😐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 – Temuco12% lower, Medellin24% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Temuco
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.22CLP 6,486
$5.95COP 20.8K
21.34%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.40CLP 29.1K
$33.33COP 116.3K
-2.79%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.53CLP 6,764
$7.23COP 25.2K
4.15%
Cappuccino
$3.93CLP 3,535
$1.63COP 5,687
141.10%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.29CLP 2,055
$1.09COP 3,821
110.09%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.27CLP 1,144
$0.73COP 2,548
73.97%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.69CLP 3,319
$1.74COP 6,065
112.07%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.43CLP 3,080
$3.23COP 11.3K
6.19%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Temuco
Medellin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.19CLP 1,067
$1.05COP 3,662
13.33%
White Bread(500g)
$1.47CLP 1,324
$1.29COP 4,515
13.95%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.30CLP 1,173
$1.32COP 4,617
-1.52%
Eggs
$3.40CLP 3,053
$2.27COP 7,927
49.78%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.49CLP 8,526
$4.35COP 15.2K
118.16%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.33CLP 5,686
$5.88COP 20.5K
7.65%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$12.04CLP 10.8K
$8.61COP 30.0K
39.84%
Apples(1kg)
$1.89CLP 1,700
$2.25COP 7,844
-16.00%
Banana(1kg)
$2.07CLP 1,860
$1.07COP 3,733
93.46%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.21CLP 1,988
$1.52COP 5,322
45.39%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.28CLP 2,052
$1.42COP 4,964
60.56%
Potato(1kg)
$2.46CLP 2,209
$1.17COP 4,084
110.26%
Onion(1kg)
$2.60CLP 2,333
$1.17COP 4,077
122.22%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.96CLP 1,759
$0.89COP 3,096
120.22%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.23CLP 1,107
$0.90COP 3,146
36.67%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.77CLP 4,291
$2.25COP 7,837
112.00%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.09CLP 4,572
$11.04COP 38.5K
-53.89%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.57CLP 1,412
$1.14COP 3,977
37.72%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.15CLP 1,935
$2.38COP 8,301
-9.66%
🚌 Getting Around
Temuco
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.88CLP 788
$0.84COP 2,916
4.76%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$35.47CLP 31.9K
$41.95COP 146.4K
-15.45%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.84CLP 754
$1.41COP 4,912
-40.43%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.56CLP 1,399
$1.90COP 6,634
-17.89%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$9.58CLP 8,607
$7.75COP 27.0K
23.61%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.42CLP 1,274
$1.01COP 3,509
40.59%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$13.0KCLP 11.7M
$17.6KCOP 61.4M
-26.22%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$18.1KCLP 16.2M
$26.5KCOP 92.5M
-31.80%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Temuco
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$219CLP 196.6K
$83.7COP 292.1K
161.48%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.78CLP 10.6K
$9.45COP 33.0K
24.66%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$14.90CLP 13.4K
$24.11COP 84.1K
-38.20%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Temuco
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$50.6CLP 45.5K
$25.31COP 88.3K
100.08%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$47.64CLP 42.8K
$19.14COP 66.8K
148.90%
Cinema Ticket
$4.72CLP 4,238
$4.10COP 14.3K
15.12%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Temuco
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$227CLP 204.4K
$312COP 1.1M
-27.10%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$2,864CLP 2.6M
$5,993COP 20.9M
-52.21%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Temuco
Medellin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$47.54CLP 42.7K
$58.0COP 202.6K
-18.09%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$18.02CLP 16.2K
$32.56COP 113.6K
-44.66%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$68.1CLP 61.2K
$99.6COP 347.7K
-31.64%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$89.1CLP 80.1K
$109COP 378.8K
-17.90%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Temuco
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$417CLP 375.2K
$482COP 1.7M
-13.45%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$344CLP 309.2K
$379COP 1.3M
-9.32%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$735CLP 660.1K
$837COP 2.9M
-12.29%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$538CLP 483.2K
$723COP 2.5M
-25.65%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,082CLP 1.9M
$2,840COP 9.9M
-26.69%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,780CLP 1.6M
$1,223COP 4.3M
45.57%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Temuco
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$555CLP 498.8K
$541COP 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.