Cost of Living Comparison Between San Pedro de Atacama and Medellin Cost of Living Comparison Between San Pedro de Atacama and Medellin

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,055 per month in San Pedro de Atacama vs $1,716 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,638 per month in San Pedro de Atacama vs $2,527 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,221 per month in San Pedro de Atacama vs $3,338 in Medellin, rent included.

San Pedro de Atacama is about 39% cheaper than Medellin, driven mainly by Getting Around.

San Pedro de Atacama sits 23% below the global median, while Medellin is 25% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.26 CLP 6,780

$8.03 COP 25.1K

-9.59%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$44.49 CLP 41.5K

$48.26 COP 150.8K

-7.81%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.00 CLP 7,473

$9.77 COP 30.5K

-18.12%

Cappuccino

$2.83 CLP 2,645

$2.91 COP 9,095

-2.75%

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

$1.57 CLP 1,463

$1.94 COP 6,074

-19.07%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.17 CLP 1,092

$1.52 COP 4,754

-23.03%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.51 CLP 3,280

$3.09 COP 9,663

13.59%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.85 CLP 3,592

$5.74 COP 17.9K

-32.93%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.23 CLP 1,153

$1.36 COP 4,262

-9.56%

White Bread (500g)

$1.53 CLP 1,430

$2.39 COP 7,460

-35.98%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.69 CLP 1,579

$1.70 COP 5,314

-0.59%

Eggs

$3.56 CLP 3,323

$2.87 COP 8,967

24.04%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.17 CLP 9,496

$9.94 COP 31.1K

2.31%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.58 CLP 6,142

$10.78 COP 33.7K

-38.96%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.54 CLP 10.8K

$14.73 COP 46.0K

-21.66%

Apples (1kg)

$1.89 CLP 1,766

$4.09 COP 12.8K

-53.79%

Banana (1kg)

$1.56 CLP 1,460

$1.57 COP 4,911

-0.64%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.79 CLP 1,670

$2.13 COP 6,642

-15.96%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.69 CLP 1,575

$2.21 COP 6,917

-23.53%

Potato (1kg)

$1.64 CLP 1,529

$2.05 COP 6,396

-20.00%

Onion (1kg)

$1.56 CLP 1,459

$1.50 COP 4,700

4.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.34 CLP 1,255

$1.19 COP 3,718

12.61%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.24 CLP 1,154

$1.16 COP 3,619

6.90%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.23 CLP 4,883

$3.90 COP 12.2K

34.10%

Wine (Bottle)

$5.16 CLP 4,819

$14.44 COP 45.1K

-64.27%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.55 CLP 1,450

$1.58 COP 4,948

-1.90%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.14 CLP 1,995

$2.83 COP 8,836

-24.38%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.62 CLP 578

$1.17 COP 3,650

-47.01%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$77.7 COP 242.9K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.67 CLP 625

$1.28 COP 4,014

-47.66%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.09 COP 6,537

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.62 COP 26.9K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.37 CLP 1,278

$1.30 COP 4,056

5.38%

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

$17.5K CLP 16.3M

$27.7K COP 86.4M

-36.74%

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

$19.3K CLP 18.0M

$35.5K COP 110.9M

-45.57%

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

$129 CLP 120.8K

$176 COP 550.1K

-26.51%

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

$13.28 CLP 12.4K

$13.37 COP 41.8K

-0.67%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$22.02 CLP 20.6K

$29.89 COP 93.4K

-26.33%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$39.16 CLP 36.6K

$44.76 COP 139.8K

-12.51%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$22.92 CLP 21.4K

$17.06 COP 53.3K

34.35%

Cinema Ticket

$5.31 CLP 4,960

$6.20 COP 19.4K

-14.35%

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

$386 CLP 360.7K

$793 COP 2.5M

-51.30%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,559 CLP 8.0M

$9,019 COP 28.2M

-5.10%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$47.54 CLP 44.4K

$85.6 COP 267.5K

-44.47%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.26 CLP 23.6K

$58.5 COP 182.7K

-56.80%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$62.1 CLP 58.0K

$136 COP 425.9K

-54.43%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$83.7 CLP 78.2K

$103 COP 322.2K

-18.82%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$476 CLP 444.7K

$1,060 COP 3.3M

-55.05%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$370 CLP 345.7K

$680 COP 2.1M

-45.52%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$877 CLP 819.0K

$2,012 COP 6.3M

-56.40%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$585 CLP 546.3K

$1,169 COP 3.7M

-49.93%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,324 CLP 2.2M

$4,111 COP 12.8M

-43.49%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,701 COP 5.3M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$665 COP 2.1M

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.01

10.94

-54.20%

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

Last update for San Pedro de Atacama: September 1, 2026

Last update for Medellin: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $476 in San Pedro de Atacama 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.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $44.00 in San Pedro de Atacama versus $48.00 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $232 vs $303 – making San Pedro de Atacama 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

San Pedro de Atacama vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 63%, 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 $1,583 per month in San Pedro de Atacama 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 San Pedro de Atacama, 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 $44.00 in San Pedro de Atacama 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 31% 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 $1,500 monthly budget goes further in San Pedro de Atacama, where all-in costs run around $1,055, than in Medellin at $1,716. In San Pedro de Atacama it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward San Pedro de Atacama – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with San Pedro de Atacama. 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.