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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,062 per month in Valdivia vs $1,031 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,610 per month in Valdivia vs $1,599 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,157 per month in Valdivia vs $2,167 in Medellin, rent included.

Valdivia costs about 3% more than Medellin, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Valdivia and Medellin are more affordable than the global median – Valdivia 20% lower, Medellin 23% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.61 CLP 6,154

$6.16 COP 20.1K

7.31%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$42.26 CLP 39.4K

$32.60 COP 106.1K

29.63%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.94 CLP 6,458

$7.34 COP 23.9K

-5.45%

Cappuccino

$2.51 CLP 2,335

$1.72 COP 5,600

45.93%

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

$2.31 CLP 2,151

$1.05 COP 3,420

120.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.53 CLP 1,428

$0.77 COP 2,515

98.70%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.81 CLP 3,551

$1.69 COP 5,488

125.44%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.94 CLP 3,666

$3.17 COP 10.3K

24.29%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.23 CLP 1,148

$1.05 COP 3,423

17.14%

White Bread (500g)

$1.43 CLP 1,329

$1.30 COP 4,236

10.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.64 CLP 1,523

$1.40 COP 4,544

17.14%

Eggs

$3.17 CLP 2,955

$2.16 COP 7,047

46.76%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.38 CLP 8,737

$4.39 COP 14.3K

113.67%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.95 CLP 6,474

$5.88 COP 19.1K

18.20%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.38 CLP 12.5K

$8.64 COP 28.1K

54.86%

Apples (1kg)

$2.22 CLP 2,063

$2.28 COP 7,426

-2.63%

Banana (1kg)

$1.94 CLP 1,804

$1.11 COP 3,604

74.77%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.83 CLP 1,706

$1.53 COP 4,983

19.61%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.97 CLP 1,833

$1.35 COP 4,410

45.93%

Potato (1kg)

$2.44 CLP 2,275

$1.13 COP 3,674

115.93%

Onion (1kg)

$1.58 CLP 1,474

$1.13 COP 3,692

39.82%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.58 CLP 1,474

$0.85 COP 2,753

85.88%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.21 CLP 1,123

$0.91 COP 2,975

32.97%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.25 CLP 4,892

$2.34 COP 7,630

124.36%

Wine (Bottle)

$4.78 CLP 4,454

$12.37 COP 40.3K

-61.36%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.60 CLP 1,486

$1.20 COP 3,909

33.33%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.14 CLP 1,989

$2.49 COP 8,104

-14.06%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.59 CLP 550

$0.84 COP 2,728

-29.76%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$40.57 COP 132.1K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.59 CLP 1,476

$1.42 COP 4,623

11.97%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.92 COP 6,235

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.66 COP 24.9K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.42 CLP 1,318

$0.99 COP 3,223

43.43%

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

$15.6K CLP 14.6M

$18.0K COP 58.7M

-13.33%

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

$18.2K CLP 17.0M

$26.6K COP 86.7M

-31.49%

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

$96.1 CLP 89.5K

$80.8 COP 263.1K

18.97%

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

$18.60 CLP 17.3K

$9.95 COP 32.4K

86.93%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$29.22 CLP 27.2K

$24.18 COP 78.7K

20.84%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.96 CLP 40.0K

$25.08 COP 81.7K

71.29%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$24.61 CLP 22.9K

$19.15 COP 62.3K

28.51%

Cinema Ticket

$4.90 CLP 4,560

$3.98 COP 13.0K

23.12%

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

$275 CLP 255.7K

$305 COP 993.5K

-10.02%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,059 COP 19.7M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.7 CLP 50.9K

$58.1 COP 189.2K

-5.88%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$18.60 CLP 17.3K

$32.20 COP 104.8K

-42.24%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$52.2 CLP 48.6K

$101 COP 327.9K

-48.17%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$82.0 CLP 76.3K

$108 COP 350.8K

-23.94%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$598 CLP 556.8K

$477 COP 1.6M

25.46%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$383 CLP 357.0K

$376 COP 1.2M

1.91%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,039 CLP 967.9K

$845 COP 2.7M

23.06%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$593 CLP 552.5K

$730 COP 2.4M

-18.77%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,745 CLP 4.4M

$3,215 COP 10.5M

47.57%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,372 COP 4.5M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$661 CLP 615.1K

$617 COP 2.0M

7.09%

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: July 11, 2026

Last update for Medellin: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $598 in Valdivia versus $477 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 7% 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 $42.00 in Valdivia versus $33.00 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $242 vs $193 – 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 3%, 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 $1,593 per month in Valdivia and $1,546 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 $42.00 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 25% 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 $1,031, than in Valdivia at $1,062. 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.