🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,003 in Medellin versus $2,359 in Holmestrand.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,573 in Medellin versus $3,603 in Holmestrand.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,143 in Medellin versus $4,846 in Holmestrand.
🌍Living in Medellin costs roughly 57% less than in Holmestrand, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Medellin is 25% below, Holmestrand is 77% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Holmestrand
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.91COP 18.6K
$19.56NOK 186
-69.79%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.96COP 103.8K
$100NOK 948
-67.04%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.43COP 23.4K
$13.39NOK 127
-44.51%
Cappuccino
$1.65COP 5,207
$4.85NOK 45.95
-65.98%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.10COP 3,468
$1.97NOK 18.69
-44.16%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.78COP 2,458
$1.98NOK 18.74
-60.61%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.72COP 5,412
$9.17NOK 86.9
-81.24%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.18COP 10.0K
$9.41NOK 89.2
-66.21%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Holmestrand
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.10COP 3,474
$1.65NOK 15.68
-33.33%
White Bread(500g)
$1.26COP 3,962
$3.29NOK 31.22
-61.70%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.38COP 4,349
$1.96NOK 18.60
-29.59%
Eggs
$2.18COP 6,858
$4.17NOK 39.50
-47.72%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$4.49COP 14.1K
$11.15NOK 106
-59.73%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.79COP 18.2K
$14.10NOK 134
-58.94%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.97COP 28.2K
$40.17NOK 381
-77.67%
Apples(1kg)
$2.32COP 7,308
$1.99NOK 18.87
16.58%
Banana(1kg)
$1.06COP 3,352
$2.34NOK 22.16
-54.70%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.52COP 4,774
$3.17NOK 30.04
-52.05%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.36COP 4,270
$2.37NOK 22.44
-42.62%
Potato(1kg)
$1.13COP 3,552
$0.80NOK 7.54
41.25%
Onion(1kg)
$1.17COP 3,689
$1.35NOK 12.83
-13.33%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.90COP 2,838
$2.84NOK 26.95
-68.31%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.90COP 2,823
$1.92NOK 18.22
-53.13%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.23COP 7,034
$13.92NOK 132
-83.98%
Wine(Bottle)
$12.12COP 38.2K
$17.98NOK 170
-32.59%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.19COP 3,743
$3.00NOK 28.47
-60.33%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.48COP 7,815
$4.03NOK 38.19
-38.46%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Holmestrand
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.85COP 2,687
$4.21NOK 39.92
-79.81%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$41.62COP 131.0K
$74.7NOK 708
-44.25%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.42COP 4,459
$9.04NOK 85.7
-84.29%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.95COP 6,141
$0.94NOK 8.91
107.45%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.89COP 24.8K
$99.3NOK 941
-92.05%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.99COP 3,118
$2.12NOK 20.07
-53.30%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$17.6KCOP 55.4M
$38.3KNOK 363.1K
-54.04%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.8KCOP 84.4M
$33.5KNOK 318.0K
-20.08%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Holmestrand
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$83.0COP 261.4K
$219NOK 2,079
-62.15%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.70COP 30.5K
$43.10NOK 409
-77.49%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$23.52COP 74.1K
$38.56NOK 366
-39.00%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Holmestrand
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$25.26COP 79.5K
$48.42NOK 459
-47.83%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.10COP 60.1K
$35.31NOK 335
-45.91%
Cinema Ticket
$3.95COP 12.4K
$15.14NOK 144
-73.91%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Holmestrand
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$316COP 994.2K
$302NOK 2,866
4.49%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,975COP 18.8M
$10.1KNOK 96.2K
-41.09%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Holmestrand
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$60.0COP 188.9K
$110NOK 1,039
-45.24%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$31.82COP 100.2K
$30.04NOK 285
5.93%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$102COP 320.1K
$98.6NOK 935
3.11%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$107COP 338.3K
$133NOK 1,265
-19.48%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Holmestrand
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$475COP 1.5M
$1,217NOK 11.5K
-60.97%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$374COP 1.2M
$899NOK 8,526
-58.41%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$849COP 2.7M
$1,795NOK 17.0K
-52.70%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$719COP 2.3M
$1,556NOK 14.8K
-53.78%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,265COP 10.3M
$5,686NOK 53.9K
-42.58%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,441COP 4.5M
$3,422NOK 32.4K
-57.90%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Holmestrand
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$624COP 2.0M
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
13.43
2
571.50%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Medellin: July 27, 2026
Last update for Holmestrand: July 26, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $475 in Medellin and $1,217 in Holmestrand. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $33.00 in Medellin vs $100 in Holmestrand for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $193 vs $445 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 135% 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 $1,504 in Medellin and $3,538 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: $475 in Medellin versus $1,217 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 $316 in Medellin versus $302 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 130% higher in Holmestrand. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Can you live on $1,500/month in Medellin or in Holmestrand?
At $1,003 in Medellin versus $2,359 in Holmestrand, a $1,500 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 $1,003 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 135% less than in Holmestrand. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.