Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Trondheim Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Trondheim

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,716 per month in Medellin vs $2,990 in Trondheim, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,527 per month in Medellin vs $4,295 in Trondheim, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,338 per month in Medellin vs $5,599 in Trondheim, rent included.

Medellin is about 43% cheaper than Trondheim, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Medellin and Trondheim sit above the global median – Medellin by 25%, Trondheim by 118%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Trondheim
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.03 COP 25.3K
$21.21 NOK 198
-62.14%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$48.26 COP 152.0K
$108 NOK 1,007
-55.37%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.77 COP 30.8K
$16.17 NOK 151
-39.58%
Cappuccino
$2.91 COP 9,167
$5.58 NOK 52.0
-47.85%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.94 COP 6,122
$5.81 NOK 54.1
-66.61%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.52 COP 4,792
$4.33 NOK 40.33
-64.90%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.09 COP 9,740
$13.61 NOK 127
-77.30%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.74 COP 18.1K
$13.10 NOK 122
-56.18%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Trondheim
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.36 COP 4,296
$2.60 NOK 24.23
-47.69%
White Bread (500g)
$2.39 COP 7,519
$3.59 NOK 33.49
-33.43%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.70 COP 5,356
$3.83 NOK 35.69
-55.61%
Eggs
$2.87 COP 9,038
$5.06 NOK 47.17
-43.28%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.94 COP 31.3K
$13.32 NOK 124
-25.38%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.78 COP 34.0K
$16.56 NOK 154
-34.90%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.73 COP 46.4K
$32.75 NOK 305
-55.02%
Apples (1kg)
$4.09 COP 12.9K
$3.97 NOK 37.00
3.02%
Banana (1kg)
$1.57 COP 4,950
$3.03 NOK 28.23
-48.18%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.13 COP 6,695
$3.92 NOK 36.51
-45.66%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.21 COP 6,972
$5.64 NOK 52.6
-60.82%
Potato (1kg)
$2.05 COP 6,447
$2.88 NOK 26.86
-28.82%
Onion (1kg)
$1.50 COP 4,737
$3.10 NOK 28.92
-51.61%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.19 COP 3,747
$2.99 NOK 27.87
-60.20%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.16 COP 3,647
$2.35 NOK 21.89
-50.64%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.90 COP 12.3K
$17.92 NOK 167
-78.24%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.44 COP 45.5K
$19.02 NOK 177
-24.08%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.58 COP 4,987
$3.73 NOK 34.72
-57.64%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.83 COP 8,905
$4.52 NOK 42.13
-37.39%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Trondheim
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.17 COP 3,679
$4.76 NOK 44.36
-75.42%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$77.7 COP 244.8K
$102 NOK 955
-24.16%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.28 COP 4,045
$9.75 NOK 90.8
-86.87%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.09 COP 6,589
$1.65 NOK 15.36
26.67%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.62 COP 27.1K
$59.9 NOK 558
-85.60%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.30 COP 4,088
$2.30 NOK 21.43
-43.48%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.7K COP 87.1M
$45.8K NOK 426.6K
-39.60%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$35.5K COP 111.8M
$46.7K NOK 435.2K
-23.98%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Trondheim
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$176 COP 554.5K
$276 NOK 2,573
-36.24%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.37 COP 42.1K
$36.40 NOK 339
-63.27%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.89 COP 94.1K
$83.3 NOK 776
-64.10%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Trondheim
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$44.76 COP 141.0K
$43.49 NOK 405
2.92%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.06 COP 53.7K
$41.47 NOK 386
-58.86%
Cinema Ticket
$6.20 COP 19.5K
$21.11 NOK 197
-70.63%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Trondheim
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$793 COP 2.5M
$303 NOK 2,822
161.92%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$9,019 COP 28.4M
$4,410 NOK 41.1K
104.52%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Trondheim
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$85.6 COP 269.6K
$110 NOK 1,025
-22.17%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$58.5 COP 184.1K
$51.5 NOK 480
13.47%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$136 COP 429.3K
$125 NOK 1,162
9.29%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$103 COP 324.7K
$158 NOK 1,468
-34.54%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Trondheim
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,060 COP 3.3M
$1,508 NOK 14.0K
-29.72%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$680 COP 2.1M
$1,209 NOK 11.3K
-43.80%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,012 COP 6.3M
$2,241 NOK 20.9K
-10.22%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,169 COP 3.7M
$1,685 NOK 15.7K
-30.67%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,111 COP 12.9M
$6,577 NOK 61.3K
-37.49%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,701 COP 5.4M
$5,047 NOK 47.0K
-66.29%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Trondheim
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$665 COP 2.1M
$4,203 NOK 39.2K
-84.17%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
10.94
5.32
105.64%

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

Last update for Medellin: August 30, 2026

Last update for Trondheim: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,060 in Medellin versus $1,508 in Trondheim. 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 532% higher in Trondheim, 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 $48.00 in Medellin versus $108 in Trondheim. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $303 vs $521 – 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 Trondheim: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Trondheim cheaper than Medellin?
Yes – Trondheim is pricier by about 74%, 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 $2,574 per month in Medellin and $4,486 in Trondheim. 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 Trondheim?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $48.00 in Medellin and $108 in Trondheim. 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 Trondheim?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,716 in Medellin and $2,990 in Trondheim. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Is $2,500 a realistic budget for living in Medellin or in Trondheim?
A $2,500 monthly budget goes further in Medellin, where all-in costs run around $1,716, than in Trondheim at $2,990. In Medellin it covers expenses comfortably, while in Trondheim it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Medellin or Trondheim 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 Trondheim?
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, Trondheim makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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