Cost of Living Comparison Between Solna and Medellin Cost of Living Comparison Between Solna and Medellin

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,828 per month in Solna vs $1,716 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,821 per month in Solna vs $2,527 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,815 per month in Solna vs $3,338 in Medellin, rent included.

Solna costs about 6% more than Medellin, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Solna and Medellin sit above the global median – Solna by 33%, Medellin by 25%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Solna
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$14.58 SEK 140
$8.03 COP 25.3K
81.57%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$69.5 SEK 669
$48.26 COP 152.0K
43.97%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.86 SEK 114
$9.77 COP 30.8K
21.39%
Cappuccino
$5.21 SEK 50.2
$2.91 COP 9,167
79.04%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.38 SEK 22.96
$1.94 COP 6,122
22.68%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.54 SEK 14.88
$1.52 COP 4,792
1.32%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$7.67 SEK 73.8
$3.09 COP 9,740
148.22%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.76 SEK 74.7
$5.74 COP 18.1K
35.19%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Solna
Medellin
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.51 SEK 14.58
$1.36 COP 4,296
11.03%
White Bread (500g)
$2.67 SEK 25.75
$2.39 COP 7,519
11.72%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.77 SEK 36.27
$1.70 COP 5,356
121.76%
Eggs
$4.25 SEK 40.94
$2.87 COP 9,038
48.08%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.26 SEK 89.1
$9.94 COP 31.3K
-6.84%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$13.43 SEK 129
$10.78 COP 34.0K
24.58%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$23.66 SEK 228
$14.73 COP 46.4K
60.62%
Apples (1kg)
$3.37 SEK 32.48
$4.09 COP 12.9K
-17.60%
Banana (1kg)
$2.08 SEK 20.06
$1.57 COP 4,950
32.48%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.66 SEK 25.58
$2.13 COP 6,695
24.88%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.09 SEK 29.77
$2.21 COP 6,972
39.82%
Potato (1kg)
$1.60 SEK 15.37
$2.05 COP 6,447
-21.95%
Onion (1kg)
$1.96 SEK 18.85
$1.50 COP 4,737
30.67%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.32 SEK 22.31
$1.19 COP 3,747
94.96%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.08 SEK 10.41
$1.16 COP 3,647
-6.90%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$8.02 SEK 77.2
$3.90 COP 12.3K
105.64%
Wine (Bottle)
$12.41 SEK 120
$14.44 COP 45.5K
-14.06%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.39 SEK 13.39
$1.58 COP 4,987
-12.03%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.24 SEK 21.60
$2.83 COP 8,905
-20.85%
🚌 Getting Around
Solna
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$4.29 SEK 41.31
$1.17 COP 3,679
266.67%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$103 SEK 989
$77.7 COP 244.8K
32.16%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.64 SEK 35.03
$1.28 COP 4,045
184.38%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.96 SEK 28.49
$2.09 COP 6,589
41.63%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$85.5 SEK 823
$8.62 COP 27.1K
891.88%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.92 SEK 18.47
$1.30 COP 4,088
47.69%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.3K SEK 330.1K
$27.7K COP 87.1M
23.93%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.6K SEK 323.7K
$35.5K COP 111.8M
-5.36%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Solna
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$112 SEK 1,075
$176 COP 554.5K
-36.62%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$23.29 SEK 224
$13.37 COP 42.1K
74.20%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$42.47 SEK 409
$29.89 COP 94.1K
42.09%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Solna
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$39.37 SEK 379
$44.76 COP 141.0K
-12.04%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$26.64 SEK 257
$17.06 COP 53.7K
56.15%
Cinema Ticket
$15.18 SEK 146
$6.20 COP 19.5K
144.84%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Solna
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$159 SEK 1,529
$793 COP 2.5M
-79.99%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,239 SEK 50.5K
$9,019 COP 28.4M
-41.91%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Solna
Medellin
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$111 SEK 1,069
$85.6 COP 269.6K
29.61%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.10 SEK 405
$58.5 COP 184.1K
-28.00%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$91.3 SEK 879
$136 COP 429.3K
-33.04%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$144 SEK 1,385
$103 COP 324.7K
39.46%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Solna
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$835 SEK 8,039
$1,060 COP 3.3M
-21.23%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$612 SEK 5,897
$680 COP 2.1M
-9.90%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,428 SEK 13.7K
$2,012 COP 6.3M
-29.05%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,070 SEK 10.3K
$1,169 COP 3.7M
-8.41%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$7,162 SEK 69.0K
$4,111 COP 12.9M
74.20%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,005 SEK 28.9K
$1,701 COP 5.4M
76.65%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Solna
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,932 SEK 37.9K
$665 COP 2.1M
490.99%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.53
10.94
-67.73%

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

Last update for Solna: September 1, 2026

Last update for Medellin: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $835 in Solna versus $1,060 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 491% higher in Solna, 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 $69.0 in Solna versus $48.00 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $362 vs $303 – 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
Solna vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Medellin cheaper than Solna?
Yes – Solna is pricier by about 6%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. 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 $2,741 per month in Solna and $2,574 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 Solna or in Medellin?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $69.0 in Solna and $48.00 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 Solna and in Medellin?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,828 in Solna and $1,716 in Medellin. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Is $2,500 a realistic budget for living in Solna or in Medellin?
A $2,500 monthly budget goes further in Medellin, where all-in costs run around $1,716, than in Solna at $1,828. In Medellin it covers expenses comfortably, while in Solna it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Solna 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, Solna 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, Solna makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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