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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,282 per month in Narvik vs $1,017 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,472 per month in Narvik vs $1,602 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,663 per month in Narvik vs $2,188 in Medellin, rent included.

Narvik costs about 124% more than Medellin, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Narvik sits 70% above the global median, while Medellin is 24% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Narvik
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.26 NOK 192
$5.95 COP 20.8K
240.50%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$89.9 NOK 853
$33.33 COP 116.3K
169.58%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$15.34 NOK 146
$7.23 COP 25.2K
112.17%
Cappuccino
$5.64 NOK 53.5
$1.63 COP 5,687
246.01%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.50 NOK 23.72
$1.09 COP 3,821
129.36%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.46 NOK 23.39
$0.73 COP 2,548
236.99%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$11.30 NOK 107
$1.74 COP 6,065
549.43%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$10.94 NOK 104
$3.23 COP 11.3K
238.70%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Narvik
Medellin
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.49 NOK 23.66
$1.05 COP 3,662
137.14%
White Bread (500g)
$3.22 NOK 30.53
$1.29 COP 4,515
149.61%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.51 NOK 23.87
$1.32 COP 4,617
90.15%
Eggs
$5.01 NOK 47.58
$2.27 COP 7,927
120.70%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$11.60 NOK 110
$4.35 COP 15.2K
166.67%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$15.21 NOK 144
$5.88 COP 20.5K
158.67%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$22.29 NOK 212
$8.61 COP 30.0K
158.89%
Apples (1kg)
$3.43 NOK 32.54
$2.25 COP 7,844
52.44%
Banana (1kg)
$1.98 NOK 18.77
$1.07 COP 3,733
85.05%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.62 NOK 34.34
$1.52 COP 5,322
138.16%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.32 NOK 41.00
$1.42 COP 4,964
204.23%
Potato (1kg)
$2.46 NOK 23.32
$1.17 COP 4,084
110.26%
Onion (1kg)
$3.61 NOK 34.27
$1.17 COP 4,077
208.55%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.73 NOK 25.95
$0.89 COP 3,096
206.74%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.76 NOK 16.67
$0.90 COP 3,146
95.56%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$14.74 NOK 140
$2.25 COP 7,837
555.11%
Wine (Bottle)
$19.10 NOK 181
$11.04 COP 38.5K
73.01%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$3.49 NOK 33.12
$1.14 COP 3,977
206.14%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.64 NOK 34.55
$2.38 COP 8,301
52.94%
🚌 Getting Around
Narvik
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$5.02 NOK 47.66
$0.84 COP 2,916
497.62%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$84.3 NOK 800
$41.95 COP 146.4K
101.00%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$12.90 NOK 122
$1.41 COP 4,912
814.89%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.38 NOK 13.08
$1.90 COP 6,634
-27.37%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$50.9 NOK 483
$7.75 COP 27.0K
556.52%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.18 NOK 20.64
$1.01 COP 3,509
115.84%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.8K NOK 283.0K
$17.6K COP 61.4M
69.61%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$30.0K NOK 284.6K
$26.5K COP 92.5M
13.18%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Narvik
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$253 NOK 2,399
$83.7 COP 292.1K
202.04%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$47.87 NOK 454
$9.45 COP 33.0K
406.56%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$76.0 NOK 722
$24.11 COP 84.1K
215.39%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Narvik
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$53.1 NOK 504
$25.31 COP 88.3K
109.64%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$25.25 NOK 240
$19.14 COP 66.8K
31.92%
Cinema Ticket
$16.76 NOK 159
$4.10 COP 14.3K
308.78%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Narvik
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$329 NOK 3,123
$312 COP 1.1M
5.47%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$7,227 NOK 68.6K
$5,993 COP 20.9M
20.59%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Narvik
Medellin
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$88.8 NOK 843
$58.0 COP 202.6K
53.02%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$32.39 NOK 307
$32.56 COP 113.6K
-0.52%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$132 NOK 1,255
$99.6 COP 347.7K
32.69%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$136 NOK 1,287
$109 COP 378.8K
24.90%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Narvik
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$933 NOK 8,857
$482 COP 1.7M
93.48%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$692 NOK 6,568
$379 COP 1.3M
82.34%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,569 NOK 14.9K
$837 COP 2.9M
87.39%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,184 NOK 11.2K
$723 COP 2.5M
63.81%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$5,236 NOK 49.7K
$2,840 COP 9.9M
84.39%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$4,701 NOK 44.6K
$1,223 COP 4.3M
284.33%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Narvik
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,636 NOK 34.5K
$541 COP 1.9M
572.18%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.27
13.43
-68.21%

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

Last update for Narvik: June 6, 2026

Last update for Medellin: June 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $933 in Narvik versus $482 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 572% 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 $90.0 in Narvik versus $33.00 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $440 vs $190 – 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 124%, 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 $3,422 per month in Narvik and $1,525 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 Medellin?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $90.0 in Narvik and $33.00 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 vs Medellin?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,282 in Narvik and $1,017 in Medellin. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Narvik or Medellin?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Medellin, where all-in costs run around $1,017, than in Narvik at $2,282. 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