Cost of Living Comparison Between Hamar and Medellin Cost 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: Hamar 76% above, Medellin 19% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Hamar
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$21.31 NOK 198
$8.04 COP 24.8K
165.05%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$132 NOK 1,222
$48.29 COP 148.6K
172.85%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$16.33 NOK 152
$9.42 COP 29.0K
73.35%
Cappuccino
$6.11 NOK 56.6
$2.94 COP 9,040
107.82%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.19 NOK 38.87
$1.86 COP 5,735
125.27%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.49 NOK 32.35
$1.46 COP 4,479
139.04%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$11.95 NOK 111
$3.21 COP 9,882
272.27%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.59 NOK 79.7
$5.71 COP 17.6K
50.44%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Hamar
Medellin
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.58 NOK 23.97
$1.44 COP 4,428
79.17%
White Bread (500g)
$3.03 NOK 28.15
$2.40 COP 7,389
26.25%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.11 NOK 19.57
$1.70 COP 5,228
24.12%
Eggs
$6.15 NOK 57.1
$2.89 COP 8,896
112.80%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$11.28 NOK 105
$10.06 COP 30.9K
12.13%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$12.96 NOK 120
$9.97 COP 30.7K
29.99%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$29.84 NOK 277
$14.20 COP 43.7K
110.14%
Apples (1kg)
$3.33 NOK 30.86
$3.98 COP 12.3K
-16.33%
Banana (1kg)
$2.66 NOK 24.70
$1.58 COP 4,878
68.35%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.12 NOK 28.91
$2.15 COP 6,624
45.12%
Tomato (1kg)
$5.93 NOK 55.0
$2.30 COP 7,078
157.83%
Potato (1kg)
$2.55 NOK 23.65
$2.00 COP 6,169
27.50%
Onion (1kg)
$2.61 NOK 24.22
$1.51 COP 4,646
72.85%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.21 NOK 20.51
$1.20 COP 3,701
84.17%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.09 NOK 19.37
$1.28 COP 3,946
63.28%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$19.10 NOK 177
$3.84 COP 11.8K
397.40%
Wine (Bottle)
$16.83 NOK 156
$14.01 COP 43.1K
20.13%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$3.51 NOK 32.52
$1.71 COP 5,256
105.26%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.31 NOK 39.94
$2.74 COP 8,440
57.30%
🚌 Getting Around
Hamar
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$4.71 NOK 43.66
$1.25 COP 3,834
276.80%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$70.0 NOK 649
$77.9 COP 239.7K
-10.17%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$12.43 NOK 115
$1.31 COP 4,016
848.85%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.92 NOK 17.81
$2.17 COP 6,680
-11.52%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$72.0 NOK 668
$8.29 COP 25.5K
768.15%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.29 NOK 21.29
$1.36 COP 4,172
68.38%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$50.3K NOK 466.4K
$27.5K COP 84.5M
83.02%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$45.4K NOK 420.9K
$36.5K COP 112.4M
24.18%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Hamar
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$229 NOK 2,128
$169 COP 519.2K
35.94%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$33.05 NOK 307
$13.57 COP 41.8K
143.55%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$58.2 NOK 540
$28.32 COP 87.2K
105.58%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Hamar
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$58.8 NOK 545
$45.71 COP 140.7K
28.64%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$29.84 NOK 277
$17.22 COP 53.0K
73.29%
Cinema Ticket
$19.63 NOK 182
$6.65 COP 20.5K
195.19%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Hamar
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$212 NOK 1,969
$803 COP 2.5M
-73.57%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$16.2K NOK 150.5K
$9,190 COP 28.3M
76.50%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Hamar
Medellin
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$102 NOK 942
$87.4 COP 268.8K
16.20%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$61.7 NOK 573
$59.4 COP 182.7K
3.96%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$134 NOK 1,240
$139 COP 427.5K
-3.79%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$108 NOK 998
$102 COP 314.0K
5.41%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Hamar
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,250 NOK 11.6K
$1,071 COP 3.3M
16.71%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$885 NOK 8,209
$653 COP 2.0M
35.53%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,637 NOK 15.2K
$1,925 COP 5.9M
-14.93%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,519 NOK 14.1K
$1,048 COP 3.2M
44.95%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,488 NOK 41.6K
$4,123 COP 12.7M
8.85%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,585 NOK 33.3K
$1,697 COP 5.2M
111.20%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Hamar
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$4,278 NOK 39.7K
$655 COP 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.

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