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