Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Ulsteinvik

For one person, living is cheaper in Medellin: $1,614 a month against $2,608 in Ulsteinvik, rent and utilities included – about $11,900 less a year. Rent and utilities account for about half of the difference.

Medellin
🇨🇴 Colombia
$1,614
/mo nomad
Ulsteinvik
🇳🇴 Norway
$2,608
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Medellin and in Ulsteinvik

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Medellin and in Ulsteinvik actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $1,614 per month in Medellin vs $2,608 in Ulsteinvik, rent included.

  • Medellin $1,614
  • Ulsteinvik $2,608

A couple spends around $2,402 per month in Medellin vs $3,954 in Ulsteinvik, rent included.

  • Medellin $2,402
  • Ulsteinvik $3,954

A family of three spends $3,190 per month in Medellin vs $5,301 in Ulsteinvik, rent included.

  • Medellin $3,190
  • Ulsteinvik $5,301

Medellin is about 38% cheaper than Ulsteinvik, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both Medellin and Ulsteinvik sit above the global median – Medellin by 20%, Ulsteinvik by 93%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Ulsteinvik
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.93 COP 25.2K
$20.24 NOK 191
-60.82%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.13 COP 146.3K
$106 NOK 996
-56.41%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.50 COP 30.1K
$13.39 NOK 126
-29.05%
Cappuccino
$3.11 COP 9,866
$4.68 NOK 44.06
-33.55%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.83 COP 5,800
$4.17 NOK 39.26
-56.12%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.38 COP 4,360
$2.84 NOK 26.77
-51.41%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.05 COP 9,672
$13.40 NOK 126
-77.24%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.50 COP 17.4K
$9.98 NOK 93.9
-44.89%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Ulsteinvik
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.45 COP 4,600
$2.50 NOK 23.54
-42.00%
White Bread (500g)
$2.36 COP 7,496
$3.59 NOK 33.75
-34.26%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.68 COP 5,328
$3.81 NOK 35.86
-55.91%
Eggs
$2.86 COP 9,077
$4.92 NOK 46.35
-41.87%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.19 COP 32.3K
$13.40 NOK 126
-23.96%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.53 COP 30.2K
$15.42 NOK 145
-38.20%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.04 COP 44.5K
$31.06 NOK 292
-54.80%
Apples (1kg)
$4.07 COP 12.9K
$3.29 NOK 30.93
23.71%
Banana (1kg)
$1.50 COP 4,742
$2.70 NOK 25.44
-44.44%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.17 COP 6,891
$3.44 NOK 32.39
-36.92%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.31 COP 7,310
$4.77 NOK 44.87
-51.57%
Potato (1kg)
$1.93 COP 6,113
$2.52 NOK 23.72
-23.41%
Onion (1kg)
$1.64 COP 5,196
$2.93 NOK 27.55
-44.03%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.13 COP 3,571
$2.90 NOK 27.27
-61.03%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.25 COP 3,954
$2.55 NOK 23.97
-50.98%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.99 COP 12.6K
$17.56 NOK 165
-77.28%
Wine (Bottle)
$13.35 COP 42.3K
$16.52 NOK 156
-19.19%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.70 COP 5,384
$3.81 NOK 35.82
-55.38%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.37 COP 7,525
$3.90 NOK 36.72
-39.23%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Ulsteinvik
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.21 COP 3,827
$4.86 NOK 45.79
-75.10%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$76.5 COP 242.5K
$85.7 NOK 806
-10.71%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.32 COP 4,179
$13.46 NOK 127
-90.19%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.14 COP 6,774
$1.73 NOK 16.25
23.70%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.47 COP 26.8K
$69.0 NOK 649
-87.72%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.30 COP 4,114
$2.13 NOK 20.01
-38.97%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.0K COP 88.7M
$41.7K NOK 393.0K
-32.95%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$35.4K COP 112.3M
$42.9K NOK 404.3K
-17.55%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Ulsteinvik
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$172 COP 545.6K
$266 NOK 2,505
-35.33%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.37 COP 42.4K
$29.25 NOK 275
-54.29%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$28.73 COP 91.1K
$53.4 NOK 503
-46.23%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Ulsteinvik
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$45.24 COP 143.5K
$48.70 NOK 458
-7.10%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.04 COP 54.0K
$34.49 NOK 325
-50.59%
Cinema Ticket
$6.28 COP 19.9K
$17.01 NOK 160
-63.08%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Ulsteinvik
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$770 COP 2.4M
$214 NOK 2,017
259.41%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$9,011 COP 28.6M
$14.6K NOK 137.2K
-38.18%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Ulsteinvik
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$86.4 COP 274.0K
$98.4 NOK 927
-12.22%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$57.1 COP 181.1K
$49.95 NOK 470
14.37%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$137 COP 432.9K
$121 NOK 1,136
13.12%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$97.9 COP 310.4K
$135 NOK 1,271
-27.46%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Ulsteinvik
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,055 COP 3.3M
$1,096 NOK 10.3K
-3.76%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$616 COP 2.0M
$1,002 NOK 9,434
-38.55%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,892 COP 6.0M
$1,785 NOK 16.8K
6.03%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,023 COP 3.2M
$1,659 NOK 15.6K
-38.33%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,059 COP 12.9M
$7,015 NOK 66.0K
-42.14%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,678 COP 5.3M
$4,138 NOK 39.0K
-59.44%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Ulsteinvik
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$652 COP 2.1M
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
10.94
4.94
121.46%

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

Last update for Medellin: October 12, 2026

Last update for Ulsteinvik: October 11, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Medellin
$616
Ulsteinvik
$1K 62.7% $386
Groceries & Markets
Medellin
$295
Ulsteinvik
$492 67% $197
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
$214
Ulsteinvik
$349 62.8% $135
Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
$170
Ulsteinvik
$182 6.9% $12
Eating Out
Medellin
$168
Ulsteinvik
$373 122% $205
Getting Around
Medellin
$93
Ulsteinvik
$127 36.3% $34
Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
$58
Ulsteinvik
$83 43.1% $25

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,055 in Medellin versus $1,096 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 $46.00 in Medellin versus $106 in Ulsteinvik. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $295 vs $492 – making Medellin the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇨🇴 Medellin
🇳🇴 Ulsteinvik
🕒 Local time
09:27 9:27 AM
16:27 4:27 PM
7 h ahead of Medellin
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
2,486,723
5,600
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

NOK, USD, EUR to COP – Colombian Peso Converter

Colombian Peso exchange rates as of October 19, 2026: 1 USD = 3,171 COP (10,000 COP = 3.15 USD). 1 EUR = 3,565 COP (10,000 COP = 2.81 EUR).

Norwegian Krone exchange rates as of October 19, 2026: 1 USD = 9.41 NOK (1 NOK = 0.106 USD). 1 EUR = 10.58 NOK (100 NOK = 9.45 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Medellin Ulsteinvik 8,950 km ≈ 12 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Medellin
  • Ulsteinvik

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 62%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in eating out.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,421 per month in Medellin and $3,912 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 $46.00 in Medellin and $106 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 $1,614 in Medellin and $2,608 in Ulsteinvik. That's a gap of about 62%.
Is $2,500 a realistic budget for living in Medellin or in Ulsteinvik?
A $2,500 monthly budget goes further in Medellin, where all-in costs run around $1,614, than in Ulsteinvik at $2,608. 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.

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