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