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: $1,687 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: Medellin 23% above, Hamar 80% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Hamar
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.89 COP 24.2K
$21.11 NOK 197
-62.62%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$44.53 COP 136.5K
$126 NOK 1,178
-64.70%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.29 COP 28.5K
$15.65 NOK 146
-40.64%
Cappuccino
$2.90 COP 8,874
$5.92 NOK 55.3
-51.01%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.81 COP 5,541
$4.31 NOK 40.27
-58.00%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.55 COP 4,741
$3.34 NOK 31.21
-53.59%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.25 COP 9,962
$11.61 NOK 108
-72.01%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.88 COP 18.0K
$8.28 NOK 77.4
-28.99%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Hamar
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.38 COP 4,230
$2.56 NOK 23.89
-46.09%
White Bread (500g)
$2.45 COP 7,517
$3.01 NOK 28.11
-18.60%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.51 COP 4,617
$2.15 NOK 20.11
-29.77%
Eggs
$2.78 COP 8,516
$6.01 NOK 56.1
-53.74%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.05 COP 27.7K
$10.94 NOK 102
-17.28%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.65 COP 32.6K
$12.38 NOK 116
-13.97%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.63 COP 44.8K
$29.20 NOK 273
-49.90%
Apples (1kg)
$3.97 COP 12.2K
$3.38 NOK 31.56
17.46%
Banana (1kg)
$1.38 COP 4,219
$2.64 NOK 24.67
-47.73%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.30 COP 7,056
$3.01 NOK 28.09
-23.59%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.02 COP 6,185
$5.99 NOK 56.0
-66.28%
Potato (1kg)
$2.09 COP 6,390
$2.60 NOK 24.24
-19.62%
Onion (1kg)
$1.63 COP 4,996
$2.50 NOK 23.32
-34.80%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.08 COP 3,313
$2.14 NOK 20.00
-49.53%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.25 COP 3,843
$1.99 NOK 18.57
-37.19%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.03 COP 12.4K
$18.94 NOK 177
-78.72%
Wine (Bottle)
$13.47 COP 41.3K
$17.74 NOK 166
-24.07%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.60 COP 4,904
$3.42 NOK 31.95
-53.22%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.00 COP 9,189
$4.33 NOK 40.47
-30.72%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Hamar
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.18 COP 3,611
$4.61 NOK 43.07
-74.40%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$79.9 COP 244.9K
$68.2 NOK 637
17.16%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.61 COP 4,920
$12.16 NOK 114
-86.76%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.13 COP 6,533
$1.83 NOK 17.06
16.39%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.52 COP 26.1K
$70.4 NOK 657
-87.89%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.35 COP 4,142
$2.31 NOK 21.55
-41.56%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.3K COP 86.8M
$48.8K NOK 455.5K
-41.93%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$35.7K COP 109.4M
$45.1K NOK 420.9K
-20.80%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Hamar
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$151 COP 463.8K
$227 NOK 2,124
-33.45%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.10 COP 40.1K
$32.52 NOK 304
-59.72%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$32.30 COP 99.0K
$54.6 NOK 510
-40.86%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Hamar
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$46.33 COP 141.9K
$57.7 NOK 539
-19.72%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.26 COP 52.9K
$30.12 NOK 281
-42.70%
Cinema Ticket
$6.43 COP 19.7K
$19.84 NOK 185
-67.59%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Hamar
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$835 COP 2.6M
$215 NOK 2,006
288.65%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$8,887 COP 27.2M
$15.5K NOK 144.7K
-42.65%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Hamar
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$89.3 COP 273.7K
$100 NOK 935
-10.74%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$55.3 COP 169.5K
$62.7 NOK 585
-11.72%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$137 COP 418.5K
$131 NOK 1,228
3.88%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$109 COP 335.1K
$105 NOK 984
3.81%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Hamar
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$952 COP 2.9M
$1,220 NOK 11.4K
-21.98%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$668 COP 2.0M
$891 NOK 8,320
-25.02%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,020 COP 6.2M
$1,564 NOK 14.6K
29.19%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,148 COP 3.5M
$1,544 NOK 14.4K
-25.64%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,696 COP 11.3M
$4,305 NOK 40.2K
-14.14%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,586 COP 4.9M
$3,505 NOK 32.7K
-54.76%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Hamar
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$625 COP 1.9M
$4,311 NOK 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.

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