🙂A single person spends $1,031 per month in Medellin vs $2,421 in Ulsteinvik, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $1,599 per month in Medellin vs $3,717 in Ulsteinvik, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $2,167 per month in Medellin vs $5,013 in Ulsteinvik, rent included.
🙂Medellin is about 57% cheaper than Ulsteinvik, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Medellin sits 23% below the global median, while Ulsteinvik is 81% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Ulsteinvik
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.16COP 20.1K
$25.34NOK 244
-75.69%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.60COP 106.1K
$101NOK 977
-67.82%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.34COP 23.9K
$13.79NOK 133
-46.77%
Cappuccino
$1.72COP 5,600
$4.85NOK 46.80
-64.54%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.05COP 3,420
$3.07NOK 29.61
-65.80%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.77COP 2,515
$2.79NOK 26.94
-72.40%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.69COP 5,488
$10.16NOK 98.0
-83.37%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.17COP 10.3K
$9.61NOK 92.7
-67.01%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Ulsteinvik
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.05COP 3,423
$2.27NOK 21.90
-53.74%
White Bread(500g)
$1.30COP 4,236
$3.40NOK 32.76
-61.76%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.40COP 4,544
$3.15NOK 30.38
-55.56%
Eggs
$2.16COP 7,047
$4.44NOK 42.78
-51.35%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$4.39COP 14.3K
$12.09NOK 117
-63.69%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.88COP 19.1K
$14.71NOK 142
-60.03%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.64COP 28.1K
$27.40NOK 264
-68.47%
Apples(1kg)
$2.28COP 7,426
$3.52NOK 33.97
-35.23%
Banana(1kg)
$1.11COP 3,604
$2.39NOK 23.04
-53.56%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.53COP 4,983
$3.36NOK 32.39
-54.46%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.35COP 4,410
$4.52NOK 43.56
-70.13%
Potato(1kg)
$1.13COP 3,674
$2.46NOK 23.72
-54.07%
Onion(1kg)
$1.13COP 3,692
$2.48NOK 23.93
-54.44%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.85COP 2,753
$2.80NOK 26.98
-69.64%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.91COP 2,975
$1.83NOK 17.67
-50.27%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.34COP 7,630
$15.45NOK 149
-84.85%
Wine(Bottle)
$12.37COP 40.3K
$17.08NOK 165
-27.58%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.20COP 3,909
$3.41NOK 32.93
-64.81%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.49COP 8,104
$3.96NOK 38.20
-37.12%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Ulsteinvik
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.84COP 2,728
$4.33NOK 41.75
-80.60%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$40.57COP 132.1K
$73.4NOK 708
-44.76%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.42COP 4,623
$10.10NOK 97.4
-85.94%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.92COP 6,235
$1.39NOK 13.37
38.13%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.66COP 24.9K
$46.69NOK 450
-83.59%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.99COP 3,223
$2.15NOK 20.71
-53.95%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.0KCOP 58.7M
$34.9KNOK 336.6K
-48.35%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.6KCOP 86.7M
$38.9KNOK 374.9K
-31.52%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Ulsteinvik
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$80.8COP 263.1K
$238NOK 2,299
-66.10%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.95COP 32.4K
$37.91NOK 366
-73.75%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.18COP 78.7K
$55.4NOK 535
-56.39%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Ulsteinvik
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$25.08COP 81.7K
$49.12NOK 474
-48.94%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.15COP 62.3K
$36.10NOK 348
-46.95%
Cinema Ticket
$3.98COP 13.0K
$16.64NOK 160
-76.08%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Ulsteinvik
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$305COP 993.5K
$279NOK 2,691
9.34%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$6,059COP 19.7M
$10.1KNOK 97.3K
-39.95%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Ulsteinvik
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.1COP 189.2K
$95.6NOK 922
-39.21%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$32.20COP 104.8K
$52.7NOK 508
-38.92%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$101COP 327.9K
$110NOK 1,059
-8.25%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$108COP 350.8K
$152NOK 1,463
-28.97%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Ulsteinvik
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$477COP 1.6M
$1,206NOK 11.6K
-60.47%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$376COP 1.2M
$911NOK 8,781
-58.69%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$845COP 2.7M
$1,848NOK 17.8K
-54.29%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$730COP 2.4M
$1,542NOK 14.9K
-52.64%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,215COP 10.5M
$5,806NOK 56.0K
-44.61%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,372COP 4.5M
$3,524NOK 34.0K
-61.06%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Ulsteinvik
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$617COP 2.0M
-
-
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: July 12, 2026
Last update for Ulsteinvik: July 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $477 in Medellin versus $1,206 in Ulsteinvik. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $33.00 in Medellin versus $101 in Ulsteinvik. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $193 vs $452 – 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 Ulsteinvik: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Ulsteinvik cheaper than Medellin?
Yes – Ulsteinvik is pricier by about 135%, 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 $1,546 per month in Medellin and $3,631 in Ulsteinvik. 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 Ulsteinvik?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $33.00 in Medellin and $101 in Ulsteinvik. 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 Ulsteinvik?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,031 in Medellin and $2,421 in Ulsteinvik. 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 Ulsteinvik?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Medellin, where all-in costs run around $1,031, than in Ulsteinvik at $2,421. In Medellin it covers expenses comfortably, while in Ulsteinvik it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Medellin or Ulsteinvik 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 Ulsteinvik?
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, Ulsteinvik makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.