🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,681 in Medellin versus $2,886 in Holmestrand.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,445 in Medellin versus $4,324 in Holmestrand.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,210 in Medellin versus $5,763 in Holmestrand.
🌍Living in Medellin costs roughly 42% less than in Holmestrand, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Medellin23% above, Holmestrand111% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Holmestrand
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.02COP 25.3K
$21.57NOK 203
-62.82%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$47.87COP 151.0K
$131NOK 1,230
-63.35%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.89COP 31.2K
$15.98NOK 150
-38.11%
Cappuccino
$3.13COP 9,873
$5.99NOK 56.4
-47.75%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.91COP 6,019
$4.28NOK 40.31
-55.37%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.51COP 4,763
$3.32NOK 31.32
-54.52%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.12COP 9,853
$11.62NOK 109
-73.15%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.75COP 18.1K
$12.83NOK 121
-55.18%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Holmestrand
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.44COP 4,558
$2.55NOK 23.99
-43.53%
White Bread(500g)
$2.49COP 7,843
$4.12NOK 38.83
-39.56%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.77COP 5,595
$4.71NOK 44.34
-62.42%
Eggs
$2.96COP 9,336
$6.21NOK 58.5
-52.33%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.07COP 31.8K
$15.05NOK 142
-33.09%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$10.12COP 31.9K
$15.44NOK 145
-34.46%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$14.30COP 45.1K
$29.69NOK 280
-51.84%
Apples(1kg)
$4.14COP 13.0K
$3.37NOK 31.74
22.85%
Banana(1kg)
$1.61COP 5,073
$2.63NOK 24.74
-38.78%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.25COP 7,083
$3.65NOK 34.35
-38.36%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.25COP 7,104
$6.04NOK 56.9
-62.75%
Potato(1kg)
$2.04COP 6,444
$2.73NOK 25.76
-25.27%
Onion(1kg)
$1.54COP 4,842
$2.94NOK 27.73
-47.62%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.17COP 3,691
$3.24NOK 30.52
-63.89%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.31COP 4,121
$2.43NOK 22.86
-46.09%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.90COP 12.3K
$18.96NOK 179
-79.43%
Wine(Bottle)
$14.01COP 44.2K
$17.10NOK 161
-18.07%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.74COP 5,498
$3.66NOK 34.44
-52.46%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.87COP 9,053
$4.26NOK 40.12
-32.63%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Holmestrand
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.22COP 3,834
$5.09NOK 47.92
-76.03%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$80.5COP 253.9K
$90.4NOK 852
-10.99%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.31COP 4,129
$12.27NOK 116
-89.32%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.19COP 6,899
$1.92NOK 18.06
14.06%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$8.71COP 27.5K
$72.6NOK 684
-88.00%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.37COP 4,306
$2.27NOK 21.35
-39.65%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.8KCOP 87.8M
$48.9KNOK 461.0K
-43.12%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$35.8KCOP 112.8M
$45.1KNOK 424.4K
-20.60%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Holmestrand
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$177COP 559.3K
$431NOK 4,062
-58.88%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.88COP 43.8K
$32.84NOK 309
-57.73%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.72COP 93.8K
$56.5NOK 532
-47.37%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Holmestrand
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$44.88COP 141.6K
$56.9NOK 536
-21.10%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.12COP 54.0K
$32.52NOK 306
-47.36%
Cinema Ticket
$6.65COP 21.0K
$19.33NOK 182
-65.60%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Holmestrand
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$813COP 2.6M
$249NOK 2,344
226.71%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$9,187COP 29.0M
$16.1KNOK 151.5K
-42.87%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Holmestrand
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$89.5COP 282.3K
$105NOK 986
-14.46%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$59.0COP 186.0K
$60.9NOK 573
-3.12%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$138COP 435.9K
$136NOK 1,279
1.78%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$102COP 322.1K
$163NOK 1,535
-37.34%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Holmestrand
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,062COP 3.3M
$1,267NOK 11.9K
-16.19%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$663COP 2.1M
$1,068NOK 10.1K
-37.91%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,888COP 6.0M
$2,213NOK 20.9K
-14.70%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,027COP 3.2M
$1,955NOK 18.4K
-47.46%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,183COP 13.2M
$6,013NOK 56.6K
-30.43%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,675COP 5.3M
$4,360NOK 41.1K
-61.59%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Holmestrand
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$678COP 2.1M
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
10.94
4.98
119.68%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Medellin: September 14, 2026
Last update for Holmestrand: September 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,062 in Medellin and $1,267 in Holmestrand. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $48.00 in Medellin vs $131 in Holmestrand for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $305 vs $516 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 Holmestrand: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Medellin or Holmestrand?
Medellin wins on cost – living expenses run 72% lower than in Holmestrand. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Medellin the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Medellin and in Holmestrand?
You'd need roughly $2,521 in Medellin and $4,329 in Holmestrand to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Medellin compared to Holmestrand?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,062 in Medellin versus $1,267 in Holmestrand. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do childcare costs compare in Medellin and in Holmestrand?
Childcare runs $813 in Medellin versus $249 in Holmestrand. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Are groceries more expensive in Medellin or in Holmestrand?
Supermarket bills run roughly 70% higher in Holmestrand. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Can you live on $2,500/month in Medellin or in Holmestrand?
At $1,681 in Medellin versus $2,886 in Holmestrand, a $2,500 budget is realistic in Medellin but tight or insufficient in Holmestrand. The gap between the two cities makes Medellin the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Medellin or Holmestrand?
Both work as nomad bases, but Medellin delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,681 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Medellin hard to pass up.
How safe is Medellin compared to Holmestrand?
Safety-wise, Medellin and Holmestrand are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Medellin gentler on the wallet – expenses run 72% less than in Holmestrand. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.