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

🙂 Solo nomad: Medellin is 11.4% cheaper than Santiago without rent, and 28.4% cheaper with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: Medellin is 14.3% cheaper than Santiago without rent, and 22.3% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Santiago
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.23 COP 26K
$4.41 PAB 4.41
41.27%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.34 COP 134.8K
$30.52 PAB 30.52
5.96%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.39 COP 30.8K
$4.89 PAB 4.89
51.12%
Cappuccino
$1.72 COP 7,155
$3.62 PAB 3.62
-52.49%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.1 COP 4,575
$0.68 PAB 0.68
61.76%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.73 COP 3,060
$0.82 PAB 0.82
-10.98%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.66 COP 6,916
$0.99 PAB 0.99
67.68%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.2 COP 13.3K
$1.97 PAB 1.97
62.44%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Santiago
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.09 COP 4,552
$1.8 PAB 1.8
-39.44%
White Bread (500g)
$1.24 COP 5,188
$2.44 PAB 2.44
-49.18%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.33 COP 5,544
$2.5 PAB 2.5
-46.80%
Eggs
$2.22 COP 9,252
$2.94 PAB 2.94
-24.49%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$4.55 COP 19K
$11.56 PAB 11.56
-60.64%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.71 COP 23.8K
$7.15 PAB 7.15
-20.14%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$8.59 COP 35.8K
$9.97 PAB 9.97
-13.84%
Apples (1kg)
$2.26 COP 9,410
$3.42 PAB 3.42
-33.92%
Banana (1kg)
$1.07 COP 4,461
$1.57 PAB 1.57
-31.85%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.51 COP 6,293
$2.86 PAB 2.86
-47.20%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.42 COP 5,911
$3.21 PAB 3.21
-55.76%
Potato (1kg)
$1.11 COP 4,619
$2.19 PAB 2.19
-49.32%
Onion (1kg)
$1.18 COP 4,932
$2.88 PAB 2.88
-59.03%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.89 COP 3,718
$2.24 PAB 2.24
-60.27%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.84 COP 3,507
$1.51 PAB 1.51
-44.37%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.35 COP 9,809
$5.98 PAB 5.98
-60.70%
Wine (Bottle)
$9.34 COP 38.9K
$10.15 PAB 10.15
-7.98%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.18 COP 4,927
$1.28 PAB 1.28
-7.81%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.49 COP 10.4K
$2.45 PAB 2.45
1.63%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Santiago
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.83 COP 3,464
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$41.9 COP 174.7K
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.41 COP 5,899
$2.55 PAB 2.55
-44.71%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.96 COP 8,164
$1.84 PAB 1.84
6.52%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.85 COP 32.7K
$22.22 PAB 22.22
-64.67%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.02 COP 4,265
$0.93 PAB 0.93
9.68%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$17.6K COP 73.4M
$19.6K PAB 19.6K
-10.17%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.2K COP 109.2M
$20.7K PAB 20.7K
26.76%
🧾 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
$120 PAB 120
-31.14%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.44 COP 39.4K
$14.76 PAB 14.76
-36.04%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$23.51 COP 98K
$42.61 PAB 42.61
-44.83%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Santiago
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$25.68 COP 107.1K
-
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.14 COP 79.8K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$3.96 COP 16.5K
$7.77 PAB 7.77
-49.03%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Santiago
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$305 COP 1.3M
$473 PAB 473
-35.56%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,925 COP 24.7M
$15.8K PAB 15.8K
-62.45%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Santiago
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.9 COP 241.4K
$50.6 PAB 50.6
14.40%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$31.59 COP 131.7K
$45.72 PAB 45.72
-30.91%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$103 COP 430.1K
$88.2 PAB 88.2
16.92%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$106 COP 440.5K
$120 PAB 120
-12.10%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Santiago
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$489 COP 2M
$449 PAB 449
8.88%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$379 COP 1.6M
$638 PAB 638
-40.64%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$827 COP 3.4M
$650 PAB 650
27.13%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$729 COP 3M
$1,112 PAB 1,112
-34.40%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,190 COP 9.1M
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,532 COP 6.4M
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Santiago
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$550 COP 2.3M
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
13.43
6.23
115.57%

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 28, 2025

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