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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,259 per month in Colombia vs $506 in Peru, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,978 per month in Colombia vs $792 in Peru, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,697 per month in Colombia vs $1,078 in Peru, rent included.

The cost of living in Colombia is about 149% 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 8% lower, Peru 63% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Colombia
Peru
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.27 COP 25.7K
$3.48 PEN 11.67
137.64%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$45.33 COP 140.8K
$29.90 PEN 100
51.61%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.87 COP 30.7K
$6.63 PEN 22.24
48.87%
Cappuccino
$2.82 COP 8,751
$3.18 PEN 10.67
-11.32%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.40 COP 4,345
$0.96 PEN 3.22
45.83%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.98 COP 3,044
$0.56 PEN 1.89
75.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.29 COP 7,120
$2.35 PEN 7.88
-2.55%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.21 COP 13.1K
$3.53 PEN 11.83
19.26%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Colombia
Peru
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.57 COP 4,884
$1.54 PEN 5.17
1.95%
White Bread (500g)
$2.27 COP 7,056
$2.41 PEN 8.08
-5.81%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.65 COP 5,136
$1.33 PEN 4.46
24.06%
Eggs
$3.15 COP 9,801
$2.77 PEN 9.28
13.72%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.98 COP 24.8K
$8.07 PEN 27.06
-1.12%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.02 COP 28.0K
$5.96 PEN 19.98
51.34%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.75 COP 36.5K
$9.21 PEN 30.87
27.58%
Apples (1kg)
$3.64 COP 11.3K
$1.78 PEN 5.96
104.49%
Banana (1kg)
$1.60 COP 4,958
$1.06 PEN 3.54
50.94%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.91 COP 5,927
$1.21 PEN 4.05
57.85%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.93 COP 5,998
$1.28 PEN 4.31
50.78%
Potato (1kg)
$1.56 COP 4,853
$0.96 PEN 3.21
62.50%
Onion (1kg)
$1.43 COP 4,446
$0.88 PEN 2.95
62.50%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.26 COP 3,911
$0.83 PEN 2.79
51.81%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.17 COP 3,647
$0.87 PEN 2.91
34.48%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.18 COP 13.0K
$5.79 PEN 19.41
-27.81%
Wine (Bottle)
$13.18 COP 41.0K
$7.86 PEN 26.36
67.68%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.45 COP 4,520
$2.05 PEN 6.86
-29.27%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.81 COP 8,735
$2.94 PEN 9.85
-4.42%
🚌 Getting Around
Colombia
Peru
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.17 COP 3,632
$0.63 PEN 2.10
85.71%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$64.5 COP 200.4K
$24.23 PEN 81.2
166.16%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.31 COP 7,164
$2.42 PEN 8.10
-4.55%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.09 COP 6,481
$2.14 PEN 7.17
-2.34%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.41 COP 26.1K
$5.91 PEN 19.82
42.30%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.38 COP 4,292
$1.56 PEN 5.23
-11.54%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.9K COP 86.8M
$22.2K PEN 74.3K
26.13%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$35.4K COP 110.1M
$25.5K PEN 85.3K
39.20%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Colombia
Peru
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$136 COP 423.9K
$55.4 PEN 186
146.48%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$14.38 COP 44.7K
$14.12 PEN 47.33
1.84%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.24 COP 90.8K
$26.52 PEN 88.9
10.26%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Colombia
Peru
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$36.65 COP 113.9K
$31.03 PEN 104
18.11%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.32 COP 53.8K
$17.90 PEN 60.0
-3.24%
Cinema Ticket
$6.54 COP 20.3K
$5.92 PEN 19.84
10.47%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Colombia
Peru
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$685 COP 2.1M
$162 PEN 544
321.95%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$8,661 COP 26.9M
$11.6K PEN 38.8K
-25.13%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Colombia
Peru
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$77.4 COP 240.4K
$51.1 PEN 171
51.47%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$54.8 COP 170.2K
$30.22 PEN 101
81.30%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$140 COP 436.0K
$76.1 PEN 255
84.52%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$108 COP 336.1K
$71.8 PEN 241
50.63%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Colombia
Peru
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$696 COP 2.2M
$499 PEN 1,673
39.44%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$451 COP 1.4M
$256 PEN 859
76.25%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,343 COP 4.2M
$874 PEN 2,930
53.65%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$871 COP 2.7M
$479 PEN 1,605
81.96%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,637 COP 8.2M
$2,253 PEN 7,554
17.04%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,574 COP 4.9M
$1,239 PEN 4,155
27.01%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Colombia
Peru
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$618 COP 1.9M
$586 PEN 1,963
5.56%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
12.51
9.6
30.31%

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

Last update for Colombia: September 14, 2026

Last update for Peru: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Average rent: $674 in Colombia vs $197 in Peru. For reference, capital cities sit at $720 in Bogota and $764 in Lima.

Average salary: $653 in Colombia vs $544 in Peru. The income gap affects purchasing power and how far your budget stretches in each country.

Cost Highlights

Rent is 242% higher in Colombia.

Dining out costs 91% more in Colombia.

Public transport is 88% more expensive in Colombia.

Salaries are 20% higher in Colombia, and purchasing power comes out stronger in Peru.

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 114% 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 114% 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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