Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Santiago and Medellin

For one person, living is cheaper in Santiago: $1,163 a month against $1,639 in Medellin, rent and utilities included – about $5,700 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

56

Cost of Living Index in Santiago
Learn more

Santiago Living Index
79

Cost of Living Index in Medellin
Learn more

Medellin Living Index

Jump to prices

Santiago

🇨🇱 Chile

$1,163

/mo nomad

Medellin

🇨🇴 Colombia

$1,639

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Santiago and in Medellin

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Santiago and in Medellin actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $1,163 per month in Santiago vs $1,639 in Medellin, rent included.

Santiago $1,163
Medellin $1,639

A couple spends around $1,844 per month in Santiago vs $2,413 in Medellin, rent included.

Santiago $1,844
Medellin $2,413

A family of three spends $2,525 per month in Santiago vs $3,186 in Medellin, rent included.

Santiago $2,525
Medellin $3,186

Santiago is about 29% cheaper than Medellin, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in clothing.

Santiago sits 15% below the global median, while Medellin is 20% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$9.93 CLP 9,866

$8.09 COP 26.1K

22.74%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$49.88 CLP 49.5K

$47.05 COP 151.7K

6.01%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.64 CLP 8,585

$9.50 COP 30.6K

-9.05%

Cappuccino

$3.16 CLP 3,140

$3.01 COP 9,722

4.98%

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

$1.65 CLP 1,642

$1.80 COP 5,801

-8.33%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.24 CLP 1,235

$1.41 COP 4,554

-12.06%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.12 CLP 4,091

$3.18 COP 10.2K

29.56%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.60 CLP 4,574

$5.75 COP 18.5K

-20.00%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.22 CLP 1,214

$1.51 COP 4,869

-19.21%

White Bread (500g)

$1.82 CLP 1,803

$2.38 COP 7,667

-23.53%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.58 CLP 1,572

$1.77 COP 5,712

-10.73%

Eggs

$4.04 CLP 4,014

$2.89 COP 9,320

39.79%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.96 CLP 10.9K

$10.19 COP 32.9K

7.56%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.66 CLP 6,616

$9.87 COP 31.8K

-32.52%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.32 CLP 10.3K

$13.99 COP 45.1K

-26.23%

Apples (1kg)

$2.02 CLP 2,002

$3.97 COP 12.8K

-49.12%

Banana (1kg)

$1.49 CLP 1,479

$1.55 COP 5,005

-3.87%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.58 CLP 1,568

$2.18 COP 7,039

-27.52%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.72 CLP 1,704

$2.18 COP 7,041

-21.10%

Potato (1kg)

$1.04 CLP 1,037

$1.96 COP 6,328

-46.94%

Onion (1kg)

$1.51 CLP 1,499

$1.59 COP 5,125

-5.03%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.22 CLP 1,210

$1.15 COP 3,694

6.09%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.10 CLP 1,093

$1.24 COP 4,009

-11.29%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.10 CLP 5,063

$3.96 COP 12.8K

28.79%

Wine (Bottle)

