😐A single person spends $2,304 per month in Narvik vs $1,003 in Medellin, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $3,451 per month in Narvik vs $1,573 in Medellin, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $4,597 per month in Narvik vs $2,143 in Medellin, rent included.
😐Narvik costs about 130% more than Medellin, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Narvik sits 73% above the global median, while Medellin is 25% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Narvik
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.19NOK 191
$5.91COP 18.6K
241.62%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$91.7NOK 867
$32.96COP 103.9K
178.09%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$15.00NOK 142
$7.43COP 23.4K
101.88%
Cappuccino
$5.58NOK 52.8
$1.65COP 5,212
238.18%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.50NOK 23.68
$1.10COP 3,472
127.27%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.45NOK 23.21
$0.78COP 2,461
214.10%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$11.03NOK 104
$1.72COP 5,417
541.28%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$10.91NOK 103
$3.18COP 10.0K
243.08%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Narvik
Medellin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.41NOK 22.79
$1.10COP 3,478
119.09%
White Bread(500g)
$3.22NOK 30.43
$1.26COP 3,966
155.56%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.54NOK 24.05
$1.38COP 4,354
84.06%
Eggs
$4.93NOK 46.61
$2.18COP 6,866
126.15%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$11.28NOK 107
$4.49COP 14.2K
151.22%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$15.14NOK 143
$5.79COP 18.3K
161.49%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$21.66NOK 205
$8.97COP 28.3K
141.47%
Apples(1kg)
$3.43NOK 32.46
$2.32COP 7,315
47.84%
Banana(1kg)
$2.03NOK 19.24
$1.06COP 3,356
91.51%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.70NOK 34.99
$1.52COP 4,779
143.42%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.25NOK 40.26
$1.36COP 4,274
212.50%
Potato(1kg)
$2.42NOK 22.88
$1.13COP 3,555
114.16%
Onion(1kg)
$3.51NOK 33.25
$1.17COP 3,692
200.00%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.65NOK 25.10
$0.90COP 2,841
194.44%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.76NOK 16.69
$0.90COP 2,826
95.56%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$14.75NOK 140
$2.23COP 7,041
561.43%
Wine(Bottle)
$18.61NOK 176
$12.12COP 38.2K
53.55%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$3.46NOK 32.73
$1.19COP 3,747
190.76%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.55NOK 33.62
$2.48COP 7,823
43.15%
🚌 Getting Around
Narvik
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$5.04NOK 47.66
$0.85COP 2,690
492.94%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$85.9NOK 813
$41.62COP 131.2K
106.37%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$12.74NOK 121
$1.42COP 4,463
797.18%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.38NOK 13.05
$1.95COP 6,147
-29.23%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$50.7NOK 479
$7.89COP 24.9K
542.21%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.08NOK 19.66
$0.99COP 3,122
110.10%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.3KNOK 286.9K
$17.6KCOP 55.5M
72.27%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$30.1KNOK 284.8K
$26.8KCOP 84.5M
12.33%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Narvik
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$249NOK 2,353
$83.0COP 261.6K
199.58%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$47.54NOK 450
$9.70COP 30.6K
390.10%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$75.7NOK 716
$23.52COP 74.1K
221.64%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Narvik
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$53.3NOK 504
$25.26COP 79.6K
111.01%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$25.78NOK 244
$19.10COP 60.2K
34.97%
Cinema Ticket
$16.77NOK 159
$3.95COP 12.4K
324.56%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Narvik
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$336NOK 3,180
$316COP 995.3K
6.43%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$7,144NOK 67.6K
$5,975COP 18.8M
19.57%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Narvik
Medellin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$89.8NOK 850
$60.0COP 189.1K
49.68%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$32.25NOK 305
$31.82COP 100.3K
1.35%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$133NOK 1,257
$102COP 320.4K
30.65%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$135NOK 1,279
$107COP 338.7K
25.80%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Narvik
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$926NOK 8,763
$475COP 1.5M
94.98%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$705NOK 6,667
$374COP 1.2M
88.39%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,579NOK 14.9K
$849COP 2.7M
85.94%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,199NOK 11.3K
$719COP 2.3M
66.60%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$5,190NOK 49.1K
$3,265COP 10.3M
58.93%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,714NOK 44.6K
$1,441COP 4.5M
227.20%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Narvik
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$3,525NOK 33.4K
$624COP 2.0M
464.53%
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: July 26, 2026
Last update for Medellin: July 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $926 in Narvik versus $475 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 465% 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 $92.0 in Narvik versus $33.00 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $434 vs $193 – 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 130%, 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 $3,456 per month in Narvik and $1,504 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 $92.0 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 and in Medellin?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,304 in Narvik and $1,003 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 living in Narvik or in Medellin?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Medellin, where all-in costs run around $1,003, than in Narvik at $2,304. 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.