Medellin vs Santiago: cost of living for digital nomads
Medellin, Colombia and Santiago, Chile, line by line from the catalogue: what a month costs, rent, food, coworking, safety and internet. Every figure links back to its source on the city page.
The short version
- Medellin is about 17% cheaper than Santiago for a month of nomad living ($1,500 vs $1,800).
- Rent is the biggest gap: $720 in Medellin against $850 in Santiago.
- Santiago scores higher on safety (8/10 vs 6/10).
- Internet is faster in Santiago: 200 Mbps typical against 100 Mbps.
- Medellin is tropical; Santiago is mediterranean.
Medellin wins 6 of the measured lines; Santiago wins 2.
Frequently asked questions
Which city is cheaper, Medellin or Santiago?
Medellin is cheaper: about $1,500/month against $1,800/month in Santiago, roughly 17% less for a typical remote worker's budget.
Which city is safer, Medellin or Santiago?
Santiago scores higher on safety: 8/10 against 6/10 for Medellin.
Which has faster internet, Medellin or Santiago?
Santiago has faster typical internet: 200 Mbps against 100 Mbps in Medellin.
| Line | Medellin | Santiago |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly total (USD) | $1,500 | $1,800 |
| Rent | $720 | $850 |
| Food | $380 | $460 |
| Transport | $45 | $50 |
| Coworking | $120 | $140 |
| Safety (out of 10) | 6/10 | 8/10 |
| Internet (Mbps) | 100 | 200 |
| Climate | tropical | mediterranean |
| City size | metro | metro |
| Setting | mountain | inland |
| Nomad score (out of 10) | 10/10 | 7/10 |
Compare Medellin with
Compare Santiago with
Costs are typical monthly figures for one person in USD, from the sources named on each city page; safety and internet are the catalogue's own ratings. Cost figures verified (Eastern Time): Medellin November 8, 2026, Santiago November 5, 2026.