😐A single person spends $1,100 per month in Villarrica vs $1,013 in Medellin, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $1,675 per month in Villarrica vs $1,602 in Medellin, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $2,250 per month in Villarrica vs $2,192 in Medellin, rent included.
😐Villarrica costs about 9% more than Medellin, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both Villarrica and Medellin are more affordable than the global median – Villarrica18% lower, Medellin24% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Villarrica
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.51CLP 7,553
$5.99COP 21.4K
42.07%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$45.16CLP 40.1K
$32.86COP 117.4K
37.43%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.21CLP 7,284
$7.09COP 25.3K
15.80%
Cappuccino
$2.72CLP 2,416
$1.71COP 6,115
59.06%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.31CLP 1,159
$1.10COP 3,924
19.09%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.06CLP 939
$0.78COP 2,781
35.90%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.15CLP 2,796
$1.68COP 5,997
87.50%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.11CLP 3,644
$3.07COP 11.0K
33.88%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Villarrica
Medellin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.23CLP 1,092
$1.09COP 3,906
12.84%
White Bread(500g)
$1.56CLP 1,385
$1.26COP 4,508
23.81%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.88CLP 1,671
$1.38COP 4,922
36.23%
Eggs
$3.55CLP 3,150
$2.19COP 7,827
62.10%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.40CLP 9,231
$4.40COP 15.7K
136.36%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.49CLP 5,758
$5.63COP 20.1K
15.28%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.94CLP 9,707
$8.89COP 31.8K
23.06%
Apples(1kg)
$1.81CLP 1,604
$2.34COP 8,349
-22.65%
Banana(1kg)
$1.57CLP 1,396
$1.06COP 3,777
48.11%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.60CLP 1,418
$1.50COP 5,374
6.67%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.51CLP 1,336
$1.38COP 4,924
9.42%
Potato(1kg)
$1.30CLP 1,150
$1.15COP 4,111
13.04%
Onion(1kg)
$1.41CLP 1,254
$1.16COP 4,155
21.55%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.26CLP 1,115
$0.89COP 3,182
41.57%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.24CLP 1,096
$0.84COP 2,997
47.62%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$5.44CLP 4,831
$2.28COP 8,145
138.60%
Wine(Bottle)
$6.29CLP 5,580
$10.64COP 38.0K
-40.88%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.55CLP 1,376
$1.20COP 4,284
29.17%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.23CLP 1,981
$2.47COP 8,824
-9.72%
🚌 Getting Around
Villarrica
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.63CLP 556
$0.86COP 3,056
-26.74%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$41.40COP 147.9K
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.51CLP 450
$1.47COP 5,264
-65.31%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.07CLP 1,839
$1.96COP 7,009
5.61%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
-
$7.74COP 27.6K
-
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.38CLP 1,221
$0.95COP 3,409
45.26%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.7KCLP 17.5M
$18.1KCOP 64.7M
8.69%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$21.7KCLP 19.2M
$26.5KCOP 94.6M
-18.12%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Villarrica
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$131CLP 116.2K
$82.3COP 293.7K
59.23%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.53CLP 12.0K
$9.50COP 33.9K
42.42%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$22.17CLP 19.7K
$24.23COP 86.5K
-8.50%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Villarrica
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$37.83CLP 33.6K
$25.89COP 92.4K
46.12%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$21.49CLP 19.1K
$19.00COP 67.9K
13.11%
Cinema Ticket
$5.51CLP 4,893
$3.93COP 14.0K
40.20%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Villarrica
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$438CLP 388.8K
$309COP 1.1M
41.60%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
-
$5,965COP 21.3M
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Villarrica
Medellin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$51.4CLP 45.6K
$58.7COP 209.5K
-12.36%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$30.16CLP 26.8K
$32.35COP 115.5K
-6.77%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$62.7CLP 55.6K
$103COP 366.4K
-38.92%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$83.4CLP 74.0K
$108COP 387.2K
-23.06%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Villarrica
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$473CLP 419.4K
$476COP 1.7M
-0.75%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$368CLP 326.3K
$379COP 1.4M
-2.95%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$886CLP 786.2K
$838COP 3.0M
5.67%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$602CLP 534.1K
$724COP 2.6M
-16.86%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$2,791COP 10.0M
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$1,211COP 4.3M
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Villarrica
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$558CLP 495.6K
$512COP 1.8M
9.12%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.18
13.43
-61.43%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Villarrica: June 1, 2026
Last update for Medellin: May 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $473 in Villarrica 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 9% higher in Villarrica, 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 $45.00 in Villarrica versus $33.00 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $230 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
Villarrica vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Medellin cheaper than Villarrica?
Yes – Villarrica is pricier by about 9%, 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 $1,650 per month in Villarrica and $1,519 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 Villarrica or Medellin?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $45.00 in Villarrica and $33.00 in Medellin. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
How do food prices compare in Villarrica and Medellin?
Groceries cost about 22% more in Villarrica, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Villarrica or Medellin?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Medellin, where all-in costs run around $1,013, than in Villarrica at $1,100. In Medellin it covers expenses comfortably, while in Villarrica it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Villarrica 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, Villarrica makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.
Villarrica vs other spots: cost of living compared