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

😐 Solo nomad: Santiago is 15.4% more expensive than Medellin without rent, and 35.8% more expensive with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: Santiago is 4.1% cheaper than Medellin without rent, and 25% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Santiago
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.39 PAB 4.39
$6.03 COP 22.7K
-27.20%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$30.38 PAB 30.38
$33.17 COP 124.8K
-8.41%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.92 PAB 4.92
$7.29 COP 27.4K
-32.51%
Cappuccino
$3.67 PAB 3.67
$1.63 COP 6,134
125.15%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.67 PAB 0.67
$1.05 COP 3,948
-36.19%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.81 PAB 0.81
$0.77 COP 2,899
5.19%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$0.97 PAB 0.97
$1.73 COP 6,511
-43.93%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.99 PAB 1.99
$3.18 COP 12.0K
-37.42%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Santiago
Medellin
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.88 PAB 1.88
$1.07 COP 4,016
75.70%
White Bread (500g)
$2.50 PAB 2.50
$1.31 COP 4,935
90.84%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.38 PAB 2.38
$1.38 COP 5,196
72.46%
Eggs
$2.81 PAB 2.81
$2.25 COP 8,458
24.89%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$11.56 PAB 11.56
$4.48 COP 16.9K
158.04%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.23 PAB 7.23
$5.74 COP 21.6K
25.96%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.22 PAB 10.22
$8.86 COP 33.4K
15.35%
Apples (1kg)
$3.28 PAB 3.28
$2.24 COP 8,440
46.43%
Banana (1kg)
$1.49 PAB 1.49
$1.06 COP 3,989
40.57%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.73 PAB 2.73
$1.51 COP 5,698
80.79%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.19 PAB 3.19
$1.36 COP 5,120
134.56%
Potato (1kg)
$2.28 PAB 2.28
$1.12 COP 4,219
103.57%
Onion (1kg)
$2.76 PAB 2.76
$1.17 COP 4,401
135.90%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.17 PAB 2.17
$0.90 COP 3,396
141.11%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.58 PAB 1.58
$0.84 COP 3,150
88.10%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$6.07 PAB 6.07
$2.26 COP 8,502
168.58%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.56 PAB 10.56
$9.97 COP 37.5K
5.92%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.30 PAB 1.30
$1.18 COP 4,452
10.17%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.34 PAB 2.34
$2.39 COP 8,995
-2.09%
🚌 Getting Around
Santiago
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
-
$0.86 COP 3,234
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$41.45 COP 156.0K
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.52 PAB 2.52
$1.47 COP 5,522
71.43%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.79 PAB 1.79
$1.95 COP 7,324
-8.21%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$21.68 PAB 21.68
$7.76 COP 29.2K
179.38%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.87 PAB 0.87
$0.97 COP 3,641
-10.31%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$20.1K PAB 20.1K
$17.9K COP 67.6M
11.96%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.9K PAB 20.9K
$26.7K COP 100.6M
-21.94%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Santiago
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$121 PAB 121
$81.1 COP 305.2K
48.74%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$15.04 PAB 15.04
$9.40 COP 35.4K
60.00%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$42.25 PAB 42.25
$23.61 COP 88.8K
78.95%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Santiago
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
-
$25.55 COP 96.1K
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$19.29 COP 72.6K
-
Cinema Ticket
$8.09 PAB 8.09
$4.10 COP 15.4K
97.32%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Santiago
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$476 PAB 476
$306 COP 1.2M
55.44%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$15.5K PAB 15.5K
$5,899 COP 22.2M
162.82%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Santiago
Medellin
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$52.1 PAB 52.1
$59.8 COP 225.1K
-12.86%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$46.79 PAB 46.79
$31.96 COP 120.3K
46.40%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$87.6 PAB 87.6
$103 COP 386.5K
-14.72%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$121 PAB 121
$108 COP 406.0K
12.43%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Santiago
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$444 PAB 444
$483 COP 1.8M
-8.05%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$643 PAB 643
$377 COP 1.4M
70.37%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$659 PAB 659
$822 COP 3.1M
-19.78%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,082 PAB 1,082
$721 COP 2.7M
50.01%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$2,784 COP 10.5M
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$1,320 COP 5.0M
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Santiago
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$538 COP 2.0M
-
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: March 3, 2026

Last update for Medellin: March 3, 2026

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated December 2025)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Similar cities