Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Solna and Medellin

For one person, living is cheaper in Medellin: $1,614 a month against $1,760 in Solna, rent and utilities included – about $1,800 less a year. The total is higher in Solna despite lower rent and utilities.

Solna
🇸🇪 Sweden
$1,760
/mo nomad
Medellin
🇨🇴 Colombia
$1,614
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Solna 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 Solna and in Medellin actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $1,760 per month in Solna vs $1,614 in Medellin, rent included.

  • Solna $1,760
  • Medellin $1,614

A couple spends around $2,721 per month in Solna vs $2,402 in Medellin, rent included.

  • Solna $2,721
  • Medellin $2,402

A family of three spends $3,682 per month in Solna vs $3,190 in Medellin, rent included.

  • Solna $3,682
  • Medellin $3,190

Solna costs about 9% more than Medellin, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both Solna and Medellin sit above the global median – Solna by 30%, Medellin by 20%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Solna
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$14.11 SEK 140
$7.93 COP 25.2K
77.93%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$66.0 SEK 653
$46.13 COP 146.3K
42.97%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.19 SEK 111
$9.50 COP 30.1K
17.79%
Cappuccino
$4.74 SEK 46.94
$3.11 COP 9,866
52.41%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.26 SEK 22.44
$1.83 COP 5,800
23.50%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.42 SEK 14.10
$1.38 COP 4,360
2.90%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$7.48 SEK 74.1
$3.05 COP 9,672
145.25%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.32 SEK 72.5
$5.50 COP 17.4K
33.09%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Solna
Medellin
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.38 SEK 13.71
$1.45 COP 4,600
-4.83%
White Bread (500g)
$2.54 SEK 25.13
$2.36 COP 7,496
7.63%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.51 SEK 34.82
$1.68 COP 5,328
108.93%
Eggs
$3.88 SEK 38.47
$2.86 COP 9,077
35.66%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.11 SEK 90.2
$10.19 COP 32.3K
-10.60%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$12.75 SEK 126
$9.53 COP 30.2K
33.79%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$21.97 SEK 218
$14.04 COP 44.5K
56.48%
Apples (1kg)
$3.18 SEK 31.53
$4.07 COP 12.9K
-21.87%
Banana (1kg)
$2.03 SEK 20.08
$1.50 COP 4,742
35.33%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.45 SEK 24.29
$2.17 COP 6,891
12.90%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.92 SEK 28.93
$2.31 COP 7,310
26.41%
Potato (1kg)
$1.47 SEK 14.54
$1.93 COP 6,113
-23.83%
Onion (1kg)
$1.87 SEK 18.49
$1.64 COP 5,196
14.02%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.11 SEK 20.94
$1.13 COP 3,571
86.73%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.02 SEK 10.09
$1.25 COP 3,954
-18.40%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$7.38 SEK 73.1
$3.99 COP 12.6K
84.96%
Wine (Bottle)
$13.19 SEK 131
$13.35 COP 42.3K
-1.20%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.37 SEK 13.57
$1.70 COP 5,384
-19.41%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.20 SEK 21.82
$2.37 COP 7,525
-7.17%
🚌 Getting Around
Solna
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$4.17 SEK 41.30
$1.21 COP 3,827
244.63%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$95.7 SEK 948
$76.5 COP 242.5K
25.06%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.56 SEK 35.24
$1.32 COP 4,179
169.70%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.51 SEK 24.83
$2.14 COP 6,774
17.29%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$80.4 SEK 796
$8.47 COP 26.8K
848.64%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.80 SEK 17.87
$1.30 COP 4,114
38.46%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$33.4K SEK 330.5K
$28.0K COP 88.7M
19.16%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.4K SEK 320.9K
$35.4K COP 112.3M
-8.55%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Solna
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$103 SEK 1,022
$172 COP 545.6K
-40.07%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.72 SEK 225
$13.37 COP 42.4K
69.93%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$40.38 SEK 400
$28.73 COP 91.1K
40.55%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Solna
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$37.85 SEK 375
$45.24 COP 143.5K
-16.34%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$26.05 SEK 258
$17.04 COP 54.0K
52.88%
Cinema Ticket
$14.67 SEK 145
$6.28 COP 19.9K
133.60%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Solna
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$152 SEK 1,505
$770 COP 2.4M
-80.28%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,015 SEK 49.7K
$9,011 COP 28.6M
-44.35%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Solna
Medellin
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$105 SEK 1,039
$86.4 COP 274.0K
21.33%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.38 SEK 400
$57.1 COP 181.1K
-29.32%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$86.8 SEK 860
$137 COP 432.9K
-36.44%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$135 SEK 1,334
$97.9 COP 310.4K
37.53%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Solna
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$794 SEK 7,869
$1,055 COP 3.3M
-24.73%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$619 SEK 6,132
$616 COP 2.0M
0.50%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,354 SEK 13.4K
$1,892 COP 6.0M
-28.43%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,032 SEK 10.2K
$1,023 COP 3.2M
0.86%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$6,838 SEK 67.7K
$4,059 COP 12.9M
68.46%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,815 SEK 27.9K
$1,678 COP 5.3M
67.69%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Solna
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,500 SEK 34.7K
$652 COP 2.1M
436.53%
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: October 11, 2026

Last update for Medellin: October 12, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Solna
$619
Medellin
$616 0.5% $3.1
Groceries & Markets
Solna
$345
Medellin
$295 14.5% $50
Eating Out
Solna
$270
Medellin
$168 37.7% $102
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Solna
$166
Medellin
$214 28.8% $48
Clothing & Footwear
Solna
$165
Medellin
$170 3.1% $5.1
Getting Around
Solna
$128
Medellin
$93 27.3% $35
Sport & Entertainment
Solna
$67
Medellin
$58 14% $9.4

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $794 in Solna versus $1,055 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 437% 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 $66.0 in Solna versus $46.00 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $345 vs $295 – making Medellin the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇸🇪 Solna
🇨🇴 Medellin
🕒 Local time
02:19 2:19 AM
19:19 7:19 PM
7 h behind Solna
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
85,540
2,486,723
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

COP, USD, EUR to SEK – Swedish Krona Converter

Swedish Krona exchange rates as of October 19, 2026: 1 USD = 9.91 SEK (1 SEK = 0.101 USD). 1 EUR = 11.14 SEK (100 SEK = 8.98 EUR).

Colombian Peso exchange rates as of October 19, 2026: 1 USD = 3,171 COP (10,000 COP = 3.15 USD). 1 EUR = 3,565 COP (10,000 COP = 2.81 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Solna Medellin 9,610 km ≈ 13 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Solna
  • 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
Solna vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Medellin cheaper than Solna?
Yes – Solna is pricier by about 9%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in eating out.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,641 per month in Solna and $2,421 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 $66.0 in Solna and $46.00 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 $1,760 in Solna and $1,614 in Medellin. That's a gap of about 9%.
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 $1,614, than in Solna at $1,760. 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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