$5.93 CLP 5,891

$13.68 COP 44.1K

-56.65%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.48 CLP 1,470

$1.66 COP 5,352

-10.84%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.25 CLP 2,232

$2.26 COP 7,281

-0.44%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.84 CLP 832

$1.17 COP 3,766

-28.21%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$40.64 CLP 40.4K

$77.4 COP 249.5K

-47.47%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.38 CLP 378

$1.27 COP 4,089

-70.08%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.82 CLP 813

$2.05 COP 6,603

-60.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$11.53 CLP 11.5K

$8.55 COP 27.6K

34.85%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.52 CLP 1,514

$1.35 COP 4,343

12.59%

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

$16.8K CLP 16.7M

$34.1K COP 109.8M

-50.60%

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

$24.9K CLP 24.8M

$34.7K COP 111.8M

-28.12%

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

$146 CLP 144.7K

$170 COP 547.0K

-14.12%

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

$12.20 CLP 12.1K

$13.55 COP 43.7K

-9.96%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.80 CLP 18.7K

$28.07 COP 90.5K

-33.02%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$32.41 CLP 32.2K

$43.70 COP 140.9K

-25.84%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$11.68 CLP 11.6K

$17.19 COP 55.4K

-32.05%

Cinema Ticket

$7.58 CLP 7,534

$6.91 COP 22.3K

9.70%

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

$440 CLP 436.9K

$797 COP 2.6M

-44.79%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$10.7K CLP 10.6M

$9,112 COP 29.4M

16.88%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$48.81 CLP 48.5K

$84.7 COP 273.2K

-42.39%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$28.87 CLP 28.7K

$58.0 COP 186.9K

-50.19%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$64.4 CLP 63.9K

$135 COP 435.2K

-52.32%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$80.9 CLP 80.4K

$97.9 COP 315.6K

-17.32%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$497 CLP 493.6K

$1,208 COP 3.9M

-58.86%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$373 CLP 370.9K

$642 COP 2.1M

-41.79%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$989 CLP 982.1K

$2,028 COP 6.5M

-51.24%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$750 CLP 745.0K

$1,012 COP 3.3M

-25.87%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,960 CLP 2.9M

$4,170 COP 13.4M

-29.02%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,517 CLP 2.5M

$1,910 COP 6.2M

31.77%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$771 CLP 765.9K

$657 COP 2.1M

17.34%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.39

10.94

-50.73%

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

Last update for Santiago: October 25, 2026

Last update for Medellin: October 25, 2026

Monthly budget structure

Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.

Accommodation & Living

Santiago

$373 32.1%

Medellin

$642 39.1% 71.8% $268

Groceries & Markets

Santiago

$232 19.9%

Medellin

$297 18.1% 28.1% $65

Eating Out

Santiago

$185 15.9%

Medellin

$170 10.4% 8.2% $15

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Santiago

$177 15.2%

Medellin

$211 12.9% 19.6% $35

Clothing & Footwear

Santiago

$100 8.6%

Medellin

$169 10.3% 68.4% $69

Getting Around

Santiago

$48 4.2%

Medellin

$94 5.7% 93% $45

Sport & Entertainment

Santiago

$48 4.1%

Medellin

$58 3.5% 20.9% $10

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $497 in Santiago versus $1,208 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 17% higher in Santiago, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $50 in Santiago versus $47 in Medellin. Groceries tell a different story – $232 in Santiago vs $297 in Medellin – so Santiago wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

Good to know

🇨🇱 Santiago

🇨🇴 Medellin

🕒 Local time

13:01 1:01 PM

11:01 11:01 AM

2 h behind Santiago

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

6,139,087 Capital

2,486,723

💱 Currency

Chilean Peso CLP $

Colombian Peso COP $

📈 Exchange rate

10,000 CLP = 10.07 USD

10,000 CLP = 9.02 EUR

10,000 COP = 3.1 USD

10,000 COP = 2.78 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

COP, USD, EUR to CLP – Chilean Peso Converter

🇺🇸 United States Dollar ($)

🇨🇱 Chilean Peso ($)

Chilean Peso exchange rates as of November 1, 2026: 1 USD = 993 CLP (1,000 CLP = 1.01 USD). 1 EUR = 1,109 CLP (10,000 CLP = 9.02 EUR).

Colombian Peso exchange rates as of November 1, 2026: 1 USD = 3,224 COP (10,000 COP = 3.1 USD). 1 EUR = 3,600 COP (10,000 COP = 2.78 EUR).

USD to CLP in detail →

On the map

Lowest

Highest

Between locations

Santiago Medellin 4,450 km ≈ 6 h nonstop flight

From you

Santiago
Medellin

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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

Santiago vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 41%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in clothing.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,745 per month in Santiago and $2,459 in Medellin. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Santiago, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $497 there versus $1,208 in Medellin.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $50 in Santiago and $47 in Medellin. That’s a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,163 in Santiago and $1,639 in Medellin. That makes Santiago about 29% cheaper.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Santiago, where all-in costs run around $1,163, than in Medellin at $1,639. In Santiago it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

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