Cost of Living Comparison Between Santiago and Medellin Cost of Living Comparison Between Santiago and Medellin

😐 Solo nomad: Santiago is 12.9% more expensive than Medellin without rent, and 39.7% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Santiago is 16.7% more expensive than Medellin without rent, and 28.6% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Santiago
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.41 PAB 4.41
$6.23 COP 26K
-29.21%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$30.52 PAB 30.52
$32.34 COP 134.8K
-5.63%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.89 PAB 4.89
$7.39 COP 30.8K
-33.83%
Cappuccino
$3.62 PAB 3.62
$1.72 COP 7,155
110.47%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.68 PAB 0.68
$1.1 COP 4,575
-38.18%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.82 PAB 0.82
$0.73 COP 3,060
12.33%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$0.99 PAB 0.99
$1.66 COP 6,916
-40.36%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.97 PAB 1.97
$3.2 COP 13.3K
-38.44%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Santiago
Medellin
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.8 PAB 1.8
$1.09 COP 4,552
65.14%
White Bread (500g)
$2.44 PAB 2.44
$1.24 COP 5,188
96.77%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.5 PAB 2.5
$1.33 COP 5,544
87.97%
Eggs
$2.94 PAB 2.94
$2.22 COP 9,252
32.43%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$11.56 PAB 11.56
$4.55 COP 19K
154.07%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.15 PAB 7.15
$5.71 COP 23.8K
25.22%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.97 PAB 9.97
$8.59 COP 35.8K
16.07%
Apples (1kg)
$3.42 PAB 3.42
$2.26 COP 9,410
51.33%
Banana (1kg)
$1.57 PAB 1.57
$1.07 COP 4,461
46.73%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.86 PAB 2.86
$1.51 COP 6,293
89.40%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.21 PAB 3.21
$1.42 COP 5,911
126.06%
Potato (1kg)
$2.19 PAB 2.19
$1.11 COP 4,619
97.30%
Onion (1kg)
$2.88 PAB 2.88
$1.18 COP 4,932
144.07%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.24 PAB 2.24
$0.89 COP 3,718
151.69%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.51 PAB 1.51
$0.84 COP 3,507
79.76%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.98 PAB 5.98
$2.35 COP 9,809
154.47%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.15 PAB 10.15
$9.34 COP 38.9K
8.67%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.28 PAB 1.28
$1.18 COP 4,927
8.47%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.45 PAB 2.45
$2.49 COP 10.4K
-1.61%
🚌 Getting Around
Santiago
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
-
$0.83 COP 3,464
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$41.9 COP 174.7K
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.55 PAB 2.55
$1.41 COP 5,899
80.85%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.84 PAB 1.84
$1.96 COP 8,164
-6.12%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$22.22 PAB 22.22
$7.85 COP 32.7K
183.06%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.93 PAB 0.93
$1.02 COP 4,265
-8.82%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.6K PAB 19.6K
$17.6K COP 73.4M
11.32%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.7K PAB 20.7K
$26.2K COP 109.2M
-21.11%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Santiago
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$120 PAB 120
$82.5 COP 344.1K
45.23%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$14.76 PAB 14.76
$9.44 COP 39.4K
56.36%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$42.61 PAB 42.61
$23.51 COP 98K
81.24%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Santiago
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
-
$25.68 COP 107.1K
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$19.14 COP 79.8K
-
Cinema Ticket
$7.77 PAB 7.77
$3.96 COP 16.5K
96.21%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Santiago
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$473 PAB 473
$305 COP 1.3M
55.20%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$15.8K PAB 15.8K
$5,925 COP 24.7M
166.30%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Santiago
Medellin
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$50.6 PAB 50.6
$57.9 COP 241.4K
-12.59%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$45.72 PAB 45.72
$31.59 COP 131.7K
44.73%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$88.2 PAB 88.2
$103 COP 430.1K
-14.47%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$120 PAB 120
$106 COP 440.5K
13.76%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Santiago
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$449 PAB 449
$489 COP 2M
-8.16%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$638 PAB 638
$379 COP 1.6M
68.45%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$650 PAB 650
$827 COP 3.4M
-21.34%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,112 PAB 1,112
$729 COP 3M
52.45%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$2,190 COP 9.1M
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$1,532 COP 6.4M
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Santiago
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$550 COP 2.3M
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.23
13.43
-53.61%

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

Last update for Santiago: October 28, 2025

Last update for Medellin: October 28, 2025

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