Cost of Living Comparison Between Coquimbo and Medellin Cost of Living Comparison Between Coquimbo and Medellin

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $567 in Coquimbo versus $1,555 in Medellin.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $936 in Coquimbo versus $2,314 in Medellin.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,305 in Coquimbo versus $3,072 in Medellin.

Living in Coquimbo costs roughly 64% less than in Medellin, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Coquimbo is 58% below, Medellin is 15% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.81 CLP 6,742

$7.59 COP 24.7K

-10.28%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$45.62 CLP 45.2K

$44.78 COP 145.7K

1.88%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.28 CLP 6,215

$9.24 COP 30.1K

-32.03%

Cappuccino

$3.66 CLP 3,617

$2.95 COP 9,591

24.07%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.17 CLP 1,158

$1.80 COP 5,861

-35.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.06 CLP 1,048

$1.35 COP 4,391

-21.48%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.04 CLP 3,995

$2.93 COP 9,544

37.88%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.73 CLP 4,685

$5.46 COP 17.8K

-13.37%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.05 CLP 1,044

$1.43 COP 4,663

-26.57%

White Bread (500g)

$3.19 CLP 3,157

$2.39 COP 7,785

33.47%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.26 CLP 1,245

$1.60 COP 5,209

-21.25%

Eggs

$2.68 CLP 2,649

$2.88 COP 9,364

-6.94%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.35 CLP 8,260

$9.71 COP 31.6K

-14.01%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.44 COP 30.7K

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.24 COP 43.1K

Apples (1kg)

$1.37 CLP 1,353

$3.75 COP 12.2K

-63.47%

Banana (1kg)

$1.91 CLP 1,892

$1.45 COP 4,703

31.72%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.05 CLP 1,038

$2.10 COP 6,829

-50.00%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.96 CLP 948

$2.13 COP 6,930

-54.93%

Potato (1kg)

$1.92 COP 6,259

Onion (1kg)

$1.27 CLP 1,257

$1.53 COP 4,984

-16.99%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.60 CLP 593

$1.09 COP 3,549

-44.95%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.35 CLP 1,337

$1.18 COP 3,843

14.41%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.05 CLP 5,002

$3.79 COP 12.3K

33.25%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.45 CLP 8,363

$13.16 COP 42.8K

-35.79%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.64 COP 5,337

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.73 CLP 4,681

$2.28 COP 7,410

107.46%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.86 CLP 851

$1.18 COP 3,825

-27.12%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$73.6 COP 239.5K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.28 COP 4,157

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.98 COP 6,434

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.89 COP 25.7K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.43 CLP 1,412

$1.29 COP 4,211

10.85%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$26.8K COP 87.2M

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$34.7K COP 112.9M

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$105 CLP 103.6K

$158 COP 513.6K

-33.65%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$12.18 CLP 12.1K

$13.39 COP 43.6K

-9.04%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$27.28 COP 88.8K

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$26.14 CLP 25.9K

$44.15 COP 143.7K

-40.79%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.10 CLP 5,047

$15.99 COP 52.0K

-68.11%

Cinema Ticket

$4.02 CLP 3,979

$6.39 COP 20.8K

-37.09%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$255 CLP 252.2K

$777 COP 2.5M

-67.18%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$29.4K CLP 29.1M

$8,800 COP 28.6M

233.70%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$45.59 CLP 45.1K

$82.7 COP 269.2K

-44.89%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.39 CLP 25.1K

$56.1 COP 182.6K

-54.75%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$61.4 CLP 60.8K

$131 COP 425.7K

-53.06%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$81.1 CLP 80.3K

$95.9 COP 312.1K

-15.40%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,006 COP 3.3M

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$627 COP 2.0M

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,826 COP 5.9M

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$969 COP 3.2M

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,907 COP 12.7M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,576 COP 5.1M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$617 CLP 610.4K

$620 COP 2.0M

-0.49%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

10.94

-54.30%

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

Last update for Coquimbo: September 28, 2026

Last update for Medellin: September 28, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Medellin pays 0% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $46.00 in Coquimbo vs $45.00 in Medellin. Groceries flip the comparison at $158 vs $285, with Coquimbo cheaper for home cooking.

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

Coquimbo vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Coquimbo and Medellin differ by about 175% in total monthly costs ($567 vs $1,555 including rent). Coquimbo is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

On paper, salaries run 0% lower in Medellin. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Childcare runs $255 in Coquimbo versus $777 in Medellin. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in Coquimbo – a meal for two runs $46.00 versus $45.00 in Medellin. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $567 in Coquimbo versus $1,555 in Medellin, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Coquimbo but tight or insufficient in Medellin. The gap between the two cities makes Coquimbo the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Expats usually find Coquimbo gentler on the wallet – expenses run 175% less than in Medellin. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.