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