Cost of Living Comparison Between Narvik and Medellin Cost of Living Comparison Between Narvik and Medellin

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,529 per month in Narvik vs $1,681 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,902 per month in Narvik vs $2,445 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $5,276 per month in Narvik vs $3,210 in Medellin, rent included.

Narvik costs about 50% more than Medellin, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Narvik and Medellin sit above the global median – Narvik by 85%, Medellin by 23%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Narvik
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$32.77 NOK 309
$8.02 COP 25.0K
308.60%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$94.8 NOK 893
$47.87 COP 149.4K
97.99%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$15.78 NOK 149
$9.89 COP 30.8K
59.56%
Cappuccino
$5.11 NOK 48.15
$3.13 COP 9,767
63.26%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.00 NOK 28.25
$1.91 COP 5,954
57.07%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.89 NOK 27.21
$1.51 COP 4,712
91.39%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$11.84 NOK 112
$3.12 COP 9,747
279.49%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$12.26 NOK 116
$5.75 COP 17.9K
113.22%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Narvik
Medellin
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.52 NOK 23.75
$1.44 COP 4,509
75.00%
White Bread (500g)
$3.37 NOK 31.79
$2.49 COP 7,759
35.34%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.72 NOK 25.63
$1.77 COP 5,535
53.67%
Eggs
$5.38 NOK 50.7
$2.96 COP 9,235
81.76%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$11.98 NOK 113
$10.07 COP 31.4K
18.97%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$15.25 NOK 144
$10.12 COP 31.6K
50.69%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$23.46 NOK 221
$14.30 COP 44.6K
64.06%
Apples (1kg)
$3.82 NOK 36.00
$4.14 COP 12.9K
-7.73%
Banana (1kg)
$2.09 NOK 19.68
$1.61 COP 5,019
29.81%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.87 NOK 45.85
$2.25 COP 7,007
116.44%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.47 NOK 42.08
$2.25 COP 7,028
98.67%
Potato (1kg)
$2.66 NOK 25.05
$2.04 COP 6,375
30.39%
Onion (1kg)
$4.84 NOK 45.60
$1.54 COP 4,790
214.29%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.97 NOK 27.95
$1.17 COP 3,651
153.85%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.24 NOK 21.15
$1.31 COP 4,077
70.99%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$16.43 NOK 155
$3.90 COP 12.2K
321.28%
Wine (Bottle)
$16.14 NOK 152
$14.01 COP 43.7K
15.20%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$3.47 NOK 32.71
$1.74 COP 5,439
99.43%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.83 NOK 36.13
$2.87 COP 8,956
33.45%
🚌 Getting Around
Narvik
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$4.62 NOK 43.57
$1.22 COP 3,792
278.69%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$92.7 NOK 873
$80.5 COP 251.1K
15.12%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$15.91 NOK 150
$1.31 COP 4,084
1114.50%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.08 NOK 19.59
$2.19 COP 6,825
-5.02%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$54.6 NOK 514
$8.71 COP 27.2K
526.41%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.22 NOK 20.89
$1.37 COP 4,260
62.04%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$40.5K NOK 381.4K
$27.8K COP 86.9M
45.40%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$38.7K NOK 364.9K
$35.8K COP 111.6M
8.26%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Narvik
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$260 NOK 2,454
$177 COP 553.2K
46.86%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$51.4 NOK 484
$13.88 COP 43.3K
270.03%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$85.2 NOK 803
$29.72 COP 92.8K
186.74%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Narvik
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$56.6 NOK 534
$44.88 COP 140.1K
26.18%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$27.16 NOK 256
$17.12 COP 53.4K
58.64%
Cinema Ticket
$17.37 NOK 164
$6.65 COP 20.7K
161.20%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Narvik
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$320 NOK 3,017
$813 COP 2.5M
-60.61%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$7,707 NOK 72.6K
$9,187 COP 28.7M
-16.10%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Narvik
Medellin
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$126 NOK 1,190
$89.5 COP 279.3K
41.13%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.09 NOK 331
$59.0 COP 184.0K
-40.50%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$143 NOK 1,352
$138 COP 431.2K
3.81%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$168 NOK 1,584
$102 COP 318.7K
64.57%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Narvik
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$930 NOK 8,766
$1,062 COP 3.3M
-12.40%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$745 NOK 7,019
$663 COP 2.1M
12.36%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,670 NOK 15.7K
$1,888 COP 5.9M
-11.58%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,229 NOK 11.6K
$1,027 COP 3.2M
19.61%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$5,415 NOK 51.0K
$4,183 COP 13.1M
29.44%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$4,789 NOK 45.1K
$1,675 COP 5.2M
185.95%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Narvik
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,580 NOK 33.7K
$678 COP 2.1M
428.32%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.01
10.94
-54.20%

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

Last update for Narvik: September 12, 2026

Last update for Medellin: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $930 in Narvik versus $1,062 in Medellin. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 428% higher in Narvik, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $95.0 in Narvik versus $48.00 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $461 vs $305 – 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
Narvik vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Medellin cheaper than Narvik?
Yes – Narvik is pricier by about 50%, 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 $3,793 per month in Narvik and $2,521 in Medellin. 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 Narvik or in Medellin?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $95.0 in Narvik and $48.00 in Medellin. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
What are total monthly expenses in Narvik and in Medellin?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,529 in Narvik and $1,681 in Medellin. 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 Narvik or in Medellin?
A $2,500 monthly budget goes further in Medellin, where all-in costs run around $1,681, than in Narvik at $2,529. In Medellin it covers expenses comfortably, while in Narvik it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Narvik or Medellin 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, Narvik or Medellin?
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, Narvik makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

Narvik vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities