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

🙂 Solo nomad: Medellin is 18.9% cheaper than Santiago without rent, and 28.3% cheaper with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Medellin is 8.2% more expensive than Santiago without rent, and 17.7% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Santiago
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.14 COP 22.1K
$4.56 PAB 4.56
34.65%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$33.05 COP 119.0K
$29.57 PAB 29.57
11.77%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.32 COP 26.4K
$5.12 PAB 5.12
42.97%
Cappuccino
$1.66 COP 5,971
$3.68 PAB 3.68
-54.89%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.10 COP 3,977
$0.67 PAB 0.67
64.18%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.78 COP 2,815
$0.84 PAB 0.84
-7.14%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.71 COP 6,172
$0.98 PAB 0.98
74.49%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.17 COP 11.4K
$2.05 PAB 2.05
54.63%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Santiago
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.11 COP 4,002
$1.90 PAB 1.90
-41.58%
White Bread (500g)
$1.31 COP 4,707
$2.55 PAB 2.55
-48.63%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.38 COP 4,967
$2.50 PAB 2.50
-44.80%
Eggs
$2.22 COP 7,989
$2.86 PAB 2.86
-22.38%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$4.34 COP 15.6K
$11.63 PAB 11.63
-62.68%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.80 COP 20.9K
$7.14 PAB 7.14
-18.77%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$8.98 COP 32.3K
$9.85 PAB 9.85
-8.83%
Apples (1kg)
$2.26 COP 8,143
$3.29 PAB 3.29
-31.31%
Banana (1kg)
$1.11 COP 4,013
$1.49 PAB 1.49
-25.50%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.46 COP 5,271
$2.77 PAB 2.77
-47.29%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.37 COP 4,916
$3.14 PAB 3.14
-56.37%
Potato (1kg)
$1.11 COP 3,999
$2.21 PAB 2.21
-49.77%
Onion (1kg)
$1.16 COP 4,188
$2.83 PAB 2.83
-59.01%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.89 COP 3,202
$2.21 PAB 2.21
-59.73%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.87 COP 3,116
$1.58 PAB 1.58
-44.94%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.35 COP 8,473
$6.09 PAB 6.09
-61.41%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.86 COP 39.1K
$10.93 PAB 10.93
-0.64%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.20 COP 4,319
$1.28 PAB 1.28
-6.25%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.48 COP 8,923
$2.37 PAB 2.37
4.64%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Santiago
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.79 COP 2,835
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$40.77 COP 146.8K
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.42 COP 5,124
$2.44 PAB 2.44
-41.80%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.91 COP 6,882
$1.83 PAB 1.83
4.37%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.65 COP 27.5K
$21.69 PAB 21.69
-64.73%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.97 COP 3,481
$0.92 PAB 0.92
5.43%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.1K COP 65.2M
$20.1K PAB 20.1K
-9.82%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.3K COP 94.7M
$20.8K PAB 20.8K
26.26%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Santiago
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$81.3 COP 292.8K
$120 PAB 120
-32.09%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.63 COP 34.7K
$14.86 PAB 14.86
-35.20%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.36 COP 87.7K
$42.91 PAB 42.91
-43.23%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Santiago
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$26.02 COP 93.7K
-
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.92 COP 68.1K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$3.89 COP 14.0K
$8.15 PAB 8.15
-52.27%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Santiago
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$304 COP 1.1M
$477 PAB 477
-36.22%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,902 COP 21.3M
$15.9K PAB 15.9K
-62.82%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Santiago
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.7 COP 211.3K
$50.7 PAB 50.7
15.65%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$32.48 COP 116.9K
$46.79 PAB 46.79
-30.58%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$102 COP 366.3K
$88.0 PAB 88.0
15.63%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$108 COP 389.4K
$122 PAB 122
-11.56%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Santiago
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$474 COP 1.7M
$458 PAB 458
3.65%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$371 COP 1.3M
$643 PAB 643
-42.29%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$848 COP 3.1M
$663 PAB 663
27.95%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$716 COP 2.6M
$1,079 PAB 1,079
-33.62%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,871 COP 10.3M
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,375 COP 5.0M
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Santiago
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$542 COP 1.9M
-
-
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: April 13, 2026

Last update for Santiago: April 11, 2026

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 other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities