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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,681 per month in Medellin vs $1,809 in Visby, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,445 per month in Medellin vs $2,790 in Visby, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,210 per month in Medellin vs $3,771 in Visby, rent included.

Medellin is about 7% cheaper than Visby, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Medellin and Visby sit above the global median – Medellin by 23%, Visby by 32%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Visby
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.02 COP 25.0K
$13.09 SEK 129
-38.73%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$47.87 COP 149.4K
$84.5 SEK 833
-43.38%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.89 COP 30.8K
$9.33 SEK 92.0
6.00%
Cappuccino
$3.13 COP 9,767
$4.04 SEK 39.79
-22.52%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.91 COP 5,954
$2.46 SEK 24.25
-22.36%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.51 COP 4,712
$2.58 SEK 25.47
-41.47%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.12 COP 9,747
$7.73 SEK 76.2
-59.64%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.75 COP 17.9K
$4.09 SEK 40.33
40.59%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Visby
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.44 COP 4,509
$1.50 SEK 14.79
-4.00%
White Bread (500g)
$2.49 COP 7,759
$3.18 SEK 31.33
-21.70%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.77 COP 5,535
$3.22 SEK 31.72
-45.03%
Eggs
$2.96 COP 9,235
$4.17 SEK 41.10
-29.02%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.07 COP 31.4K
$10.22 SEK 101
-1.47%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.12 COP 31.6K
$12.14 SEK 120
-16.64%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.30 COP 44.6K
$16.40 SEK 162
-12.80%
Apples (1kg)
$4.14 COP 12.9K
$3.07 SEK 30.23
34.85%
Banana (1kg)
$1.61 COP 5,019
$2.64 SEK 26.04
-39.02%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.25 COP 7,007
$3.16 SEK 31.13
-28.80%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.25 COP 7,028
$4.16 SEK 40.99
-45.91%
Potato (1kg)
$2.04 COP 6,375
$1.79 SEK 17.67
13.97%
Onion (1kg)
$1.54 COP 4,790
$1.81 SEK 17.85
-14.92%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.17 COP 3,651
$2.32 SEK 22.87
-49.57%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.31 COP 4,077
$1.05 SEK 10.39
24.76%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.90 COP 12.2K
$5.25 SEK 51.8
-25.71%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.01 COP 43.7K
$12.47 SEK 123
12.35%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.74 COP 5,439
$2.32 SEK 22.83
-25.00%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.87 COP 8,956
$1.60 SEK 15.75
79.38%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Visby
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.22 COP 3,792
$3.21 SEK 31.65
-61.99%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$80.5 COP 251.1K
$81.3 SEK 801
-0.95%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.31 COP 4,084
$3.62 SEK 35.70
-63.81%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.19 COP 6,825
$2.84 SEK 27.99
-22.89%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.71 COP 27.2K
$82.7 SEK 815
-89.46%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.37 COP 4,260
$1.89 SEK 18.64
-27.51%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.8K COP 86.9M
$34.4K SEK 339.0K
-19.08%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$35.8K COP 111.6M
$34.4K SEK 338.6K
4.11%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Visby
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$177 COP 553.2K
$189 SEK 1,864
-6.29%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.88 COP 43.3K
$23.02 SEK 227
-39.70%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.72 COP 92.8K
$44.83 SEK 442
-33.71%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Visby
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$44.88 COP 140.1K
$39.54 SEK 390
13.51%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.12 COP 53.4K
$26.38 SEK 260
-35.10%
Cinema Ticket
$6.65 COP 20.7K
$14.39 SEK 142
-53.79%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Visby
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$813 COP 2.5M
$154 SEK 1,522
426.30%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$9,187 COP 28.7M
$5,200 SEK 51.2K
76.67%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Visby
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$89.5 COP 279.3K
$106 SEK 1,046
-15.69%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$59.0 COP 184.0K
$41.39 SEK 408
42.47%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$138 COP 431.2K
$91.6 SEK 902
50.92%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$102 COP 318.7K
$143 SEK 1,414
-28.81%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Visby
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,062 COP 3.3M
$750 SEK 7,388
41.64%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$663 COP 2.1M
$573 SEK 5,647
15.68%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,888 COP 5.9M
$1,407 SEK 13.9K
34.20%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,027 COP 3.2M
$1,060 SEK 10.4K
-3.14%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,183 COP 13.1M
$4,189 SEK 41.3K
-0.14%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,675 COP 5.2M
$2,969 SEK 29.3K
-43.59%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Visby
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$678 COP 2.1M
$2,555 SEK 25.2K
-73.47%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
10.94
3.53
209.92%

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

Last update for Medellin: September 14, 2026

Last update for Visby: September 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,062 in Medellin versus $750 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 277% 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 $48.00 in Medellin versus $85.0 in Visby. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $305 vs $352 – 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 8%, 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 $2,714 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 in Visby?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $48.00 in Medellin and $85.0 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 and in Visby?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,681 in Medellin and $1,809 in Visby. 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 Visby?
A $2,500 monthly budget goes further in Medellin, where all-in costs run around $1,681, than in Visby at $1,809. 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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