🙂A single person spends $1,687 per month in Medellin vs $2,785 in Haugesund, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $2,535 per month in Medellin vs $4,074 in Haugesund, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $3,383 per month in Medellin vs $5,363 in Haugesund, rent included.
🙂Medellin is about 39% cheaper than Haugesund, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both Medellin and Haugesund sit above the global median – Medellin by 23%, Haugesund by 103%.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Haugesund
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.89COP 24.2K
$22.39NOK 209
-64.76%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$44.53COP 136.5K
$108NOK 1,008
-58.73%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.29COP 28.5K
$14.58NOK 136
-36.28%
Cappuccino
$2.90COP 8,874
$4.84NOK 45.19
-40.08%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.81COP 5,541
$5.08NOK 47.48
-64.37%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.55COP 4,741
$3.96NOK 36.96
-60.86%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.25COP 9,962
$11.52NOK 108
-71.79%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.88COP 18.0K
$10.48NOK 97.9
-43.89%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Haugesund
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.38COP 4,230
$2.27NOK 21.16
-39.21%
White Bread(500g)
$2.45COP 7,517
$3.86NOK 36.07
-36.53%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.51COP 4,617
$3.48NOK 32.52
-56.61%
Eggs
$2.78COP 8,516
$4.78NOK 44.60
-41.84%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.05COP 27.7K
$11.76NOK 110
-23.04%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$10.65COP 32.6K
$15.63NOK 146
-31.86%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$14.63COP 44.8K
$32.22NOK 301
-54.59%
Apples(1kg)
$3.97COP 12.2K
$3.19NOK 29.83
24.45%
Banana(1kg)
$1.38COP 4,219
$2.25NOK 20.98
-38.67%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.30COP 7,056
$3.54NOK 33.02
-35.03%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.02COP 6,185
$4.46NOK 41.68
-54.71%
Potato(1kg)
$2.09COP 6,390
$2.81NOK 26.27
-25.62%
Onion(1kg)
$1.63COP 4,996
$3.36NOK 31.41
-51.49%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.08COP 3,313
$2.92NOK 27.24
-63.01%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.25COP 3,843
$1.78NOK 16.62
-29.78%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.03COP 12.4K
$17.23NOK 161
-76.61%
Wine(Bottle)
$13.47COP 41.3K
$14.60NOK 136
-7.74%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.60COP 4,904
$3.44NOK 32.12
-53.49%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.00COP 9,189
$4.22NOK 39.37
-28.91%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Haugesund
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.18COP 3,611
$3.73NOK 34.85
-68.36%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$79.9COP 244.9K
$70.8NOK 661
12.91%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.61COP 4,920
$12.31NOK 115
-86.92%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.13COP 6,533
$1.81NOK 16.93
17.68%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$8.52COP 26.1K
$56.3NOK 525
-84.85%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.35COP 4,142
$2.22NOK 20.78
-39.19%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.3KCOP 86.8M
$45.7KNOK 426.9K
-38.04%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$35.7KCOP 109.4M
$43.9KNOK 410.2K
-18.75%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Haugesund
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$151COP 463.8K
$283NOK 2,640
-46.45%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.10COP 40.1K
$32.02NOK 299
-59.09%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$32.30COP 99.0K
$58.4NOK 545
-44.66%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Haugesund
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$46.33COP 141.9K
$49.68NOK 464
-6.74%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.26COP 52.9K
$36.45NOK 340
-52.65%
Cinema Ticket
$6.43COP 19.7K
$16.97NOK 159
-62.11%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Haugesund
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$835COP 2.6M
$238NOK 2,222
250.84%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$8,887COP 27.2M
$3,028NOK 28.3K
193.48%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Haugesund
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$89.3COP 273.7K
$101NOK 944
-11.66%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$55.3COP 169.5K
$53.8NOK 502
2.83%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$137COP 418.5K
$88.9NOK 830
53.58%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$109COP 335.1K
$157NOK 1,462
-30.12%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Haugesund
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$952COP 2.9M
$1,685NOK 15.7K
-43.50%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$668COP 2.0M
$1,128NOK 10.5K
-40.76%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,020COP 6.2M
$2,184NOK 20.4K
-7.52%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,148COP 3.5M
$1,686NOK 15.7K
-31.88%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,696COP 11.3M
$6,413NOK 59.9K
-42.37%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,586COP 4.9M
$4,754NOK 44.4K
-66.65%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Haugesund
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$625COP 1.9M
$4,118NOK 38.5K
-84.81%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
10.43
5.2
100.58%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Medellin: August 17, 2026
Last update for Haugesund: August 15, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $952 in Medellin versus $1,685 in Haugesund. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.
💰Salaries run about 558% higher in Haugesund, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $45.00 in Medellin versus $108 in Haugesund. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $297 vs $473 – making Medellin the more affordable choice for daily food spending.
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 Haugesund: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Medellin or Haugesund?
Haugesund costs about 65% more than Medellin, with the gap driven mainly by Eating Out. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Medellin and in Haugesund?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,530 per month in Medellin and $4,177 in Haugesund. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Medellin or Haugesund?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Medellin, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Are groceries more expensive in Medellin or in Haugesund?
Groceries cost about 59% more in Haugesund, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
How do dining costs compare in Medellin and in Haugesund?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $45.00 in Medellin and $108 in Haugesund. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Can you live on $2,500/month in Medellin or in Haugesund?
A $2,500 monthly budget goes further in Medellin, where all-in costs run around $1,687, than in Haugesund at $2,785. In Medellin it covers expenses comfortably, while in Haugesund it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Medellin or Haugesund?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Medellin costs $1,687 versus $2,785 in Haugesund. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Medellin compared to Haugesund?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
Should I move to Medellin or to Haugesund?
If budget matters most, go with Medellin. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Haugesund makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.