Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Narvik Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Narvik

Monthly Cost of Living

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
$5.91 COP 18.6K
$20.19 NOK 191
-70.73%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.96 COP 103.9K
$91.7 NOK 867
-64.04%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.43 COP 23.4K
$15.00 NOK 142
-50.47%
Cappuccino
$1.65 COP 5,212
$5.58 NOK 52.8
-70.43%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.10 COP 3,472
$2.50 NOK 23.68
-56.00%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.78 COP 2,461
$2.45 NOK 23.21
-68.16%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.72 COP 5,417
$11.03 NOK 104
-84.41%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.18 COP 10.0K
$10.91 NOK 103
-70.85%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Narvik
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.10 COP 3,478
$2.41 NOK 22.79
-54.36%
White Bread (500g)
$1.26 COP 3,966
$3.22 NOK 30.43
-60.87%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.38 COP 4,354
$2.54 NOK 24.05
-45.67%
Eggs
$2.18 COP 6,866
$4.93 NOK 46.61
-55.78%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$4.49 COP 14.2K
$11.28 NOK 107
-60.20%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.79 COP 18.3K
$15.14 NOK 143
-61.76%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$8.97 COP 28.3K
$21.66 NOK 205
-58.59%
Apples (1kg)
$2.32 COP 7,315
$3.43 NOK 32.46
-32.36%
Banana (1kg)
$1.06 COP 3,356
$2.03 NOK 19.24
-47.78%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.52 COP 4,779
$3.70 NOK 34.99
-58.92%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.36 COP 4,274
$4.25 NOK 40.26
-68.00%
Potato (1kg)
$1.13 COP 3,555
$2.42 NOK 22.88
-53.31%
Onion (1kg)
$1.17 COP 3,692
$3.51 NOK 33.25
-66.67%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.90 COP 2,841
$2.65 NOK 25.10
-66.04%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.90 COP 2,826
$1.76 NOK 16.69
-48.86%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.23 COP 7,041
$14.75 NOK 140
-84.88%
Wine (Bottle)
$12.12 COP 38.2K
$18.61 NOK 176
-34.87%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.19 COP 3,747
$3.46 NOK 32.73
-65.61%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.48 COP 7,823
$3.55 NOK 33.62
-30.14%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Narvik
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.85 COP 2,690
$5.04 NOK 47.66
-83.13%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$41.62 COP 131.2K
$85.9 NOK 813
-51.54%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.42 COP 4,463
$12.74 NOK 121
-88.85%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.95 COP 6,147
$1.38 NOK 13.05
41.30%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.89 COP 24.9K
$50.7 NOK 479
-84.43%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.99 COP 3,122
$2.08 NOK 19.66
-52.40%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$17.6K COP 55.5M
$30.3K NOK 286.9K
-41.95%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.8K COP 84.5M
$30.1K NOK 284.8K
-10.98%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Narvik
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$83.0 COP 261.6K
$249 NOK 2,353
-66.62%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.70 COP 30.6K
$47.54 NOK 450
-79.60%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$23.52 COP 74.1K
$75.7 NOK 716
-68.91%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Narvik
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$25.26 COP 79.6K
$53.3 NOK 504
-52.61%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.10 COP 60.2K
$25.78 NOK 244
-25.91%
Cinema Ticket
$3.95 COP 12.4K
$16.77 NOK 159
-76.45%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Narvik
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$316 COP 995.3K
$336 NOK 3,180
-6.04%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,975 COP 18.8M
$7,144 NOK 67.6K
-16.37%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Narvik
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$60.0 COP 189.1K
$89.8 NOK 850
-33.19%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$31.82 COP 100.3K
$32.25 NOK 305
-1.33%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$102 COP 320.4K
$133 NOK 1,257
-23.46%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$107 COP 338.7K
$135 NOK 1,279
-20.51%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Narvik
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$475 COP 1.5M
$926 NOK 8,763
-48.71%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$374 COP 1.2M
$705 NOK 6,667
-46.92%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$849 COP 2.7M
$1,579 NOK 14.9K
-46.22%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$719 COP 2.3M
$1,199 NOK 11.3K
-39.98%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,265 COP 10.3M
$5,190 NOK 49.1K
-37.08%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,441 COP 4.5M
$4,714 NOK 44.6K
-69.44%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Narvik
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$624 COP 2.0M
$3,525 NOK 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.

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