🙂A single person spends $1,028 per month in Medellin vs $2,501 in Tonsberg, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $1,586 per month in Medellin vs $3,657 in Tonsberg, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $2,144 per month in Medellin vs $4,812 in Tonsberg, rent included.
🙂Medellin is about 59% cheaper than Tonsberg, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Medellin sits 23% below the global median, while Tonsberg is 88% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Tonsberg
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.00COP 20.6K
$25.37NOK 247
-76.35%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.84COP 112.9K
$103NOK 999
-67.98%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.42COP 25.5K
$13.60NOK 133
-45.44%
Cappuccino
$1.65COP 5,675
$4.88NOK 47.49
-66.19%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.07COP 3,673
$5.16NOK 50.3
-79.26%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.76COP 2,614
$4.96NOK 48.32
-84.68%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.72COP 5,925
$10.18NOK 99.2
-83.10%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.20COP 11.0K
$9.40NOK 91.6
-65.96%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Tonsberg
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.05COP 3,607
$2.17NOK 21.10
-51.61%
White Bread(500g)
$1.31COP 4,492
$3.27NOK 31.88
-59.94%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.34COP 4,604
$3.17NOK 30.84
-57.73%
Eggs
$2.19COP 7,543
$4.37NOK 42.56
-49.89%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$4.41COP 15.2K
$12.09NOK 118
-63.52%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.69COP 19.6K
$14.45NOK 141
-60.62%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.52COP 29.3K
$27.64NOK 269
-69.18%
Apples(1kg)
$2.34COP 8,046
$3.47NOK 33.75
-32.56%
Banana(1kg)
$1.11COP 3,815
$2.44NOK 23.79
-54.51%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.52COP 5,225
$3.40NOK 33.11
-55.29%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.37COP 4,694
$4.40NOK 42.83
-68.86%
Potato(1kg)
$1.15COP 3,962
$2.38NOK 23.17
-51.68%
Onion(1kg)
$1.18COP 4,055
$2.47NOK 24.03
-52.23%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.84COP 2,893
$2.86NOK 27.88
-70.63%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.86COP 2,940
$1.89NOK 18.45
-54.50%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.26COP 7,776
$15.31NOK 149
-85.24%
Wine(Bottle)
$11.60COP 39.9K
$18.01NOK 175
-35.59%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.20COP 4,121
$3.44NOK 33.50
-65.12%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.48COP 8,508
$4.06NOK 39.56
-38.92%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Tonsberg
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.79COP 2,729
$4.32NOK 42.10
-81.71%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$40.83COP 140.4K
$72.5NOK 706
-43.65%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.47COP 5,038
$10.19NOK 99.2
-85.57%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.92COP 6,587
$1.44NOK 14.01
33.33%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.77COP 26.7K
$47.27NOK 460
-83.56%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.01COP 3,474
$1.99NOK 19.41
-49.25%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$17.7KCOP 60.7M
$35.7KNOK 348.0K
-50.58%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.5KCOP 90.9M
$37.8KNOK 367.7K
-29.93%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Tonsberg
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$81.1COP 278.8K
$236NOK 2,298
-65.63%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.43COP 32.4K
$37.60NOK 366
-74.92%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$23.86COP 82.0K
$56.0NOK 546
-57.42%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Tonsberg
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$25.99COP 89.4K
$49.51NOK 482
-47.51%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.71COP 64.3K
$35.35NOK 344
-47.07%
Cinema Ticket
$4.09COP 14.1K
$16.42NOK 160
-75.09%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Tonsberg
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$315COP 1.1M
$283NOK 2,758
11.09%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$6,022COP 20.7M
$10.1KNOK 97.9K
-40.09%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Tonsberg
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$59.7COP 205.2K
$96.9NOK 944
-38.37%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$31.97COP 109.9K
$52.9NOK 515
-39.55%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$101COP 347.9K
$107NOK 1,046
-5.71%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$105COP 361.3K
$151NOK 1,469
-30.33%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Tonsberg
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$485COP 1.7M
$1,208NOK 11.8K
-59.83%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$365COP 1.3M
$920NOK 8,960
-60.31%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$827COP 2.8M
$1,457NOK 14.2K
-43.27%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$730COP 2.5M
$1,195NOK 11.6K
-38.87%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,992COP 10.3M
$6,157NOK 60.0K
-51.40%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,314COP 4.5M
$4,111NOK 40.0K
-68.03%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Tonsberg
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$551COP 1.9M
$4,495NOK 43.8K
-87.75%
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: June 15, 2026
Last update for Tonsberg: June 15, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $485 in Medellin versus $1,208 in Tonsberg. 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 716% higher in Tonsberg, 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 $103 in Tonsberg. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $190 vs $451 – 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 Tonsberg: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Tonsberg cheaper than Medellin?
Yes – Tonsberg is pricier by about 143%, 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 $1,542 per month in Medellin and $3,752 in Tonsberg. 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 Tonsberg?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $33.00 in Medellin and $103 in Tonsberg. 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 Tonsberg?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,028 in Medellin and $2,501 in Tonsberg. 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 Tonsberg?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Medellin, where all-in costs run around $1,028, than in Tonsberg at $2,501. In Medellin it covers expenses comfortably, while in Tonsberg it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Medellin or Tonsberg 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 Tonsberg?
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, Tonsberg makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.