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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $805 per month in Colombia vs $421 in Peru, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,229 per month in Colombia vs $666 in Peru, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,652 per month in Colombia vs $911 in Peru, rent included.

The cost of living in Colombia is about 91% higher than in 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
$4.43 COP 14.1K
$4.16 PEN 14.13
6.49%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$28.55 COP 91.1K
$27.72 PEN 94.3
2.99%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.43 COP 23.7K
$6.15 PEN 20.91
20.81%
Cappuccino
$1.55 COP 4,957
$2.55 PEN 8.69
-39.22%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.93 COP 2,978
$0.90 PEN 3.07
3.33%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.62 COP 1,972
$0.54 PEN 1.85
14.81%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.23 COP 3,911
$2.26 PEN 7.68
-45.58%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.37 COP 7,550
$3.97 PEN 13.50
-40.30%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Colombia
Peru
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.15 COP 3,662
$1.33 PEN 4.53
-13.53%
White Bread (500g)
$1.32 COP 4,213
$2.38 PEN 8.11
-44.54%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.20 COP 3,814
$1.30 PEN 4.41
-7.69%
Eggs
$2.14 COP 6,844
$2.60 PEN 8.83
-17.69%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$4.65 COP 14.8K
$7.18 PEN 24.41
-35.24%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.02 COP 16.0K
$5.41 PEN 18.40
-7.21%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$7.75 COP 24.7K
$8.87 PEN 30.15
-12.63%
Apples (1kg)
$2.56 COP 8,173
$1.83 PEN 6.21
39.89%
Banana (1kg)
$1.08 COP 3,458
$1.03 PEN 3.49
4.85%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.27 COP 4,060
$1.00 PEN 3.39
27.00%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.27 COP 4,064
$1.13 PEN 3.85
12.39%
Potato (1kg)
$1.06 COP 3,370
$0.90 PEN 3.05
17.78%
Onion (1kg)
$1.18 COP 3,764
$0.89 PEN 3.02
32.58%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.76 COP 2,429
$0.71 PEN 2.43
7.04%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.72 COP 2,285
$0.81 PEN 2.74
-11.11%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.51 COP 8,014
$5.71 PEN 19.40
-56.04%
Wine (Bottle)
$12.72 COP 40.6K
$7.67 PEN 26.07
65.84%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.09 COP 3,472
$1.77 PEN 6.02
-38.42%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.88 COP 6,006
$2.76 PEN 9.40
-31.88%
🚌 Getting Around
Colombia
Peru
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.71 COP 2,274
$0.54 PEN 1.83
31.48%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$38.26 COP 122.1K
$16.34 PEN 55.6
134.15%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.57 COP 4,998
$2.23 PEN 7.60
-29.60%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.68 COP 5,356
$1.85 PEN 6.29
-9.19%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.39 COP 23.6K
$5.65 PEN 19.22
30.80%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.95 COP 3,021
$1.34 PEN 4.57
-29.10%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$16.6K COP 53.0M
$20.0K PEN 68.1K
-16.98%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.7K COP 82.1M
$24.1K PEN 81.9K
6.85%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Colombia
Peru
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$84.5 COP 269.5K
$46.44 PEN 158
81.91%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.27 COP 29.6K
$12.01 PEN 40.85
-22.81%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$23.83 COP 76.0K
$25.23 PEN 85.8
-5.55%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Colombia
Peru
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$23.12 COP 73.8K
$30.13 PEN 102
-23.27%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$12.44 COP 39.7K
$16.63 PEN 56.6
-25.20%
Cinema Ticket
$3.97 COP 12.7K
$5.47 PEN 18.62
-27.42%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Colombia
Peru
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$264 COP 843.1K
$165 PEN 560
60.35%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,933 COP 18.9M
$5,607 PEN 19.1K
5.81%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Colombia
Peru
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.5 COP 183.4K
$47.04 PEN 160
22.19%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$38.83 COP 123.9K
$30.60 PEN 104
26.90%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$91.8 COP 292.8K
$82.7 PEN 281
11.01%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$77.3 COP 246.5K
$76.3 PEN 260
1.21%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Colombia
Peru
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$346 COP 1.1M
$472 PEN 1,606
-26.71%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$302 COP 963.6K
$266 PEN 904
13.56%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$677 COP 2.2M
$831 PEN 2,826
-18.56%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$552 COP 1.8M
$484 PEN 1,645
14.15%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,043 COP 6.5M
$2,141 PEN 7,280
-4.58%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,325 COP 4.2M
$1,208 PEN 4,108
9.69%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Colombia
Peru
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$578 COP 1.8M
$586 PEN 1,993
-1.36%
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: July 27, 2026

Last update for Peru: July 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Average rent: $294 in Colombia vs $141 in Peru. For reference, capital cities sit at $458 in Bogota and $621 in Lima.

Average salary: $537 in Colombia vs $537 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 41% more in Colombia.

Public transport is 600% more expensive in Colombia.

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 59% lower on average. The gap is consistent across housing, groceries, transport, and entertainment.
Is rent more expensive in Colombia or in 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 59% 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.

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