Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Temuco Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Temuco

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,003 per month in Medellin vs $1,193 in Temuco, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,573 per month in Medellin vs $1,736 in Temuco, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,143 per month in Medellin vs $2,279 in Temuco, rent included.

Medellin is about 16% cheaper than Temuco, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Medellin and Temuco are more affordable than the global median – Medellin 25% lower, Temuco 10% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.91 COP 18.6K

$7.21 CLP 6,706

-18.03%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.96 COP 103.8K

$32.62 CLP 30.4K

1.04%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.43 COP 23.4K

$7.43 CLP 6,910

Cappuccino

$1.65 COP 5,207

$3.89 CLP 3,617

-57.58%

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

$1.10 COP 3,468

$2.33 CLP 2,166

-52.79%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.78 COP 2,458

$1.23 CLP 1,141

-36.59%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.72 COP 5,412

$3.83 CLP 3,566

-55.09%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.18 COP 10.0K

$3.46 CLP 3,220

-8.09%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.10 COP 3,474

$1.18 CLP 1,101

-6.78%

White Bread (500g)

$1.26 COP 3,962

$1.47 CLP 1,372

-14.29%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.38 COP 4,349

$1.37 CLP 1,271

0.73%

Eggs

$2.18 COP 6,858

$3.45 CLP 3,214

-36.81%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.49 COP 14.1K

$9.64 CLP 8,966

-53.42%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.79 COP 18.2K

$6.37 CLP 5,927

-9.11%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.97 COP 28.2K

$12.11 CLP 11.3K

-25.93%

Apples (1kg)

$2.32 COP 7,308

$1.93 CLP 1,795

20.21%

Banana (1kg)

$1.06 COP 3,352

$2.06 CLP 1,919

-48.54%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.52 COP 4,774

$2.19 CLP 2,038

-30.59%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.36 COP 4,270

$2.22 CLP 2,068

-38.74%

Potato (1kg)

$1.13 COP 3,552

$2.49 CLP 2,314

-54.62%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 COP 3,689

$2.68 CLP 2,496

-56.34%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.90 COP 2,838

$1.93 CLP 1,797

-53.37%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.90 COP 2,823

$1.19 CLP 1,104

-24.37%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.23 COP 7,034

$4.83 CLP 4,498

-53.83%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.12 COP 38.2K

$5.02 CLP 4,674

141.43%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.19 COP 3,743

$1.63 CLP 1,515

-26.99%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.48 COP 7,815

$2.24 CLP 2,088

10.71%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.85 COP 2,687

$0.87 CLP 812

-2.30%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.62 COP 131.0K

$35.22 CLP 32.8K

18.17%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.42 COP 4,459

$0.88 CLP 820

61.36%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.95 COP 6,141

$1.53 CLP 1,425

27.45%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.89 COP 24.8K

$9.92 CLP 9,232

-20.46%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.99 COP 3,118

$1.45 CLP 1,345

-31.72%

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

$17.6K COP 55.4M

$13.0K CLP 12.1M

35.81%

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

$26.8K COP 84.4M

$18.5K CLP 17.2M

44.86%

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

$83.0 COP 261.4K

$211 CLP 196.6K

-60.71%

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

$9.70 COP 30.5K

$11.86 CLP 11.0K

-18.21%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$23.52 COP 74.1K

$14.93 CLP 13.9K

57.54%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.26 COP 79.5K

$50.0 CLP 46.5K

-49.50%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.10 COP 60.1K

$48.95 CLP 45.5K

-60.98%

Cinema Ticket

$3.95 COP 12.4K

$4.84 CLP 4,500

-18.39%

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

$316 COP 994.2K

$232 CLP 215.9K

36.12%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,975 COP 18.8M

$2,914 CLP 2.7M

105.01%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$60.0 COP 188.9K

$46.83 CLP 43.6K

28.12%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$31.82 COP 100.2K

$18.67 CLP 17.4K

70.43%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$102 COP 320.1K

$69.1 CLP 64.3K

47.16%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$107 COP 338.3K

$88.5 CLP 82.3K

21.48%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$475 COP 1.5M

$417 CLP 387.6K

14.01%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$374 COP 1.2M

$342 CLP 317.9K

9.47%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$849 COP 2.7M

$730 CLP 679.3K

16.30%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$719 COP 2.3M

$538 CLP 500.8K

33.66%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,265 COP 10.3M

$2,083 CLP 1.9M

56.78%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,441 COP 4.5M

$1,697 CLP 1.6M

-15.11%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$624 COP 2.0M

$540 CLP 502.1K

15.72%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.43

4.8

179.79%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Medellin: July 27, 2026

Last update for Temuco: July 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $475 in Medellin versus $417 in Temuco. 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 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 $33.00 in Temuco. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $193 vs $242 – 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 Temuco: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Temuco is pricier by about 19%, 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 $1,504 per month in Medellin and $1,789 in Temuco. 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 $33.00 in Temuco. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,003 in Medellin and $1,193 in Temuco. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Medellin, where all-in costs run around $1,003, than in Temuco at $1,193. In Medellin it covers expenses comfortably, while in Temuco 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, Temuco makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.