Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Ystad Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Ystad

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,028 per month in Medellin vs $1,732 in Ystad, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,586 per month in Medellin vs $2,721 in Ystad, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,144 per month in Medellin vs $3,709 in Ystad, rent included.

Medellin is about 41% cheaper than Ystad, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Medellin sits 23% below the global median, while Ystad is 30% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.00 COP 20.6K

$11.78 SEK 110

-49.07%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.84 COP 112.5K

$93.0 SEK 870

-64.70%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.42 COP 25.4K

$10.72 SEK 100

-30.78%

Cappuccino

$1.65 COP 5,659

$4.16 SEK 38.92

-60.34%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.07 COP 3,663

$3.02 SEK 28.21

-64.57%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.76 COP 2,607

$2.57 SEK 24.01

-70.43%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.72 COP 5,908

$6.23 SEK 58.3

-72.39%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.20 COP 11.0K

$7.75 SEK 72.5

-58.71%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.05 COP 3,597

$1.69 SEK 15.78

-37.87%

White Bread (500g)

$1.31 COP 4,479

$2.89 SEK 27.03

-54.67%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.34 COP 4,591

$3.27 SEK 30.56

-59.02%

Eggs

$2.19 COP 7,521

$3.20 SEK 29.90

-31.56%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.41 COP 15.1K

$11.81 SEK 110

-62.66%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.69 COP 19.5K

$9.68 SEK 90.6

-41.22%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.52 COP 29.2K

$18.73 SEK 175

-54.51%

Apples (1kg)

$2.34 COP 8,023

$3.17 SEK 29.62

-26.18%

Banana (1kg)

$1.11 COP 3,804

$2.76 SEK 25.77

-59.78%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.52 COP 5,210

$3.04 SEK 28.48

-50.00%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.37 COP 4,680

$4.34 SEK 40.63

-68.43%

Potato (1kg)

$1.15 COP 3,950

$1.73 SEK 16.22

-33.53%

Onion (1kg)

$1.18 COP 4,043

$1.93 SEK 18.10

-38.86%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.84 COP 2,885

$2.22 SEK 20.75

-62.16%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.86 COP 2,931

$1.61 SEK 15.03

-46.58%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.26 COP 7,753

$8.14 SEK 76.2

-72.24%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.60 COP 39.8K

$12.85 SEK 120

-9.73%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.20 COP 4,109

$2.18 SEK 20.42

-44.95%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.48 COP 8,484

$2.51 SEK 23.52

-1.20%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.79 COP 2,721

$3.36 SEK 31.46

-76.49%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$40.83 COP 139.9K

$73.0 SEK 683

-44.10%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.47 COP 5,023

$10.22 SEK 95.6

-85.62%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.92 COP 6,568

$1.66 SEK 15.51

15.66%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.77 COP 26.6K

$61.8 SEK 578

-87.42%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.01 COP 3,464

$1.89 SEK 17.66

-46.56%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$17.7K COP 60.5M

$25.7K SEK 240.7K

-31.37%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$26.5K COP 90.7M

$29.6K SEK 277.1K

-10.68%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$81.1 COP 277.9K

$123 SEK 1,146

-33.80%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$9.43 COP 32.3K

$21.34 SEK 200

-55.81%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$23.86 COP 81.8K

$32.03 SEK 300

-25.51%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.99 COP 89.1K

$40.41 SEK 378

-35.68%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.71 COP 64.1K

$25.09 SEK 235

-25.43%

Cinema Ticket

$4.09 COP 14.0K

$12.90 SEK 121

-68.29%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$315 COP 1.1M

$173 SEK 1,618

81.86%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,022 COP 20.6M

$4,208 SEK 39.4K

43.09%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$59.7 COP 204.6K

$53.2 SEK 498

12.13%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$31.97 COP 109.6K

$39.09 SEK 366

-18.21%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$101 COP 346.9K

$95.9 SEK 897

5.53%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$105 COP 360.3K

$155 SEK 1,452

-32.27%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$485 COP 1.7M

$831 SEK 7,776

-41.60%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$365 COP 1.3M

$643 SEK 6,017

-43.24%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$827 COP 2.8M

$1,403 SEK 13.1K

-41.06%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$730 COP 2.5M

$1,096 SEK 10.3K

-33.40%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,992 COP 10.3M

$4,236 SEK 39.6K

-29.36%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,314 COP 4.5M

$2,988 SEK 28.0K

-56.03%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$551 COP 1.9M

$1,928 SEK 18.0K

-71.44%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.43

235.75%

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

Last update for Medellin: June 15, 2026

Last update for Ystad: June 16, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $485 in Medellin versus $831 in Ystad. 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 250% higher in Ystad, 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 $93.0 in Ystad. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $190 vs $357 – 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 Ystad: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Ystad 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.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,542 per month in Medellin and $2,598 in Ystad. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $33.00 in Medellin and $93.0 in Ystad. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,028 in Medellin and $1,732 in Ystad. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Medellin, where all-in costs run around $1,028, than in Ystad at $1,732. In Medellin it covers expenses comfortably, while in Ystad it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

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.

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.

If budget matters most, go with Medellin. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Ystad makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.