Cost of Living Comparison Between Valparaiso and Medellin Cost of Living Comparison Between Valparaiso and Medellin

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,095 per month in Valparaiso vs $1,681 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,625 per month in Valparaiso vs $2,445 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,154 per month in Valparaiso vs $3,210 in Medellin, rent included.

Valparaiso is about 35% cheaper than Medellin, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Valparaiso sits 20% below the global median, while Medellin is 23% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$9.14 CLP 8,718

$8.02 COP 25.0K

13.97%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$36.21 CLP 34.5K

$47.87 COP 149.4K

-24.36%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.85 CLP 8,443

$9.89 COP 30.8K

-10.52%

Cappuccino

$2.73 CLP 2,607

$3.13 COP 9,767

-12.78%

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

$1.20 CLP 1,141

$1.91 COP 5,954

-37.17%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.85 CLP 808

$1.51 COP 4,712

-43.71%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.16 CLP 3,967

$3.12 COP 9,747

33.33%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.57 CLP 4,363

$5.75 COP 17.9K

-20.52%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.31 CLP 1,253

$1.44 COP 4,509

-9.03%

White Bread (500g)

$1.74 CLP 1,661

$2.49 COP 7,759

-30.12%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.59 CLP 1,518

$1.77 COP 5,535

-10.17%

Eggs

$4.19 CLP 3,997

$2.96 COP 9,235

41.55%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.41 CLP 10.9K

$10.07 COP 31.4K

13.31%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.81 CLP 6,494

$10.12 COP 31.6K

-32.71%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.99 CLP 8,580

$14.30 COP 44.6K

-37.13%

Apples (1kg)

$1.65 CLP 1,577

$4.14 COP 12.9K

-60.14%

Banana (1kg)

$1.60 CLP 1,530

$1.61 COP 5,019

-0.62%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.53 CLP 1,462

$2.25 COP 7,007

-32.00%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.48 CLP 1,413

$2.25 COP 7,028

-34.22%

Potato (1kg)

$1.00 CLP 959

$2.04 COP 6,375

-50.98%

Onion (1kg)

$1.27 CLP 1,211

$1.54 COP 4,790

-17.53%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.17 CLP 1,117

$1.17 COP 3,651

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.15 CLP 1,100

$1.31 COP 4,077

-12.21%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.45 CLP 4,247

$3.90 COP 12.2K

14.10%

Wine (Bottle)

$5.08 CLP 4,851

$14.01 COP 43.7K

-63.74%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.37 CLP 1,307

$1.74 COP 5,439

-21.26%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.76 CLP 1,678

$2.87 COP 8,956

-38.68%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.74 CLP 704

$1.22 COP 3,792

-39.34%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$53.0 CLP 50.5K

$80.5 COP 251.1K

-34.19%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.40 CLP 381

$1.31 COP 4,084

-69.47%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.91 CLP 866

$2.19 COP 6,825

-58.45%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.55 CLP 3,390

$8.71 COP 27.2K

-59.24%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.50 CLP 1,433

$1.37 COP 4,260

9.49%

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

$14.7K CLP 14.0M

$27.8K COP 86.9M

-47.27%

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

$19.7K CLP 18.8M

$35.8K COP 111.6M

-44.86%

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

$119 CLP 113.7K

$177 COP 553.2K

-32.82%

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

$11.97 CLP 11.4K

$13.88 COP 43.3K

-13.76%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$19.78 CLP 18.9K

$29.72 COP 92.8K

-33.45%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.10 CLP 24.0K

$44.88 COP 140.1K

-44.07%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$23.47 CLP 22.4K

$17.12 COP 53.4K

37.09%

Cinema Ticket

$7.34 CLP 7,007

$6.65 COP 20.7K

10.38%

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

$450 CLP 429.5K

$813 COP 2.5M

-44.64%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$10.9K CLP 10.4M

$9,187 COP 28.7M

19.14%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$32.80 CLP 31.3K

$89.5 COP 279.3K

-63.35%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$29.23 CLP 27.9K

$59.0 COP 184.0K

-50.43%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$55.9 CLP 53.3K

$138 COP 431.2K

-59.56%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$49.95 CLP 47.7K

$102 COP 318.7K

-51.09%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$467 CLP 445.4K

$1,062 COP 3.3M

-56.04%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$389 CLP 371.2K

$663 COP 2.1M

-41.32%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$681 CLP 649.6K

$1,888 COP 5.9M

-63.95%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$554 CLP 528.3K

$1,027 COP 3.2M

-46.10%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,567 CLP 1.5M

$4,183 COP 13.1M

-62.55%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,050 CLP 1.0M

$1,675 COP 5.2M

-37.32%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$766 CLP 730.9K

$678 COP 2.1M

13.03%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.39

10.94

-50.73%

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

Last update for Valparaiso: September 14, 2026

Last update for Medellin: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $467 in Valparaiso versus $1,062 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 13% higher in Valparaiso, 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 $36.00 in Valparaiso versus $48.00 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $225 vs $305 – making Valparaiso 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

Valparaiso vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 53%, and the gap shows up most in Clothing & Footwear. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,643 per month in Valparaiso and $2,521 in Medellin. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Valparaiso, 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 $36.00 in Valparaiso and $48.00 in Medellin. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,095 in Valparaiso and $1,681 in Medellin. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Valparaiso, where all-in costs run around $1,095, than in Medellin at $1,681. In Valparaiso it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Valparaiso – 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 Valparaiso. 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.