Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Puerto Varas Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Puerto Varas

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,013 per month in Medellin vs $1,115 in Puerto Varas, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,602 per month in Medellin vs $1,717 in Puerto Varas, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,192 per month in Medellin vs $2,320 in Puerto Varas, rent included.

Medellin is about 9% cheaper than Puerto Varas, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Medellin and Puerto Varas are more affordable than the global median – Medellin 24% lower, Puerto Varas 17% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.99 COP 21.4K

$12.75 CLP 11.4K

-53.02%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.86 COP 117.2K

$42.72 CLP 38.2K

-23.08%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.09 COP 25.3K

$8.00 CLP 7,155

-11.38%

Cappuccino

$1.71 COP 6,105

$3.13 CLP 2,799

-45.37%

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

$1.10 COP 3,918

$1.09 CLP 975

0.92%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.78 COP 2,776

$0.90 CLP 803

-13.33%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.68 COP 5,987

$3.26 CLP 2,916

-48.47%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.07 COP 10.9K

$4.10 CLP 3,668

-25.12%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.09 COP 3,899

$1.22 CLP 1,095

-10.66%

White Bread (500g)

$1.26 COP 4,500

$1.58 CLP 1,411

-20.25%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.38 COP 4,914

$1.85 CLP 1,652

-25.41%

Eggs

$2.19 COP 7,813

$3.60 CLP 3,216

-39.17%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.40 COP 15.7K

$10.54 CLP 9,426

-58.25%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.63 COP 20.1K

$6.71 CLP 6,007

-16.10%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.89 COP 31.7K

$10.84 CLP 9,702

-17.99%

Apples (1kg)

$2.34 COP 8,334

$1.86 CLP 1,667

25.81%

Banana (1kg)

$1.06 COP 3,771

$1.50 CLP 1,342

-29.33%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.50 COP 5,365

$1.53 CLP 1,371

-1.96%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.38 COP 4,915

$1.50 CLP 1,339

-8.00%

Potato (1kg)

$1.15 COP 4,104

$1.24 CLP 1,105

-7.26%

Onion (1kg)

$1.16 COP 4,148

$1.36 CLP 1,217

-14.71%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.89 COP 3,176

$1.21 CLP 1,087

-26.45%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.84 COP 2,992

$1.18 CLP 1,060

-28.81%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.28 COP 8,131

$5.24 CLP 4,686

-56.49%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.64 COP 37.9K

$6.10 CLP 5,458

74.43%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.20 COP 4,276

$1.54 CLP 1,379

-22.08%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.47 COP 8,809

$2.28 CLP 2,040

8.33%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.86 COP 3,051

$0.59 CLP 525

45.76%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.40 COP 147.6K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.47 COP 5,255

$0.47 CLP 423

212.77%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.96 COP 6,997

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.74 COP 27.6K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.95 COP 3,403

$1.41 CLP 1,266

-32.62%

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

$18.1K COP 64.6M

$19.5K CLP 17.5M

-7.19%

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

$26.5K COP 94.4M

$21.0K CLP 18.8M

25.89%

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

$82.3 COP 293.2K

$130 CLP 116.2K

-36.66%

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

$9.50 COP 33.9K

$13.41 CLP 12.0K

-29.16%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.23 COP 86.4K

$21.83 CLP 19.5K

10.99%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.89 COP 92.3K

$38.69 CLP 34.6K

-33.08%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.00 COP 67.7K

$21.65 CLP 19.4K

-12.24%

Cinema Ticket

$3.93 COP 14.0K

$5.83 CLP 5,213

-32.59%

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

$309 COP 1.1M

$428 CLP 382.7K

-27.68%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,965 COP 21.3M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.7 COP 209.1K

$50.7 CLP 45.4K

15.70%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$32.35 COP 115.3K

$29.93 CLP 26.8K

8.09%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$103 COP 365.7K

$62.8 CLP 56.2K

63.27%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$108 COP 386.5K

$81.0 CLP 72.5K

33.83%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$476 COP 1.7M

$473 CLP 423.0K

0.72%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$379 COP 1.4M

$374 CLP 334.4K

1.35%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$838 COP 3.0M

$897 CLP 802.4K

-6.54%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$724 COP 2.6M

$601 CLP 537.8K

20.41%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,791 COP 9.9M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,211 COP 4.3M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$512 COP 1.8M

$592 CLP 529.7K

-13.56%

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: May 31, 2026

Last update for Puerto Varas: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $476 in Medellin versus $473 in Puerto Varas. 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 16% higher in Puerto Varas, 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 $33.00 in Medellin versus $43.00 in Puerto Varas. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $188 vs $229 – 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 Puerto Varas: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Puerto Varas is pricier by about 10%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,519 per month in Medellin and $1,673 in Puerto Varas. 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 $43.00 in Puerto Varas. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 22% more in Puerto Varas, 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 $1,013, than in Puerto Varas at $1,115. In Medellin it covers expenses comfortably, while in Puerto Varas it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Medellin – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

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