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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,716 per month in Medellin vs $2,751 in Ulsteinvik, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,527 per month in Medellin vs $4,113 in Ulsteinvik, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,338 per month in Medellin vs $5,476 in Ulsteinvik, rent included.

Medellin is about 38% cheaper than Ulsteinvik, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Medellin and Ulsteinvik sit above the global median – Medellin by 25%, Ulsteinvik by 100%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Ulsteinvik
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.03 COP 25.2K
$20.97 NOK 195
-61.71%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$48.26 COP 151.7K
$114 NOK 1,055
-57.54%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.77 COP 30.7K
$13.88 NOK 129
-29.61%
Cappuccino
$2.91 COP 9,149
$4.96 NOK 46.05
-41.33%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.94 COP 6,110
$4.33 NOK 40.22
-55.20%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.52 COP 4,783
$3.02 NOK 28.06
-49.67%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.09 COP 9,721
$11.05 NOK 103
-72.04%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.74 COP 18.1K
$11.92 NOK 111
-51.85%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Ulsteinvik
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.36 COP 4,287
$2.49 NOK 23.07
-45.38%
White Bread (500g)
$2.39 COP 7,505
$3.73 NOK 34.67
-35.92%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.70 COP 5,346
$3.84 NOK 35.64
-55.73%
Eggs
$2.87 COP 9,021
$4.92 NOK 45.66
-41.67%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.94 COP 31.2K
$13.33 NOK 124
-25.43%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.78 COP 33.9K
$15.73 NOK 146
-31.47%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.73 COP 46.3K
$30.44 NOK 283
-51.61%
Apples (1kg)
$4.09 COP 12.8K
$3.49 NOK 32.41
17.19%
Banana (1kg)
$1.57 COP 4,940
$2.75 NOK 25.56
-42.91%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.13 COP 6,682
$3.64 NOK 33.82
-41.48%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.21 COP 6,959
$5.15 NOK 47.84
-57.09%
Potato (1kg)
$2.05 COP 6,435
$2.68 NOK 24.89
-23.51%
Onion (1kg)
$1.50 COP 4,728
$2.84 NOK 26.41
-47.18%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.19 COP 3,740
$3.09 NOK 28.65
-61.49%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.16 COP 3,640
$2.60 NOK 24.13
-55.38%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.90 COP 12.2K
$18.16 NOK 169
-78.52%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.44 COP 45.4K
$16.85 NOK 156
-14.30%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.58 COP 4,978
$3.52 NOK 32.71
-55.11%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.83 COP 8,889
$4.85 NOK 45.01
-41.65%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Ulsteinvik
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.17 COP 3,672
$4.24 NOK 39.41
-72.41%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$77.7 COP 244.3K
$85.1 NOK 790
-8.68%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.28 COP 4,038
$13.47 NOK 125
-90.50%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.09 COP 6,576
$1.78 NOK 16.55
17.42%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.62 COP 27.1K
$72.3 NOK 671
-88.07%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.30 COP 4,080
$2.40 NOK 22.24
-45.83%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.7K COP 86.9M
$45.7K NOK 423.8K
-39.42%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$35.5K COP 111.6M
$40.5K NOK 375.8K
-12.27%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Ulsteinvik
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$176 COP 553.4K
$273 NOK 2,530
-35.39%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.37 COP 42.0K
$28.09 NOK 261
-52.40%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.89 COP 94.0K
$58.6 NOK 544
-48.99%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Ulsteinvik
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$44.76 COP 140.7K
$50.5 NOK 469
-11.31%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.06 COP 53.6K
$39.37 NOK 365
-56.67%
Cinema Ticket
$6.20 COP 19.5K
$16.27 NOK 151
-61.89%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Ulsteinvik
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$793 COP 2.5M
$246 NOK 2,282
222.78%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$9,019 COP 28.4M
$12.8K NOK 119.0K
-29.65%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Ulsteinvik
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$85.6 COP 269.1K
$93.7 NOK 870
-8.67%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$58.5 COP 183.8K
$54.5 NOK 506
7.21%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$136 COP 428.4K
$127 NOK 1,178
7.42%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$103 COP 324.1K
$148 NOK 1,376
-30.41%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Ulsteinvik
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,060 COP 3.3M
$1,329 NOK 12.3K
-20.26%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$680 COP 2.1M
$1,127 NOK 10.5K
-39.70%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,012 COP 6.3M
$1,777 NOK 16.5K
13.21%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,169 COP 3.7M
$1,726 NOK 16.0K
-32.32%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,111 COP 12.9M
$6,426 NOK 59.7K
-36.02%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,701 COP 5.3M
$4,719 NOK 43.8K
-63.95%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Ulsteinvik
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$665 COP 2.1M
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
10.94
4.96
120.56%

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

Last update for Medellin: August 30, 2026

Last update for Ulsteinvik: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,060 in Medellin versus $1,329 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 $48.00 in Medellin versus $114 in Ulsteinvik. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $303 vs $500 – 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 60%, 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 $2,574 per month in Medellin and $4,126 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 $48.00 in Medellin and $114 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 $1,716 in Medellin and $2,751 in Ulsteinvik. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
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 $1,716, than in Ulsteinvik at $2,751. 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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