Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Villarrica

For one person, living is cheaper in Villarrica: $406 a month against $1,625 in Medellin, rent and utilities included – about $14,600 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Medellin
🇨🇴 Colombia
$1,625
/mo nomad
Villarrica
🇨🇱 Chile
$406
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Medellin and in Villarrica

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Medellin and in Villarrica actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $1,625 per month in Medellin vs $406 in Villarrica, rent included.

  • Medellin $1,625
  • Villarrica $406

A couple spends around $2,412 per month in Medellin vs $608 in Villarrica, rent included.

  • Medellin $2,412
  • Villarrica $608

A family of three spends $3,199 per month in Medellin vs $811 in Villarrica, rent included.

  • Medellin $3,199
  • Villarrica $811

Medellin costs about 300% more than Villarrica, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in clothing.

Medellin sits 20% above the global median, while Villarrica is 70% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Villarrica
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.30 COP 26.3K
-
-
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.91 COP 148.7K
-
-
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.24 COP 29.3K
-
-
Cappuccino
$3.05 COP 9,676
$2.34 CLP 2,303
30.34%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.80 COP 5,707
$1.55 CLP 1,528
16.13%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.38 COP 4,382
$1.01 CLP 990
36.63%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.24 COP 10.3K
$2.50 CLP 2,465
29.60%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.56 COP 17.6K
$4.50 CLP 4,431
23.56%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Villarrica
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.50 COP 4,760
$1.24 CLP 1,223
20.97%
White Bread (500g)
$2.37 COP 7,508
$2.58 CLP 2,535
-8.14%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.70 COP 5,377
$2.41 CLP 2,374
-29.46%
Eggs
$2.96 COP 9,379
$3.03 CLP 2,986
-2.31%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.22 COP 32.4K
$8.26 CLP 8,134
23.73%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.74 COP 30.9K
$10.72 CLP 10.5K
-9.14%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.90 COP 44.1K
-
-
Apples (1kg)
$4.13 COP 13.1K
$2.56 CLP 2,525
61.33%
Banana (1kg)
$1.53 COP 4,839
$1.80 CLP 1,775
-15.00%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.22 COP 7,052
$2.69 CLP 2,648
-17.47%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.27 COP 7,194
$1.38 CLP 1,363
64.49%
Potato (1kg)
$1.99 COP 6,311
$1.47 CLP 1,448
35.37%
Onion (1kg)
$1.67 COP 5,285
$1.21 CLP 1,189
38.02%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.18 COP 3,742
$1.56 CLP 1,538
-24.36%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.24 COP 3,919
$1.95 CLP 1,924
-36.41%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.87 COP 12.3K
-
-
Wine (Bottle)
$13.78 COP 43.7K
$5.50 CLP 5,417
150.55%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.66 COP 5,256
-
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.40 COP 7,615
$3.52 CLP 3,469
-31.82%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Villarrica
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.24 COP 3,944
$1.81 CLP 1,777
-31.49%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$78.2 COP 248.0K
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.28 COP 4,044
$2.02 CLP 1,984
-36.63%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.15 COP 6,803
$2.02 CLP 1,989
6.44%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.37 COP 26.5K
-
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.35 COP 4,288
-
-
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.8K COP 110.2M
-
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.7K COP 110.0M
-
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Villarrica
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$167 COP 528.4K
$62.1 CLP 61.1K
168.27%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.62 COP 43.2K
-
-
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.12 COP 92.3K
-
-
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Villarrica
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$45.09 COP 143.0K
$30.23 CLP 29.8K
49.16%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.18 COP 54.5K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.97 COP 22.1K
-
-
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Villarrica
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$790 COP 2.5M
-
-
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$9,041 COP 28.7M
-
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Villarrica
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$87.8 COP 278.4K
-
-
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$58.2 COP 184.4K
-
-
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$139 COP 440.7K
-
-
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$98.9 COP 313.5K
-
-
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Villarrica
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,028 COP 3.3M
-
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$620 COP 2.0M
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,881 COP 6.0M
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,008 COP 3.2M
-
-
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,988 COP 12.6M
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,702 COP 5.4M
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Villarrica
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$663 COP 2.1M
$509 CLP 501.0K
30.33%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
10.94
0
-

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

Last update for Medellin: October 19, 2026

Last update for Villarrica: October 19, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Medellin
$619
Villarrica
- * 100%
Groceries & Markets
Medellin
$298
Villarrica
$234 * 21.4% $64
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
$209
Villarrica
$62 * 70.3% $147
Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
$173
Villarrica
- * 100%
Eating Out
Medellin
$171
Villarrica
$60 * 65% $111
Getting Around
Medellin
$95
Villarrica
$19 * 79.7% $76
Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
$59
Villarrica
$30 * 48.8% $29

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 30% higher in Medellin, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

Good to know
🇨🇴 Medellin
🇨🇱 Villarrica
🕒 Local time
07:37 7:37 AM
09:37 9:37 AM
2 h ahead of Medellin
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
2,486,723
31,780
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

CLP, USD, EUR to COP – Colombian Peso Converter

Colombian Peso exchange rates as of October 20, 2026: 1 USD = 3,171 COP (10,000 COP = 3.15 USD). 1 EUR = 3,565 COP (10,000 COP = 2.81 EUR).

Chilean Peso exchange rates as of October 20, 2026: 1 USD = 984 CLP (1,000 CLP = 1.02 USD). 1 EUR = 1,107 CLP (10,000 CLP = 9.04 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Medellin Villarrica 5,080 km ≈ 7 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Medellin
  • Villarrica

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 Villarrica: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Villarrica cheaper than Medellin?
Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 300%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in clothing.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,437 per month in Medellin and $609 in Villarrica. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
What are total monthly expenses in Medellin and in Villarrica?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,625 in Medellin and $406 in Villarrica. That's a gap of about 300%.
How do food prices compare in Medellin and in Villarrica?
Groceries cost about 27% more in Medellin, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Is $2,000 a realistic budget for living in Medellin or in Villarrica?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Villarrica, where all-in costs run around $406, than in Medellin at $1,625. In Villarrica it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Medellin or Villarrica more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Villarrica – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Villarrica. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Medellin makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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