Cost of Living Comparison Between Sundsvall and Medellin Cost of Living Comparison Between Sundsvall and Medellin

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,776 per month in Sundsvall vs $1,013 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,653 per month in Sundsvall vs $1,602 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,530 per month in Sundsvall vs $2,192 in Medellin, rent included.

Sundsvall costs about 75% more than Medellin, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Sundsvall sits 33% above the global median, while Medellin is 24% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Sundsvall
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$12.51 SEK 117
$5.99 COP 21.4K
108.85%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$84.4 SEK 788
$32.86 COP 117.4K
156.97%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.30 SEK 96.1
$7.09 COP 25.3K
45.28%
Cappuccino
$4.41 SEK 41.19
$1.71 COP 6,115
157.89%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.53 SEK 23.60
$1.10 COP 3,924
130.00%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.10 SEK 19.59
$0.78 COP 2,781
169.23%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$7.44 SEK 69.4
$1.68 COP 5,997
342.86%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.09 SEK 75.5
$3.07 COP 11.0K
163.52%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Sundsvall
Medellin
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.58 SEK 14.76
$1.09 COP 3,906
44.95%
White Bread (500g)
$3.31 SEK 30.86
$1.26 COP 4,508
162.70%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.74 SEK 34.91
$1.38 COP 4,922
171.01%
Eggs
$3.58 SEK 33.43
$2.19 COP 7,827
63.47%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.20 SEK 95.2
$4.40 COP 15.7K
131.82%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.35 SEK 96.6
$5.63 COP 20.1K
83.84%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$18.47 SEK 172
$8.89 COP 31.8K
107.76%
Apples (1kg)
$2.90 SEK 27.04
$2.34 COP 8,349
23.93%
Banana (1kg)
$2.44 SEK 22.73
$1.06 COP 3,777
130.19%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.65 SEK 24.75
$1.50 COP 5,374
76.67%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.06 SEK 37.84
$1.38 COP 4,924
194.20%
Potato (1kg)
$1.46 SEK 13.67
$1.15 COP 4,111
26.96%
Onion (1kg)
$1.48 SEK 13.78
$1.16 COP 4,155
27.59%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.88 SEK 17.55
$0.89 COP 3,182
111.24%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.99 SEK 9.26
$0.84 COP 2,997
17.86%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$7.78 SEK 72.6
$2.28 COP 8,145
241.23%
Wine (Bottle)
$9.39 SEK 87.6
$10.64 COP 38.0K
-11.75%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.64 SEK 15.29
$1.20 COP 4,284
36.67%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.50 SEK 14.03
$2.47 COP 8,824
-39.27%
🚌 Getting Around
Sundsvall
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$3.42 SEK 31.95
$0.86 COP 3,056
297.67%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$86.4 SEK 806
$41.40 COP 147.9K
108.60%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$6.20 SEK 57.9
$1.47 COP 5,264
321.77%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.23 SEK 11.50
$1.96 COP 7,009
-37.24%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$61.1 SEK 570
$7.74 COP 27.6K
689.79%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.90 SEK 17.73
$0.95 COP 3,409
100.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.5K SEK 247.5K
$18.1K COP 64.7M
46.30%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.7K SEK 258.1K
$26.5K COP 94.6M
4.42%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Sundsvall
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$131 SEK 1,227
$82.3 COP 293.7K
59.82%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$30.18 SEK 282
$9.50 COP 33.9K
217.68%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$26.01 SEK 243
$24.23 COP 86.5K
7.35%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Sundsvall
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$38.55 SEK 360
$25.89 COP 92.4K
48.90%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$26.01 SEK 243
$19.00 COP 67.9K
36.89%
Cinema Ticket
$14.47 SEK 135
$3.93 COP 14.0K
268.19%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Sundsvall
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$144 SEK 1,344
$309 COP 1.1M
-53.45%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$4,148 SEK 38.7K
$5,965 COP 21.3M
-30.47%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Sundsvall
Medellin
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$93.6 SEK 874
$58.7 COP 209.5K
59.61%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$30.00 SEK 280
$32.35 COP 115.5K
-7.26%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$75.7 SEK 707
$103 COP 366.4K
-26.18%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$132 SEK 1,231
$108 COP 387.2K
21.67%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Sundsvall
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$828 SEK 7,724
$476 COP 1.7M
73.85%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$625 SEK 5,833
$379 COP 1.4M
65.03%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,197 SEK 11.2K
$838 COP 3.0M
42.85%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$890 SEK 8,305
$724 COP 2.6M
22.96%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,598 SEK 24.2K
$2,791 COP 10.0M
-6.89%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,350 SEK 12.6K
$1,211 COP 4.3M
11.43%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Sundsvall
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,231 SEK 30.2K
$512 COP 1.8M
531.41%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.48
13.43
-66.64%

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

Last update for Sundsvall: June 1, 2026

Last update for Medellin: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $828 in Sundsvall 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 531% higher in Sundsvall, 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 $84.0 in Sundsvall versus $33.00 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $333 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
Sundsvall vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Medellin cheaper than Sundsvall?
Yes – Sundsvall is pricier by about 75%, 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 $2,664 per month in Sundsvall 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 Sundsvall or Medellin?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $84.0 in Sundsvall 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 Sundsvall vs Medellin?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,776 in Sundsvall 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 Sundsvall or Medellin?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Medellin, where all-in costs run around $1,013, than in Sundsvall at $1,776. In Medellin it covers expenses comfortably, while in Sundsvall it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Sundsvall 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, Sundsvall 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, Sundsvall makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

Sundsvall vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities