Last update: Nov 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Sarpsborg

For one person, living is cheaper in Medellin: $1,692 a month against $2,872 in Sarpsborg, rent and utilities included – about $14,200 less a year. Other living expenses account for most of the difference.

Medellin, Colombia
Sarpsborg, Norway
Medellin
🇨🇴 Colombia
$1,692
/mo nomad
Sarpsborg
🇳🇴 Norway
$2,872
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Medellin and in Sarpsborg

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Medellin and in Sarpsborg actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $1,692 per month in Medellin vs $2,872 in Sarpsborg, rent included.

  • Medellin $1,692
  • Sarpsborg $2,872

A couple spends around $2,471 per month in Medellin vs $4,169 in Sarpsborg, rent included.

  • Medellin $2,471
  • Sarpsborg $4,169

A family of three spends $3,249 per month in Medellin vs $5,466 in Sarpsborg, rent included.

  • Medellin $3,249
  • Sarpsborg $5,466

Medellin is about 41% cheaper than Sarpsborg, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both Medellin and Sarpsborg sit above the global median – Medellin by 25%, Sarpsborg by 112%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Sarpsborg
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.34 COP 26.8K
$40.81 NOK 379
-79.56%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.53 COP 149.7K
$99.3 NOK 921
-53.12%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.47 COP 30.5K
$19.17 NOK 178
-50.60%
Cappuccino
$3.13 COP 10.1K
$5.74 NOK 53.3
-45.47%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.77 COP 5,681
$2.88 NOK 26.75
-38.54%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.42 COP 4,582
$2.67 NOK 24.77
-46.82%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.15 COP 10.1K
$6.60 NOK 61.2
-52.27%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.70 COP 18.3K
$8.19 NOK 76.0
-30.40%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Sarpsborg
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.53 COP 4,930
$2.32 NOK 21.49
-34.05%
White Bread (500g)
$2.29 COP 7,370
$3.49 NOK 32.42
-34.38%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.94 COP 6,257
$4.01 NOK 37.22
-51.62%
Eggs
$3.07 COP 9,864
$4.56 NOK 42.30
-32.68%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.99 COP 32.1K
$12.54 NOK 116
-20.33%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.45 COP 33.6K
$17.04 NOK 158
-38.67%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.96 COP 44.9K
$34.26 NOK 318
-59.25%
Apples (1kg)
$4.05 COP 13.0K
$3.85 NOK 35.74
5.19%
Banana (1kg)
$1.53 COP 4,916
$2.67 NOK 24.81
-42.70%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.10 COP 6,769
$3.49 NOK 32.43
-39.83%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.29 COP 7,378
$6.04 NOK 56.1
-62.09%
Potato (1kg)
$2.11 COP 6,785
$2.84 NOK 26.39
-25.70%
Onion (1kg)
$1.71 COP 5,498
$3.18 NOK 29.50
-46.23%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.17 COP 3,764
$2.65 NOK 24.61
-55.85%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.58 COP 5,083
$2.59 NOK 24.00
-39.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.91 COP 12.6K
$15.56 NOK 144
-74.87%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.04 COP 45.2K
$13.73 NOK 127
2.26%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.76 COP 5,667
$3.34 NOK 30.97
-47.31%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.71 COP 8,724
$4.71 NOK 43.69
-42.46%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Sarpsborg
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.18 COP 3,795
$2.62 NOK 24.36
-54.96%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$76.3 COP 245.4K
$87.2 NOK 809
-12.53%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.81 COP 5,812
$12.01 NOK 111
-84.93%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.13 COP 6,849
$1.97 NOK 18.26
8.12%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.13 COP 26.2K
$63.8 NOK 592
-87.26%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.28 COP 4,102
$2.27 NOK 21.08
-43.61%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.4K COP 110.8M
$55.3K NOK 513.5K
-37.76%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.1K COP 109.8M
$47.2K NOK 437.7K
-27.63%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Sarpsborg
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$178 COP 571.7K
$238 NOK 2,207
-25.27%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.89 COP 44.7K
$36.62 NOK 340
-62.07%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.74 COP 98.9K
$47.03 NOK 436
-34.64%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Sarpsborg
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$41.94 COP 134.9K
$50.1 NOK 465
-16.22%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.80 COP 54.0K
$38.46 NOK 357
-56.32%
Cinema Ticket
$7.47 COP 24.0K
$19.49 NOK 181
-61.67%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Sarpsborg
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$790 COP 2.5M
$239 NOK 2,217
230.72%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$12.3K COP 39.6M
$11.6K NOK 107.7K
5.92%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Sarpsborg
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$86.3 COP 277.7K
$111 NOK 1,034
-22.49%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$59.3 COP 190.6K
$66.9 NOK 621
-11.38%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$138 COP 445.0K
$125 NOK 1,158
10.88%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$98.8 COP 317.8K
$180 NOK 1,670
-45.10%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Sarpsborg
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,341 COP 4.3M
$1,224 NOK 11.4K
9.57%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$667 COP 2.1M
$1,093 NOK 10.1K
-38.93%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,976 COP 6.4M
$1,606 NOK 14.9K
22.99%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,033 COP 3.3M
$1,399 NOK 13.0K
-26.15%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,098 COP 13.2M
$6,415 NOK 59.5K
-36.11%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,940 COP 6.2M
$4,241 NOK 39.4K
-54.26%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Sarpsborg
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$646 COP 2.1M
$2,714 NOK 25.2K
-76.20%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
10.94
5.18
111.20%

