Cost of Living Comparison Between Temuco and Medellin Cost of Living Comparison Between Temuco and Medellin

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,113 per month in Temuco vs $1,681 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,656 per month in Temuco vs $2,445 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,199 per month in Temuco vs $3,210 in Medellin, rent included.

Temuco is about 34% cheaper than Medellin, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Temuco sits 19% below the global median, while Medellin is 23% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Temuco
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.66 CLP 7,309
$8.02 COP 25.0K
-4.49%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$31.48 CLP 30.0K
$47.87 COP 149.4K
-34.24%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.14 CLP 6,817
$9.89 COP 30.8K
-27.81%
Cappuccino
$3.87 CLP 3,693
$3.13 COP 9,767
23.64%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.25 CLP 2,143
$1.91 COP 5,954
17.80%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.15 CLP 1,093
$1.51 COP 4,712
-23.84%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.72 CLP 3,553
$3.12 COP 9,747
19.23%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.35 CLP 3,199
$5.75 COP 17.9K
-41.74%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Temuco
Medellin
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.18 CLP 1,121
$1.44 COP 4,509
-18.06%
White Bread (500g)
$1.43 CLP 1,366
$2.49 COP 7,759
-42.57%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.33 CLP 1,265
$1.77 COP 5,535
-24.86%
Eggs
$3.48 CLP 3,317
$2.96 COP 9,235
17.57%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.25 CLP 8,828
$10.07 COP 31.4K
-8.14%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.05 CLP 5,774
$10.12 COP 31.6K
-40.22%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.72 CLP 11.2K
$14.30 COP 44.6K
-18.04%
Apples (1kg)
$1.87 CLP 1,781
$4.14 COP 12.9K
-54.83%
Banana (1kg)
$2.06 CLP 1,965
$1.61 COP 5,019
27.95%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.03 CLP 1,939
$2.25 COP 7,007
-9.78%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.24 CLP 2,141
$2.25 COP 7,028
-0.44%
Potato (1kg)
$2.40 CLP 2,291
$2.04 COP 6,375
17.65%
Onion (1kg)
$2.64 CLP 2,519
$1.54 COP 4,790
71.43%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.88 CLP 1,792
$1.17 COP 3,651
60.68%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.21 CLP 1,154
$1.31 COP 4,077
-7.63%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.76 CLP 4,545
$3.90 COP 12.2K
22.05%
Wine (Bottle)
$4.89 CLP 4,665
$14.01 COP 43.7K
-65.10%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.56 CLP 1,493
$1.74 COP 5,439
-10.34%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.17 CLP 2,072
$2.87 COP 8,956
-24.39%
🚌 Getting Around
Temuco
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.90 CLP 861
$1.22 COP 3,792
-26.23%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$34.55 CLP 33.0K
$80.5 COP 251.1K
-57.07%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.87 CLP 828
$1.31 COP 4,084
-33.59%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.53 CLP 1,463
$2.19 COP 6,825
-30.14%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$9.48 CLP 9,047
$8.71 COP 27.2K
8.84%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.36 CLP 1,296
$1.37 COP 4,260
-0.73%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$12.5K CLP 12.0M
$27.8K COP 86.9M
-54.95%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$17.7K CLP 16.9M
$35.8K COP 111.6M
-50.44%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Temuco
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$140 CLP 133.2K
$177 COP 553.2K
-21.26%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.45 CLP 10.9K
$13.88 COP 43.3K
-17.51%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$23.22 CLP 22.2K
$29.72 COP 92.8K
-21.87%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Temuco
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$48.19 CLP 46.0K
$44.88 COP 140.1K
7.38%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$46.11 CLP 44.0K
$17.12 COP 53.4K
169.33%
Cinema Ticket
$4.79 CLP 4,568
$6.65 COP 20.7K
-27.97%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Temuco
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$218 CLP 207.8K
$813 COP 2.5M
-73.22%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$2,845 CLP 2.7M
$9,187 COP 28.7M
-69.03%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Temuco
Medellin
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$44.53 CLP 42.5K
$89.5 COP 279.3K
-50.24%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$18.01 CLP 17.2K
$59.0 COP 184.0K
-69.46%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$65.5 CLP 62.5K
$138 COP 431.2K
-52.58%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$84.3 CLP 80.4K
$102 COP 318.7K
-17.51%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Temuco
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$400 CLP 382.0K
$1,062 COP 3.3M
-62.30%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$332 CLP 316.7K
$663 COP 2.1M
-49.94%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$733 CLP 699.7K
$1,888 COP 5.9M
-61.17%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$522 CLP 498.2K
$1,027 COP 3.2M
-49.17%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,064 CLP 2.0M
$4,183 COP 13.1M
-50.65%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,696 CLP 1.6M
$1,675 COP 5.2M
1.26%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Temuco
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$542 CLP 516.8K
$678 COP 2.1M
-20.08%
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: September 12, 2026

Last update for Medellin: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $400 in Temuco versus $1,062 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 25% 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 $31.00 in Temuco versus $48.00 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $236 vs $305 – making Temuco the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 Medellin cheaper than Temuco?
Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 51%, and the gap shows up most in Clothing & Footwear. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,670 per month in Temuco and $2,521 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. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Is eating out cheaper in Temuco or in Medellin?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $31.00 in Temuco and $48.00 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 $1,113 in Temuco and $1,681 in Medellin. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Is $2,000 a realistic budget for living in Temuco or in Medellin?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Temuco, where all-in costs run around $1,113, than in Medellin at $1,681. In Temuco it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
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, better infrastructure, 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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