Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Santiago Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Santiago

🙂 Solo nomad: Medellin is 18.4% cheaper than Santiago without rent, and 21.5% cheaper with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: Medellin is 23.3% cheaper than Santiago without rent, and 23.9% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Santiago
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.23 COP 26K
$10.98 CLP 10.2K
-43.26%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.34 COP 134.8K
$53.8 CLP 50K
-39.87%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.39 COP 30.8K
$8.21 CLP 7,636
-9.99%
Cappuccino
$1.72 COP 7,155
$3.23 CLP 3,004
-46.75%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.1 COP 4,575
$1.77 CLP 1,645
-37.85%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.73 COP 3,060
$1.31 CLP 1,215
-44.27%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.66 COP 6,916
$3.18 CLP 2,958
-47.80%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.2 COP 13.3K
$4.33 CLP 4,029
-26.10%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Santiago
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.09 COP 4,552
$1.19 CLP 1,107
-8.40%
White Bread (500g)
$1.24 COP 5,188
$1.51 CLP 1,404
-17.88%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.33 COP 5,544
$2.2 CLP 2,043
-39.55%
Eggs
$2.22 COP 9,252
$4.05 CLP 3,770
-45.19%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$4.55 COP 19K
$10.28 CLP 9,556
-55.74%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.71 COP 23.8K
$6.8 CLP 6,325
-16.03%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$8.59 COP 35.8K
$11.01 CLP 10.2K
-21.98%
Apples (1kg)
$2.26 COP 9,410
$2.05 CLP 1,905
10.24%
Banana (1kg)
$1.07 COP 4,461
$1.54 CLP 1,435
-30.52%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.51 COP 6,293
$2.04 CLP 1,901
-25.98%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.42 COP 5,911
$1.85 CLP 1,722
-23.24%
Potato (1kg)
$1.11 COP 4,619
$1.88 CLP 1,752
-40.96%
Onion (1kg)
$1.18 COP 4,932
$1.68 CLP 1,563
-29.76%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.89 COP 3,718
$1.33 CLP 1,241
-33.08%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.84 COP 3,507
$1.18 CLP 1,093
-28.81%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.35 COP 9,809
$5.55 CLP 5,159
-57.66%
Wine (Bottle)
$9.34 COP 38.9K
$6.27 CLP 5,832
48.96%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.18 COP 4,927
$1.59 CLP 1,483
-25.79%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.49 COP 10.4K
$2.54 CLP 2,363
-1.97%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Santiago
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.83 COP 3,464
$0.9 CLP 837
-7.78%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$41.9 COP 174.7K
$42.21 CLP 39.3K
-0.73%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.41 COP 5,899
$0.51 CLP 478
176.47%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.96 COP 8,164
$1.47 CLP 1,367
33.33%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.85 COP 32.7K
$11.63 CLP 10.8K
-32.50%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.02 COP 4,265
$1.44 CLP 1,337
-29.17%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$17.6K COP 73.4M
$19.5K CLP 18.1M
-9.76%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.2K COP 109.2M
$23K CLP 21.4M
14.03%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Santiago
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$82.5 COP 344.1K
$134 CLP 124.6K
-38.41%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.44 COP 39.4K
$13.61 CLP 12.7K
-30.64%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$23.51 COP 98K
$22.36 CLP 20.8K
5.14%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Santiago
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$25.68 COP 107.1K
$33.96 CLP 31.6K
-24.38%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.14 COP 79.8K
$20.81 CLP 19.3K
-8.02%
Cinema Ticket
$3.96 COP 16.5K
$6.38 CLP 5,931
-37.93%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Santiago
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$305 COP 1.3M
$429 CLP 398.8K
-28.92%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,925 COP 24.7M
$8,448 CLP 7.9M
-29.87%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Santiago
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.9 COP 241.4K
$55.4 CLP 51.5K
4.59%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$31.59 COP 131.7K
$33.36 CLP 31K
-5.31%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$103 COP 430.1K
$75.5 CLP 70.2K
36.71%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$106 COP 440.5K
$84.1 CLP 78.2K
25.68%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Santiago
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$489 COP 2M
$503 CLP 467.6K
-2.67%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$379 COP 1.6M
$463 CLP 430.5K
-18.11%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$827 COP 3.4M
$992 CLP 922.3K
-16.62%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$729 COP 3M
$905 CLP 841.5K
-19.42%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,190 COP 9.1M
$2,650 CLP 2.5M
-17.35%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,532 COP 6.4M
$3,549 CLP 3.3M
-56.82%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Santiago
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$550 COP 2.3M
$837 CLP 778.3K
-34.28%
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: October 28, 2025

Last update for Santiago: October 27, 2025

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