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

Last update for Medellin: November 2, 2026

Last update for Sarpsborg: November 1, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Medellin
$667
Sarpsborg
$1.1K 63.8% $425
Groceries & Markets
Medellin
$307
Sarpsborg
$508 65.1% $200
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
$222
Sarpsborg
$321 44.6% $99
Eating Out
Medellin
$173
Sarpsborg
$524 204% $352
Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
$172
Sarpsborg
$217 26.2% $45
Getting Around
Medellin
$93
Sarpsborg
$120 27.9% $26
Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
$57
Sarpsborg
$89 56.5% $32

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,341 in Medellin versus $1,224 in Sarpsborg. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries in Sarpsborg are about 4.2 times higher. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $47 in Medellin versus $99 in Sarpsborg. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $307 vs $508 – making Medellin the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇨🇴 Medellin
🇳🇴 Sarpsborg
🕒 Local time
16:56 4:56 PM
22:56 10:56 PM
6 h ahead of Medellin
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
2,486,723
59,906
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

NOK, USD, EUR to COP – Colombian Peso Converter

Colombian Peso exchange rates as of November 5, 2026: 1 USD = 3,217 COP (10,000 COP = 3.11 USD). 1 EUR = 3,611 COP (10,000 COP = 2.77 EUR).

Norwegian Krone exchange rates as of November 5, 2026: 1 USD = 9.28 NOK (1 NOK = 0.108 USD). 1 EUR = 10.42 NOK (100 NOK = 9.6 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Medellin Sarpsborg 9,230 km ≈ 12 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Medellin
  • Sarpsborg

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 Sarpsborg: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Medellin cheaper than Sarpsborg?
Yes – Sarpsborg is pricier by about 70%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in eating out.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,538 per month in Medellin and $4,308 in Sarpsborg. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
What is the rent difference between Medellin and Sarpsborg?
A central 1-bedroom goes for about $1,341 in Medellin and $1,224 in Sarpsborg. The gap holds across neighborhoods – outer areas show a similar spread, just at lower price points.
Is eating out cheaper in Medellin or in Sarpsborg?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $47 in Medellin and $99 in Sarpsborg. 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 Sarpsborg?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,692 in Medellin and $2,872 in Sarpsborg. That makes Medellin about 41% cheaper.
Is $2,500 a realistic budget for living in Medellin or in Sarpsborg?
A $2,500 monthly budget goes further in Medellin, where all-in costs run around $1,692, than in Sarpsborg at $2,872. In Medellin it covers expenses comfortably, while in Sarpsborg it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is it better to live in Medellin or in Sarpsborg?
It depends on your priorities. Medellin has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,692 in Medellin to $2,872 in Sarpsborg. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Medellin. If higher salaries or specific career opportunities are the priority, Sarpsborg makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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