😐A single person spends $1,800 per month in Chieti vs $1,017 in Medellin, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,702 per month in Chieti vs $1,602 in Medellin, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $3,604 per month in Chieti vs $2,188 in Medellin, rent included.
😐Chieti costs about 77% more than Medellin, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Chieti sits 34% above the global median, while Medellin is 24% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chieti
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$22.81€19.65
$5.95COP 20.8K
283.36%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$81.5€70.2
$33.33COP 116.3K
144.58%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.58€9.12
$7.23COP 25.2K
46.33%
Cappuccino
$1.55€1.33
$1.63COP 5,687
-4.91%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.97€2.55
$1.09COP 3,821
172.48%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.19€1.03
$0.73COP 2,548
63.01%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$5.10€4.39
$1.74COP 6,065
193.10%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.32€4.58
$3.23COP 11.3K
64.71%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chieti
Medellin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.65€1.42
$1.05COP 3,662
57.14%
White Bread(500g)
$2.28€1.97
$1.29COP 4,515
76.74%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.79€2.41
$1.32COP 4,617
111.36%
Eggs
$3.92€3.38
$2.27COP 7,927
72.69%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$15.51€13.37
$4.35COP 15.2K
256.55%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$12.34€10.63
$5.88COP 20.5K
109.86%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$19.30€16.62
$8.61COP 30.0K
124.16%
Apples(1kg)
$1.70€1.47
$2.25COP 7,844
-24.44%
Banana(1kg)
$2.00€1.72
$1.07COP 3,733
86.92%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.54€2.19
$1.52COP 5,322
67.11%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.27€2.81
$1.42COP 4,964
130.28%
Potato(1kg)
$1.83€1.58
$1.17COP 4,084
56.41%
Onion(1kg)
$1.78€1.54
$1.17COP 4,077
52.14%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.50€1.29
$0.89COP 3,096
68.54%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.83€0.72
$0.90COP 3,146
-7.78%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$7.01€6.04
$2.25COP 7,837
211.56%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.37€6.35
$11.04COP 38.5K
-33.24%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.38€1.19
$1.14COP 3,977
21.05%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.01€1.73
$2.38COP 8,301
-15.55%
🚌 Getting Around
Chieti
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.71€1.47
$0.84COP 2,916
103.57%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$43.34€37.34
$41.95COP 146.4K
3.31%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$5.91€5.10
$1.41COP 4,912
319.15%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.58€1.36
$1.90COP 6,634
-16.84%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$35.11€30.25
$7.75COP 27.0K
353.03%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.26€1.95
$1.01COP 3,509
123.76%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.3K€27.8K
$17.6KCOP 61.4M
83.69%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.1K€28.5K
$26.5KCOP 92.5M
25.05%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chieti
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$231€199
$83.7COP 292.1K
176.29%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.38€11.53
$9.45COP 33.0K
41.59%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$37.10€31.97
$24.11COP 84.1K
53.88%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chieti
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$54.9€47.31
$25.31COP 88.3K
116.95%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$22.99€19.81
$19.14COP 66.8K
20.11%
Cinema Ticket
$10.28€8.86
$4.10COP 14.3K
150.73%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chieti
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$549€473
$312COP 1.1M
76.12%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$8,167€7,036
$5,993COP 20.9M
36.27%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chieti
Medellin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$86.7€74.7
$58.0COP 202.6K
49.38%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$37.39€32.22
$32.56COP 113.6K
14.83%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$92.7€79.9
$99.6COP 347.7K
-6.98%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$127€109
$109COP 378.8K
16.72%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chieti
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$747€644
$482COP 1.7M
54.87%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$587€506
$379COP 1.3M
54.69%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,214€1,046
$837COP 2.9M
44.98%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$937€807
$723COP 2.5M
29.52%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,844€2,450
$2,840COP 9.9M
0.14%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,906€1,642
$1,223COP 4.3M
55.84%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chieti
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,255€1,082
$541COP 1.9M
132.12%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.45
13.43
-66.87%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Chieti: June 6, 2026
Last update for Medellin: June 8, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $747 in Chieti 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 132% higher in Chieti, 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 $82.0 in Chieti versus $33.00 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $330 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
Chieti vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Medellin cheaper than Chieti?
Yes – Chieti is pricier by about 77%, 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 $2,700 per month in Chieti 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.
How do food prices compare in Chieti and Medellin?
Groceries cost about 74% more in Chieti, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Is eating out cheaper in Chieti or Medellin?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $82.0 in Chieti and $33.00 in Medellin. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Chieti or Medellin?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Medellin, where all-in costs run around $1,017, than in Chieti at $1,800. In Medellin it covers expenses comfortably, while in Chieti it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Chieti 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, Chieti 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, Chieti makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.