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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,193 per month in Temuco vs $1,003 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,736 per month in Temuco vs $1,573 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,279 per month in Temuco vs $2,143 in Medellin, rent included.

Temuco costs about 19% more than Medellin, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Temuco and Medellin are more affordable than the global median – Temuco 10% lower, Medellin 25% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Temuco
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.21 CLP 6,706
$5.91 COP 18.6K
22.00%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.62 CLP 30.4K
$32.96 COP 103.8K
-1.03%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.43 CLP 6,910
$7.43 COP 23.4K
-
Cappuccino
$3.89 CLP 3,617
$1.65 COP 5,207
135.76%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.33 CLP 2,166
$1.10 COP 3,468
111.82%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.23 CLP 1,141
$0.78 COP 2,458
57.69%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.83 CLP 3,566
$1.72 COP 5,412
122.67%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.46 CLP 3,220
$3.18 COP 10.0K
8.81%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Temuco
Medellin
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.18 CLP 1,101
$1.10 COP 3,474
7.27%
White Bread (500g)
$1.47 CLP 1,372
$1.26 COP 3,962
16.67%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.37 CLP 1,271
$1.38 COP 4,349
-0.72%
Eggs
$3.45 CLP 3,214
$2.18 COP 6,858
58.26%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.64 CLP 8,966
$4.49 COP 14.1K
114.70%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.37 CLP 5,927
$5.79 COP 18.2K
10.02%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.11 CLP 11.3K
$8.97 COP 28.2K
35.01%
Apples (1kg)
$1.93 CLP 1,795
$2.32 COP 7,308
-16.81%
Banana (1kg)
$2.06 CLP 1,919
$1.06 COP 3,352
94.34%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.19 CLP 2,038
$1.52 COP 4,774
44.08%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.22 CLP 2,068
$1.36 COP 4,270
63.24%
Potato (1kg)
$2.49 CLP 2,314
$1.13 COP 3,552
120.35%
Onion (1kg)
$2.68 CLP 2,496
$1.17 COP 3,689
129.06%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.93 CLP 1,797
$0.90 COP 2,838
114.44%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.19 CLP 1,104
$0.90 COP 2,823
32.22%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.83 CLP 4,498
$2.23 COP 7,034
116.59%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.02 CLP 4,674
$12.12 COP 38.2K
-58.58%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.63 CLP 1,515
$1.19 COP 3,743
36.97%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.24 CLP 2,088
$2.48 COP 7,815
-9.68%
🚌 Getting Around
Temuco
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.87 CLP 812
$0.85 COP 2,687
2.35%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$35.22 CLP 32.8K
$41.62 COP 131.0K
-15.38%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.88 CLP 820
$1.42 COP 4,459
-38.03%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.53 CLP 1,425
$1.95 COP 6,141
-21.54%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$9.92 CLP 9,232
$7.89 COP 24.8K
25.73%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.45 CLP 1,345
$0.99 COP 3,118
46.46%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$13.0K CLP 12.1M
$17.6K COP 55.4M
-26.37%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$18.5K CLP 17.2M
$26.8K COP 84.4M
-30.97%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Temuco
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$211 CLP 196.6K
$83.0 COP 261.4K
154.55%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.86 CLP 11.0K
$9.70 COP 30.5K
22.27%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$14.93 CLP 13.9K
$23.52 COP 74.1K
-36.52%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Temuco
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$50.0 CLP 46.5K
$25.26 COP 79.5K
98.02%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$48.95 CLP 45.5K
$19.10 COP 60.1K
156.28%
Cinema Ticket
$4.84 CLP 4,500
$3.95 COP 12.4K
22.53%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Temuco
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$232 CLP 215.9K
$316 COP 994.2K
-26.53%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$2,914 CLP 2.7M
$5,975 COP 18.8M
-51.22%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Temuco
Medellin
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$46.83 CLP 43.6K
$60.0 COP 188.9K
-21.95%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$18.67 CLP 17.4K
$31.82 COP 100.2K
-41.33%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$69.1 CLP 64.3K
$102 COP 320.1K
-32.04%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$88.5 CLP 82.3K
$107 COP 338.3K
-17.68%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Temuco
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$417 CLP 387.6K
$475 COP 1.5M
-12.29%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$342 CLP 317.9K
$374 COP 1.2M
-8.65%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$730 CLP 679.3K
$849 COP 2.7M
-14.02%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$538 CLP 500.8K
$719 COP 2.3M
-25.18%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,083 CLP 1.9M
$3,265 COP 10.3M
-36.22%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,697 CLP 1.6M
$1,441 COP 4.5M
17.80%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Temuco
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$540 CLP 502.1K
$624 COP 2.0M
-13.59%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.8
13.43
-64.26%

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

Last update for Temuco: July 26, 2026

Last update for Medellin: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $417 in Temuco versus $475 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 16% higher in Medellin, 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 $33.00 in Temuco versus $33.00 in Medellin. Groceries tell a different story – $242 in Temuco vs $193 in Medellin – so Medellin wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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 – Temuco is pricier by about 19%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. 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 $1,789 per month in Temuco and $1,504 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 Medellin, 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 $33.00 in Temuco and $33.00 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 $1,193 in Temuco and $1,003 in Medellin. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Temuco or in Medellin?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Medellin, where all-in costs run around $1,003, than in Temuco at $1,193. In Medellin it covers expenses comfortably, while in Temuco it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Temuco or Medellin more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Medellin – 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 Medellin. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Temuco makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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