Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Sala, Sweden and Medellin

For one person, living is cheaper in Sala: $1,555 a month against $1,639 in Medellin, rent and utilities included – about $1,000 less a year. Higher rent and utilities in Medellin outweigh lower spending on other living expenses.

Sala, Sweden
Medellin, Colombia
Sala
🇸🇪 Sweden
$1,555
/mo nomad
Medellin
🇨🇴 Colombia
$1,639
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Sala and in Medellin

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

A single person spends $1,555 per month in Sala vs $1,639 in Medellin, rent included.

  • Sala $1,555
  • Medellin $1,639

A couple spends around $2,301 per month in Sala vs $2,413 in Medellin, rent included.

  • Sala $2,301
  • Medellin $2,413

A family of three spends $3,046 per month in Sala vs $3,186 in Medellin, rent included.

  • Sala $3,046
  • Medellin $3,186

Sala is about 5% cheaper than Medellin, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in clothing.

Both Sala and Medellin sit above the global median – Sala by 14%, Medellin by 20%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Sala
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$12.16 SEK 119
$8.09 COP 26.1K
50.31%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$60.1 SEK 590
$47.05 COP 151.7K
27.69%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.87 SEK 96.9
$9.50 COP 30.6K
3.89%
Cappuccino
$3.04 SEK 29.84
$3.01 COP 9,722
1.00%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.74 SEK 17.05
$1.80 COP 5,801
-3.33%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.24 SEK 21.97
$1.41 COP 4,554
58.87%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$7.19 SEK 70.5
$3.18 COP 10.2K
126.10%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.24 SEK 71.1
$5.75 COP 18.5K
25.91%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Sala
Medellin
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.72 SEK 16.89
$1.51 COP 4,869
13.91%
White Bread (500g)
$2.57 SEK 25.25
$2.38 COP 7,667
7.98%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.42 SEK 33.61
$1.77 COP 5,712
93.22%
Eggs
$5.26 SEK 51.6
$2.89 COP 9,320
82.01%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$11.30 SEK 111
$10.19 COP 32.9K
10.89%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$12.99 SEK 127
$9.87 COP 31.8K
31.61%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$22.54 SEK 221
$13.99 COP 45.1K
61.12%
Apples (1kg)
$2.90 SEK 28.43
$3.97 COP 12.8K
-26.95%
Banana (1kg)
$2.67 SEK 26.21
$1.55 COP 5,005
72.26%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.68 SEK 26.32
$2.18 COP 7,039
22.94%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.59 SEK 45.05
$2.18 COP 7,041
110.55%
Potato (1kg)
$1.45 SEK 14.21
$1.96 COP 6,328
-26.02%
Onion (1kg)
$1.13 SEK 11.11
$1.59 COP 5,125
-28.93%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.53 SEK 24.81
$1.15 COP 3,694
120.00%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.03 SEK 10.14
$1.24 COP 4,009
-16.94%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$6.96 SEK 68.3
$3.96 COP 12.8K
75.76%
Wine (Bottle)
$6.01 SEK 59.0
$13.68 COP 44.1K
-56.07%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.01 SEK 19.70
$1.66 COP 5,352
21.08%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.76 SEK 17.30
$2.26 COP 7,281
-22.12%
🚌 Getting Around
Sala
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.98 SEK 29.25
$1.17 COP 3,766
154.70%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$20.73 SEK 203
$77.4 COP 249.5K
-73.21%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$5.86 SEK 57.5
$1.27 COP 4,089
361.42%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.78 SEK 17.48
$2.05 COP 6,603
-13.17%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$81.0 SEK 795
$8.55 COP 27.6K
847.60%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.70 SEK 16.70
$1.35 COP 4,343
25.93%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$33.9K SEK 332.6K
$34.1K COP 109.8M
-0.52%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.6K SEK 330.0K
$34.7K COP 111.8M
-3.00%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Sala
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$178 SEK 1,742
$170 COP 547.0K
4.63%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$19.84 SEK 195
$13.55 COP 43.7K
46.42%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$39.07 SEK 383
$28.07 COP 90.5K
39.19%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Sala
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$45.69 SEK 448
$43.70 COP 140.9K
4.55%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.95 SEK 196
$17.19 COP 55.4K
16.06%
Cinema Ticket
$16.33 SEK 160
$6.91 COP 22.3K
136.32%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Sala
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$221 SEK 2,164
$797 COP 2.6M
-72.32%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$1,219 SEK 12.0K
$9,112 COP 29.4M
-86.62%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Sala
Medellin
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$44.53 SEK 437
$84.7 COP 273.2K
-47.44%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.85 SEK 342
$58.0 COP 186.9K
-39.87%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$52.4 SEK 514
$135 COP 435.2K
-61.16%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$55.0 SEK 540
$97.9 COP 315.6K
-43.79%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Sala
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$716 SEK 7,028
$1,208 COP 3.9M
-40.71%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$516 SEK 5,065
$642 COP 2.1M
-19.54%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$921 SEK 9,035
$2,028 COP 6.5M
-54.59%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$713 SEK 7,001
$1,012 COP 3.3M
-29.49%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,986 SEK 39.1K
$4,170 COP 13.4M
-4.42%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,798 SEK 27.5K
$1,910 COP 6.2M
46.47%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Sala
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$2,432 SEK 23.9K
$657 COP 2.1M
270.02%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
2.8
10.94
-74.41%

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

Last update for Sala: October 25, 2026

Last update for Medellin: October 25, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Sala
$516
Medellin
$642 24.3% $125
Groceries & Markets
Sala
$363
Medellin
$297 18.2% $66
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Sala
$236
Medellin
$211 10.6% $25
Eating Out
Sala
$230
Medellin
$170 26.2% $60
Clothing & Footwear
Sala
$84
Medellin
$169 101% $85
Sport & Entertainment
Sala
$78
Medellin
$58 26.6% $21
Getting Around
Sala
$47
Medellin
$94 97.3% $46

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $716 in Sala versus $1,208 in Medellin. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries in Sala are about 3.7 times higher, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $60 in Sala versus $47 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $363 vs $297 – making Medellin the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇸🇪 Sala
🇨🇴 Medellin
🕒 Local time
03:36 3:36 AM
21:36 9:36 PM
6 h behind Sala
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
22,994
2,486,723
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

COP, USD, EUR to SEK – Swedish Krona Converter

Swedish Krona exchange rates as of November 2, 2026: 1 USD = 9.81 SEK (1 SEK = 0.102 USD). 1 EUR = 10.96 SEK (100 SEK = 9.13 EUR).

Colombian Peso exchange rates as of November 2, 2026: 1 USD = 3,224 COP (10,000 COP = 3.1 USD). 1 EUR = 3,600 COP (10,000 COP = 2.78 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Sala Medellin 9,530 km ≈ 12 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Sala
  • Medellin

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
Sala vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Sala cheaper than Medellin?
Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 5%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in clothing.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,333 per month in Sala and $2,459 in Medellin. 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 Sala, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $716 there versus $1,208 in Medellin.
Is eating out cheaper in Sala or in Medellin?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $60 in Sala and $47 in Medellin. That’s a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
What are total monthly expenses in Sala and in Medellin?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,555 in Sala and $1,639 in Medellin. That makes Sala about 5% cheaper.
Is $1,000 enough to cover costs in Sala or in Medellin?
$1,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $1,555 in Sala and $1,639 in Medellin. You’ll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.
Is Sala or Medellin more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Sala – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

Sala vs other spots: cost of living compared

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