🙂A single person spends $1,003 per month in Medellin vs $2,304 in Narvik, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $1,573 per month in Medellin vs $3,451 in Narvik, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $2,143 per month in Medellin vs $4,597 in Narvik, rent included.
🙂Medellin is about 56% cheaper than Narvik, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Medellin sits 25% below the global median, while Narvik is 73% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Narvik
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.91COP 18.6K
$20.19NOK 191
-70.73%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.96COP 103.9K
$91.7NOK 867
-64.04%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.43COP 23.4K
$15.00NOK 142
-50.47%
Cappuccino
$1.65COP 5,212
$5.58NOK 52.8
-70.43%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.10COP 3,472
$2.50NOK 23.68
-56.00%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.78COP 2,461
$2.45NOK 23.21
-68.16%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.72COP 5,417
$11.03NOK 104
-84.41%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.18COP 10.0K
$10.91NOK 103
-70.85%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Narvik
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.10COP 3,478
$2.41NOK 22.79
-54.36%
White Bread(500g)
$1.26COP 3,966
$3.22NOK 30.43
-60.87%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.38COP 4,354
$2.54NOK 24.05
-45.67%
Eggs
$2.18COP 6,866
$4.93NOK 46.61
-55.78%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$4.49COP 14.2K
$11.28NOK 107
-60.20%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.79COP 18.3K
$15.14NOK 143
-61.76%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.97COP 28.3K
$21.66NOK 205
-58.59%
Apples(1kg)
$2.32COP 7,315
$3.43NOK 32.46
-32.36%
Banana(1kg)
$1.06COP 3,356
$2.03NOK 19.24
-47.78%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.52COP 4,779
$3.70NOK 34.99
-58.92%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.36COP 4,274
$4.25NOK 40.26
-68.00%
Potato(1kg)
$1.13COP 3,555
$2.42NOK 22.88
-53.31%
Onion(1kg)
$1.17COP 3,692
$3.51NOK 33.25
-66.67%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.90COP 2,841
$2.65NOK 25.10
-66.04%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.90COP 2,826
$1.76NOK 16.69
-48.86%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.23COP 7,041
$14.75NOK 140
-84.88%
Wine(Bottle)
$12.12COP 38.2K
$18.61NOK 176
-34.87%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.19COP 3,747
$3.46NOK 32.73
-65.61%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.48COP 7,823
$3.55NOK 33.62
-30.14%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Narvik
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.85COP 2,690
$5.04NOK 47.66
-83.13%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$41.62COP 131.2K
$85.9NOK 813
-51.54%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.42COP 4,463
$12.74NOK 121
-88.85%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.95COP 6,147
$1.38NOK 13.05
41.30%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.89COP 24.9K
$50.7NOK 479
-84.43%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.99COP 3,122
$2.08NOK 19.66
-52.40%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$17.6KCOP 55.5M
$30.3KNOK 286.9K
-41.95%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.8KCOP 84.5M
$30.1KNOK 284.8K
-10.98%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Narvik
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$83.0COP 261.6K
$249NOK 2,353
-66.62%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.70COP 30.6K
$47.54NOK 450
-79.60%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$23.52COP 74.1K
$75.7NOK 716
-68.91%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Narvik
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$25.26COP 79.6K
$53.3NOK 504
-52.61%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.10COP 60.2K
$25.78NOK 244
-25.91%
Cinema Ticket
$3.95COP 12.4K
$16.77NOK 159
-76.45%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Narvik
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$316COP 995.3K
$336NOK 3,180
-6.04%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,975COP 18.8M
$7,144NOK 67.6K
-16.37%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Narvik
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$60.0COP 189.1K
$89.8NOK 850
-33.19%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$31.82COP 100.3K
$32.25NOK 305
-1.33%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$102COP 320.4K
$133NOK 1,257
-23.46%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$107COP 338.7K
$135NOK 1,279
-20.51%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Narvik
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$475COP 1.5M
$926NOK 8,763
-48.71%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$374COP 1.2M
$705NOK 6,667
-46.92%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$849COP 2.7M
$1,579NOK 14.9K
-46.22%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$719COP 2.3M
$1,199NOK 11.3K
-39.98%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,265COP 10.3M
$5,190NOK 49.1K
-37.08%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,441COP 4.5M
$4,714NOK 44.6K
-69.44%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Narvik
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$624COP 2.0M
$3,525NOK 33.4K
-82.29%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
13.43
4.27
214.52%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Medellin: July 27, 2026
Last update for Narvik: July 26, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $475 in Medellin versus $926 in Narvik. 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 465% higher in Narvik, 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 $92.0 in Narvik. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $193 vs $434 – 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 Narvik: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Narvik cheaper than Medellin?
Yes – Narvik is pricier by about 130%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,504 per month in Medellin and $3,456 in Narvik. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
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.
Is eating out cheaper in Medellin or in Narvik?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $33.00 in Medellin and $92.0 in Narvik. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
What are total monthly expenses in Medellin and in Narvik?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,003 in Medellin and $2,304 in Narvik. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Medellin or in Narvik?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Medellin, where all-in costs run around $1,003, than in Narvik at $2,304. In Medellin it covers expenses comfortably, while in Narvik it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Medellin or Narvik more family-friendly?
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.
Which city is safer, Medellin or Narvik?
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.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Medellin. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Narvik makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.