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