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