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

Monthly Cost of Living

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

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

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

Living in Medellin is roughly 175% more expensive than in Coquimbo, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

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

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.59 COP 24.7K

$6.81 CLP 6,742

11.45%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$44.78 COP 145.7K

$45.62 CLP 45.2K

-1.84%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.24 COP 30.1K

$6.28 CLP 6,215

47.13%

Cappuccino

$2.95 COP 9,591

$3.66 CLP 3,617

-19.40%

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

$1.80 COP 5,861

$1.17 CLP 1,158

53.85%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.35 COP 4,391

$1.06 CLP 1,048

27.36%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.93 COP 9,544

$4.04 CLP 3,995

-27.48%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.46 COP 17.8K

$4.73 CLP 4,685

15.43%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.43 COP 4,663

$1.05 CLP 1,044

36.19%

White Bread (500g)

$2.39 COP 7,785

$3.19 CLP 3,157

-25.08%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.60 COP 5,209

$1.26 CLP 1,245

26.98%

Eggs

$2.88 COP 9,364

$2.68 CLP 2,649

7.46%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.71 COP 31.6K

$8.35 CLP 8,260

16.29%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.44 COP 30.7K

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.24 COP 43.1K

Apples (1kg)

$3.75 COP 12.2K

$1.37 CLP 1,353

173.72%

Banana (1kg)

$1.45 COP 4,703

$1.91 CLP 1,892

-24.08%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.10 COP 6,829

$1.05 CLP 1,038

100.00%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.13 COP 6,930

$0.96 CLP 948

121.88%

Potato (1kg)

$1.92 COP 6,259

Onion (1kg)

$1.53 COP 4,984

$1.27 CLP 1,257

20.47%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.09 COP 3,549

$0.60 CLP 593

81.67%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.18 COP 3,843

$1.35 CLP 1,337

-12.59%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.79 COP 12.3K

$5.05 CLP 5,002

-24.95%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.16 COP 42.8K

$8.45 CLP 8,363

55.74%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.64 COP 5,337

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.28 COP 7,410

$4.73 CLP 4,681

-51.80%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.18 COP 3,825

$0.86 CLP 851

37.21%

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)

$1.29 COP 4,211

$1.43 CLP 1,412

-9.79%

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)

$158 COP 513.6K

$105 CLP 103.6K

50.71%

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

$13.39 COP 43.6K

$12.18 CLP 12.1K

9.93%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$27.28 COP 88.8K

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$44.15 COP 143.7K

$26.14 CLP 25.9K

68.90%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$15.99 COP 52.0K

$5.10 CLP 5,047

213.53%

Cinema Ticket

$6.39 COP 20.8K

$4.02 CLP 3,979

58.96%

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

$777 COP 2.5M

$255 CLP 252.2K

204.67%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,800 COP 28.6M

$29.4K CLP 29.1M

-70.03%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$82.7 COP 269.2K

$45.59 CLP 45.1K

81.44%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$56.1 COP 182.6K

$25.39 CLP 25.1K

120.99%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$131 COP 425.7K

$61.4 CLP 60.8K

113.05%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$95.9 COP 312.1K

$81.1 CLP 80.3K

18.21%

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)

$620 COP 2.0M

$617 CLP 610.4K

0.49%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

10.94

118.80%

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

Last update for Medellin: September 28, 2026

Last update for Coquimbo: 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: $45.00 in Medellin vs $46.00 in Coquimbo. Groceries flip the comparison at $285 vs $158, 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

Medellin vs Coquimbo: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

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

Average pay runs 0% higher in Medellin, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Childcare runs $777 in Medellin versus $255 in Coquimbo. 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.