Cost of Living Comparison Between Valdivia and Medellin Cost of Living Comparison Between Valdivia and Medellin

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,057 per month in Valdivia vs $1,013 in Medellin, rent included.

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

A family of three spends $2,147 per month in Valdivia vs $2,192 in Medellin, rent included.

Valdivia costs about 4% more than Medellin, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Valdivia and Medellin are more affordable than the global median – Valdivia 21% lower, Medellin 24% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.32 CLP 5,610

$5.99 COP 21.4K

5.51%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$43.69 CLP 38.8K

$32.86 COP 117.4K

32.96%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.23 CLP 6,413

$7.09 COP 25.3K

1.97%

Cappuccino

$2.54 CLP 2,253

$1.71 COP 6,115

48.54%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.41 CLP 2,137

$1.10 COP 3,924

119.09%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.48 CLP 1,312

$0.78 COP 2,781

89.74%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.86 CLP 3,429

$1.68 COP 5,997

129.76%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.02 CLP 3,567

$3.07 COP 11.0K

30.94%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.19 CLP 1,060

$1.09 COP 3,906

9.17%

White Bread (500g)

$1.43 CLP 1,267

$1.26 COP 4,508

13.49%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.65 CLP 1,462

$1.38 COP 4,922

19.57%

Eggs

$3.13 CLP 2,777

$2.19 COP 7,827

42.92%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.23 CLP 8,191

$4.40 COP 15.7K

109.77%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.92 CLP 6,140

$5.63 COP 20.1K

22.91%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.33 CLP 11.8K

$8.89 COP 31.8K

49.94%

Apples (1kg)

$2.24 CLP 1,986

$2.34 COP 8,349

-4.27%

Banana (1kg)

$1.95 CLP 1,733

$1.06 COP 3,777

83.96%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.84 CLP 1,631

$1.50 COP 5,374

22.67%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.95 CLP 1,732

$1.38 COP 4,924

41.30%

Potato (1kg)

$2.44 CLP 2,168

$1.15 COP 4,111

112.17%

Onion (1kg)

$1.63 CLP 1,445

$1.16 COP 4,155

40.52%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.58 CLP 1,401

$0.89 COP 3,182

77.53%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.21 CLP 1,070

$0.84 COP 2,997

44.05%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.36 CLP 4,756

$2.28 COP 8,145

135.09%

Wine (Bottle)

$5.19 CLP 4,605

$10.64 COP 38.0K

-51.22%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.62 CLP 1,437

$1.20 COP 4,284

35.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.24 CLP 1,990

$2.47 COP 8,824

-9.31%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.60 CLP 528

$0.86 COP 3,056

-30.23%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.40 COP 147.9K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.67 CLP 1,479

$1.47 COP 5,264

13.61%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.96 COP 7,009

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.74 COP 27.6K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.43 CLP 1,268

$0.95 COP 3,409

50.53%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$15.8K CLP 14.1M

$18.1K COP 64.7M

-12.66%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$18.1K CLP 16.1M

$26.5K COP 94.6M

-31.70%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$97.8 CLP 86.8K

$82.3 COP 293.7K

18.89%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$19.03 CLP 16.9K

$9.50 COP 33.9K

100.32%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$29.10 CLP 25.8K

$24.23 COP 86.5K

20.10%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.85 CLP 38.0K

$25.89 COP 92.4K

65.51%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$24.36 CLP 21.6K

$19.00 COP 67.9K

28.21%

Cinema Ticket

$4.92 CLP 4,363

$3.93 COP 14.0K

25.19%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$272 CLP 241.6K

$309 COP 1.1M

-12.01%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,965 COP 21.3M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.0 CLP 47.9K

$58.7 COP 209.5K

-8.01%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$18.42 CLP 16.3K

$32.35 COP 115.5K

-43.06%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$51.4 CLP 45.6K

$103 COP 366.4K

-49.90%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$79.6 CLP 70.6K

$108 COP 387.2K

-26.59%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$612 CLP 543.5K

$476 COP 1.7M

28.60%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$393 CLP 349.2K

$379 COP 1.4M

3.87%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,057 CLP 938.0K

$838 COP 3.0M

26.08%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$590 CLP 523.4K

$724 COP 2.6M

-18.52%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,853 CLP 4.3M

$2,791 COP 10.0M

73.90%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,211 COP 4.3M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$680 CLP 603.2K

$512 COP 1.8M

32.80%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.5

13.43

-66.49%

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

Last update for Valdivia: June 1, 2026

Last update for Medellin: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $612 in Valdivia versus $476 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 33% higher in Valdivia, 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 $44.00 in Valdivia versus $33.00 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $242 vs $188 – making Medellin 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

Valdivia vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Valdivia is pricier by about 4%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,585 per month in Valdivia and $1,519 in Medellin. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $44.00 in Valdivia and $33.00 in Medellin. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 28% more in Valdivia, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Medellin, where all-in costs run around $1,013, than in Valdivia at $1,057. In Medellin it covers expenses comfortably, while in Valdivia it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

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.

If budget matters most, go with Medellin. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Valdivia makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.