Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Valdivia Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Valdivia

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,013 per month in Medellin vs $1,057 in Valdivia, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,602 per month in Medellin vs $1,602 in Valdivia, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,192 per month in Medellin vs $2,147 in Valdivia, rent included.

Medellin is about 4% cheaper than Valdivia, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Medellin and Valdivia are more affordable than the global median – Medellin 24% lower, Valdivia 21% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.99 COP 21.4K

$6.32 CLP 5,610

-5.22%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.86 COP 117.4K

$43.69 CLP 38.8K

-24.79%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.09 COP 25.3K

$7.23 CLP 6,413

-1.94%

Cappuccino

$1.71 COP 6,115

$2.54 CLP 2,253

-32.68%

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

$1.10 COP 3,924

$2.41 CLP 2,137

-54.36%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.78 COP 2,781

$1.48 CLP 1,312

-47.30%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.68 COP 5,997

$3.86 CLP 3,429

-56.48%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.07 COP 11.0K

$4.02 CLP 3,567

-23.63%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.09 COP 3,906

$1.19 CLP 1,060

-8.40%

White Bread (500g)

$1.26 COP 4,508

$1.43 CLP 1,267

-11.89%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.38 COP 4,922

$1.65 CLP 1,462

-16.36%

Eggs

$2.19 COP 7,827

$3.13 CLP 2,777

-30.03%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.40 COP 15.7K

$9.23 CLP 8,191

-52.33%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.63 COP 20.1K

$6.92 CLP 6,140

-18.64%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.89 COP 31.8K

$13.33 CLP 11.8K

-33.31%

Apples (1kg)

$2.34 COP 8,349

$2.24 CLP 1,986

4.46%

Banana (1kg)

$1.06 COP 3,777

$1.95 CLP 1,733

-45.64%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.50 COP 5,374

$1.84 CLP 1,631

-18.48%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.38 COP 4,924

$1.95 CLP 1,732

-29.23%

Potato (1kg)

$1.15 COP 4,111

$2.44 CLP 2,168

-52.87%

Onion (1kg)

$1.16 COP 4,155

$1.63 CLP 1,445

-28.83%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.89 COP 3,182

$1.58 CLP 1,401

-43.67%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.84 COP 2,997

$1.21 CLP 1,070

-30.58%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.28 COP 8,145

$5.36 CLP 4,756

-57.46%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.64 COP 38.0K

$5.19 CLP 4,605

105.01%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.20 COP 4,284

$1.62 CLP 1,437

-25.93%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.47 COP 8,824

$2.24 CLP 1,990

10.27%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.86 COP 3,056

$0.60 CLP 528

43.33%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.40 COP 147.9K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.47 COP 5,264

$1.67 CLP 1,479

-11.98%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.96 COP 7,009

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.74 COP 27.6K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.95 COP 3,409

$1.43 CLP 1,268

-33.57%

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

$18.1K COP 64.7M

$15.8K CLP 14.1M

14.49%

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

$26.5K COP 94.6M

$18.1K CLP 16.1M

46.42%

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

$82.3 COP 293.7K

$97.8 CLP 86.8K

-15.89%

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

$9.50 COP 33.9K

$19.03 CLP 16.9K

-50.08%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.23 COP 86.5K

$29.10 CLP 25.8K

-16.74%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.89 COP 92.4K

$42.85 CLP 38.0K

-39.58%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.00 COP 67.9K

$24.36 CLP 21.6K

-22.00%

Cinema Ticket

$3.93 COP 14.0K

$4.92 CLP 4,363

-20.12%

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

$309 COP 1.1M

$272 CLP 241.6K

13.65%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,965 COP 21.3M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.7 COP 209.5K

$54.0 CLP 47.9K

8.71%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$32.35 COP 115.5K

$18.42 CLP 16.3K

75.62%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$103 COP 366.4K

$51.4 CLP 45.6K

99.61%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$108 COP 387.2K

$79.6 CLP 70.6K

36.22%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$476 COP 1.7M

$612 CLP 543.5K

-22.24%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$379 COP 1.4M

$393 CLP 349.2K

-3.73%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$838 COP 3.0M

$1,057 CLP 938.0K

-20.69%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$724 COP 2.6M

$590 CLP 523.4K

22.73%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,791 COP 10.0M

$4,853 CLP 4.3M

-42.49%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,211 COP 4.3M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$512 COP 1.8M

$680 CLP 603.2K

-24.70%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.43

4.5

198.44%

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

Last update for Medellin: May 31, 2026

Last update for Valdivia: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $476 in Medellin versus $612 in Valdivia. 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 33% higher in Valdivia, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $33.00 in Medellin versus $44.00 in Valdivia. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $188 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 Valdivia: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Valdivia is pricier by about 4%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,519 per month in Medellin and $1,585 in Valdivia. 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 $44.00 in Valdivia. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 28% more in Valdivia, 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 $1,013, than in Valdivia at $1,057. In Medellin it covers expenses comfortably, while in Valdivia 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, Valdivia makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.