Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Ulsteinvik Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Ulsteinvik

Monthly Cost of Living

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
$6.16 COP 20.1K
$25.34 NOK 244
-75.69%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.60 COP 106.1K
$101 NOK 977
-67.82%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.34 COP 23.9K
$13.79 NOK 133
-46.77%
Cappuccino
$1.72 COP 5,600
$4.85 NOK 46.80
-64.54%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.05 COP 3,420
$3.07 NOK 29.61
-65.80%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.77 COP 2,515
$2.79 NOK 26.94
-72.40%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.69 COP 5,488
$10.16 NOK 98.0
-83.37%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.17 COP 10.3K
$9.61 NOK 92.7
-67.01%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Ulsteinvik
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.05 COP 3,423
$2.27 NOK 21.90
-53.74%
White Bread (500g)
$1.30 COP 4,236
$3.40 NOK 32.76
-61.76%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.40 COP 4,544
$3.15 NOK 30.38
-55.56%
Eggs
$2.16 COP 7,047
$4.44 NOK 42.78
-51.35%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$4.39 COP 14.3K
$12.09 NOK 117
-63.69%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.88 COP 19.1K
$14.71 NOK 142
-60.03%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$8.64 COP 28.1K
$27.40 NOK 264
-68.47%
Apples (1kg)
$2.28 COP 7,426
$3.52 NOK 33.97
-35.23%
Banana (1kg)
$1.11 COP 3,604
$2.39 NOK 23.04
-53.56%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.53 COP 4,983
$3.36 NOK 32.39
-54.46%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.35 COP 4,410
$4.52 NOK 43.56
-70.13%
Potato (1kg)
$1.13 COP 3,674
$2.46 NOK 23.72
-54.07%
Onion (1kg)
$1.13 COP 3,692
$2.48 NOK 23.93
-54.44%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.85 COP 2,753
$2.80 NOK 26.98
-69.64%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.91 COP 2,975
$1.83 NOK 17.67
-50.27%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.34 COP 7,630
$15.45 NOK 149
-84.85%
Wine (Bottle)
$12.37 COP 40.3K
$17.08 NOK 165
-27.58%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.20 COP 3,909
$3.41 NOK 32.93
-64.81%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.49 COP 8,104
$3.96 NOK 38.20
-37.12%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Ulsteinvik
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.84 COP 2,728
$4.33 NOK 41.75
-80.60%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$40.57 COP 132.1K
$73.4 NOK 708
-44.76%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.42 COP 4,623
$10.10 NOK 97.4
-85.94%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.92 COP 6,235
$1.39 NOK 13.37
38.13%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.66 COP 24.9K
$46.69 NOK 450
-83.59%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.99 COP 3,223
$2.15 NOK 20.71
-53.95%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.0K COP 58.7M
$34.9K NOK 336.6K
-48.35%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.6K COP 86.7M
$38.9K NOK 374.9K
-31.52%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Ulsteinvik
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$80.8 COP 263.1K
$238 NOK 2,299
-66.10%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.95 COP 32.4K
$37.91 NOK 366
-73.75%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.18 COP 78.7K
$55.4 NOK 535
-56.39%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Ulsteinvik
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$25.08 COP 81.7K
$49.12 NOK 474
-48.94%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.15 COP 62.3K
$36.10 NOK 348
-46.95%
Cinema Ticket
$3.98 COP 13.0K
$16.64 NOK 160
-76.08%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Ulsteinvik
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$305 COP 993.5K
$279 NOK 2,691
9.34%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$6,059 COP 19.7M
$10.1K NOK 97.3K
-39.95%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Ulsteinvik
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.1 COP 189.2K
$95.6 NOK 922
-39.21%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$32.20 COP 104.8K
$52.7 NOK 508
-38.92%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$101 COP 327.9K
$110 NOK 1,059
-8.25%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$108 COP 350.8K
$152 NOK 1,463
-28.97%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Ulsteinvik
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$477 COP 1.6M
$1,206 NOK 11.6K
-60.47%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$376 COP 1.2M
$911 NOK 8,781
-58.69%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$845 COP 2.7M
$1,848 NOK 17.8K
-54.29%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$730 COP 2.4M
$1,542 NOK 14.9K
-52.64%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,215 COP 10.5M
$5,806 NOK 56.0K
-44.61%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,372 COP 4.5M
$3,524 NOK 34.0K
-61.06%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Ulsteinvik
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$617 COP 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.

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