Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Arica Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Arica

🙂 Solo nomad: Medellin is 10.5% cheaper than Arica without rent, and 1.9% cheaper with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Medellin is 3.8% more expensive than Arica without rent, and 2.5% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Arica
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.03 COP 22.8K
$8.46 CLP 7,701
-28.72%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$33.17 COP 125.6K
$43.85 CLP 39.9K
-24.36%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.29 COP 27.6K
$8.06 CLP 7,336
-9.55%
Cappuccino
$1.63 COP 6,170
$2.82 CLP 2,567
-42.20%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.05 COP 3,971
$1.31 CLP 1,197
-19.85%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.77 COP 2,916
$1.01 CLP 920
-23.76%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.73 COP 6,550
$3.26 CLP 2,973
-46.93%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.18 COP 12.0K
$4.26 CLP 3,882
-25.35%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Arica
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.07 COP 4,040
$1.23 CLP 1,125
-13.01%
White Bread (500g)
$1.31 COP 4,965
$1.57 CLP 1,434
-16.56%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.38 COP 5,227
$1.92 CLP 1,748
-28.13%
Eggs
$2.25 COP 8,509
$3.56 CLP 3,242
-36.80%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$4.48 COP 17.0K
$10.60 CLP 9,652
-57.74%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.74 COP 21.7K
$6.83 CLP 6,222
-15.96%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$8.86 COP 33.6K
$10.97 CLP 9,991
-19.23%
Apples (1kg)
$2.24 COP 8,490
$1.80 CLP 1,641
24.44%
Banana (1kg)
$1.06 COP 4,012
$1.52 CLP 1,381
-30.26%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.51 COP 5,732
$1.61 CLP 1,462
-6.21%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.36 COP 5,151
$1.44 CLP 1,309
-5.56%
Potato (1kg)
$1.12 COP 4,244
$1.23 CLP 1,120
-8.94%
Onion (1kg)
$1.17 COP 4,427
$1.35 CLP 1,226
-13.33%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.90 COP 3,416
$1.22 CLP 1,109
-26.23%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.84 COP 3,169
$1.18 CLP 1,072
-28.81%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.26 COP 8,553
$5.32 CLP 4,847
-57.52%
Wine (Bottle)
$9.97 COP 37.8K
-
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.18 COP 4,479
$1.56 CLP 1,422
-24.36%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.39 COP 9,048
$2.25 CLP 2,051
6.22%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Arica
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.86 COP 3,253
$0.57 CLP 520
50.88%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$41.45 COP 156.9K
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.47 COP 5,555
$0.51 CLP 467
188.24%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.95 COP 7,367
-
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.76 COP 29.4K
-
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.97 COP 3,663
$1.44 CLP 1,308
-32.64%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$17.9K COP 68.0M
$19.5K CLP 17.8M
-8.09%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.7K COP 101.2M
$21.2K CLP 19.3M
25.77%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Arica
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$81.1 COP 307.1K
$132 CLP 120.6K
-38.74%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.40 COP 35.6K
$13.75 CLP 12.5K
-31.64%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$23.61 COP 89.4K
$21.89 CLP 19.9K
7.86%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Arica
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$25.55 COP 96.7K
$38.90 CLP 35.4K
-34.32%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.29 COP 73.0K
$21.67 CLP 19.7K
-10.98%
Cinema Ticket
$4.10 COP 15.5K
$5.51 CLP 5,020
-25.59%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Arica
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$306 COP 1.2M
$434 CLP 395.4K
-29.51%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,899 COP 22.3M
-
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Arica
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$59.8 COP 226.5K
$51.3 CLP 46.7K
16.61%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$31.96 COP 121.0K
$30.30 CLP 27.6K
5.48%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$103 COP 388.8K
$55.8 CLP 50.8K
84.05%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$108 COP 408.4K
$81.5 CLP 74.2K
32.44%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Arica
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$483 COP 1.8M
$478 CLP 435.0K
1.17%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$377 COP 1.4M
$370 CLP 337.3K
1.88%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$822 COP 3.1M
$890 CLP 810.6K
-7.71%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$721 COP 2.7M
$583 CLP 530.7K
23.70%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,784 COP 10.5M
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,320 COP 5.0M
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Arica
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$538 COP 2.0M
$569 CLP 518.4K
-5.55%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
13.43
5.18
159.27%

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

Last update for Medellin: March 3, 2026

Last update for Arica: March 1, 2026

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated December 2025)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Similar cities