Cost of Living Comparison Between Solna and MedellinCost of Living Comparison Between Solna and Medellin
Monthly Cost of Living
😐A single person spends $1,792 per month in Solna vs $1,031 in Medellin, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,718 per month in Solna vs $1,599 in Medellin, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $3,643 per month in Solna vs $2,167 in Medellin, rent included.
😐Solna costs about 74% more than Medellin, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Solna sits 34% above the global median, while Medellin is 23% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Solna
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$14.86SEK 144
$6.16COP 20.1K
141.23%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$56.6SEK 547
$32.60COP 106.1K
73.53%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.66SEK 103
$7.34COP 23.9K
45.23%
Cappuccino
$4.94SEK 47.78
$1.72COP 5,600
187.21%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.18SEK 30.71
$1.05COP 3,420
202.86%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.55SEK 14.96
$0.77COP 2,515
101.30%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$7.43SEK 71.8
$1.69COP 5,488
339.64%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$7.84SEK 75.7
$3.17COP 10.3K
147.32%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Solna
Medellin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.53SEK 14.79
$1.05COP 3,423
45.71%
White Bread(500g)
$2.68SEK 25.92
$1.30COP 4,236
106.15%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.77SEK 36.45
$1.40COP 4,544
169.29%
Eggs
$3.84SEK 37.13
$2.16COP 7,047
77.78%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.51SEK 91.9
$4.39COP 14.3K
116.63%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$12.50SEK 121
$5.88COP 19.1K
112.59%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$14.81SEK 143
$8.64COP 28.1K
71.41%
Apples(1kg)
$1.70SEK 16.47
$2.28COP 7,426
-25.44%
Banana(1kg)
$2.16SEK 20.87
$1.11COP 3,604
94.59%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.62SEK 25.30
$1.53COP 4,983
71.24%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.13SEK 30.26
$1.35COP 4,410
131.85%
Potato(1kg)
$1.61SEK 15.60
$1.13COP 3,674
42.48%
Onion(1kg)
$2.03SEK 19.58
$1.13COP 3,692
79.65%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.31SEK 22.28
$0.85COP 2,753
171.76%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.08SEK 10.45
$0.91COP 2,975
18.68%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$7.53SEK 72.8
$2.34COP 7,630
221.79%
Wine(Bottle)
$12.16SEK 118
$12.37COP 40.3K
-1.70%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.46SEK 14.12
$1.20COP 3,909
21.67%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.96SEK 9.23
$2.49COP 8,104
-61.45%
🚌 Getting Around
Solna
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$4.51SEK 43.60
$0.84COP 2,728
436.90%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$102SEK 982
$40.57COP 132.1K
150.51%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.63SEK 35.07
$1.42COP 4,623
155.63%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.57SEK 15.21
$1.92COP 6,235
-18.23%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$85.1SEK 823
$7.66COP 24.9K
1011.36%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.91SEK 18.43
$0.99COP 3,223
92.93%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.3KSEK 263.9K
$18.0KCOP 58.7M
51.42%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$30.5KSEK 295.0K
$26.6KCOP 86.7M
14.62%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Solna
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$110SEK 1,065
$80.8COP 263.1K
36.34%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$28.28SEK 273
$9.95COP 32.4K
184.22%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$41.42SEK 400
$24.18COP 78.7K
71.30%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Solna
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$47.03SEK 455
$25.08COP 81.7K
87.52%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$25.77SEK 249
$19.15COP 62.3K
34.57%
Cinema Ticket
$15.27SEK 148
$3.98COP 13.0K
283.67%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Solna
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$161SEK 1,557
$305COP 993.5K
-47.23%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$4,103SEK 39.7K
$6,059COP 19.7M
-32.28%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Solna
Medellin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$93.9SEK 907
$58.1COP 189.2K
61.48%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.75SEK 413
$32.20COP 104.8K
32.76%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$91.9SEK 888
$101COP 327.9K
-8.79%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$52.9SEK 511
$108COP 350.8K
-50.95%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Solna
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$845SEK 8,164
$477COP 1.6M
77.21%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$657SEK 6,351
$376COP 1.2M
74.66%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,421SEK 13.7K
$845COP 2.7M
68.19%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,086SEK 10.5K
$730COP 2.4M
48.69%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$6,909SEK 66.8K
$3,215COP 10.5M
114.88%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,895SEK 28.0K
$1,372COP 4.5M
110.96%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Solna
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$3,730SEK 36.1K
$617COP 2.0M
504.78%
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 Solna: July 13, 2026
Last update for Medellin: July 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $845 in Solna versus $477 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 505% 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 $57.0 in Solna versus $33.00 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $320 vs $193 – 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 74%, 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 $2,688 per month in Solna and $1,546 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 $57.0 in Solna 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 Solna and in Medellin?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,792 in Solna and $1,031 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 living in Solna or in Medellin?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Medellin, where all-in costs run around $1,031, than in Solna at $1,792. 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.