Cost of Living Comparison Between Hamar and MedellinCost of Living Comparison Between Hamar and Medellin
Monthly Cost of Living
😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,432 in Hamar versus $1,641 in Medellin.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,812 in Hamar versus $2,447 in Medellin.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,191 in Hamar versus $3,253 in Medellin.
🌍Living in Hamar is roughly 48% more expensive than in Medellin, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Hamar76% above, Medellin19% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Hamar
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$21.31NOK 198
$8.04COP 24.8K
165.05%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$132NOK 1,222
$48.29COP 148.6K
172.85%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$16.33NOK 152
$9.42COP 29.0K
73.35%
Cappuccino
$6.11NOK 56.6
$2.94COP 9,040
107.82%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.19NOK 38.87
$1.86COP 5,735
125.27%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.49NOK 32.35
$1.46COP 4,479
139.04%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$11.95NOK 111
$3.21COP 9,882
272.27%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$8.59NOK 79.7
$5.71COP 17.6K
50.44%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Hamar
Medellin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.58NOK 23.97
$1.44COP 4,428
79.17%
White Bread(500g)
$3.03NOK 28.15
$2.40COP 7,389
26.25%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.11NOK 19.57
$1.70COP 5,228
24.12%
Eggs
$6.15NOK 57.1
$2.89COP 8,896
112.80%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$11.28NOK 105
$10.06COP 30.9K
12.13%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$12.96NOK 120
$9.97COP 30.7K
29.99%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$29.84NOK 277
$14.20COP 43.7K
110.14%
Apples(1kg)
$3.33NOK 30.86
$3.98COP 12.3K
-16.33%
Banana(1kg)
$2.66NOK 24.70
$1.58COP 4,878
68.35%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.12NOK 28.91
$2.15COP 6,624
45.12%
Tomato(1kg)
$5.93NOK 55.0
$2.30COP 7,078
157.83%
Potato(1kg)
$2.55NOK 23.65
$2.00COP 6,169
27.50%
Onion(1kg)
$2.61NOK 24.22
$1.51COP 4,646
72.85%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.21NOK 20.51
$1.20COP 3,701
84.17%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$2.09NOK 19.37
$1.28COP 3,946
63.28%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$19.10NOK 177
$3.84COP 11.8K
397.40%
Wine(Bottle)
$16.83NOK 156
$14.01COP 43.1K
20.13%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$3.51NOK 32.52
$1.71COP 5,256
105.26%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.31NOK 39.94
$2.74COP 8,440
57.30%
🚌 Getting Around
Hamar
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$4.71NOK 43.66
$1.25COP 3,834
276.80%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$70.0NOK 649
$77.9COP 239.7K
-10.17%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$12.43NOK 115
$1.31COP 4,016
848.85%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.92NOK 17.81
$2.17COP 6,680
-11.52%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$72.0NOK 668
$8.29COP 25.5K
768.15%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.29NOK 21.29
$1.36COP 4,172
68.38%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$50.3KNOK 466.4K
$27.5KCOP 84.5M
83.02%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$45.4KNOK 420.9K
$36.5KCOP 112.4M
24.18%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Hamar
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$229NOK 2,128
$169COP 519.2K
35.94%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$33.05NOK 307
$13.57COP 41.8K
143.55%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$58.2NOK 540
$28.32COP 87.2K
105.58%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Hamar
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$58.8NOK 545
$45.71COP 140.7K
28.64%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$29.84NOK 277
$17.22COP 53.0K
73.29%
Cinema Ticket
$19.63NOK 182
$6.65COP 20.5K
195.19%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Hamar
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$212NOK 1,969
$803COP 2.5M
-73.57%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$16.2KNOK 150.5K
$9,190COP 28.3M
76.50%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Hamar
Medellin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$102NOK 942
$87.4COP 268.8K
16.20%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$61.7NOK 573
$59.4COP 182.7K
3.96%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$134NOK 1,240
$139COP 427.5K
-3.79%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$108NOK 998
$102COP 314.0K
5.41%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Hamar
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,250NOK 11.6K
$1,071COP 3.3M
16.71%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$885NOK 8,209
$653COP 2.0M
35.53%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,637NOK 15.2K
$1,925COP 5.9M
-14.93%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,519NOK 14.1K
$1,048COP 3.2M
44.95%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,488NOK 41.6K
$4,123COP 12.7M
8.85%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$3,585NOK 33.3K
$1,697COP 5.2M
111.20%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Hamar
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$4,278NOK 39.7K
$655COP 2.0M
553.12%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.96
10.94
-54.66%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Hamar: September 7, 2026
Last update for Medellin: September 7, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,250 in Hamar and $1,071 in Medellin. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Hamar pays 553% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
🛒Dining out: $132 in Hamar vs $48.00 in Medellin for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $459 vs $300 per month, with Medellin cheaper across the board.
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
Hamar vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Hamar and in Medellin?
Hamar and Medellin differ by about 48% in total monthly costs ($2,432 vs $1,641 including rent). Medellin is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Hamar or Medellin?
Average pay runs 553% higher in Hamar, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How do apartment prices compare in Hamar and in Medellin?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,250 in Hamar versus $1,071 in Medellin. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Supermarket bills run roughly 53% higher in Hamar. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
Dining out is cheaper in Medellin – a meal for two runs $48.00 versus $132 in Hamar. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is more doable on $2,500 per month?
At $1,641 in Medellin versus $2,432 in Hamar, a $2,500 budget is realistic in Medellin but tight or insufficient in Hamar. The gap between the two cities makes Medellin the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Hamar and Medellin?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Where should expats move: Hamar or Medellin?
Expats usually find Medellin gentler on the wallet – expenses run 48% less than in Hamar. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.