Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Hamar Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Hamar

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,028 in Medellin versus $2,372 in Hamar.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,586 in Medellin versus $3,738 in Hamar.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,144 in Medellin versus $5,105 in Hamar.

Living in Medellin costs roughly 57% less than in Hamar, driven mainly by Eating Out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Medellin is 23% below, Hamar is 78% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Hamar
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.00 COP 20.6K
$25.40 NOK 247
-76.38%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.84 COP 112.9K
$123 NOK 1,195
-73.23%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.42 COP 25.5K
$15.39 NOK 150
-51.79%
Cappuccino
$1.65 COP 5,675
$4.94 NOK 48.11
-66.60%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.07 COP 3,673
$4.06 NOK 39.50
-73.65%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.76 COP 2,614
$3.18 NOK 30.94
-76.10%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.72 COP 5,925
$12.19 NOK 119
-85.89%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.20 COP 11.0K
$8.10 NOK 78.9
-60.49%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Hamar
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.05 COP 3,607
$2.11 NOK 20.54
-50.24%
White Bread (500g)
$1.31 COP 4,492
$2.85 NOK 27.72
-54.04%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.34 COP 4,604
$1.98 NOK 19.26
-32.32%
Eggs
$2.19 COP 7,543
$4.98 NOK 48.48
-56.02%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$4.41 COP 15.2K
$10.39 NOK 101
-57.56%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.69 COP 19.6K
$12.07 NOK 118
-52.86%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$8.52 COP 29.3K
$30.86 NOK 301
-72.39%
Apples (1kg)
$2.34 COP 8,046
$3.55 NOK 34.58
-34.08%
Banana (1kg)
$1.11 COP 3,815
$2.61 NOK 25.43
-57.47%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.52 COP 5,225
$3.01 NOK 29.30
-49.50%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.37 COP 4,694
$5.00 NOK 48.71
-72.60%
Potato (1kg)
$1.15 COP 3,962
$2.37 NOK 23.06
-51.48%
Onion (1kg)
$1.18 COP 4,055
$2.38 NOK 23.18
-50.42%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.84 COP 2,893
$1.99 NOK 19.35
-57.79%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.86 COP 2,940
$1.89 NOK 18.42
-54.50%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.26 COP 7,776
$17.50 NOK 170
-87.09%
Wine (Bottle)
$11.60 COP 39.9K
$18.45 NOK 180
-37.13%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.20 COP 4,121
$3.45 NOK 33.60
-65.22%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.48 COP 8,508
$4.27 NOK 41.62
-41.92%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Hamar
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.79 COP 2,729
$4.34 NOK 42.30
-81.80%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$40.83 COP 140.4K
$65.0 NOK 633
-37.18%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.47 COP 5,038
$10.03 NOK 97.7
-85.34%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.92 COP 6,587
$1.40 NOK 13.65
37.14%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.77 COP 26.7K
$42.03 NOK 409
-81.51%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.01 COP 3,474
$2.20 NOK 21.43
-54.09%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$17.7K COP 60.7M
$36.1K NOK 351.8K
-51.11%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.5K COP 90.9M
$43.4K NOK 422.3K
-38.98%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Hamar
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$81.1 COP 278.8K
$219 NOK 2,137
-63.03%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.43 COP 32.4K
$30.64 NOK 298
-69.22%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$23.86 COP 82.0K
$55.7 NOK 542
-57.12%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Hamar
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$25.99 COP 89.4K
$56.2 NOK 547
-53.75%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.71 COP 64.3K
$27.84 NOK 271
-32.79%
Cinema Ticket
$4.09 COP 14.1K
$18.11 NOK 176
-77.42%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Hamar
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$315 COP 1.1M
$199 NOK 1,939
57.96%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$6,022 COP 20.7M
$14.6K NOK 142.2K
-58.75%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Hamar
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$59.7 COP 205.2K
$104 NOK 1,017
-42.81%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$31.97 COP 109.9K
$59.5 NOK 580
-46.31%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$101 COP 347.9K
$123 NOK 1,197
-17.64%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$105 COP 361.3K
$101 NOK 981
4.31%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Hamar
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$485 COP 1.7M
$1,192 NOK 11.6K
-59.26%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$365 COP 1.3M
$845 NOK 8,227
-56.77%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$827 COP 2.8M
$1,491 NOK 14.5K
-44.56%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$730 COP 2.5M
$1,465 NOK 14.3K
-50.15%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,992 COP 10.3M
$4,331 NOK 42.2K
-30.91%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,314 COP 4.5M
$3,526 NOK 34.3K
-62.73%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Hamar
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$551 COP 1.9M
$4,192 NOK 40.8K
-86.86%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
13.43
5.08
164.37%

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

Last update for Medellin: June 15, 2026

Last update for Hamar: June 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $485 in Medellin and $1,192 in Hamar. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Hamar pays 661% 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: $33.00 in Medellin vs $123 in Hamar for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $190 vs $437 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 131% in total monthly costs ($1,028 vs $2,372 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 661% 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: $485 in Medellin versus $1,192 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 130% 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 $33.00 versus $123 in Hamar. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is more doable on $1,500 per month?
At $1,028 in Medellin versus $2,372 in Hamar, a $1,500 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 131% less than in Hamar. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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