Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Temuco and Medellin

For one person, living is cheaper in Temuco: $1,064 a month against $1,639 in Medellin, rent and utilities included – about $6,900 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Temuco, Chile
Medellin, Colombia
Temuco
🇨🇱 Chile
$1,064
/mo nomad
Medellin
🇨🇴 Colombia
$1,639
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Temuco 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 Temuco and in Medellin actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $1,064 per month in Temuco vs $1,639 in Medellin, rent included.

  • Temuco $1,064
  • Medellin $1,639

A couple spends around $1,594 per month in Temuco vs $2,413 in Medellin, rent included.

  • Temuco $1,594
  • Medellin $2,413

A family of three spends $2,124 per month in Temuco vs $3,186 in Medellin, rent included.

  • Temuco $2,124
  • Medellin $3,186

Temuco is about 35% cheaper than Medellin, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Temuco sits 22% below the global median, while Medellin is 20% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Temuco
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.38 CLP 7,335
$8.09 COP 26.1K
-8.78%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$30.40 CLP 30.2K
$47.05 COP 151.7K
-35.39%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.20 CLP 7,156
$9.50 COP 30.6K
-24.21%
Cappuccino
$3.77 CLP 3,743
$3.01 COP 9,722
25.25%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.17 CLP 2,152
$1.80 COP 5,801
20.56%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.05 CLP 1,044
$1.41 COP 4,554
-25.53%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.56 CLP 3,539
$3.18 COP 10.2K
11.95%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.35 CLP 3,324
$5.75 COP 18.5K
-41.74%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Temuco
Medellin
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.15 CLP 1,143
$1.51 COP 4,869
-23.84%
White Bread (500g)
$1.61 CLP 1,602
$2.38 COP 7,667
-32.35%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.18 CLP 1,171
$1.77 COP 5,712
-33.33%
Eggs
$3.46 CLP 3,432
$2.89 COP 9,320
19.72%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.27 CLP 8,215
$10.19 COP 32.9K
-18.84%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.16 CLP 5,122
$9.87 COP 31.8K
-47.72%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$8.92 CLP 8,866
$13.99 COP 45.1K
-36.24%
Apples (1kg)
$2.08 CLP 2,063
$3.97 COP 12.8K
-47.61%
Banana (1kg)
$2.08 CLP 2,066
$1.55 COP 5,005
34.19%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.03 CLP 2,021
$2.18 COP 7,039
-6.88%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.01 CLP 1,994
$2.18 COP 7,041
-7.80%
Potato (1kg)
$2.38 CLP 2,362
$1.96 COP 6,328
21.43%
Onion (1kg)
$2.17 CLP 2,153
$1.59 COP 5,125
36.48%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.49 CLP 1,481
$1.15 COP 3,694
29.57%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.17 CLP 1,166
$1.24 COP 4,009
-5.65%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.67 CLP 4,635
$3.96 COP 12.8K
17.93%
Wine (Bottle)
$4.72 CLP 4,692
$13.68 COP 44.1K
-65.50%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.51 CLP 1,503
$1.66 COP 5,352
-9.04%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.01 CLP 1,995
$2.26 COP 7,281
-11.06%
🚌 Getting Around
Temuco
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.82 CLP 810
$1.17 COP 3,766
-29.91%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$32.91 CLP 32.7K
$77.4 COP 249.5K
-57.46%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.77 CLP 766
$1.27 COP 4,089
-39.37%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.48 CLP 1,474
$2.05 COP 6,603
-27.80%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.85 CLP 8,792
$8.55 COP 27.6K
3.51%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.30 CLP 1,291
$1.35 COP 4,343
-3.70%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$11.9K CLP 11.8M
$34.1K COP 109.8M
-65.05%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$17.4K CLP 17.3M
$34.7K COP 111.8M
-49.86%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Temuco
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$137 CLP 136.2K
$170 COP 547.0K
-19.19%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.31 CLP 11.2K
$13.55 COP 43.7K
-16.53%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$22.74 CLP 22.6K
$28.07 COP 90.5K
-18.99%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Temuco
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$47.54 CLP 47.2K
$43.70 COP 140.9K
8.79%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$45.80 CLP 45.5K
$17.19 COP 55.4K
166.43%
Cinema Ticket
$4.42 CLP 4,392
$6.91 COP 22.3K
-36.03%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Temuco
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$210 CLP 208.4K
$797 COP 2.6M
-73.66%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$2,764 CLP 2.7M
$9,112 COP 29.4M
-69.66%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Temuco
Medellin
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$44.54 CLP 44.2K
$84.7 COP 273.2K
-47.43%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$17.35 CLP 17.2K
$58.0 COP 186.9K
-70.07%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$63.5 CLP 63.0K
$135 COP 435.2K
-52.99%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$82.2 CLP 81.7K
$97.9 COP 315.6K
-15.97%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Temuco
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$385 CLP 382.7K
$1,208 COP 3.9M
-68.10%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$319 CLP 316.4K
$642 COP 2.1M
-50.35%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$712 CLP 707.2K
$2,028 COP 6.5M
-64.89%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$503 CLP 499.6K
$1,012 COP 3.3M
-50.29%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,942 CLP 1.9M
$4,170 COP 13.4M
-53.44%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,632 CLP 1.6M
$1,910 COP 6.2M
-14.56%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Temuco
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$516 CLP 512.8K
$657 COP 2.1M
-21.45%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.8
10.94
-56.12%

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

Last update for Temuco: October 24, 2026

Last update for Medellin: October 25, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Temuco
$319
Medellin
$642 101% $323
Groceries & Markets
Temuco
$217
Medellin
$297 36.8% $80
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Temuco
$171
Medellin
$211 23.4% $40
Eating Out
Temuco
$163
Medellin
$170 3.9% $6.3
Clothing & Footwear
Temuco
$93
Medellin
$169 80.9% $76
Sport & Entertainment
Temuco
$56
Medellin
$58 2% $1.1
Getting Around
Temuco
$44
Medellin
$94 111% $49

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $385 in Temuco 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 27% higher in Medellin, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $30 in Temuco versus $47 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $217 vs $297 – making Temuco the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇨🇱 Temuco
🇨🇴 Medellin
🕒 Local time
23:11 11:11 PM
21:11 9:11 PM
2 h behind Temuco
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
235,509
2,486,723
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

COP, USD, EUR to CLP – Chilean Peso Converter

Chilean Peso exchange rates as of November 2, 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 2, 2026: 1 USD = 3,224 COP (10,000 COP = 3.1 USD). 1 EUR = 3,600 COP (10,000 COP = 2.78 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Temuco Medellin 5,010 km ≈ 7 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Temuco
  • 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
Temuco vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Temuco cheaper than Medellin?
Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 54%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in groceries.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,596 per month in Temuco and $2,459 in Medellin. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Temuco, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $385 there versus $1,208 in Medellin.
Is eating out cheaper in Temuco or in Medellin?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $30 in Temuco and $47 in Medellin. That’s a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
What are total monthly expenses in Temuco and in Medellin?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,064 in Temuco and $1,639 in Medellin. That makes Temuco about 35% cheaper.
Is $2,000 enough for either Temuco or Medellin?
$2,000 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $1,064 in Temuco and $1,639 in Medellin, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.
Is Temuco or Medellin more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Temuco – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Temuco. If higher salaries or specific career opportunities are the priority, Medellin makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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