Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Valparaiso Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Valparaiso

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,003 per month in Medellin vs $1,169 in Valparaiso, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,573 per month in Medellin vs $1,696 in Valparaiso, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,143 per month in Medellin vs $2,223 in Valparaiso, rent included.

Medellin is about 14% cheaper than Valparaiso, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Medellin and Valparaiso are more affordable than the global median – Medellin 25% lower, Valparaiso 12% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.91 COP 18.6K

$9.75 CLP 9,071

-39.38%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.96 COP 103.8K

$37.86 CLP 35.2K

-12.94%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.43 COP 23.4K

$8.25 CLP 7,674

-9.94%

Cappuccino

$1.65 COP 5,207

$2.90 CLP 2,701

-43.10%

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

$1.10 COP 3,468

$1.19 CLP 1,105

-7.56%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.78 COP 2,458

$0.90 CLP 842

-13.33%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.72 COP 5,412

$3.27 CLP 3,039

-47.40%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.18 COP 10.0K

$4.34 CLP 4,042

-26.73%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.10 COP 3,474

$1.17 CLP 1,092

-5.98%

White Bread (500g)

$1.26 COP 3,962

$1.56 CLP 1,455

-19.23%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.38 COP 4,349

$2.09 CLP 1,946

-33.97%

Eggs

$2.18 COP 6,858

$4.17 CLP 3,878

-47.72%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.49 COP 14.1K

$10.40 CLP 9,674

-56.83%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.79 COP 18.2K

$6.65 CLP 6,184

-12.93%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.97 COP 28.2K

$9.71 CLP 9,035

-7.62%

Apples (1kg)

$2.32 COP 7,308

$1.76 CLP 1,641

31.82%

Banana (1kg)

$1.06 COP 3,352

$1.55 CLP 1,445

-31.61%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.52 COP 4,774

$1.58 CLP 1,472

-3.80%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.36 COP 4,270

$1.40 CLP 1,303

-2.86%

Potato (1kg)

$1.13 COP 3,552

$1.17 CLP 1,092

-3.42%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 COP 3,689

$1.36 CLP 1,266

-13.97%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.90 COP 2,838

$1.31 CLP 1,218

-31.30%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.90 COP 2,823

$1.19 CLP 1,111

-24.37%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.23 COP 7,034

$4.68 CLP 4,356

-52.35%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.12 COP 38.2K

$5.22 CLP 4,860

132.18%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.19 COP 3,743

$1.47 CLP 1,368

-19.05%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.48 COP 7,815

$1.83 CLP 1,701

35.52%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.85 COP 2,687

$0.56 CLP 525

51.79%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.62 COP 131.0K

$53.2 CLP 49.5K

-21.78%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.42 COP 4,459

$0.50 CLP 470

184.00%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.95 COP 6,141

$0.75 CLP 696

160.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.89 COP 24.8K

$3.88 CLP 3,607

103.35%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.99 COP 3,118

$1.37 CLP 1,277

-27.74%

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

$17.6K COP 55.4M

$15.0K CLP 13.9M

17.71%

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

$26.8K COP 84.4M

$20.3K CLP 18.9M

31.83%

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

$83.0 COP 261.4K

$134 CLP 124.8K

-38.09%

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

$9.70 COP 30.5K

$13.51 CLP 12.6K

-28.20%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$23.52 COP 74.1K

$21.81 CLP 20.3K

7.84%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.26 COP 79.5K

$22.40 CLP 20.8K

12.77%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.10 COP 60.1K

$24.28 CLP 22.6K

-21.33%

Cinema Ticket

$3.95 COP 12.4K

$5.38 CLP 5,006

-26.58%

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

$316 COP 994.2K

$435 CLP 404.9K

-27.43%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,975 COP 18.8M

$8,602 CLP 8.0M

-30.54%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$60.0 COP 188.9K

$32.60 CLP 30.3K

84.05%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$31.82 COP 100.2K

$21.96 CLP 20.4K

44.90%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$102 COP 320.1K

$60.7 CLP 56.4K

67.58%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$107 COP 338.3K

$51.1 CLP 47.5K

110.48%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$475 COP 1.5M

$489 CLP 454.7K

-2.82%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$374 COP 1.2M

$438 CLP 407.7K

-14.64%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$849 COP 2.7M

$707 CLP 657.6K

20.14%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$719 COP 2.3M

$563 CLP 524.2K

27.69%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,265 COP 10.3M

$1,604 CLP 1.5M

103.63%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,441 COP 4.5M

$1,045 CLP 972.7K

37.80%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$624 COP 2.0M

$783 CLP 728.6K

-20.26%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.43

5.18

159.27%

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

Last update for Medellin: July 27, 2026

Last update for Valparaiso: July 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $475 in Medellin versus $489 in Valparaiso. 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 25% higher in Valparaiso, 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 $38.00 in Valparaiso. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $193 vs $225 – 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 Valparaiso: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Valparaiso is pricier by about 17%, and the gap shows up most in Clothing & Footwear. 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 $1,754 in Valparaiso. 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 $38.00 in Valparaiso. 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 $1,169 in Valparaiso. 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 Valparaiso at $1,169. In Medellin it covers expenses comfortably, while in Valparaiso 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, Valparaiso makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.