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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,061 per month in Valdivia vs $1,641 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,606 per month in Valdivia vs $2,447 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,150 per month in Valdivia vs $3,253 in Medellin, rent included.

Valdivia is about 35% cheaper than Medellin, driven mainly by Getting Around.

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

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.49 CLP 6,108

$8.04 COP 24.8K

-19.28%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$47.88 CLP 45.1K

$48.29 COP 148.6K

-0.85%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.91 CLP 6,503

$9.42 COP 29.0K

-26.65%

Cappuccino

$2.12 CLP 2,000

$2.94 COP 9,040

-27.89%

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

$2.13 CLP 2,005

$1.86 COP 5,735

14.52%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.37 CLP 1,286

$1.46 COP 4,479

-6.16%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.65 CLP 3,433

$3.21 COP 9,882

13.71%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.78 CLP 3,562

$5.71 COP 17.6K

-33.80%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.22 CLP 1,150

$1.44 COP 4,428

-15.28%

White Bread (500g)

$1.38 CLP 1,296

$2.40 COP 7,389

-42.50%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.69 CLP 1,588

$1.70 COP 5,228

-0.59%

Eggs

$3.06 CLP 2,879

$2.89 COP 8,896

5.88%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.51 CLP 8,949

$10.06 COP 30.9K

-5.47%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.53 CLP 6,150

$9.97 COP 30.7K

-34.50%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.45 CLP 12.7K

$14.20 COP 43.7K

-5.28%

Apples (1kg)

$2.30 CLP 2,169

$3.98 COP 12.3K

-42.21%

Banana (1kg)

$1.91 CLP 1,798

$1.58 COP 4,878

20.89%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.89 CLP 1,780

$2.15 COP 6,624

-12.09%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.87 CLP 1,759

$2.30 COP 7,078

-18.70%

Potato (1kg)

$2.44 CLP 2,301

$2.00 COP 6,169

22.00%

Onion (1kg)

$1.62 CLP 1,526

$1.51 COP 4,646

7.28%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.56 CLP 1,467

$1.20 COP 3,701

30.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.21 CLP 1,142

$1.28 COP 3,946

-5.47%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.44 CLP 5,121

$3.84 COP 11.8K

41.67%

Wine (Bottle)

$4.78 CLP 4,498

$14.01 COP 43.1K

-65.88%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.59 CLP 1,500

$1.71 COP 5,256

-7.02%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.12 CLP 1,999

$2.74 COP 8,440

-22.63%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.58 CLP 550

$1.25 COP 3,834

-53.60%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$77.9 COP 239.7K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.04 CLP 983

$1.31 COP 4,016

-20.61%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.17 COP 6,680

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.29 COP 25.5K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.47 CLP 1,384

$1.36 COP 4,172

8.09%

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

$15.6K CLP 14.7M

$27.5K COP 84.5M

-43.24%

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

$18.3K CLP 17.2M

$36.5K COP 112.4M

-49.91%

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

$95.1 CLP 89.5K

$169 COP 519.2K

-43.61%

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

$14.29 CLP 13.4K

$13.57 COP 41.8K

5.31%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$32.63 CLP 30.7K

$28.32 COP 87.2K

15.22%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.16 CLP 39.7K

$45.71 COP 140.7K

-7.77%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$24.53 CLP 23.1K

$17.22 COP 53.0K

42.45%

Cinema Ticket

$4.78 CLP 4,497

$6.65 COP 20.5K

-28.12%

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

$255 CLP 240.4K

$803 COP 2.5M

-68.21%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,226 CLP 3.0M

$9,190 COP 28.3M

-64.90%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$53.4 CLP 50.3K

$87.4 COP 268.8K

-38.84%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$18.73 CLP 17.6K

$59.4 COP 182.7K

-68.45%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$52.7 CLP 49.6K

$139 COP 427.5K

-62.06%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$81.0 CLP 76.2K

$102 COP 314.0K

-20.61%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$610 CLP 574.3K

$1,071 COP 3.3M

-43.02%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$389 CLP 366.3K

$653 COP 2.0M

-40.39%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,022 CLP 961.8K

$1,925 COP 5.9M

-46.91%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$582 CLP 547.7K

$1,048 COP 3.2M

-44.47%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,742 CLP 4.5M

$4,123 COP 12.7M

15.01%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,697 COP 5.2M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$659 CLP 620.3K

$655 COP 2.0M

0.62%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.5

10.94

-58.87%

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

Last update for Valdivia: September 7, 2026

Last update for Medellin: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $610 in Valdivia versus $1,071 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 1% higher in Valdivia, 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 $48.00 in Valdivia versus $48.00 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $240 vs $300 – making Valdivia 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 – Medellin is pricier by about 55%, and the gap shows up most in Getting Around. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,592 per month in Valdivia and $2,462 in Medellin. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Valdivia, 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 $48.00 in Valdivia and $48.00 in Medellin. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 25% more in Medellin, 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 Valdivia, where all-in costs run around $1,061, than in Medellin at $1,641. In Valdivia it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Valdivia – 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 Valdivia. 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.