where all-in costs run around $1,031, than in Vaxjo at $1,737. 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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