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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,031 per month in Medellin vs $2,780 in Trondheim, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,599 per month in Medellin vs $4,125 in Trondheim, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,167 per month in Medellin vs $5,471 in Trondheim, rent included.

Medellin is about 63% cheaper than Trondheim, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Medellin sits 23% below the global median, while Trondheim is 108% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Trondheim
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.16 COP 20.1K
$22.76 NOK 219
-72.93%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.60 COP 106.1K
$120 NOK 1,153
-72.72%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.34 COP 23.9K
$14.31 NOK 138
-48.71%
Cappuccino
$1.72 COP 5,600
$4.67 NOK 45.06
-63.17%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.05 COP 3,420
$3.54 NOK 34.15
-70.34%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.77 COP 2,515
$3.00 NOK 28.88
-74.33%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.69 COP 5,488
$10.77 NOK 104
-84.31%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.17 COP 10.3K
$11.45 NOK 110
-72.31%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Trondheim
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.05 COP 3,423
$2.65 NOK 25.59
-60.38%
White Bread (500g)
$1.30 COP 4,236
$3.59 NOK 34.61
-63.79%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.40 COP 4,544
$3.81 NOK 36.75
-63.25%
Eggs
$2.16 COP 7,047
$4.42 NOK 42.60
-51.13%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$4.39 COP 14.3K
$12.33 NOK 119
-64.40%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.88 COP 19.1K
$14.88 NOK 143
-60.48%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$8.64 COP 28.1K
$27.83 NOK 268
-68.95%
Apples (1kg)
$2.28 COP 7,426
$3.77 NOK 36.31
-39.52%
Banana (1kg)
$1.11 COP 3,604
$2.89 NOK 27.85
-61.59%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.53 COP 4,983
$2.69 NOK 25.91
-43.12%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.35 COP 4,410
$5.28 NOK 50.9
-74.43%
Potato (1kg)
$1.13 COP 3,674
$2.91 NOK 28.04
-61.17%
Onion (1kg)
$1.13 COP 3,692
$3.21 NOK 30.94
-64.80%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.85 COP 2,753
$3.24 NOK 31.24
-73.77%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.91 COP 2,975
$2.52 NOK 24.34
-63.89%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.34 COP 7,630
$15.47 NOK 149
-84.87%
Wine (Bottle)
$12.37 COP 40.3K
$18.24 NOK 176
-32.18%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.20 COP 3,909
$3.77 NOK 36.40
-68.17%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.49 COP 8,104
$4.67 NOK 45.06
-46.68%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Trondheim
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.84 COP 2,728
$4.54 NOK 43.82
-81.50%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$40.57 COP 132.1K
$94.6 NOK 912
-57.09%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.42 COP 4,623
$15.38 NOK 148
-90.77%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.92 COP 6,235
$2.24 NOK 21.62
-14.29%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.66 COP 24.9K
$89.4 NOK 862
-91.43%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.99 COP 3,223
$2.21 NOK 21.35
-55.20%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.0K COP 58.7M
$31.4K NOK 303.1K
-42.64%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.6K COP 86.7M
$43.3K NOK 417.9K
-38.56%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Trondheim
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$80.8 COP 263.1K
$326 NOK 3,146
-75.23%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.95 COP 32.4K
$43.18 NOK 416
-76.96%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.18 COP 78.7K
$76.6 NOK 739
-68.45%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Trondheim
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$25.08 COP 81.7K
$42.89 NOK 414
-41.52%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.15 COP 62.3K
$46.70 NOK 450
-58.99%
Cinema Ticket
$3.98 COP 13.0K
$17.51 NOK 169
-77.27%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Trondheim
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$305 COP 993.5K
$330 NOK 3,179
-7.43%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$6,059 COP 19.7M
$8,333 NOK 80.4K
-27.29%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Trondheim
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.1 COP 189.2K
$110 NOK 1,063
-47.27%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$32.20 COP 104.8K
$47.54 NOK 458
-32.27%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$101 COP 327.9K
$126 NOK 1,212
-19.85%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$108 COP 350.8K
$129 NOK 1,247
-16.68%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Trondheim
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$477 COP 1.6M
$1,378 NOK 13.3K
-65.42%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$376 COP 1.2M
$1,060 NOK 10.2K
-64.53%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$845 COP 2.7M
$2,251 NOK 21.7K
-62.48%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$730 COP 2.4M
$1,660 NOK 16.0K
-56.01%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,215 COP 10.5M
$6,307 NOK 60.8K
-49.02%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,372 COP 4.5M
$4,811 NOK 46.4K
-71.48%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Trondheim
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$617 COP 2.0M
$4,102 NOK 39.6K
-84.96%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
13.43
4.32
210.88%

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

Last update for Medellin: July 12, 2026

Last update for Trondheim: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $477 in Medellin versus $1,378 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 565% 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 $33.00 in Medellin versus $120 in Trondheim. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $193 vs $487 – 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 170%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. 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 $1,546 per month in Medellin and $4,170 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 $33.00 in Medellin and $120 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 $1,031 in Medellin and $2,780 in Trondheim. 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 Trondheim?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Medellin, where all-in costs run around $1,031, than in Trondheim at $2,780. 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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