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