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