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

Monthly Cost of Living

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

Solna vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities