Oslo vs. Medina: Detailed 2026 Comparison

Okay, here is the detailed comparison report for Oslo and Medina, based on the provided data. Oslo vs. Medina: Detailed 2026 Cost of Living & Quality Comparison Overview Oslo, the capital of Norway, boasts a population of approximately 4 million and is renowned for its high standard of living, robust economy, and high-quality public services. In contrast, Medina, a major city in Saudi Arabia, has a significantly larger population, around 1.4 million, and is a key economic and cultural center in the Kingdom. While Oslo leads in most quality-of-life indicators and economic wealth, Medina presents a different profile with potentially lower costs but distinct challenges in other quality metrics. Oslo's GDP per capita is substantially higher ($110,000 vs. $55,000), reflecting its advanced economy, though Medina's population growth rate is slightly higher (1.68% vs. 0.75%). Economy & Housing The economic landscape differs dramatically between the two cities. Oslo features a high average net salary ($5,000/month vs. $1,100/month in Medina) indicative of a highly developed service and knowledge-based economy. This higher income is matched by significantly higher housing costs. Property prices per square meter in Oslo are substantially more expensive ($600,000 in the city center vs. $230,000 in Medina), coupled with a higher mortgage interest rate (3.00% vs. 4.17%). Consequently, the property price-to-income ratio is much higher in Oslo (18.0) compared to Medina (17.2), suggesting that while housing is relatively more expensive in Oslo, the gap is slightly narrower than the overall cost difference. Investment potential appears skewed towards Oslo's established, high-growth sectors, though Medina offers lower entry points for property investment, albeit with potentially less overall return potential given its lower GDP per capita. Quality of Life Quality of life metrics paint a clear picture of Oslo's advantage. Oslo scores significantly higher across most key indices: Quality of Life (85/100 vs. 55/100), Purchasing Power (90/100 vs. 50/100), Safety (90/100 vs. 60/100), Health Care (85/100 vs. 30/100), and has a much lower Pollution index (10/100 vs. 60/100). The Climate index is notably lower for Oslo (7/100

Climate Index

60 / 26.2

Cost of Living Index

94.7 / 40.1

Oslo   Medina

Health Care Index

77.7 / 47.2

Pollution Index

21.7 / 78.6

Oslo   Medina

Property Price to Income Ratio

11.1 / 6.8

Purchasing Power Index

124 / 102.5

Oslo   Medina

Quality of Life Index

184.6 / 135.3

Safety Index

65.7 / 84.3

Oslo   Medina

Traffic Commute Time Index

27.8 / 24.5

Oslo   Medina