😐A single person spends $2,990 per month in Trondheim vs $1,716 in Medellin, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $4,295 per month in Trondheim vs $2,527 in Medellin, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $5,599 per month in Trondheim vs $3,338 in Medellin, rent included.
😐Trondheim costs about 74% more than Medellin, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both Trondheim and Medellin sit above the global median – Trondheim by 118%, Medellin by 25%.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Trondheim
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$21.21NOK 198
$8.03COP 25.3K
164.13%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$108NOK 1,007
$48.26COP 152.0K
124.06%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$16.17NOK 151
$9.77COP 30.8K
65.51%
Cappuccino
$5.58NOK 52.0
$2.91COP 9,167
91.75%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.81NOK 54.1
$1.94COP 6,122
199.48%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.33NOK 40.33
$1.52COP 4,792
184.87%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$13.61NOK 127
$3.09COP 9,740
340.45%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$13.10NOK 122
$5.74COP 18.1K
128.22%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Trondheim
Medellin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.60NOK 24.23
$1.36COP 4,296
91.18%
White Bread(500g)
$3.59NOK 33.49
$2.39COP 7,519
50.21%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.83NOK 35.69
$1.70COP 5,356
125.29%
Eggs
$5.06NOK 47.17
$2.87COP 9,038
76.31%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.32NOK 124
$9.94COP 31.3K
34.00%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$16.56NOK 154
$10.78COP 34.0K
53.62%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$32.75NOK 305
$14.73COP 46.4K
122.34%
Apples(1kg)
$3.97NOK 37.00
$4.09COP 12.9K
-2.93%
Banana(1kg)
$3.03NOK 28.23
$1.57COP 4,950
92.99%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.92NOK 36.51
$2.13COP 6,695
84.04%
Tomato(1kg)
$5.64NOK 52.6
$2.21COP 6,972
155.20%
Potato(1kg)
$2.88NOK 26.86
$2.05COP 6,447
40.49%
Onion(1kg)
$3.10NOK 28.92
$1.50COP 4,737
106.67%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.99NOK 27.87
$1.19COP 3,747
151.26%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$2.35NOK 21.89
$1.16COP 3,647
102.59%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$17.92NOK 167
$3.90COP 12.3K
359.49%
Wine(Bottle)
$19.02NOK 177
$14.44COP 45.5K
31.72%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$3.73NOK 34.72
$1.58COP 4,987
136.08%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.52NOK 42.13
$2.83COP 8,905
59.72%
🚌 Getting Around
Trondheim
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$4.76NOK 44.36
$1.17COP 3,679
306.84%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$102NOK 955
$77.7COP 244.8K
31.85%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$9.75NOK 90.8
$1.28COP 4,045
661.72%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.65NOK 15.36
$2.09COP 6,589
-21.05%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$59.9NOK 558
$8.62COP 27.1K
594.43%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.30NOK 21.43
$1.30COP 4,088
76.92%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$45.8KNOK 426.6K
$27.7KCOP 87.1M
65.57%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$46.7KNOK 435.2K
$35.5KCOP 111.8M
31.54%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Trondheim
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$276NOK 2,573
$176COP 554.5K
56.84%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$36.40NOK 339
$13.37COP 42.1K
172.25%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$83.3NOK 776
$29.89COP 94.1K
178.55%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Trondheim
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$43.49NOK 405
$44.76COP 141.0K
-2.84%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$41.47NOK 386
$17.06COP 53.7K
143.08%
Cinema Ticket
$21.11NOK 197
$6.20COP 19.5K
240.48%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Trondheim
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$303NOK 2,822
$793COP 2.5M
-61.82%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$4,410NOK 41.1K
$9,019COP 28.4M
-51.10%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Trondheim
Medellin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$110NOK 1,025
$85.6COP 269.6K
28.49%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$51.5NOK 480
$58.5COP 184.1K
-11.87%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$125NOK 1,162
$136COP 429.3K
-8.50%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$158NOK 1,468
$103COP 324.7K
52.76%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Trondheim
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,508NOK 14.0K
$1,060COP 3.3M
42.30%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,209NOK 11.3K
$680COP 2.1M
77.93%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,241NOK 20.9K
$2,012COP 6.3M
11.39%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,685NOK 15.7K
$1,169COP 3.7M
44.23%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$6,577NOK 61.3K
$4,111COP 12.9M
59.97%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$5,047NOK 47.0K
$1,701COP 5.4M
196.65%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Trondheim
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$4,203NOK 39.2K
$665COP 2.1M
531.78%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.32
10.94
-51.37%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Trondheim: August 31, 2026
Last update for Medellin: August 30, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $1,508 in Trondheim versus $1,060 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 532% higher in Trondheim, 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 $108 in Trondheim versus $48.00 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $521 vs $303 – 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
Trondheim vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Medellin cheaper than Trondheim?
Yes – Trondheim is pricier by about 74%, 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 $4,486 per month in Trondheim and $2,574 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 Trondheim or in Medellin?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $108 in Trondheim and $48.00 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 Trondheim and in Medellin?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,990 in Trondheim and $1,716 in Medellin. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Is $2,500 a realistic budget for living in Trondheim or in Medellin?
A $2,500 monthly budget goes further in Medellin, where all-in costs run around $1,716, than in Trondheim at $2,990. In Medellin it covers expenses comfortably, while in Trondheim it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Trondheim 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, Trondheim 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, Trondheim makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.