Cost of Living Comparison Between Colombia and Peru Cost of Living Comparison Between Colombia and Peru

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $800 per month in Colombia vs $422 in Peru, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,226 per month in Colombia vs $670 in Peru, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,651 per month in Colombia vs $918 in Peru, rent included.

Colombia costs about 90% more than Peru on average – the gap runs across housing, groceries, transport, and services.

Both Colombia and Peru are more affordable than the global median – Colombia 40% lower, Peru 68% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Colombia
Peru
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.34 COP 15.7K
$4.08 PEN 14.37
6.37%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$29.05 COP 104.9K
$28.02 PEN 98.6
3.68%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.14 COP 25.8K
$6.09 PEN 21.43
17.24%
Cappuccino
$1.61 COP 5,830
$2.67 PEN 9.38
-39.70%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.88 COP 3,165
$0.84 PEN 2.97
4.76%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.65 COP 2,362
$0.55 PEN 1.93
18.18%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.23 COP 4,456
$2.24 PEN 7.87
-45.09%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.48 COP 8,948
$3.81 PEN 13.42
-34.91%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Colombia
Peru
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.09 COP 3,932
$1.35 PEN 4.77
-19.26%
White Bread (500g)
$1.38 COP 4,974
$2.39 PEN 8.41
-42.26%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.20 COP 4,321
$1.28 PEN 4.51
-6.25%
Eggs
$2.06 COP 7,438
$2.63 PEN 9.27
-21.67%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$4.53 COP 16.3K
$6.81 PEN 23.98
-33.48%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.26 COP 19.0K
$5.48 PEN 19.31
-4.01%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$7.54 COP 27.2K
$9.03 PEN 31.78
-16.50%
Apples (1kg)
$2.63 COP 9,482
$1.80 PEN 6.32
46.11%
Banana (1kg)
$1.05 COP 3,789
$1.02 PEN 3.59
2.94%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.28 COP 4,624
$1.00 PEN 3.53
28.00%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.28 COP 4,623
$1.13 PEN 3.99
13.27%
Potato (1kg)
$1.08 COP 3,901
$0.97 PEN 3.40
11.34%
Onion (1kg)
$1.13 COP 4,093
$0.88 PEN 3.08
28.41%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.76 COP 2,744
$0.77 PEN 2.72
-1.30%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.70 COP 2,545
$0.78 PEN 2.74
-10.26%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.64 COP 9,535
$5.51 PEN 19.38
-52.09%
Wine (Bottle)
$11.29 COP 40.8K
$8.82 PEN 31.06
28.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.13 COP 4,077
$1.79 PEN 6.29
-36.87%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.95 COP 7,039
$2.74 PEN 9.66
-28.83%
🚌 Getting Around
Colombia
Peru
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.75 COP 2,709
$0.59 PEN 2.06
27.12%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$39.20 COP 141.5K
$16.60 PEN 58.4
136.14%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.51 COP 5,458
$2.17 PEN 7.63
-30.41%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.71 COP 6,186
$1.93 PEN 6.81
-11.40%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.19 COP 26.0K
$5.42 PEN 19.08
32.66%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.00 COP 3,627
$1.34 PEN 4.72
-25.37%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$17.2K COP 62.1M
$20.1K PEN 70.8K
-14.40%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.2K COP 94.6M
$24.5K PEN 86.3K
6.80%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Colombia
Peru
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$83.9 COP 302.8K
$46.55 PEN 164
80.19%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.82 COP 35.4K
$12.32 PEN 43.36
-20.29%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$23.82 COP 86.0K
$25.25 PEN 88.9
-5.66%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Colombia
Peru
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$23.03 COP 83.1K
$30.34 PEN 107
-24.09%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$12.47 COP 45.0K
$16.47 PEN 58.0
-24.29%
Cinema Ticket
$3.78 COP 13.7K
$5.66 PEN 19.93
-33.22%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Colombia
Peru
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$265 COP 956.5K
$166 PEN 585
59.43%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,946 COP 21.5M
$5,511 PEN 19.4K
7.89%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Colombia
Peru
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.5 COP 207.6K
$48.38 PEN 170
18.85%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.09 COP 141.1K
$31.04 PEN 109
25.93%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$93.0 COP 335.7K
$83.9 PEN 295
10.86%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$78.4 COP 283.0K
$78.0 PEN 274
0.54%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Colombia
Peru
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$358 COP 1.3M
$472 PEN 1,662
-24.16%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$301 COP 1.1M
$267 PEN 941
12.48%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$683 COP 2.5M
$825 PEN 2,905
-17.17%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$547 COP 2.0M
$485 PEN 1,707
12.77%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,908 COP 6.9M
$2,094 PEN 7,372
-8.91%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,244 COP 4.5M
$1,235 PEN 4,347
0.72%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Colombia
Peru
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$504 COP 1.8M
$555 PEN 1,955
-9.25%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
12.68
10.63
19.29%

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

Last update for Colombia: April 28, 2026

Last update for Peru: April 25, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Average rent: $294 in Colombia vs $141 in Peru. For reference, capital cities sit at $447 in Bogota and $610 in Lima.

Average salary: $470 in Colombia vs $530 in Peru. The income gap affects purchasing power and how far your budget stretches in each country.

Cost Highlights

Rent is 109% higher in Colombia.

Dining out costs 47% more in Colombia.

Public transport is 575% more expensive in Colombia.

Salaries are 13% higher in Peru, giving Peru stronger purchasing power.

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
Colombia vs Peru: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which country is cheaper: Colombia or Peru?
Peru is the cheaper option – living costs run roughly 56% lower on average. The gap is consistent across housing, groceries, transport, and entertainment.
Is rent more expensive in Colombia or Peru?
Housing costs more in Colombia, and the gap is biggest in capital cities. Regional towns show less difference, but Colombia consistently has higher rents.
How do daily expenses compare in Colombia vs Peru?
Groceries, transport, and utilities all cost less in Peru, contributing to the overall 56% price gap. The savings show up everywhere – from supermarket receipts to monthly bills.
Can you live in both Colombia and Peru on $1,000 per month?
$1,000 buys a comfortable lifestyle in Peru, but in Colombia it only works with careful planning outside the capital. Same money, very different lives.
Which country is better for expats: Colombia or Peru?
Peru is the budget-friendly choice for expats – lower housing and daily costs. But cost isn't everything: visa policies, language, healthcare quality, and job markets all weigh in too.

Colombia vs other spots: cost of living compared

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