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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,003 per month in Medellin vs $1,743 in Visby, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,573 per month in Medellin vs $2,773 in Visby, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,143 per month in Medellin vs $3,804 in Visby, rent included.

Medellin is about 42% cheaper than Visby, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Medellin sits 25% below the global median, while Visby is 31% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Visby
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.91 COP 18.6K
$10.48 SEK 99.6
-43.61%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.96 COP 103.8K
$95.0 SEK 902
-65.30%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.43 COP 23.4K
$9.28 SEK 88.2
-19.94%
Cappuccino
$1.65 COP 5,207
$3.02 SEK 28.72
-45.36%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.10 COP 3,468
$3.24 SEK 30.74
-66.05%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.78 COP 2,458
$2.74 SEK 26.07
-71.53%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.72 COP 5,412
$7.63 SEK 72.5
-77.46%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.18 COP 10.0K
$4.17 SEK 39.64
-23.74%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Visby
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.10 COP 3,474
$1.54 SEK 14.61
-28.57%
White Bread (500g)
$1.26 COP 3,962
$2.72 SEK 25.87
-53.68%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.38 COP 4,349
$3.18 SEK 30.19
-56.60%
Eggs
$2.18 COP 6,858
$4.03 SEK 38.24
-45.91%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$4.49 COP 14.1K
$10.75 SEK 102
-58.23%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.79 COP 18.2K
$12.10 SEK 115
-52.15%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$8.97 COP 28.2K
$18.87 SEK 179
-52.46%
Apples (1kg)
$2.32 COP 7,308
$3.13 SEK 29.71
-25.88%
Banana (1kg)
$1.06 COP 3,352
$2.58 SEK 24.54
-58.91%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.52 COP 4,774
$3.11 SEK 29.56
-51.13%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.36 COP 4,270
$3.72 SEK 35.35
-63.44%
Potato (1kg)
$1.13 COP 3,552
$1.81 SEK 17.15
-37.57%
Onion (1kg)
$1.17 COP 3,689
$1.74 SEK 16.55
-32.76%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.90 COP 2,838
$2.93 SEK 27.86
-69.28%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.90 COP 2,823
$1.19 SEK 11.27
-24.37%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.23 COP 7,034
$5.95 SEK 56.6
-62.52%
Wine (Bottle)
$12.12 COP 38.2K
$12.24 SEK 116
-0.98%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.19 COP 3,743
$2.36 SEK 22.39
-49.58%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.48 COP 7,815
$1.88 SEK 17.89
31.91%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Visby
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.85 COP 2,687
$3.22 SEK 30.63
-73.60%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$41.62 COP 131.0K
$49.23 SEK 468
-15.46%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.42 COP 4,459
$3.66 SEK 34.74
-61.20%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.95 COP 6,141
$1.19 SEK 11.28
63.87%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.89 COP 24.8K
$86.0 SEK 817
-90.83%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.99 COP 3,118
$1.90 SEK 18.04
-47.89%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$17.6K COP 55.4M
$32.4K SEK 307.7K
-45.65%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.8K COP 84.4M
$34.8K SEK 330.6K
-23.00%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Visby
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$83.0 COP 261.4K
$190 SEK 1,807
-56.35%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.70 COP 30.5K
$28.67 SEK 272
-66.17%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$23.52 COP 74.1K
$41.87 SEK 398
-43.83%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Visby
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$25.26 COP 79.5K
$48.15 SEK 457
-47.54%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.10 COP 60.1K
$41.52 SEK 394
-54.00%
Cinema Ticket
$3.95 COP 12.4K
$14.92 SEK 142
-73.53%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Visby
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$316 COP 994.2K
$159 SEK 1,508
98.91%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,975 COP 18.8M
$4,205 SEK 39.9K
42.09%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Visby
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$60.0 COP 188.9K
$96.2 SEK 914
-37.62%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$31.82 COP 100.2K
$43.03 SEK 409
-26.05%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$102 COP 320.1K
$93.2 SEK 885
9.11%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$107 COP 338.3K
$121 SEK 1,151
-11.32%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Visby
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$475 COP 1.5M
$764 SEK 7,261
-37.87%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$374 COP 1.2M
$584 SEK 5,546
-35.94%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$849 COP 2.7M
$1,465 SEK 13.9K
-42.06%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$719 COP 2.3M
$1,046 SEK 9,937
-31.22%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,265 COP 10.3M
$4,341 SEK 41.2K
-24.78%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,441 COP 4.5M
$3,097 SEK 29.4K
-53.49%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Visby
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$624 COP 2.0M
$2,535 SEK 24.1K
-75.36%
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: July 27, 2026

Last update for Visby: July 25, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $475 in Medellin versus $764 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 306% 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: $193 vs $358 – 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 74%, 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 $1,504 per month in Medellin and $2,614 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 $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 and in Visby?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,003 in Medellin and $1,743 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 living in Medellin or in Visby?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Medellin, where all-in costs run around $1,003, than in Visby at $1,743. 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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