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 $1,031 per month in Medellin vs $1,142 in Puerto Varas, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,599 per month in Medellin vs $1,714 in Puerto Varas, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,167 per month in Medellin vs $2,285 in Puerto Varas, rent included.

Medellin is about 10% cheaper than Puerto Varas, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Medellin and Puerto Varas are more affordable than the global median – Medellin 23% lower, Puerto Varas 15% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.16 COP 20.1K

$12.99 CLP 12.1K

-52.58%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.60 COP 106.1K

$43.43 CLP 40.5K

-24.94%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.34 COP 23.9K

$8.13 CLP 7,589

-9.72%

Cappuccino

$1.72 COP 5,599

$3.06 CLP 2,854

-43.79%

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

$1.05 COP 3,420

$1.09 CLP 1,014

-3.67%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.77 COP 2,515

$0.90 CLP 840

-14.44%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.69 COP 5,487

$3.14 CLP 2,927

-46.18%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.17 COP 10.3K

$4.23 CLP 3,950

-25.06%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.05 COP 3,423

$1.22 CLP 1,138

-13.93%

White Bread (500g)

$1.30 COP 4,236

$1.50 CLP 1,403

-13.33%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.40 COP 4,544

$1.84 CLP 1,722

-23.91%

Eggs

$2.16 COP 7,046

$3.43 CLP 3,204

-37.03%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.39 COP 14.3K

$10.57 CLP 9,866

-58.47%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.88 COP 19.1K

$6.69 CLP 6,250

-12.11%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.64 COP 28.1K

$11.01 CLP 10.3K

-21.53%

Apples (1kg)

$2.28 COP 7,425

$1.90 CLP 1,772

20.00%

Banana (1kg)

$1.11 COP 3,603

$1.52 CLP 1,416

-26.97%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.53 COP 4,982

$1.58 CLP 1,477

-3.16%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.35 COP 4,410

$1.50 CLP 1,396

-10.00%

Potato (1kg)

$1.13 COP 3,674

$1.28 CLP 1,199

-11.72%

Onion (1kg)

$1.13 COP 3,692

$1.41 CLP 1,319

-19.86%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.85 COP 2,753

$1.25 CLP 1,170

-32.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.91 COP 2,975

$1.17 CLP 1,095

-22.22%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.34 COP 7,629

$5.50 CLP 5,137

-57.45%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.37 COP 40.3K

$6.04 CLP 5,640

104.80%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.20 COP 3,909

$1.55 CLP 1,446

-22.58%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.49 COP 8,104

$2.23 CLP 2,083

11.66%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.84 COP 2,727

$0.59 CLP 550

42.37%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$40.57 COP 132.1K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.42 COP 4,623

$0.51 CLP 480

178.43%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.92 COP 6,235

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.66 COP 24.9K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.99 COP 3,223

$1.37 CLP 1,282

-27.74%

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

$18.0K COP 58.7M

$19.6K CLP 18.3M

-7.83%

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

$26.6K COP 86.7M

$21.4K CLP 20.0M

24.45%

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

$80.8 COP 263.1K

$131 CLP 122.5K

-38.42%

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

$9.95 COP 32.4K

$13.45 CLP 12.6K

-26.02%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.18 COP 78.7K

$21.67 CLP 20.2K

11.58%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.08 COP 81.6K

$38.35 CLP 35.8K

-34.60%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.15 COP 62.3K

$20.84 CLP 19.5K

-8.11%

Cinema Ticket

$3.98 COP 13.0K

$5.54 CLP 5,172

-28.16%

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

$305 COP 993.4K

$439 CLP 410.2K

-30.54%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,059 COP 19.7M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.1 COP 189.2K

$50.7 CLP 47.4K

14.56%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$32.20 COP 104.8K

$30.80 CLP 28.8K

4.55%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$101 COP 327.9K

$61.2 CLP 57.1K

64.67%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$108 COP 350.8K

$82.1 CLP 76.6K

31.29%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$477 COP 1.6M

$471 CLP 440.1K

1.11%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$376 COP 1.2M

$370 CLP 345.6K

1.60%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$845 COP 2.7M

$886 CLP 827.4K

-4.69%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$730 COP 2.4M

$596 CLP 556.2K

22.61%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,215 COP 10.5M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,372 COP 4.5M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$617 COP 2.0M

$561 CLP 524.2K

9.85%

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 12, 2026

Last update for Puerto Varas: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $477 in Medellin versus $471 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 10% 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 $43.00 in Puerto Varas. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $193 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 11%, 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 $1,546 per month in Medellin and $1,713 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 19% 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 $1,031, than in Puerto Varas at $1,142. 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.