Skip to content

Medellín vs Santiago

Medellín runs about 47% cheaper than Santiago for this household, a difference of 527 USD a month.

Vista aérea del aeropuerto internacional José María Córdova de Medellín.
Medellín
$1,121/month · Colombia
Felipe Restrepo Acosta · CC BY-SA 4.0
Doppeleinheit Bauart X’Trapolis Modular auf dem Gleis 6. Die von Alstom gelieferten Triebwagen basieren auf den S-Bahn-Triebwagen des Typs Civia von CAF. Die Wagen sind auf eine Bahnsteighöhe auf Wage
Santiago
$1,648/month · Chile
Falk2 · CC BY-SA 4.0
Medellín monthly
$1,121
Index 18 (NYC = 100)
Santiago monthly
$1,648
Index 26 (NYC = 100)
Difference
+47%
Santiago relative to Medellín
Rent gap
$220
Santiago costs more for a central 1-bed
By category

Where the gap actually is

MedellínSantiago
  • Housing
    Housing: Medellín $480, Santiago $700. Cheaper in Medellín.
  • Food
    Food: Medellín $358, Santiago $548. Cheaper in Medellín.
  • Transport
    Transport: Medellín $50, Santiago $58. Cheaper in Medellín.
  • Utilities
    Utilities: Medellín $65, Santiago $111. Cheaper in Medellín.
  • Healthcare
    Healthcare: Medellín $16, Santiago $22. Cheaper in Medellín.
  • Lifestyle
    Lifestyle: Medellín $105, Santiago $139. Cheaper in Medellín.
  • Other
    Other: Medellín $48, Santiago $70. Cheaper in Medellín.
Each row is one category priced in both cities for the same household. The bar is the gap; exact figures are in the table below.
Interactive — adjust the household

Full comparison

MetricMedellínSantiago
Cost
Total monthly cost1,121 USD✓1,648 USD
Cost index (New York = 100)18✓26
Housing480 USD✓700 USD
Utilities65 USD✓111 USD
Food358 USD✓548 USD
Transport50 USD✓58 USD
Healthcare16 USD✓22 USD
Lifestyle105 USD✓139 USD
Income & tax
Take-home on 100,000 USD/yr5,337 USD6,204 USD✓
Effective tax + social rate36.0%25.5%✓
Left over each month4,216 USD4,556 USD✓
Average local net salary450 USD950 USD✓
Housing
1-bed rent, city centre480 USD✓700 USD
3-bed rent, city centre1,000 USD✓1,400 USD
Buy price per m², centre1,800 USD✓2,800 USD
Quality of life
Safety46/10054/100✓
Healthcare66/10072/100✓
Air quality48/100✓32/100
Public transport62/10078/100✓
Walkability66/10072/100✓
English proficiency34/10034/100
Nightlife88/100✓74/100
Family friendliness64/10072/100✓
Median broadband100 Mbps180 Mbps✓
Climate
Average temperature22°C15°C✓
Summer high28°C✓29°C
Winter low17°C✓3°C
Sunshine hours per year1,900 h2,600 h✓
Annual rainfall1650 mm310 mm✓
Practicalities
Remote-work visaYes✓No
Beach access180 min100 min✓
CurrencyCOPCLP
Time zoneAmerica/BogotaAmerica/Santiago

Medellín runs about 47% cheaper than Santiago for this household, a difference of 527 USD a month.

Next

Go deeper

Cost of living in MedellínCost of living in SantiagoConvert a salary between themFlip the comparison
Medellín vs Buenos AiresMedellín vs São PauloMedellín vs Mexico City
FAQ

Frequently asked

Is Medellín or Santiago cheaper?

Medellín runs about 47% cheaper than Santiago for this household, a difference of 527 USD a month.

What salary do you need in Santiago compared with Medellín?

On a $100,000 gross salary you would take home $5,337 a month in Medellín and $6,204 in Santiago, before local costs. Use the salary converter for an exact equivalent.

Which has better quality of life, Medellín or Santiago?

Medellín scores 46/100 on safety and 66/100 on healthcare; Santiago scores 54 and 72. Medellín averages 22°C against 15°C in Santiago.