😐A single person spends $1,910 per month in Skovde vs $1,013 in Medellin, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,946 per month in Skovde vs $1,602 in Medellin, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $3,982 per month in Skovde vs $2,192 in Medellin, rent included.
😐Skovde costs about 89% more than Medellin, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Skovde sits 43% above the global median, while Medellin is 24% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Skovde
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.00SEK 151
$5.99COP 21.5K
167.11%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$69.8SEK 660
$32.86COP 118.1K
112.42%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.48SEK 109
$7.09COP 25.5K
61.92%
Cappuccino
$4.92SEK 46.54
$1.71COP 6,154
187.72%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.66SEK 25.16
$1.10COP 3,949
141.82%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.24SEK 21.17
$0.78COP 2,798
187.18%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$8.65SEK 81.9
$1.68COP 6,035
414.88%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$8.68SEK 82.1
$3.07COP 11.0K
182.74%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Skovde
Medellin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.58SEK 14.91
$1.09COP 3,930
44.95%
White Bread(500g)
$2.77SEK 26.24
$1.26COP 4,536
119.84%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$4.42SEK 41.80
$1.38COP 4,953
220.29%
Eggs
$5.17SEK 48.95
$2.19COP 7,876
136.07%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$12.22SEK 116
$4.40COP 15.8K
177.73%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$14.26SEK 135
$5.63COP 20.2K
153.29%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$17.11SEK 162
$8.89COP 32.0K
92.46%
Apples(1kg)
$3.91SEK 36.98
$2.34COP 8,401
67.09%
Banana(1kg)
$2.77SEK 26.25
$1.06COP 3,801
161.32%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.68SEK 34.86
$1.50COP 5,408
145.33%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.99SEK 47.19
$1.38COP 4,955
261.59%
Potato(1kg)
$1.67SEK 15.78
$1.15COP 4,137
45.22%
Onion(1kg)
$1.83SEK 17.35
$1.16COP 4,181
57.76%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.61SEK 24.71
$0.89COP 3,202
193.26%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.32SEK 12.51
$0.84COP 3,016
57.14%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$7.72SEK 73.1
$2.28COP 8,196
238.60%
Wine(Bottle)
$8.68SEK 82.2
$10.64COP 38.2K
-18.42%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.50SEK 23.67
$1.20COP 4,311
108.33%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.59SEK 24.47
$2.47COP 8,880
4.86%
🚌 Getting Around
Skovde
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.77SEK 35.66
$0.86COP 3,075
338.37%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$73.3SEK 693
$41.40COP 148.8K
76.96%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$5.81SEK 55.0
$1.47COP 5,297
295.24%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.66SEK 15.69
$1.96COP 7,053
-15.31%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$64.5SEK 610
$7.74COP 27.8K
733.46%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.99SEK 18.86
$0.95COP 3,430
109.47%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.3KSEK 305.5K
$18.1KCOP 65.2M
78.10%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.6KSEK 317.9K
$26.5KCOP 95.2M
26.85%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Skovde
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$111SEK 1,051
$82.3COP 295.6K
35.05%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$29.31SEK 277
$9.50COP 34.1K
208.53%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$42.35SEK 401
$24.23COP 87.1K
74.78%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Skovde
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$40.09SEK 379
$25.89COP 93.0K
54.85%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$25.36SEK 240
$19.00COP 68.3K
33.47%
Cinema Ticket
$20.37SEK 193
$3.93COP 14.1K
418.32%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Skovde
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$149SEK 1,410
$309COP 1.1M
-51.83%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,566SEK 52.7K
$5,965COP 21.4M
-6.70%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Skovde
Medellin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$89.5SEK 847
$58.7COP 210.8K
52.64%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.27SEK 400
$32.35COP 116.2K
30.66%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$102SEK 965
$103COP 368.7K
-0.58%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$158SEK 1,498
$108COP 389.6K
45.99%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Skovde
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$833SEK 7,885
$476COP 1.7M
75.01%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$658SEK 6,222
$379COP 1.4M
73.60%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,373SEK 13.0K
$838COP 3.0M
63.75%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,099SEK 10.4K
$724COP 2.6M
51.86%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,422SEK 41.8K
$2,791COP 10.0M
58.46%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$3,023SEK 28.6K
$1,211COP 4.4M
149.53%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Skovde
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$3,496SEK 33.1K
$512COP 1.8M
583.10%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.8
13.43
-64.26%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Skovde: June 1, 2026
Last update for Medellin: May 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $833 in Skovde versus $476 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 run about 583% higher in Skovde, 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 $70.0 in Skovde versus $33.00 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $387 vs $188 – 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
Skovde vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Medellin cheaper than Skovde?
Yes – Skovde is pricier by about 89%, 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 $2,864 per month in Skovde and $1,519 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 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 Skovde or Medellin?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $70.0 in Skovde and $33.00 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 Skovde vs Medellin?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,910 in Skovde and $1,013 in Medellin. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Skovde or Medellin?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Medellin, where all-in costs run around $1,013, than in Skovde at $1,910. In Medellin it covers expenses comfortably, while in Skovde it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Skovde or Medellin 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, Skovde or Medellin?
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, Skovde makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.