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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,003 per month in Medellin vs $1,782 in Ystad, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,573 per month in Medellin vs $2,746 in Ystad, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,143 per month in Medellin vs $3,710 in Ystad, rent included.

Medellin is about 44% cheaper than Ystad, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Medellin sits 25% below the global median, while Ystad is 34% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.91 COP 18.6K

$11.68 SEK 111

-49.40%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.96 COP 103.8K

$91.4 SEK 869

-63.95%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.43 COP 23.4K

$10.52 SEK 100.0

-29.37%

Cappuccino

$1.65 COP 5,207

$3.94 SEK 37.43

-58.12%

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

$1.10 COP 3,468

$3.08 SEK 29.23

-64.29%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.78 COP 2,458

$2.58 SEK 24.46

-69.77%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.72 COP 5,412

$6.37 SEK 60.5

-73.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.18 COP 10.0K

$7.84 SEK 74.5

-59.44%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.10 COP 3,474

$1.70 SEK 16.18

-35.29%

White Bread (500g)

$1.26 COP 3,962

$2.96 SEK 28.14

-57.43%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.38 COP 4,349

$3.22 SEK 30.63

-57.14%

Eggs

$2.18 COP 6,858

$3.08 SEK 29.29

-29.22%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.49 COP 14.1K

$11.46 SEK 109

-60.82%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.79 COP 18.2K

$9.72 SEK 92.4

-40.43%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.97 COP 28.2K

$18.83 SEK 179

-52.36%

Apples (1kg)

$2.32 COP 7,308

$3.18 SEK 30.23

-27.04%

Banana (1kg)

$1.06 COP 3,352

$2.74 SEK 26.03

-61.31%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.52 COP 4,774

$3.00 SEK 28.54

-49.33%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.36 COP 4,270

$4.39 SEK 41.69

-69.02%

Potato (1kg)

$1.13 COP 3,552

$1.72 SEK 16.38

-34.30%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 COP 3,689

$1.95 SEK 18.55

-40.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.90 COP 2,838

$2.22 SEK 21.04

-59.46%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.90 COP 2,823

$1.54 SEK 14.63

-41.56%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.23 COP 7,034

$7.90 SEK 75.0

-71.77%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.12 COP 38.2K

$12.12 SEK 115

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.19 COP 3,743

$2.25 SEK 21.36

-47.11%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.48 COP 7,815

$2.50 SEK 23.71

-0.80%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.85 COP 2,687

$3.46 SEK 32.90

-75.43%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.62 COP 131.0K

$73.2 SEK 695

-43.11%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.42 COP 4,459

$10.08 SEK 95.7

-85.91%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.95 COP 6,141

$1.58 SEK 14.99

23.42%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.89 COP 24.8K

$61.5 SEK 584

-87.16%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.99 COP 3,118

$1.96 SEK 18.59

-49.49%

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

$17.6K COP 55.4M

$26.1K SEK 247.6K

-32.45%

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

$26.8K COP 84.4M

$30.0K SEK 284.6K

-10.55%

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

$83.0 COP 261.4K

$122 SEK 1,157

-31.84%

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

$9.70 COP 30.5K

$20.76 SEK 197

-53.28%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$23.52 COP 74.1K

$32.02 SEK 304

-26.55%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.26 COP 79.5K

$41.08 SEK 390

-38.51%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.10 COP 60.1K

$24.97 SEK 237

-23.51%

Cinema Ticket

$3.95 COP 12.4K

$12.50 SEK 119

-68.40%

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

$316 COP 994.2K

$175 SEK 1,658

80.94%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,975 COP 18.8M

$4,121 SEK 39.2K

44.97%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$60.0 COP 188.9K

$53.3 SEK 507

12.49%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$31.82 COP 100.2K

$39.62 SEK 376

-19.69%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$102 COP 320.1K

$93.1 SEK 884

9.23%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$107 COP 338.3K

$155 SEK 1,474

-30.74%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$475 COP 1.5M

$848 SEK 8,052

-43.97%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$374 COP 1.2M

$655 SEK 6,227

-42.95%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$849 COP 2.7M

$1,402 SEK 13.3K

-39.44%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$719 COP 2.3M

$1,101 SEK 10.5K

-34.64%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,265 COP 10.3M

$4,191 SEK 39.8K

-22.09%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,441 COP 4.5M

$2,846 SEK 27.0K

-49.38%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$624 COP 2.0M

$1,890 SEK 18.0K

-66.95%

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: July 27, 2026

Last update for Ystad: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $475 in Medellin versus $848 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 203% 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 $91.0 in Ystad. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $193 vs $355 – 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 78%, 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 $1,504 per month in Medellin and $2,673 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 $91.0 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 $1,003 in Medellin and $1,782 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 $1,003, than in Ystad at $1,782. 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.