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