Cost of Living Comparison Between Puerto Varas and Medellin Cost of Living Comparison Between Puerto Varas and Medellin

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,189 per month in Puerto Varas vs $1,716 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,680 per month in Puerto Varas vs $2,527 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,171 per month in Puerto Varas vs $3,338 in Medellin, rent included.

Puerto Varas is about 31% cheaper than Medellin, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Puerto Varas sits 13% below the global median, while Medellin is 25% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$13.02 CLP 12.2K

$8.03 COP 25.1K

62.14%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$42.21 CLP 39.4K

$48.26 COP 150.8K

-12.54%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.89 CLP 7,366

$9.77 COP 30.5K

-19.24%

Cappuccino

$3.41 CLP 3,184

$2.91 COP 9,095

17.18%

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

$1.04 CLP 973

$1.94 COP 6,074

-46.39%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.86 CLP 803

$1.52 COP 4,754

-43.42%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.09 COP 9,663

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.74 COP 17.9K

Milk (1 liter)

$1.16 CLP 1,086

$1.36 COP 4,262

-14.71%

White Bread (500g)

$1.89 CLP 1,764

$2.39 COP 7,460

-20.92%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.61 CLP 1,503

$1.70 COP 5,314

-5.29%

Eggs

$3.22 CLP 3,007

$2.87 COP 8,967

12.20%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.14 CLP 8,531

$9.94 COP 31.1K

-8.05%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.91 CLP 4,589

$10.78 COP 33.7K

-54.45%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.33 CLP 8,707

$14.73 COP 46.0K

-36.66%

Apples (1kg)

$1.84 CLP 1,722

$4.09 COP 12.8K

-55.01%

Banana (1kg)

$1.98 CLP 1,849

$1.57 COP 4,911

26.11%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.58 CLP 2,413

$2.13 COP 6,642

21.13%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.96 CLP 1,834

$2.21 COP 6,917

-11.31%

Potato (1kg)

$1.57 CLP 1,461

$2.05 COP 6,396

-23.41%

Onion (1kg)

$1.25 CLP 1,169

$1.50 COP 4,700

-16.67%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.36 CLP 1,268

$1.19 COP 3,718

14.29%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.19 CLP 1,111

$1.16 COP 3,619

2.59%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.25 CLP 4,906

$3.90 COP 12.2K

34.62%

Wine (Bottle)

$4.84 CLP 4,515

$14.44 COP 45.1K

-66.48%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.43 CLP 1,336

$1.58 COP 4,948

-9.49%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.26 CLP 1,181

$2.83 COP 8,836

-55.48%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.15 CLP 1,074

$1.17 COP 3,650

-1.71%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$77.7 COP 242.9K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.28 COP 4,014

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.09 COP 6,537

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.62 COP 26.9K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.30 COP 4,056

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

$27.7K COP 86.4M

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

$35.5K COP 110.9M

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

$265 CLP 247.6K

$176 COP 550.1K

50.62%

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

$17.11 CLP 16.0K

$13.37 COP 41.8K

27.97%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$29.89 COP 93.4K

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$32.25 CLP 30.1K

$44.76 COP 139.8K

-27.95%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.06 COP 53.3K

Cinema Ticket

$6.20 COP 19.4K

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

$511 CLP 477.3K

$793 COP 2.5M

-35.57%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,511 CLP 6.1M

$9,019 COP 28.2M

-27.81%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$21.03 CLP 19.6K

$85.6 COP 267.5K

-75.44%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$15.74 CLP 14.7K

$58.5 COP 182.7K

-73.08%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$64.1 CLP 59.9K

$136 COP 425.9K

-52.94%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$103 COP 322.2K

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$643 CLP 600.8K

$1,060 COP 3.3M

-39.27%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$421 CLP 393.0K

$680 COP 2.1M

-38.06%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$863 CLP 805.4K

$2,012 COP 6.3M

-57.13%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$641 CLP 598.4K

$1,169 COP 3.7M

-45.15%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,111 COP 12.8M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,701 COP 5.3M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$547 CLP 510.8K

$665 COP 2.1M

-17.77%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

10.94

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

Last update for Puerto Varas: August 30, 2026

Last update for Medellin: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $643 in Puerto Varas versus $1,060 in Medellin. 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 22% higher in Medellin, 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 $42.00 in Puerto Varas versus $48.00 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $217 vs $303 – making Puerto Varas 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

Puerto Varas vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 44%, 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 $1,783 per month in Puerto Varas and $2,574 in Medellin. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Puerto Varas, 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 $42.00 in Puerto Varas and $48.00 in Medellin. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 40% more in Medellin, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Puerto Varas, where all-in costs run around $1,189, than in Medellin at $1,716. In Puerto Varas it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Puerto Varas – 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 Puerto Varas. 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.