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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,003 per month in Medellin vs $1,086 in Arica, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,573 per month in Medellin vs $1,650 in Arica, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,143 per month in Medellin vs $2,215 in Arica, rent included.

Medellin is about 8% cheaper than Arica, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Medellin and Arica are more affordable than the global median – Medellin 25% lower, Arica 18% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.91 COP 18.6K

$8.54 CLP 7,947

-30.80%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.96 COP 103.8K

$44.21 CLP 41.1K

-25.45%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.43 COP 23.4K

$8.09 CLP 7,527

-8.16%

Cappuccino

$1.65 COP 5,207

$2.76 CLP 2,569

-40.22%

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

$1.10 COP 3,468

$1.31 CLP 1,217

-16.03%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.78 COP 2,458

$1.06 CLP 982

-26.42%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.72 COP 5,412

$3.26 CLP 3,033

-47.24%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.18 COP 10.0K

$4.30 CLP 4,004

-26.05%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.10 COP 3,474

$1.24 CLP 1,151

-11.29%

White Bread (500g)

$1.26 COP 3,962

$1.49 CLP 1,390

-15.44%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.38 COP 4,349

$1.93 CLP 1,792

-28.50%

Eggs

$2.18 COP 6,858

$3.62 CLP 3,370

-39.78%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.49 COP 14.1K

$10.51 CLP 9,780

-57.28%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.79 COP 18.2K

$6.58 CLP 6,120

-12.01%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.97 COP 28.2K

$11.05 CLP 10.3K

-18.82%

Apples (1kg)

$2.32 COP 7,308

$1.80 CLP 1,679

28.89%

Banana (1kg)

$1.06 COP 3,352

$1.50 CLP 1,399

-29.33%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.52 COP 4,774

$1.59 CLP 1,478

-4.40%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.36 COP 4,270

$1.46 CLP 1,355

-6.85%

Potato (1kg)

$1.13 COP 3,552

$1.23 CLP 1,144

-8.13%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 COP 3,689

$1.39 CLP 1,295

-15.83%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.90 COP 2,838

$1.25 CLP 1,165

-28.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.90 COP 2,823

$1.17 CLP 1,091

-23.08%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.23 COP 7,034

$5.35 CLP 4,975

-58.32%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.12 COP 38.2K

$5.57 CLP 5,181

117.59%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.19 COP 3,743

$1.55 CLP 1,440

-23.23%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.48 COP 7,815

$2.33 CLP 2,171

6.44%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.85 COP 2,687

$0.59 CLP 549

44.07%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.62 COP 131.0K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.42 COP 4,459

$0.50 CLP 468

184.00%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.95 COP 6,141

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.89 COP 24.8K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.99 COP 3,118

$1.36 CLP 1,266

-27.21%

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

$17.6K COP 55.4M

$19.8K CLP 18.4M

-11.01%

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

$26.8K COP 84.4M

$21.2K CLP 19.7M

26.40%

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

$83.0 COP 261.4K

$131 CLP 121.6K

-36.50%

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

$9.70 COP 30.5K

$13.57 CLP 12.6K

-28.52%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$23.52 COP 74.1K

$21.67 CLP 20.2K

8.54%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.26 COP 79.5K

$38.79 CLP 36.1K

-34.88%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.10 COP 60.1K

$21.34 CLP 19.9K

-10.50%

Cinema Ticket

$3.95 COP 12.4K

$5.51 CLP 5,124

-28.31%

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

$316 COP 994.2K

$435 CLP 404.4K

-27.34%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,975 COP 18.8M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$60.0 COP 188.9K

$50.1 CLP 46.6K

19.69%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$31.82 COP 100.2K

$30.44 CLP 28.3K

4.53%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$102 COP 320.1K

$57.7 CLP 53.7K

76.33%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$107 COP 338.3K

$83.8 CLP 77.9K

28.27%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$475 COP 1.5M

$477 CLP 443.4K

-0.34%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$374 COP 1.2M

$380 CLP 354.0K

-1.70%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$849 COP 2.7M

$903 CLP 839.9K

-5.93%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$719 COP 2.3M

$589 CLP 548.1K

22.14%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,265 COP 10.3M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,441 COP 4.5M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$624 COP 2.0M

$527 CLP 490.6K

18.42%

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: July 27, 2026

Last update for Arica: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $475 in Medellin versus $477 in Arica. 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 18% higher in Medellin, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $33.00 in Medellin versus $44.00 in Arica. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $193 vs $228 – 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

Medellin vs Arica: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $1,003 in Medellin, $1,086 in Arica – roughly 8% apart. Arica costs more across the board, with Getting Around showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,504 per month in Medellin and $1,629 in Arica. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $33.00 in Medellin and $44.00 in Arica. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 18% more in Arica, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Medellin, where all-in costs run around $1,003, than in Arica at $1,086. In Medellin it covers expenses comfortably, while in Arica it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Medellin has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,003 in Medellin to $1,086 in Arica. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

If budget matters most, go with Medellin. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Arica makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.