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

😐 Solo nomad: Santiago is 23.3% more expensive than Medellin without rent, and 39.4% more expensive with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: Santiago is 7.6% cheaper than Medellin without rent, and 21.5% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Santiago
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.56 PAB 4.56
$6.14 COP 22.1K
-25.73%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$29.57 PAB 29.57
$33.05 COP 119.0K
-10.53%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.12 PAB 5.12
$7.32 COP 26.4K
-30.05%
Cappuccino
$3.68 PAB 3.68
$1.66 COP 5,971
121.69%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.67 PAB 0.67
$1.10 COP 3,977
-39.09%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.84 PAB 0.84
$0.78 COP 2,815
7.69%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$0.98 PAB 0.98
$1.71 COP 6,172
-42.69%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.05 PAB 2.05
$3.17 COP 11.4K
-35.33%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Santiago
Medellin
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.90 PAB 1.90
$1.11 COP 4,002
71.17%
White Bread (500g)
$2.55 PAB 2.55
$1.31 COP 4,707
94.66%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.50 PAB 2.50
$1.38 COP 4,967
81.16%
Eggs
$2.86 PAB 2.86
$2.22 COP 7,989
28.83%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$11.63 PAB 11.63
$4.34 COP 15.6K
167.97%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.14 PAB 7.14
$5.80 COP 20.9K
23.10%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.85 PAB 9.85
$8.98 COP 32.3K
9.69%
Apples (1kg)
$3.29 PAB 3.29
$2.26 COP 8,143
45.58%
Banana (1kg)
$1.49 PAB 1.49
$1.11 COP 4,013
34.23%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.77 PAB 2.77
$1.46 COP 5,271
89.73%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.14 PAB 3.14
$1.37 COP 4,916
129.20%
Potato (1kg)
$2.21 PAB 2.21
$1.11 COP 3,999
99.10%
Onion (1kg)
$2.83 PAB 2.83
$1.16 COP 4,188
143.97%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.21 PAB 2.21
$0.89 COP 3,202
148.31%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.58 PAB 1.58
$0.87 COP 3,116
81.61%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$6.09 PAB 6.09
$2.35 COP 8,473
159.15%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.93 PAB 10.93
$10.86 COP 39.1K
0.64%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.28 PAB 1.28
$1.20 COP 4,319
6.67%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.37 PAB 2.37
$2.48 COP 8,923
-4.44%
🚌 Getting Around
Santiago
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
-
$0.79 COP 2,835
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$40.77 COP 146.8K
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.44 PAB 2.44
$1.42 COP 5,124
71.83%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.83 PAB 1.83
$1.91 COP 6,882
-4.19%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$21.69 PAB 21.69
$7.65 COP 27.5K
183.53%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.92 PAB 0.92
$0.97 COP 3,481
-5.15%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$20.1K PAB 20.1K
$18.1K COP 65.2M
10.89%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.8K PAB 20.8K
$26.3K COP 94.7M
-20.80%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Santiago
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$120 PAB 120
$81.3 COP 292.8K
47.26%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$14.86 PAB 14.86
$9.63 COP 34.7K
54.31%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$42.91 PAB 42.91
$24.36 COP 87.7K
76.15%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Santiago
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
-
$26.02 COP 93.7K
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$18.92 COP 68.1K
-
Cinema Ticket
$8.15 PAB 8.15
$3.89 COP 14.0K
109.51%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Santiago
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$477 PAB 477
$304 COP 1.1M
56.78%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$15.9K PAB 15.9K
$5,902 COP 21.3M
168.97%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Santiago
Medellin
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$50.7 PAB 50.7
$58.7 COP 211.3K
-13.53%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$46.79 PAB 46.79
$32.48 COP 116.9K
44.06%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$88.0 PAB 88.0
$102 COP 366.3K
-13.51%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$122 PAB 122
$108 COP 389.4K
13.07%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Santiago
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$458 PAB 458
$474 COP 1.7M
-3.52%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$643 PAB 643
$371 COP 1.3M
73.29%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$663 PAB 663
$848 COP 3.1M
-21.85%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,079 PAB 1,079
$716 COP 2.6M
50.66%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$2,871 COP 10.3M
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$1,375 COP 5.0M
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Santiago
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$542 COP 1.9M
-
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: April 11, 2026

Last update for Medellin: April 13, 2026

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

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