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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,189 per month in Temuco vs $1,017 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,758 per month in Temuco vs $1,602 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,327 per month in Temuco vs $2,188 in Medellin, rent included.

Temuco costs about 17% more than Medellin, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Temuco and Medellin are more affordable than the global median – Temuco 12% lower, Medellin 24% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Temuco
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.22 CLP 6,486
$5.95 COP 20.8K
21.34%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.40 CLP 29.1K
$33.33 COP 116.3K
-2.79%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.53 CLP 6,764
$7.23 COP 25.2K
4.15%
Cappuccino
$3.93 CLP 3,535
$1.63 COP 5,687
141.10%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.29 CLP 2,055
$1.09 COP 3,821
110.09%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.27 CLP 1,144
$0.73 COP 2,548
73.97%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.69 CLP 3,319
$1.74 COP 6,065
112.07%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.43 CLP 3,080
$3.23 COP 11.3K
6.19%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Temuco
Medellin
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.19 CLP 1,067
$1.05 COP 3,662
13.33%
White Bread (500g)
$1.47 CLP 1,324
$1.29 COP 4,515
13.95%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.30 CLP 1,173
$1.32 COP 4,617
-1.52%
Eggs
$3.40 CLP 3,053
$2.27 COP 7,927
49.78%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.49 CLP 8,526
$4.35 COP 15.2K
118.16%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.33 CLP 5,686
$5.88 COP 20.5K
7.65%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.04 CLP 10.8K
$8.61 COP 30.0K
39.84%
Apples (1kg)
$1.89 CLP 1,700
$2.25 COP 7,844
-16.00%
Banana (1kg)
$2.07 CLP 1,860
$1.07 COP 3,733
93.46%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.21 CLP 1,988
$1.52 COP 5,322
45.39%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.28 CLP 2,052
$1.42 COP 4,964
60.56%
Potato (1kg)
$2.46 CLP 2,209
$1.17 COP 4,084
110.26%
Onion (1kg)
$2.60 CLP 2,333
$1.17 COP 4,077
122.22%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.96 CLP 1,759
$0.89 COP 3,096
120.22%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.23 CLP 1,107
$0.90 COP 3,146
36.67%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.77 CLP 4,291
$2.25 COP 7,837
112.00%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.09 CLP 4,572
$11.04 COP 38.5K
-53.89%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.57 CLP 1,412
$1.14 COP 3,977
37.72%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.15 CLP 1,935
$2.38 COP 8,301
-9.66%
🚌 Getting Around
Temuco
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.88 CLP 788
$0.84 COP 2,916
4.76%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$35.47 CLP 31.9K
$41.95 COP 146.4K
-15.45%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.84 CLP 754
$1.41 COP 4,912
-40.43%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.56 CLP 1,399
$1.90 COP 6,634
-17.89%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$9.58 CLP 8,607
$7.75 COP 27.0K
23.61%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.42 CLP 1,274
$1.01 COP 3,509
40.59%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$13.0K CLP 11.7M
$17.6K COP 61.4M
-26.22%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$18.1K CLP 16.2M
$26.5K COP 92.5M
-31.80%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Temuco
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$219 CLP 196.6K
$83.7 COP 292.1K
161.48%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.78 CLP 10.6K
$9.45 COP 33.0K
24.66%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$14.90 CLP 13.4K
$24.11 COP 84.1K
-38.20%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Temuco
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$50.6 CLP 45.5K
$25.31 COP 88.3K
100.08%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$47.64 CLP 42.8K
$19.14 COP 66.8K
148.90%
Cinema Ticket
$4.72 CLP 4,238
$4.10 COP 14.3K
15.12%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Temuco
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$227 CLP 204.4K
$312 COP 1.1M
-27.10%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$2,864 CLP 2.6M
$5,993 COP 20.9M
-52.21%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Temuco
Medellin
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$47.54 CLP 42.7K
$58.0 COP 202.6K
-18.09%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$18.02 CLP 16.2K
$32.56 COP 113.6K
-44.66%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$68.1 CLP 61.2K
$99.6 COP 347.7K
-31.64%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$89.1 CLP 80.1K
$109 COP 378.8K
-17.90%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Temuco
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$417 CLP 375.2K
$482 COP 1.7M
-13.45%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$344 CLP 309.2K
$379 COP 1.3M
-9.32%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$735 CLP 660.1K
$837 COP 2.9M
-12.29%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$538 CLP 483.2K
$723 COP 2.5M
-25.65%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,082 CLP 1.9M
$2,840 COP 9.9M
-26.69%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,780 CLP 1.6M
$1,223 COP 4.3M
45.57%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Temuco
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$555 CLP 498.8K
$541 COP 1.9M
2.62%
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: June 6, 2026

Last update for Medellin: June 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $417 in Temuco versus $482 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 3% higher in Temuco, 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 $32.00 in Temuco versus $33.00 in Medellin. Groceries tell a different story – $241 in Temuco vs $190 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 17%, 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 $1,783 per month in Temuco and $1,525 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 Medellin?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $32.00 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 vs Medellin?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,189 in Temuco and $1,017 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 Temuco or Medellin?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Medellin, where all-in costs run around $1,017, than in Temuco at $1,189. 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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