Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Kongsberg Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Kongsberg

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,003 per month in Medellin vs $2,375 in Kongsberg, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,573 per month in Medellin vs $3,557 in Kongsberg, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,143 per month in Medellin vs $4,738 in Kongsberg, rent included.

Medellin is about 58% cheaper than Kongsberg, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Medellin sits 25% below the global median, while Kongsberg is 78% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.91 COP 18.6K

$22.09 NOK 209

-73.25%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.96 COP 103.8K

$72.1 NOK 683

-54.25%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.43 COP 23.4K

$13.09 NOK 124

-43.24%

Cappuccino

$1.65 COP 5,207

$4.82 NOK 45.67

-65.77%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.10 COP 3,468

$2.50 NOK 23.72

-56.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.78 COP 2,458

$2.15 NOK 20.41

-63.72%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.72 COP 5,412

$9.30 NOK 88.2

-81.51%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.18 COP 10.0K

$10.13 NOK 96.1

-68.61%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.10 COP 3,474

$2.16 NOK 20.50

-49.07%

White Bread (500g)

$1.26 COP 3,962

$3.10 NOK 29.36

-59.35%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.38 COP 4,349

$3.33 NOK 31.60

-58.56%

Eggs

$2.18 COP 6,858

$4.83 NOK 45.77

-54.87%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.49 COP 14.1K

$10.29 NOK 97.6

-56.37%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.79 COP 18.2K

$11.69 NOK 111

-50.47%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.97 COP 28.2K

$18.20 NOK 173

-50.71%

Apples (1kg)

$2.32 COP 7,308

$3.04 NOK 28.87

-23.68%

Banana (1kg)

$1.06 COP 3,352

$2.35 NOK 22.25

-54.89%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.52 COP 4,774

$3.34 NOK 31.67

-54.49%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.36 COP 4,270

$4.12 NOK 39.04

-66.99%

Potato (1kg)

$1.13 COP 3,552

$2.21 NOK 20.92

-48.87%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 COP 3,689

$2.21 NOK 20.96

-47.06%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.90 COP 2,838

$2.97 NOK 28.12

-69.70%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.90 COP 2,823

$1.92 NOK 18.24

-53.13%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.23 COP 7,034

$17.05 NOK 162

-86.92%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.12 COP 38.2K

$15.55 NOK 147

-22.06%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.19 COP 3,743

$3.32 NOK 31.50

-64.16%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.48 COP 7,815

$3.85 NOK 36.49

-35.58%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.85 COP 2,687

$2.47 NOK 23.37

-65.59%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.62 COP 131.0K

$88.3 NOK 838

-52.88%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.42 COP 4,459

$10.01 NOK 94.9

-85.81%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.95 COP 6,141

$1.44 NOK 13.67

35.42%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.89 COP 24.8K

$30.84 NOK 292

-74.42%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.99 COP 3,118

$2.12 NOK 20.12

-53.30%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$17.6K COP 55.4M

$37.8K NOK 358.2K

-53.40%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$26.8K COP 84.4M

$41.0K NOK 389.0K

-34.68%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$83.0 COP 261.4K

$220 NOK 2,085

-62.25%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$9.70 COP 30.5K

$27.19 NOK 258

-64.33%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$23.52 COP 74.1K

$38.66 NOK 367

-39.16%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.26 COP 79.5K

$44.59 NOK 423

-43.35%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.10 COP 60.1K

$54.5 NOK 516

-64.93%

Cinema Ticket

$3.95 COP 12.4K

$19.86 NOK 188

-80.11%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$316 COP 994.2K

$304 NOK 2,886

3.76%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,975 COP 18.8M

$3,645 NOK 34.6K

63.89%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$60.0 COP 188.9K

$88.6 NOK 840

-32.30%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$31.82 COP 100.2K

$52.0 NOK 493

-38.76%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$102 COP 320.1K

$159 NOK 1,503

-35.87%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$107 COP 338.3K

$164 NOK 1,554

-34.42%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$475 COP 1.5M

$988 NOK 9,368

-51.93%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$374 COP 1.2M

$896 NOK 8,501

-58.28%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$849 COP 2.7M

$1,769 NOK 16.8K

-52.01%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$719 COP 2.3M

$1,551 NOK 14.7K

-53.62%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,265 COP 10.3M

$5,933 NOK 56.3K

-44.97%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,441 COP 4.5M

$4,082 NOK 38.7K

-64.71%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$624 COP 2.0M

$3,556 NOK 33.7K

-82.44%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.43

4.38

206.62%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Medellin: July 27, 2026

Last update for Kongsberg: July 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $475 in Medellin versus $988 in Kongsberg. 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 470% higher in Kongsberg, 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 $33.00 in Medellin versus $72.0 in Kongsberg. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $193 vs $394 – 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 Kongsberg: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Kongsberg is pricier by about 137%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,504 per month in Medellin and $3,563 in Kongsberg. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,003 in Medellin and $2,375 in Kongsberg. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 112% less in Medellin. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Medellin, where all-in costs run around $1,003, than in Kongsberg at $2,375. In Medellin it covers expenses comfortably, while in Kongsberg it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Medellin – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

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.

If budget matters most, go with Medellin. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Kongsberg makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.