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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,031 per month in Medellin vs $1,062 in Valdivia, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,599 per month in Medellin vs $1,610 in Valdivia, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,167 per month in Medellin vs $2,157 in Valdivia, rent included.

Medellin is about 3% cheaper than Valdivia, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Medellin and Valdivia are more affordable than the global median – Medellin 23% lower, Valdivia 20% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.16 COP 20.1K

$6.61 CLP 6,170

-6.81%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.60 COP 106.1K

$42.26 CLP 39.5K

-22.86%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.34 COP 23.9K

$6.94 CLP 6,475

5.76%

Cappuccino

$1.72 COP 5,599

$2.51 CLP 2,341

-31.47%

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

$1.05 COP 3,420

$2.31 CLP 2,156

-54.55%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.77 COP 2,515

$1.53 CLP 1,431

-49.67%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.69 COP 5,487

$3.81 CLP 3,560

-55.64%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.17 COP 10.3K

$3.94 CLP 3,675

-19.54%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.05 COP 3,423

$1.23 CLP 1,151

-14.63%

White Bread (500g)

$1.30 COP 4,236

$1.43 CLP 1,332

-9.09%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.40 COP 4,544

$1.64 CLP 1,527

-14.63%

Eggs

$2.16 COP 7,046

$3.17 CLP 2,963

-31.86%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.39 COP 14.3K

$9.38 CLP 8,759

-53.20%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.88 COP 19.1K

$6.95 CLP 6,490

-15.40%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.64 COP 28.1K

$13.38 CLP 12.5K

-35.43%

Apples (1kg)

$2.28 COP 7,425

$2.22 CLP 2,068

2.70%

Banana (1kg)

$1.11 COP 3,603

$1.94 CLP 1,809

-42.78%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.53 COP 4,982

$1.83 CLP 1,710

-16.39%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.35 COP 4,410

$1.97 CLP 1,837

-31.47%

Potato (1kg)

$1.13 COP 3,674

$2.44 CLP 2,280

-53.69%

Onion (1kg)

$1.13 COP 3,692

$1.58 CLP 1,477

-28.48%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.85 COP 2,753

$1.58 CLP 1,477

-46.20%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.91 COP 2,975

$1.21 CLP 1,126

-24.79%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.34 COP 7,629

$5.25 CLP 4,904

-55.43%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.37 COP 40.3K

$4.78 CLP 4,465

158.79%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.20 COP 3,909

$1.60 CLP 1,490

-25.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.49 COP 8,104

$2.14 CLP 1,994

16.36%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.84 COP 2,727

$0.59 CLP 552

42.37%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$40.57 COP 132.1K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.42 COP 4,623

$1.59 CLP 1,480

-10.69%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.92 COP 6,235

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.66 COP 24.9K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.99 COP 3,223

$1.42 CLP 1,322

-30.28%

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

$18.0K COP 58.7M

$15.6K CLP 14.6M

15.39%

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

$26.6K COP 86.7M

$18.2K CLP 17.0M

45.97%

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

$80.8 COP 263.1K

$96.1 CLP 89.8K

-15.95%

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

$9.95 COP 32.4K

$18.60 CLP 17.4K

-46.51%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.18 COP 78.7K

$29.22 CLP 27.3K

-17.25%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.08 COP 81.6K

$42.96 CLP 40.1K

-41.62%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.15 COP 62.3K

$24.61 CLP 23.0K

-22.19%

Cinema Ticket

$3.98 COP 13.0K

$4.90 CLP 4,572

-18.78%

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

$305 COP 993.4K

$275 CLP 256.4K

11.14%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,059 COP 19.7M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.1 COP 189.2K

$54.7 CLP 51.1K

6.25%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$32.20 COP 104.8K

$18.60 CLP 17.4K

73.12%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$101 COP 327.9K

$52.2 CLP 48.7K

92.93%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$108 COP 350.8K

$82.0 CLP 76.5K

31.47%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$477 COP 1.6M

$598 CLP 558.2K

-20.29%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$376 COP 1.2M

$383 CLP 357.9K

-1.87%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$845 COP 2.7M

$1,039 CLP 970.4K

-18.74%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$730 COP 2.4M

$593 CLP 553.9K

23.11%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,215 COP 10.5M

$4,745 CLP 4.4M

-32.23%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,372 COP 4.5M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$617 COP 2.0M

$661 CLP 616.7K

-6.62%

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: July 12, 2026

Last update for Valdivia: July 11, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $477 in Medellin versus $598 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 7% 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 $42.00 in Valdivia. 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 Valdivia: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Valdivia is pricier by about 3%, and the gap shows up most in Getting Around. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,546 per month in Medellin and $1,593 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 $42.00 in Valdivia. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 25% 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 $1,031, than in Valdivia at $1,062. 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.