Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and HamarCost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Hamar
Monthly Cost of Living
🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,687 in Medellin versus $2,461 in Hamar.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,535 in Medellin versus $3,788 in Hamar.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,383 in Medellin versus $5,115 in Hamar.
🌍Living in Medellin costs roughly 31% less than in Hamar, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Medellin23% above, Hamar80% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Hamar
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.89COP 24.2K
$21.11NOK 197
-62.62%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$44.53COP 136.5K
$126NOK 1,178
-64.70%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.29COP 28.5K
$15.65NOK 146
-40.64%
Cappuccino
$2.90COP 8,874
$5.92NOK 55.3
-51.01%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.81COP 5,541
$4.31NOK 40.27
-58.00%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.55COP 4,741
$3.34NOK 31.21
-53.59%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.25COP 9,962
$11.61NOK 108
-72.01%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.88COP 18.0K
$8.28NOK 77.4
-28.99%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Hamar
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.38COP 4,230
$2.56NOK 23.89
-46.09%
White Bread(500g)
$2.45COP 7,517
$3.01NOK 28.11
-18.60%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.51COP 4,617
$2.15NOK 20.11
-29.77%
Eggs
$2.78COP 8,516
$6.01NOK 56.1
-53.74%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.05COP 27.7K
$10.94NOK 102
-17.28%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$10.65COP 32.6K
$12.38NOK 116
-13.97%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$14.63COP 44.8K
$29.20NOK 273
-49.90%
Apples(1kg)
$3.97COP 12.2K
$3.38NOK 31.56
17.46%
Banana(1kg)
$1.38COP 4,219
$2.64NOK 24.67
-47.73%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.30COP 7,056
$3.01NOK 28.09
-23.59%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.02COP 6,185
$5.99NOK 56.0
-66.28%
Potato(1kg)
$2.09COP 6,390
$2.60NOK 24.24
-19.62%
Onion(1kg)
$1.63COP 4,996
$2.50NOK 23.32
-34.80%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.08COP 3,313
$2.14NOK 20.00
-49.53%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.25COP 3,843
$1.99NOK 18.57
-37.19%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.03COP 12.4K
$18.94NOK 177
-78.72%
Wine(Bottle)
$13.47COP 41.3K
$17.74NOK 166
-24.07%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.60COP 4,904
$3.42NOK 31.95
-53.22%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.00COP 9,189
$4.33NOK 40.47
-30.72%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Hamar
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.18COP 3,611
$4.61NOK 43.07
-74.40%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$79.9COP 244.9K
$68.2NOK 637
17.16%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.61COP 4,920
$12.16NOK 114
-86.76%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.13COP 6,533
$1.83NOK 17.06
16.39%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$8.52COP 26.1K
$70.4NOK 657
-87.89%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.35COP 4,142
$2.31NOK 21.55
-41.56%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.3KCOP 86.8M
$48.8KNOK 455.5K
-41.93%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$35.7KCOP 109.4M
$45.1KNOK 420.9K
-20.80%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Hamar
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$151COP 463.8K
$227NOK 2,124
-33.45%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.10COP 40.1K
$32.52NOK 304
-59.72%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$32.30COP 99.0K
$54.6NOK 510
-40.86%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Hamar
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$46.33COP 141.9K
$57.7NOK 539
-19.72%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.26COP 52.9K
$30.12NOK 281
-42.70%
Cinema Ticket
$6.43COP 19.7K
$19.84NOK 185
-67.59%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Hamar
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$835COP 2.6M
$215NOK 2,006
288.65%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$8,887COP 27.2M
$15.5KNOK 144.7K
-42.65%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Hamar
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$89.3COP 273.7K
$100NOK 935
-10.74%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$55.3COP 169.5K
$62.7NOK 585
-11.72%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$137COP 418.5K
$131NOK 1,228
3.88%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$109COP 335.1K
$105NOK 984
3.81%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Hamar
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$952COP 2.9M
$1,220NOK 11.4K
-21.98%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$668COP 2.0M
$891NOK 8,320
-25.02%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,020COP 6.2M
$1,564NOK 14.6K
29.19%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,148COP 3.5M
$1,544NOK 14.4K
-25.64%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,696COP 11.3M
$4,305NOK 40.2K
-14.14%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,586COP 4.9M
$3,505NOK 32.7K
-54.76%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Hamar
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$625COP 1.9M
$4,311NOK 40.3K
-85.49%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
10.43
4.98
109.44%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Medellin: August 17, 2026
Last update for Hamar: August 18, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $952 in Medellin and $1,220 in Hamar. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Hamar pays 589% 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: $45.00 in Medellin vs $126 in Hamar for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $297 vs $452 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
Medellin vs Hamar: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Medellin and in Hamar?
Medellin and Hamar differ by about 46% in total monthly costs ($1,687 vs $2,461 including rent). Medellin is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, salaries run 589% lower in Hamar. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How do apartment prices compare in Medellin and in Hamar?
Rent for a central apartment: $952 in Medellin versus $1,220 in Hamar. 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 52% 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 $45.00 versus $126 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 $1,687 in Medellin versus $2,461 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 Medellin and Hamar?
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: Medellin or Hamar?
Expats usually find Medellin gentler on the wallet – expenses run 46% less than in Hamar. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.