Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Osorno

For one person, living is cheaper in Osorno: $1,013 a month against $1,639 in Medellin, rent and utilities included – about $7,500 less a year. Rent and utilities account for about half of the difference.

Medellin, Colombia
Osorno, Chile
Medellin
🇨🇴 Colombia
$1,639
/mo nomad
Osorno
🇨🇱 Chile
$1,013
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Medellin and in Osorno

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Medellin and in Osorno actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $1,639 per month in Medellin vs $1,013 in Osorno, rent included.

  • Medellin $1,639
  • Osorno $1,013

A couple spends around $2,413 per month in Medellin vs $1,493 in Osorno, rent included.

  • Medellin $2,413
  • Osorno $1,493

A family of three spends $3,186 per month in Medellin vs $1,973 in Osorno, rent included.

  • Medellin $3,186
  • Osorno $1,973

Medellin costs about 62% more than Osorno, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in clothing.

Medellin sits 20% above the global median, while Osorno is 26% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Osorno
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.09 COP 26.1K
$7.44 CLP 7,393
8.74%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$47.05 COP 151.9K
$30.64 CLP 30.4K
53.56%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.50 COP 30.7K
$6.71 CLP 6,665
41.58%
Cappuccino
$3.01 COP 9,735
$2.00 CLP 1,987
50.50%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.80 COP 5,809
$1.31 CLP 1,302
37.40%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.41 COP 4,561
$3.07 CLP 3,051
-54.07%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.18 COP 10.3K
$1.79 CLP 1,778
77.65%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.75 COP 18.6K
$2.48 CLP 2,460
131.85%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Osorno
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.51 COP 4,876
$1.19 CLP 1,181
26.89%
White Bread (500g)
$2.38 COP 7,678
$1.52 CLP 1,511
56.58%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.77 COP 5,720
$1.47 CLP 1,456
20.41%
Eggs
$2.89 COP 9,333
$3.60 CLP 3,576
-19.72%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.19 COP 32.9K
$9.45 CLP 9,385
7.83%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.87 COP 31.9K
$5.33 CLP 5,294
85.18%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.99 COP 45.2K
$9.43 CLP 9,363
48.36%
Apples (1kg)
$3.97 COP 12.8K
$2.01 CLP 1,995
97.51%
Banana (1kg)
$1.55 COP 5,012
$1.43 CLP 1,420
8.39%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.18 COP 7,048
$1.67 CLP 1,659
30.54%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.18 COP 7,051
$1.96 CLP 1,943
11.22%
Potato (1kg)
$1.96 COP 6,337
$1.99 CLP 1,973
-1.51%
Onion (1kg)
$1.59 COP 5,132
$1.68 CLP 1,666
-5.36%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.15 COP 3,699
$1.17 CLP 1,159
-1.71%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.24 COP 4,014
$0.96 CLP 955
29.17%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.96 COP 12.8K
$4.99 CLP 4,959
-20.64%
Wine (Bottle)
$13.68 COP 44.2K
$4.41 CLP 4,376
210.20%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.66 COP 5,359
$1.49 CLP 1,475
11.41%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.26 COP 7,291
$3.01 CLP 2,986
-24.92%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Osorno
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.17 COP 3,771
$0.50 CLP 497
134.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$77.4 COP 249.8K
$15.06 CLP 15.0K
413.75%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.27 COP 4,094
$2.75 CLP 2,729
-53.82%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.05 COP 6,612
$0.93 CLP 928
120.43%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.55 COP 27.6K
$5.18 CLP 5,146
65.06%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.35 COP 4,349
$1.33 CLP 1,325
1.50%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.1K COP 110.0M
$14.3K CLP 14.2M
138.32%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.7K COP 111.9M
$14.5K CLP 14.4M
139.71%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Osorno
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$170 COP 547.8K
$101 CLP 100.0K
68.45%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.55 COP 43.8K
$10.24 CLP 10.2K
32.32%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$28.07 COP 90.6K
$29.69 CLP 29.5K
-5.46%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Osorno
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$43.70 COP 141.1K
$57.6 CLP 57.3K
-24.18%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.19 COP 55.5K
$13.09 CLP 13.0K
31.32%
Cinema Ticket
$6.91 COP 22.3K
$8.99 CLP 8,932
-23.14%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Osorno
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$797 COP 2.6M
$349 CLP 346.5K
128.36%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$9,112 COP 29.4M
-
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Osorno
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$84.7 COP 273.5K
$39.18 CLP 38.9K
116.23%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$58.0 COP 187.2K
-
-
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$135 COP 435.8K
$42.63 CLP 42.4K
216.58%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$97.9 COP 316.0K
$42.74 CLP 42.5K
128.99%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Osorno
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,208 COP 3.9M
$383 CLP 380.9K
215.03%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$642 COP 2.1M
$368 CLP 365.3K
74.47%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,028 COP 6.5M
$515 CLP 511.6K
293.72%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,012 COP 3.3M
$564 CLP 560.0K
79.48%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,170 COP 13.5M
$1,010 CLP 1.0M
313.05%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,910 COP 6.2M
$1,504 CLP 1.5M
27.05%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Osorno
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$657 COP 2.1M
$612 CLP 608.4K
7.29%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
10.94
4.72
131.78%

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

Last update for Medellin: October 25, 2026

Last update for Osorno: October 26, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Medellin
$642
Osorno
$368 42.7% $274
Groceries & Markets
Medellin
$297
Osorno
$213 28.1% $84
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
$211
Osorno
$141 33.4% $71
Eating Out
Medellin
$170
Osorno
$135 20.3% $34
Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
$169
Osorno
$56 * 66.8% $113
Getting Around
Medellin
$94
Osorno
$24 73.8% $69
Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
$58
Osorno
$76 31.4% $18

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,208 in Medellin versus $383 in Osorno. 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 7% higher in Medellin, 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 $47 in Medellin versus $31 in Osorno. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $297 vs $213 – making Osorno the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇨🇴 Medellin
🇨🇱 Osorno
🕒 Local time
04:07 4:07 AM
06:07 6:07 AM
2 h ahead of Medellin
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
2,486,723
147,666
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

CLP, USD, EUR to COP – Colombian Peso Converter

Colombian Peso exchange rates as of November 2, 2026: 1 USD = 3,229 COP (10,000 COP = 3.1 USD). 1 EUR = 3,603 COP (10,000 COP = 2.78 EUR).

Chilean Peso exchange rates as of November 2, 2026: 1 USD = 993 CLP (1,000 CLP = 1.01 USD). 1 EUR = 1,109 CLP (10,000 CLP = 9.02 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Medellin Osorno 5,210 km ≈ 7 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Medellin
  • Osorno

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 Osorno: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Osorno cheaper than Medellin?
Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 62%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in clothing.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,459 per month in Medellin and $1,520 in Osorno. 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 Osorno, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $383 there versus $1,208 in Medellin.
Is eating out cheaper in Medellin or in Osorno?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $47 in Medellin and $31 in Osorno. That’s a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
What are total monthly expenses in Medellin and in Osorno?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,639 in Medellin and $1,013 in Osorno. That makes Osorno about 38% cheaper.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Medellin or in Osorno?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Osorno, where all-in costs run around $1,013, than in Medellin at $1,639. In Osorno it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Medellin or Osorno more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Osorno – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Osorno. If higher salaries or specific career opportunities are the priority, Medellin makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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