Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Visby Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Visby

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,034 per month in Medellin vs $1,734 in Visby, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,577 per month in Medellin vs $2,769 in Visby, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,120 per month in Medellin vs $3,805 in Visby, rent included.

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

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

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Visby
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.92 COP 21.4K
$10.54 SEK 98.0
-43.83%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.75 COP 118.2K
$94.9 SEK 882
-65.48%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.20 COP 26.0K
$9.50 SEK 88.4
-24.21%
Cappuccino
$1.70 COP 6,140
$3.19 SEK 29.70
-46.71%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.10 COP 3,966
$3.15 SEK 29.29
-65.08%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.72 COP 2,605
$2.73 SEK 25.42
-73.63%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.67 COP 6,022
$7.75 SEK 72.1
-78.45%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.10 COP 11.2K
$4.35 SEK 40.42
-28.74%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Visby
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.06 COP 3,809
$1.61 SEK 15.00
-34.16%
White Bread (500g)
$1.25 COP 4,497
$2.75 SEK 25.60
-54.55%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.39 COP 5,022
$3.19 SEK 29.64
-56.43%
Eggs
$2.26 COP 8,168
$3.86 SEK 35.91
-41.45%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$4.33 COP 15.6K
$10.56 SEK 98.2
-59.00%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.84 COP 21.1K
$12.24 SEK 114
-52.29%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$8.83 COP 31.9K
$18.77 SEK 175
-52.96%
Apples (1kg)
$2.24 COP 8,099
$3.04 SEK 28.30
-26.32%
Banana (1kg)
$1.08 COP 3,882
$2.68 SEK 24.95
-59.70%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.53 COP 5,522
$3.20 SEK 29.76
-52.19%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.37 COP 4,950
$3.72 SEK 34.61
-63.17%
Potato (1kg)
$1.13 COP 4,078
$1.88 SEK 17.52
-39.89%
Onion (1kg)
$1.12 COP 4,036
$1.76 SEK 16.32
-36.36%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.85 COP 3,057
$2.81 SEK 26.15
-69.75%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.91 COP 3,281
$1.17 SEK 10.89
-22.22%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.33 COP 8,414
$6.03 SEK 56.1
-61.36%
Wine (Bottle)
$11.13 COP 40.2K
$12.70 SEK 118
-12.36%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.19 COP 4,309
$2.35 SEK 21.87
-49.36%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.37 COP 8,553
$1.88 SEK 17.45
26.06%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Visby
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.79 COP 2,838
$3.21 SEK 29.82
-75.39%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$41.13 COP 148.5K
$49.77 SEK 463
-17.36%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.44 COP 5,184
$3.78 SEK 35.14
-61.90%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.91 COP 6,901
$1.19 SEK 11.11
60.50%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.02 COP 28.9K
$85.2 SEK 793
-90.59%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.94 COP 3,385
$1.97 SEK 18.30
-52.28%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$17.9K COP 64.7M
$32.5K SEK 302.0K
-44.81%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.8K COP 96.7M
$34.8K SEK 323.3K
-22.94%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Visby
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$84.0 COP 303.1K
$192 SEK 1,790
-56.38%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.60 COP 34.7K
$28.62 SEK 266
-66.46%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.16 COP 87.2K
$41.33 SEK 384
-41.54%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Visby
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$25.88 COP 93.4K
$49.61 SEK 461
-47.83%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.04 COP 68.7K
$41.47 SEK 386
-54.09%
Cinema Ticket
$3.92 COP 14.1K
$14.94 SEK 139
-73.76%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Visby
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$306 COP 1.1M
$159 SEK 1,477
92.93%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,919 COP 21.4M
$4,167 SEK 38.8K
42.02%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Visby
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.9 COP 209.1K
$95.7 SEK 890
-39.47%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$31.82 COP 114.9K
$42.64 SEK 397
-25.38%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$99.9 COP 360.6K
$93.4 SEK 868
6.99%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$107 COP 386.8K
$123 SEK 1,142
-12.72%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Visby
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$487 COP 1.8M
$754 SEK 7,011
-35.43%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$368 COP 1.3M
$590 SEK 5,485
-37.59%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$826 COP 3.0M
$1,475 SEK 13.7K
-44.02%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$716 COP 2.6M
$1,038 SEK 9,651
-30.99%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,925 COP 10.6M
$4,886 SEK 45.4K
-40.13%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,407 COP 5.1M
$3,461 SEK 32.2K
-59.35%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Visby
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$546 COP 2.0M
$2,672 SEK 24.8K
-79.58%
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: April 27, 2026

Last update for Visby: April 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $487 in Medellin versus $754 in Visby. 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 390% higher in Visby, 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 $95.0 in Visby. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $190 vs $359 – 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 Visby: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Visby cheaper than Medellin?
Yes – Visby is pricier by about 68%, 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 $1,550 per month in Medellin and $2,601 in Visby. 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 Visby?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $33.00 in Medellin and $95.0 in Visby. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
What are total monthly expenses in Medellin vs Visby?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,034 in Medellin and $1,734 in Visby. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Medellin or Visby?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Medellin, where all-in costs run around $1,034, than in Visby at $1,734. In Medellin it covers expenses comfortably, while in Visby it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Medellin or Visby 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 Visby?
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, Visby makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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