Cost of Living Comparison Between Cusco and Medellin Cost of Living Comparison Between Cusco and Medellin

🙂 Solo nomad: Cusco is 28.1% cheaper than Medellin without rent, and 25.2% cheaper with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: Cusco is 26.8% cheaper than Medellin without rent, and 28.4% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Cusco
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.82 PEN 9.68
$6.14 COP 22.1K
-54.07%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$28.39 PEN 97.4
$33.05 COP 119.0K
-14.10%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.53 PEN 18.95
$7.32 COP 26.4K
-24.45%
Cappuccino
$2.09 PEN 7.18
$1.66 COP 5,971
25.90%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.22 PEN 4.20
$1.10 COP 3,977
10.91%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.74 PEN 2.54
$0.78 COP 2,815
-5.13%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.17 PEN 7.44
$1.71 COP 6,172
26.90%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.20 PEN 14.40
$3.17 COP 11.4K
32.49%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Cusco
Medellin
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.48 PEN 5.08
$1.11 COP 4,002
33.33%
White Bread (500g)
$2.89 PEN 9.92
$1.31 COP 4,707
120.61%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.28 PEN 4.39
$1.38 COP 4,967
-7.25%
Eggs
$4.00 PEN 13.72
$2.22 COP 7,989
80.18%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$4.59 PEN 15.73
$4.34 COP 15.6K
5.76%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.84 PEN 16.59
$5.80 COP 20.9K
-16.55%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$6.90 PEN 23.66
$8.98 COP 32.3K
-23.16%
Apples (1kg)
$2.42 PEN 8.32
$2.26 COP 8,143
7.08%
Banana (1kg)
$0.78 PEN 2.68
$1.11 COP 4,013
-29.73%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.29 PEN 4.42
$1.46 COP 5,271
-11.64%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.88 PEN 3.02
$1.37 COP 4,916
-35.77%
Potato (1kg)
$1.04 PEN 3.57
$1.11 COP 3,999
-6.31%
Onion (1kg)
$1.01 PEN 3.47
$1.16 COP 4,188
-12.93%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.67 PEN 2.28
$0.89 COP 3,202
-24.72%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.69 PEN 2.36
$0.87 COP 3,116
-20.69%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.88 PEN 16.73
$2.35 COP 8,473
107.66%
Wine (Bottle)
$6.48 PEN 22.24
$10.86 COP 39.1K
-40.33%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.89 PEN 6.47
$1.20 COP 4,319
57.50%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.05 PEN 10.48
$2.48 COP 8,923
22.98%
🚌 Getting Around
Cusco
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.29 PEN 1.00
$0.79 COP 2,835
-63.29%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$40.77 COP 146.8K
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.71 PEN 5.86
$1.42 COP 5,124
20.42%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.58 PEN 5.40
$1.91 COP 6,882
-17.28%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$2.74 PEN 9.38
$7.65 COP 27.5K
-64.18%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.48 PEN 5.06
$0.97 COP 3,481
52.58%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.4K PEN 63.3K
$18.1K COP 65.2M
1.90%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$21.6K PEN 74.2K
$26.3K COP 94.7M
-17.77%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Cusco
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$33.05 PEN 113
$81.3 COP 292.8K
-59.35%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$14.07 PEN 48.26
$9.63 COP 34.7K
46.11%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.89 PEN 106
$24.36 COP 87.7K
26.81%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Cusco
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$30.30 PEN 104
$26.02 COP 93.7K
16.45%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$18.92 COP 68.1K
-
Cinema Ticket
$5.00 PEN 17.14
$3.89 COP 14.0K
28.53%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Cusco
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
-
$304 COP 1.1M
-
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
-
$5,902 COP 21.3M
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Cusco
Medellin
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$35.43 PEN 122
$58.7 COP 211.3K
-39.62%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$28.94 PEN 99.3
$32.48 COP 116.9K
-10.90%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$62.1 PEN 213
$102 COP 366.3K
-38.93%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$70.4 PEN 242
$108 COP 389.4K
-34.87%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Cusco
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$309 PEN 1,061
$474 COP 1.7M
-34.75%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$251 PEN 862
$371 COP 1.3M
-32.26%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$574 PEN 1,970
$848 COP 3.1M
-32.27%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$409 PEN 1,403
$716 COP 2.6M
-42.91%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,005 PEN 13.7K
$2,871 COP 10.3M
39.48%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,834 PEN 6,291
$1,375 COP 5.0M
33.34%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Cusco
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$483 PEN 1,657
$542 COP 1.9M
-10.82%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11
13.43
-18.09%

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

Last update for Cusco: April 12, 2026

Last update for Medellin: April 13, 2026

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

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