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

😐 Solo nomad: Santiago is 22% more expensive than Medellin without rent, and 26.1% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Santiago is 25.4% more expensive than Medellin without rent, and 26.9% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Santiago
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.82 CLP 9,591
$6.14 COP 22.1K
76.22%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$54.8 CLP 48.6K
$33.05 COP 119.0K
65.81%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.25 CLP 7,310
$7.32 COP 26.4K
12.70%
Cappuccino
$3.27 CLP 2,898
$1.66 COP 5,971
96.99%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.69 CLP 1,501
$1.10 COP 3,977
53.64%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.28 CLP 1,136
$0.78 COP 2,815
64.10%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.22 CLP 2,853
$1.71 COP 6,172
88.30%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.20 CLP 3,720
$3.17 COP 11.4K
32.49%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Santiago
Medellin
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.18 CLP 1,046
$1.11 COP 4,002
6.31%
White Bread (500g)
$1.51 CLP 1,337
$1.31 COP 4,707
15.27%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.09 CLP 1,852
$1.38 COP 4,967
51.45%
Eggs
$4.20 CLP 3,719
$2.22 COP 7,989
89.19%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.64 CLP 9,435
$4.34 COP 15.6K
145.16%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.84 CLP 6,067
$5.80 COP 20.9K
17.93%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.98 CLP 9,734
$8.98 COP 32.3K
22.27%
Apples (1kg)
$2.02 CLP 1,793
$2.26 COP 8,143
-10.62%
Banana (1kg)
$1.57 CLP 1,394
$1.11 COP 4,013
41.44%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.13 CLP 1,887
$1.46 COP 5,271
45.89%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.85 CLP 1,636
$1.37 COP 4,916
35.04%
Potato (1kg)
$1.89 CLP 1,678
$1.11 COP 3,999
70.27%
Onion (1kg)
$1.64 CLP 1,452
$1.16 COP 4,188
41.38%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.34 CLP 1,187
$0.89 COP 3,202
50.56%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.24 CLP 1,100
$0.87 COP 3,116
42.53%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.65 CLP 5,005
$2.35 COP 8,473
140.43%
Wine (Bottle)
$6.52 CLP 5,779
$10.86 COP 39.1K
-39.96%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.56 CLP 1,382
$1.20 COP 4,319
30.00%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.52 CLP 2,233
$2.48 COP 8,923
1.61%
🚌 Getting Around
Santiago
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.90 CLP 802
$0.79 COP 2,835
13.92%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$42.13 CLP 37.4K
$40.77 COP 146.8K
3.34%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.47 CLP 418
$1.42 COP 5,124
-66.90%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.45 CLP 1,287
$1.91 COP 6,882
-24.08%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$11.61 CLP 10.3K
$7.65 COP 27.5K
51.76%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.42 CLP 1,259
$0.97 COP 3,481
46.39%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.2K CLP 17.1M
$18.1K COP 65.2M
6.31%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.5K CLP 19.9M
$26.3K COP 94.7M
-14.57%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Santiago
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$131 CLP 115.9K
$81.3 COP 292.8K
60.82%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.65 CLP 12.1K
$9.63 COP 34.7K
41.74%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$21.78 CLP 19.3K
$24.36 COP 87.7K
-10.59%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Santiago
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$34.16 CLP 30.3K
$26.02 COP 93.7K
31.28%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$20.54 CLP 18.2K
$18.92 COP 68.1K
8.56%
Cinema Ticket
$6.54 CLP 5,798
$3.89 COP 14.0K
68.12%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Santiago
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$427 CLP 378.5K
$304 COP 1.1M
40.37%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$8,589 CLP 7.6M
$5,902 COP 21.3M
45.53%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Santiago
Medellin
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$56.5 CLP 50.1K
$58.7 COP 211.3K
-3.68%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$33.43 CLP 29.6K
$32.48 COP 116.9K
2.92%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$76.0 CLP 67.4K
$102 COP 366.3K
-25.30%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$84.0 CLP 74.4K
$108 COP 389.4K
-22.37%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Santiago
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$518 CLP 459.5K
$474 COP 1.7M
9.31%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$460 CLP 407.5K
$371 COP 1.3M
23.98%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$992 CLP 879.3K
$848 COP 3.1M
16.97%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$899 CLP 797.4K
$716 COP 2.6M
25.55%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,828 CLP 2.5M
$2,871 COP 10.3M
-1.50%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,986 CLP 2.6M
$1,375 COP 5.0M
117.09%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Santiago
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$848 CLP 751.8K
$542 COP 1.9M
56.59%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.18
13.43
-61.43%

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

Last update for Santiago: April 12, 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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