πMonthly costs for one person with rent: $1,017 in Medellin versus $2,297 in Holmestrand.
πEstimated couple costs with rent: $1,602 in Medellin versus $3,561 in Holmestrand.
πMonthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,188 in Medellin versus $4,826 in Holmestrand.
πLiving in Medellin costs roughly 56% less than in Holmestrand, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
πThe two cities straddle the global median: Medellin is 24% below, Holmestrand is 71% above.
Currency
π½ Eating Out
Medellin
Holmestrand
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.95COPΒ 20.8K
$19.11NOKΒ 181
-68.86%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$33.33COPΒ 116.3K
$99.4NOKΒ 943
-66.46%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.23COPΒ 25.2K
$13.51NOKΒ 128
-46.48%
Cappuccino
$1.63COPΒ 5,687
$4.90NOKΒ 46.47
-66.73%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.09COPΒ 3,821
$2.06NOKΒ 19.52
-47.09%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.73COPΒ 2,548
$2.07NOKΒ 19.69
-64.73%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.74COPΒ 6,065
$9.18NOKΒ 87.1
-81.05%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.23COPΒ 11.3K
$9.51NOKΒ 90.3
-66.04%
π Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Holmestrand
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.05COPΒ 3,662
$1.59NOKΒ 15.11
-33.96%
White Bread(500g)
$1.29COPΒ 4,515
$3.27NOKΒ 30.99
-60.55%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.32COPΒ 4,617
$2.06NOKΒ 19.60
-35.92%
Eggs
$2.27COPΒ 7,927
$4.01NOKΒ 38.07
-43.39%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$4.35COPΒ 15.2K
$10.84NOKΒ 103
-59.87%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.88COPΒ 20.5K
$13.95NOKΒ 132
-57.85%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.61COPΒ 30.0K
$40.21NOKΒ 382
-78.59%
Apples(1kg)
$2.25COPΒ 7,844
$1.98NOKΒ 18.77
13.64%
Banana(1kg)
$1.07COPΒ 3,733
$2.33NOKΒ 22.15
-54.08%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.52COPΒ 5,322
$3.32NOKΒ 31.51
-54.22%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.42COPΒ 4,964
$2.36NOKΒ 22.41
-39.83%
Potato(1kg)
$1.17COPΒ 4,084
$0.77NOKΒ 7.33
51.95%
Onion(1kg)
$1.17COPΒ 4,077
$1.29NOKΒ 12.22
-9.30%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.89COPΒ 3,096
$3.01NOKΒ 28.55
-70.43%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.90COPΒ 3,146
$1.83NOKΒ 17.33
-50.82%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.25COPΒ 7,837
$14.13NOKΒ 134
-84.08%
Wine(Bottle)
$11.04COPΒ 38.5K
$18.61NOKΒ 177
-40.68%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.14COPΒ 3,977
$3.01NOKΒ 28.60
-62.13%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.38COPΒ 8,301
$3.92NOKΒ 37.21
-39.29%
π Getting Around
Medellin
Holmestrand
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.84COPΒ 2,916
$4.13NOKΒ 39.19
-79.66%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$41.95COPΒ 146.4K
$73.0NOKΒ 692
-42.49%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.41COPΒ 4,912
$8.90NOKΒ 84.4
-84.16%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.90COPΒ 6,634
$0.95NOKΒ 9.01
100.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.75COPΒ 27.0K
$102NOKΒ 970
-92.42%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.01COPΒ 3,509
$2.12NOKΒ 20.12
-52.36%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$17.6KCOPΒ 61.4M
$38.3KNOKΒ 363.7K
-54.12%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.5KCOPΒ 92.5M
$34.4KNOKΒ 326.1K
-22.87%
π§Ύ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Holmestrand
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$83.7COPΒ 292.1K
$216NOKΒ 2,052
-61.29%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.45COPΒ 33.0K
$44.01NOKΒ 418
-78.53%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.11COPΒ 84.1K
$37.22NOKΒ 353
-35.22%
π Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Holmestrand
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$25.31COPΒ 88.3K
$48.95NOKΒ 465
-48.29%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.14COPΒ 66.8K
$34.80NOKΒ 330
-45.00%
Cinema Ticket
$4.10COPΒ 14.3K
$14.91NOKΒ 142
-72.50%
π§Έ Childcare & Education
Medellin
Holmestrand
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$312COPΒ 1.1M
$310NOKΒ 2,941
0.67%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,993COPΒ 20.9M
$10.3KNOKΒ 97.3K
-41.54%
ππ Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Holmestrand
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.0COPΒ 202.6K
$110NOKΒ 1,040
-47.05%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$32.56COPΒ 113.6K
$29.87NOKΒ 284
9.01%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$99.6COPΒ 347.7K
$98.2NOKΒ 932
1.48%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$109COPΒ 378.8K
$133NOKΒ 1,264
-18.49%
π Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Holmestrand
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$482COPΒ 1.7M
$1,213NOKΒ 11.5K
-60.24%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$379COPΒ 1.3M
$906NOKΒ 8,597
-58.10%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$837COPΒ 2.9M
$1,846NOKΒ 17.5K
-54.64%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$723COPΒ 2.5M
$1,527NOKΒ 14.5K
-52.63%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,840COPΒ 9.9M
$6,481NOKΒ 61.5K
-56.18%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,223COPΒ 4.3M
$3,913NOKΒ 37.1K
-68.74%
π΅ Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Holmestrand
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$541COPΒ 1.9M
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
13.43
2
571.50%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input β minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Medellin: June 8, 2026
Last update for Holmestrand: June 9, 2026
Cost Breakdown
π A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $482 in Medellin and $1,213 in Holmestrand. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
πDining out: $33.00 in Medellin vs $99.0 in Holmestrand for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $190 vs $444 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 β living expenses run 126% 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 vs Holmestrand?
You'd need roughly $1,525 in Medellin and $3,445 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 vs Holmestrand?
Rent for a central apartment: $482 in Medellin versus $1,213 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 Holmestrand?
Childcare runs $312 in Medellin versus $310 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 Holmestrand?
Supermarket bills run roughly 134% 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 Holmestrand?
At $1,017 in Medellin versus $2,297 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 β similar infrastructure at $1,017 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 β expenses run 126% less than in Holmestrand. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.