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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,531 per month in Sarpsborg vs $1,003 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,800 per month in Sarpsborg vs $1,573 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $5,068 per month in Sarpsborg vs $2,143 in Medellin, rent included.

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

Sarpsborg sits 90% above the global median, while Medellin is 25% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Sarpsborg
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$38.33 NOK 368
$5.91 COP 18.9K
548.56%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$92.9 NOK 891
$32.96 COP 105.2K
181.80%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$18.37 NOK 176
$7.43 COP 23.7K
147.24%
Cappuccino
$5.45 NOK 52.3
$1.65 COP 5,276
230.30%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.74 NOK 26.26
$1.10 COP 3,514
149.09%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.50 NOK 23.96
$0.78 COP 2,491
220.51%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.92 NOK 56.8
$1.72 COP 5,484
244.19%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.85 NOK 75.3
$3.18 COP 10.1K
146.86%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Sarpsborg
Medellin
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.25 NOK 21.60
$1.10 COP 3,521
104.55%
White Bread (500g)
$3.43 NOK 32.87
$1.26 COP 4,015
172.22%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.30 NOK 31.69
$1.38 COP 4,407
139.13%
Eggs
$4.35 NOK 41.68
$2.18 COP 6,950
99.54%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$11.81 NOK 113
$4.49 COP 14.3K
163.03%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$14.83 NOK 142
$5.79 COP 18.5K
156.13%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$27.38 NOK 263
$8.97 COP 28.6K
205.24%
Apples (1kg)
$3.53 NOK 33.89
$2.32 COP 7,405
52.16%
Banana (1kg)
$2.49 NOK 23.86
$1.06 COP 3,397
134.91%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.31 NOK 31.78
$1.52 COP 4,838
117.76%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.40 NOK 42.21
$1.36 COP 4,327
223.53%
Potato (1kg)
$2.45 NOK 23.51
$1.13 COP 3,599
116.81%
Onion (1kg)
$2.56 NOK 24.60
$1.17 COP 3,738
118.80%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.76 NOK 26.52
$0.90 COP 2,876
206.67%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.82 NOK 17.41
$0.90 COP 2,861
102.22%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$15.07 NOK 145
$2.23 COP 7,128
575.78%
Wine (Bottle)
$16.63 NOK 160
$12.12 COP 38.7K
37.21%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$3.28 NOK 31.48
$1.19 COP 3,793
175.63%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.98 NOK 38.21
$2.48 COP 7,920
60.48%
🚌 Getting Around
Sarpsborg
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.51 NOK 24.12
$0.85 COP 2,723
195.29%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$73.1 NOK 701
$41.62 COP 132.8K
75.52%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$10.02 NOK 96.1
$1.42 COP 4,518
605.63%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.45 NOK 13.93
$1.95 COP 6,223
-25.64%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$46.91 NOK 450
$7.89 COP 25.2K
494.55%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.08 NOK 19.92
$0.99 COP 3,160
110.10%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$36.1K NOK 346.1K
$17.6K COP 56.2M
104.99%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.2K NOK 376.1K
$26.8K COP 85.5M
46.32%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Sarpsborg
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$238 NOK 2,282
$83.0 COP 264.9K
186.59%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$38.73 NOK 372
$9.70 COP 30.9K
299.28%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$55.2 NOK 529
$23.52 COP 75.0K
134.65%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Sarpsborg
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$49.40 NOK 474
$25.26 COP 80.6K
95.57%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$34.87 NOK 334
$19.10 COP 60.9K
82.57%
Cinema Ticket
$16.78 NOK 161
$3.95 COP 12.6K
324.81%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Sarpsborg
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$288 NOK 2,761
$316 COP 1.0M
-8.85%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$10.1K NOK 97.0K
$5,975 COP 19.1M
69.30%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Sarpsborg
Medellin
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$95.4 NOK 915
$60.0 COP 191.4K
58.92%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$52.7 NOK 506
$31.82 COP 101.5K
65.68%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$106 NOK 1,021
$102 COP 324.4K
4.64%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$151 NOK 1,449
$107 COP 342.8K
40.59%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Sarpsborg
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,192 NOK 11.4K
$475 COP 1.5M
151.05%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$885 NOK 8,493
$374 COP 1.2M
136.76%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,532 NOK 14.7K
$849 COP 2.7M
80.45%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,290 NOK 12.4K
$719 COP 2.3M
79.29%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$5,754 NOK 55.2K
$3,265 COP 10.4M
76.23%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$4,063 NOK 39.0K
$1,441 COP 4.6M
182.02%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Sarpsborg
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$2,612 NOK 25.1K
$624 COP 2.0M
318.32%
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: July 27, 2026

Last update for Medellin: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,192 in Sarpsborg 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 318% 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 $93.0 in Sarpsborg versus $33.00 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $450 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
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 $3,796 per month in Sarpsborg 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 Sarpsborg or in Medellin?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $93.0 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 and in Medellin?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,531 in Sarpsborg 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 Sarpsborg or in Medellin?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Medellin, where all-in costs run around $1,003, than in Sarpsborg at $2,531. 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.

Sarpsborg vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities