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: $1,028 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
$6.00COP 20.6K
$25.40NOK 247
-76.38%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.84COP 112.9K
$123NOK 1,195
-73.23%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.42COP 25.5K
$15.39NOK 150
-51.79%
Cappuccino
$1.65COP 5,675
$4.94NOK 48.11
-66.60%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.07COP 3,673
$4.06NOK 39.50
-73.65%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.76COP 2,614
$3.18NOK 30.94
-76.10%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.72COP 5,925
$12.19NOK 119
-85.89%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.20COP 11.0K
$8.10NOK 78.9
-60.49%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Hamar
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.05COP 3,607
$2.11NOK 20.54
-50.24%
White Bread(500g)
$1.31COP 4,492
$2.85NOK 27.72
-54.04%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.34COP 4,604
$1.98NOK 19.26
-32.32%
Eggs
$2.19COP 7,543
$4.98NOK 48.48
-56.02%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$4.41COP 15.2K
$10.39NOK 101
-57.56%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.69COP 19.6K
$12.07NOK 118
-52.86%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.52COP 29.3K
$30.86NOK 301
-72.39%
Apples(1kg)
$2.34COP 8,046
$3.55NOK 34.58
-34.08%
Banana(1kg)
$1.11COP 3,815
$2.61NOK 25.43
-57.47%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.52COP 5,225
$3.01NOK 29.30
-49.50%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.37COP 4,694
$5.00NOK 48.71
-72.60%
Potato(1kg)
$1.15COP 3,962
$2.37NOK 23.06
-51.48%
Onion(1kg)
$1.18COP 4,055
$2.38NOK 23.18
-50.42%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.84COP 2,893
$1.99NOK 19.35
-57.79%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.86COP 2,940
$1.89NOK 18.42
-54.50%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.26COP 7,776
$17.50NOK 170
-87.09%
Wine(Bottle)
$11.60COP 39.9K
$18.45NOK 180
-37.13%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.20COP 4,121
$3.45NOK 33.60
-65.22%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.48COP 8,508
$4.27NOK 41.62
-41.92%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Hamar
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.79COP 2,729
$4.34NOK 42.30
-81.80%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$40.83COP 140.4K
$65.0NOK 633
-37.18%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.47COP 5,038
$10.03NOK 97.7
-85.34%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.92COP 6,587
$1.40NOK 13.65
37.14%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.77COP 26.7K
$42.03NOK 409
-81.51%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.01COP 3,474
$2.20NOK 21.43
-54.09%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$17.7KCOP 60.7M
$36.1KNOK 351.8K
-51.11%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.5KCOP 90.9M
$43.4KNOK 422.3K
-38.98%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Hamar
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$81.1COP 278.8K
$219NOK 2,137
-63.03%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.43COP 32.4K
$30.64NOK 298
-69.22%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$23.86COP 82.0K
$55.7NOK 542
-57.12%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Hamar
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$25.99COP 89.4K
$56.2NOK 547
-53.75%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.71COP 64.3K
$27.84NOK 271
-32.79%
Cinema Ticket
$4.09COP 14.1K
$18.11NOK 176
-77.42%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Hamar
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$315COP 1.1M
$199NOK 1,939
57.96%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$6,022COP 20.7M
$14.6KNOK 142.2K
-58.75%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Hamar
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$59.7COP 205.2K
$104NOK 1,017
-42.81%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$31.97COP 109.9K
$59.5NOK 580
-46.31%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$101COP 347.9K
$123NOK 1,197
-17.64%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$105COP 361.3K
$101NOK 981
4.31%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Hamar
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$485COP 1.7M
$1,192NOK 11.6K
-59.26%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$365COP 1.3M
$845NOK 8,227
-56.77%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$827COP 2.8M
$1,491NOK 14.5K
-44.56%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$730COP 2.5M
$1,465NOK 14.3K
-50.15%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,992COP 10.3M
$4,331NOK 42.2K
-30.91%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,314COP 4.5M
$3,526NOK 34.3K
-62.73%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Hamar
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$551COP 1.9M
$4,192NOK 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.