Cost of Living Comparison Between Stavanger and Medellin Cost of Living Comparison Between Stavanger and Medellin

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,689 per month in Stavanger vs $1,017 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,070 per month in Stavanger vs $1,602 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $5,451 per month in Stavanger vs $2,188 in Medellin, rent included.

Stavanger costs about 165% more than Medellin, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Stavanger sits 100% above the global median, while Medellin is 24% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Stavanger
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$25.39 NOK 241
$5.95 COP 20.8K
326.72%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$120 NOK 1,138
$33.33 COP 116.3K
259.77%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$15.31 NOK 145
$7.23 COP 25.2K
111.76%
Cappuccino
$5.03 NOK 47.77
$1.63 COP 5,687
208.59%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.88 NOK 36.83
$1.09 COP 3,821
255.96%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.47 NOK 32.89
$0.73 COP 2,548
375.34%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$10.98 NOK 104
$1.74 COP 6,065
531.03%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$10.21 NOK 96.9
$3.23 COP 11.3K
216.10%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Stavanger
Medellin
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.31 NOK 21.93
$1.05 COP 3,662
120.00%
White Bread (500g)
$3.12 NOK 29.59
$1.29 COP 4,515
141.86%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$4.58 NOK 43.48
$1.32 COP 4,617
246.97%
Eggs
$4.48 NOK 42.52
$2.27 COP 7,927
97.36%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.90 NOK 122
$4.35 COP 15.2K
196.55%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$16.73 NOK 159
$5.88 COP 20.5K
184.52%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$27.83 NOK 264
$8.61 COP 30.0K
223.23%
Apples (1kg)
$3.48 NOK 33.01
$2.25 COP 7,844
54.67%
Banana (1kg)
$2.64 NOK 25.03
$1.07 COP 3,733
146.73%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.11 NOK 29.53
$1.52 COP 5,322
104.61%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.68 NOK 44.37
$1.42 COP 4,964
229.58%
Potato (1kg)
$2.08 NOK 19.77
$1.17 COP 4,084
77.78%
Onion (1kg)
$3.08 NOK 29.27
$1.17 COP 4,077
163.25%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.47 NOK 23.47
$0.89 COP 3,096
177.53%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.83 NOK 17.38
$0.90 COP 3,146
103.33%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$14.97 NOK 142
$2.25 COP 7,837
565.33%
Wine (Bottle)
$18.46 NOK 175
$11.04 COP 38.5K
67.21%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$3.68 NOK 34.89
$1.14 COP 3,977
222.81%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.10 NOK 38.90
$2.38 COP 8,301
72.27%
🚌 Getting Around
Stavanger
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$4.58 NOK 43.47
$0.84 COP 2,916
445.24%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$68.6 NOK 651
$41.95 COP 146.4K
63.46%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$15.31 NOK 145
$1.41 COP 4,912
985.82%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.06 NOK 19.57
$1.90 COP 6,634
8.42%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$100 NOK 953
$7.75 COP 27.0K
1194.97%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.11 NOK 20.01
$1.01 COP 3,509
108.91%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.4K NOK 326.1K
$17.6K COP 61.4M
95.41%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.4K NOK 307.3K
$26.5K COP 92.5M
22.20%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Stavanger
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$190 NOK 1,806
$83.7 COP 292.1K
127.35%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$42.20 NOK 401
$9.45 COP 33.0K
346.56%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$83.1 NOK 789
$24.11 COP 84.1K
244.67%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Stavanger
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$55.9 NOK 531
$25.31 COP 88.3K
120.98%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$35.16 NOK 334
$19.14 COP 66.8K
83.70%
Cinema Ticket
$19.57 NOK 186
$4.10 COP 14.3K
377.32%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Stavanger
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$321 NOK 3,048
$312 COP 1.1M
2.95%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$13.0K NOK 123.1K
$5,993 COP 20.9M
116.46%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Stavanger
Medellin
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$116 NOK 1,098
$58.0 COP 202.6K
99.33%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$58.0 NOK 550
$32.56 COP 113.6K
77.98%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$107 NOK 1,017
$99.6 COP 347.7K
7.58%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$160 NOK 1,519
$109 COP 378.8K
47.42%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Stavanger
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,595 NOK 15.1K
$482 COP 1.7M
230.66%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,126 NOK 10.7K
$379 COP 1.3M
196.70%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,732 NOK 25.9K
$837 COP 2.9M
226.22%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,774 NOK 16.8K
$723 COP 2.5M
145.33%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$6,036 NOK 57.3K
$2,840 COP 9.9M
112.56%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$5,366 NOK 50.9K
$1,223 COP 4.3M
338.71%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Stavanger
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$5,104 NOK 48.4K
$541 COP 1.9M
843.73%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.51
13.43
-66.42%

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

Last update for Stavanger: June 8, 2026

Last update for Medellin: June 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,595 in Stavanger 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 844% higher in Stavanger, 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 $120 in Stavanger versus $33.00 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $473 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
Stavanger vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Medellin cheaper than Stavanger?
Yes – Stavanger is pricier by about 165%, 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 $4,033 per month in Stavanger 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 Stavanger or Medellin?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $120 in Stavanger 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 Stavanger vs Medellin?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,689 in Stavanger 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 Stavanger or Medellin?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Medellin, where all-in costs run around $1,017, than in Stavanger at $2,689. In Medellin it covers expenses comfortably, while in Stavanger it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Stavanger 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, Stavanger 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, Stavanger makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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