Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Visby

For one person, living is cheaper in Medellin: $1,639 a month against $1,724 in Visby, rent and utilities included – about $1,000 less a year. The total is higher in Visby despite lower rent and utilities.

Medellin, Colombia
Visby, Sweden
Medellin
🇨🇴 Colombia
$1,639
/mo nomad
Visby
🇸🇪 Sweden
$1,724
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Medellin and in Visby

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Medellin and in Visby actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $1,639 per month in Medellin vs $1,724 in Visby, rent included.

  • Medellin $1,639
  • Visby $1,724

A couple spends around $2,413 per month in Medellin vs $2,717 in Visby, rent included.

  • Medellin $2,413
  • Visby $2,717

A family of three spends $3,186 per month in Medellin vs $3,709 in Visby, rent included.

  • Medellin $3,186
  • Visby $3,709

Medellin is about 5% cheaper than Visby, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both Medellin and Visby sit above the global median – Medellin by 20%, Visby by 27%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Visby
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.09 COP 26.1K
$12.84 SEK 126
-36.99%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$47.05 COP 151.9K
$79.2 SEK 777
-40.56%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.50 COP 30.7K
$9.24 SEK 90.8
2.81%
Cappuccino
$3.01 COP 9,735
$3.83 SEK 37.58
-21.41%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.80 COP 5,809
$2.34 SEK 23.00
-23.08%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.41 COP 4,561
$2.54 SEK 24.92
-44.49%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.18 COP 10.3K
$7.55 SEK 74.1
-57.88%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.75 COP 18.6K
$4.06 SEK 39.82
41.63%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Visby
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.51 COP 4,876
$1.47 SEK 14.42
2.72%
White Bread (500g)
$2.38 COP 7,678
$2.92 SEK 28.71
-18.49%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.77 COP 5,720
$3.06 SEK 30.06
-42.16%
Eggs
$2.89 COP 9,333
$3.82 SEK 37.50
-24.35%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.19 COP 32.9K
$10.14 SEK 99.5
0.49%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.87 COP 31.9K
$11.64 SEK 114
-15.21%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.99 COP 45.2K
$16.22 SEK 159
-13.75%
Apples (1kg)
$3.97 COP 12.8K
$2.95 SEK 28.98
34.58%
Banana (1kg)
$1.55 COP 5,012
$2.54 SEK 24.92
-38.98%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.18 COP 7,048
$3.09 SEK 30.38
-29.45%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.18 COP 7,051
$4.31 SEK 42.36
-49.42%
Potato (1kg)
$1.96 COP 6,337
$1.72 SEK 16.92
13.95%
Onion (1kg)
$1.59 COP 5,132
$1.67 SEK 16.37
-4.79%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.15 COP 3,699
$2.13 SEK 20.95
-46.01%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.24 COP 4,014
$1.03 SEK 10.16
20.39%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.96 COP 12.8K
$5.01 SEK 49.21
-20.96%
Wine (Bottle)
$13.68 COP 44.2K
$11.85 SEK 116
15.44%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.66 COP 5,359
$2.20 SEK 21.59
-24.55%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.26 COP 7,291
$1.53 SEK 15.02
47.71%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Visby
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.17 COP 3,771
$2.98 SEK 29.31
-60.74%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$77.4 COP 249.8K
$78.1 SEK 767
-0.97%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.27 COP 4,094
$3.44 SEK 33.82
-63.08%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.05 COP 6,612
$2.47 SEK 24.30
-17.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.55 COP 27.6K
$79.8 SEK 783
-89.28%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.35 COP 4,349
$1.81 SEK 17.79
-25.41%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.1K COP 110.0M
$33.5K SEK 329.1K
1.66%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.7K COP 111.9M
$33.6K SEK 329.7K
3.26%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Visby
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$170 COP 547.8K
$185 SEK 1,813
-8.11%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.55 COP 43.8K
$22.66 SEK 223
-40.20%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$28.07 COP 90.6K
$42.60 SEK 418
-34.11%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Visby
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$43.70 COP 141.1K
$37.83 SEK 371
15.52%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.19 COP 55.5K
$26.46 SEK 260
-35.03%
Cinema Ticket
$6.91 COP 22.3K
$13.79 SEK 135
-49.89%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Visby
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$797 COP 2.6M
$149 SEK 1,467
433.08%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$9,112 COP 29.4M
$4,977 SEK 48.9K
83.08%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Visby
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$84.7 COP 273.5K
$103 SEK 1,009
-17.58%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$58.0 COP 187.2K
$39.66 SEK 389
46.14%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$135 COP 435.8K
$89.1 SEK 875
51.47%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$97.9 COP 316.0K
$137 SEK 1,344
-28.50%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Visby
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,208 COP 3.9M
$715 SEK 7,018
69.01%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$642 COP 2.1M
$556 SEK 5,458
15.43%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,028 COP 6.5M
$1,338 SEK 13.1K
51.50%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,012 COP 3.3M
$1,036 SEK 10.2K
-2.32%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,170 COP 13.5M
$4,002 SEK 39.3K
4.20%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,910 COP 6.2M
$2,746 SEK 27.0K
-30.44%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Visby
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$657 COP 2.1M
$2,491 SEK 24.5K
-73.62%
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: October 25, 2026

Last update for Visby: October 26, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Medellin
$642
Visby
$556 13.4% $86
Groceries & Markets
Medellin
$297
Visby
$340 14.4% $43
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
$211
Visby
$250 18.3% $39
Eating Out
Medellin
$170
Visby
$242 42.5% $72
Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
$169
Visby
$166 1.9% $3.2
Getting Around
Medellin
$94
Visby
$106 13.2% $12
Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
$58
Visby
$65 13.7% $7.9

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,208 in Medellin versus $715 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 in Visby are about 3.8 times higher. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $47 in Medellin versus $79 in Visby. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $297 vs $340 – making Medellin the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇨🇴 Medellin
🇸🇪 Visby
🕒 Local time
05:52 5:52 AM
11:52 11:52 AM
6 h ahead of Medellin
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
2,486,723
22,593
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

SEK, USD, EUR to COP – Colombian Peso Converter

Colombian Peso exchange rates as of November 2, 2026: 1 USD = 3,229 COP (10,000 COP = 3.1 USD). 1 EUR = 3,603 COP (10,000 COP = 2.78 EUR).

Swedish Krona exchange rates as of November 2, 2026: 1 USD = 9.82 SEK (1 SEK = 0.102 USD). 1 EUR = 10.96 SEK (100 SEK = 9.13 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Medellin Visby 9,650 km ≈ 13 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Medellin
  • Visby

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 Medellin cheaper than Visby?
Yes – Visby is pricier by about 5%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in eating out.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,459 per month in Medellin and $2,587 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 Visby, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $715 there versus $1,208 in Medellin.
Is eating out cheaper in Medellin or in Visby?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $47 in Medellin and $79 in Visby. That’s a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
How do food prices compare in Medellin and in Visby?
Groceries cost about 14% more in Visby, though the gap depends on what you buy.
Is $2,500 enough for either Medellin or Visby?
$2,500 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $1,639 in Medellin and $1,724 in Visby, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.
Is it better to live in Medellin or in Visby?
It depends on your priorities. Medellin has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,639 in Medellin to $1,724 in Visby. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Medellin. If higher salaries 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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