Cost of Living Comparison Between Sarpsborg and Medellin Cost of Living Comparison Between Sarpsborg and Medellin

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,561 per month in Sarpsborg vs $1,017 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,771 per month in Sarpsborg vs $1,602 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,982 per month in Sarpsborg vs $2,188 in Medellin, rent included.

Sarpsborg costs about 152% more than Medellin, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Sarpsborg sits 91% above the global median, while Medellin is 24% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Sarpsborg
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$37.65 NOK 357
$5.95 COP 20.8K
532.77%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$92.3 NOK 876
$33.33 COP 116.3K
176.78%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$18.53 NOK 176
$7.23 COP 25.2K
156.29%
Cappuccino
$5.28 NOK 50.1
$1.63 COP 5,687
223.93%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.68 NOK 25.40
$1.09 COP 3,821
145.87%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.60 NOK 24.70
$0.73 COP 2,548
256.16%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.89 NOK 55.9
$1.74 COP 6,065
238.51%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.79 NOK 73.9
$3.23 COP 11.3K
141.18%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Sarpsborg
Medellin
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.26 NOK 21.41
$1.05 COP 3,662
115.24%
White Bread (500g)
$3.29 NOK 31.18
$1.29 COP 4,515
155.04%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.14 NOK 29.85
$1.32 COP 4,617
137.88%
Eggs
$4.37 NOK 41.52
$2.27 COP 7,927
92.51%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$11.93 NOK 113
$4.35 COP 15.2K
174.25%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$14.93 NOK 142
$5.88 COP 20.5K
153.91%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$28.14 NOK 267
$8.61 COP 30.0K
226.83%
Apples (1kg)
$3.60 NOK 34.19
$2.25 COP 7,844
60.00%
Banana (1kg)
$2.47 NOK 23.46
$1.07 COP 3,733
130.84%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.32 NOK 31.54
$1.52 COP 5,322
118.42%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.35 NOK 41.26
$1.42 COP 4,964
206.34%
Potato (1kg)
$2.48 NOK 23.58
$1.17 COP 4,084
111.97%
Onion (1kg)
$2.49 NOK 23.67
$1.17 COP 4,077
112.82%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.78 NOK 26.37
$0.89 COP 3,096
212.36%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.82 NOK 17.24
$0.90 COP 3,146
102.22%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$15.31 NOK 145
$2.25 COP 7,837
580.44%
Wine (Bottle)
$19.10 NOK 181
$11.04 COP 38.5K
73.01%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$3.40 NOK 32.24
$1.14 COP 3,977
198.25%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.99 NOK 37.88
$2.38 COP 8,301
67.65%
🚌 Getting Around
Sarpsborg
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.47 NOK 23.40
$0.84 COP 2,916
194.05%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$74.1 NOK 703
$41.95 COP 146.4K
76.59%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$10.15 NOK 96.3
$1.41 COP 4,912
619.86%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.40 NOK 13.30
$1.90 COP 6,634
-26.32%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$45.99 NOK 437
$7.75 COP 27.0K
493.42%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.14 NOK 20.32
$1.01 COP 3,509
111.88%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$36.1K NOK 342.9K
$17.6K COP 61.4M
105.53%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$38.6K NOK 366.1K
$26.5K COP 92.5M
45.58%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Sarpsborg
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$238 NOK 2,263
$83.7 COP 292.1K
184.91%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$38.10 NOK 362
$9.45 COP 33.0K
303.17%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$56.1 NOK 532
$24.11 COP 84.1K
132.64%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Sarpsborg
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$50.1 NOK 476
$25.31 COP 88.3K
98.10%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$36.13 NOK 343
$19.14 COP 66.8K
88.77%
Cinema Ticket
$16.31 NOK 155
$4.10 COP 14.3K
297.80%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Sarpsborg
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$284 NOK 2,692
$312 COP 1.1M
-9.09%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$10.1K NOK 95.8K
$5,993 COP 20.9M
68.43%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Sarpsborg
Medellin
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$97.6 NOK 926
$58.0 COP 202.6K
68.14%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$52.8 NOK 501
$32.56 COP 113.6K
62.13%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$109 NOK 1,033
$99.6 COP 347.7K
9.27%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$150 NOK 1,421
$109 COP 378.8K
37.95%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Sarpsborg
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,209 NOK 11.5K
$482 COP 1.7M
150.60%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$903 NOK 8,572
$379 COP 1.3M
137.99%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,492 NOK 14.2K
$837 COP 2.9M
78.22%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,319 NOK 12.5K
$723 COP 2.5M
82.43%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$6,022 NOK 57.2K
$2,840 COP 9.9M
112.06%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$4,474 NOK 42.5K
$1,223 COP 4.3M
265.81%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Sarpsborg
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$2,685 NOK 25.5K
$541 COP 1.9M
396.50%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.38
13.43
-67.39%

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

Last update for Sarpsborg: June 8, 2026

Last update for Medellin: June 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,209 in Sarpsborg 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 396% higher in Sarpsborg, 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 Sarpsborg versus $33.00 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $457 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
Sarpsborg vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Medellin cheaper than Sarpsborg?
Yes – Sarpsborg is pricier by about 152%, 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 $3,841 per month in Sarpsborg 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 Sarpsborg or Medellin?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $92.0 in Sarpsborg 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 Sarpsborg vs Medellin?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,561 in Sarpsborg 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 Sarpsborg or Medellin?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Medellin, where all-in costs run around $1,017, than in Sarpsborg at $2,561. In Medellin it covers expenses comfortably, while in Sarpsborg it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Sarpsborg 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, Sarpsborg 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, Sarpsborg makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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