Cost of Living Comparison Between Huaraz and Medellin Cost of Living Comparison Between Huaraz and Medellin

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $111 in Huaraz versus $1,034 in Medellin.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $187 in Huaraz versus $1,577 in Medellin.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $263 in Huaraz versus $2,120 in Medellin.

Living in Huaraz costs roughly 89% less than in Medellin, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Huaraz 92% lower, Medellin 23% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Huaraz
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
-
$5.92 COPΒ 21.4K
-
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
-
$32.75 COPΒ 118.2K
-
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
-
$7.20 COPΒ 26.0K
-
Cappuccino
-
$1.70 COPΒ 6,140
-
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$1.10 COPΒ 3,966
-
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$0.72 COPΒ 2,605
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
-
$1.67 COPΒ 6,022
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$3.10 COPΒ 11.2K
-
πŸ›’ Groceries & Markets
Huaraz
Medellin
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.96 PENΒ 6.88
$1.06 COPΒ 3,809
84.91%
White Bread (500g)
$1.13 PENΒ 3.98
$1.25 COPΒ 4,497
-9.60%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.82 PENΒ 2.88
$1.39 COPΒ 5,022
-41.01%
Eggs
$1.43 PENΒ 5.02
$2.26 COPΒ 8,168
-36.73%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$5.64 PENΒ 19.85
$4.33 COPΒ 15.6K
30.25%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
-
$5.84 COPΒ 21.1K
-
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$6.91 PENΒ 24.32
$8.83 COPΒ 31.9K
-21.74%
Apples (1kg)
$0.79 PENΒ 2.79
$2.24 COPΒ 8,099
-64.73%
Banana (1kg)
$0.59 PENΒ 2.06
$1.08 COPΒ 3,882
-45.37%
Oranges (1kg)
$0.81 PENΒ 2.85
$1.53 COPΒ 5,522
-47.06%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.58 PENΒ 2.05
$1.37 COPΒ 4,950
-57.66%
Potato (1kg)
$0.85 PENΒ 3.01
$1.13 COPΒ 4,078
-24.78%
Onion (1kg)
$0.58 PENΒ 2.04
$1.12 COPΒ 4,036
-48.21%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.54 PENΒ 1.89
$0.85 COPΒ 3,057
-36.47%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.29 PENΒ 1.03
$0.91 COPΒ 3,281
-68.13%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
-
$2.33 COPΒ 8,414
-
Wine (Bottle)
-
$11.13 COPΒ 40.2K
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.70 PENΒ 5.97
$1.19 COPΒ 4,309
42.86%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.92 PENΒ 6.75
$2.37 COPΒ 8,553
-18.99%
🚌 Getting Around
Huaraz
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
-
$0.79 COPΒ 2,838
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$41.13 COPΒ 148.5K
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
-
$1.44 COPΒ 5,184
-
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
-
$1.91 COPΒ 6,901
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
-
$8.02 COPΒ 28.9K
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
-
$0.94 COPΒ 3,385
-
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
-
$17.9K COPΒ 64.7M
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
-
$26.8K COPΒ 96.7M
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Huaraz
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
-
$84.0 COPΒ 303.1K
-
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
-
$9.60 COPΒ 34.7K
-
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
-
$24.16 COPΒ 87.2K
-
πŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Huaraz
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
-
$25.88 COPΒ 93.4K
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$19.04 COPΒ 68.7K
-
Cinema Ticket
-
$3.92 COPΒ 14.1K
-
🧸 Childcare & Education
Huaraz
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
-
$306 COPΒ 1.1M
-
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
-
$5,919 COPΒ 21.4M
-
πŸ‘•πŸ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Huaraz
Medellin
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
-
$57.9 COPΒ 209.1K
-
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
-
$31.82 COPΒ 114.9K
-
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
-
$99.9 COPΒ 360.6K
-
Men's Leather Business Shoes
-
$107 COPΒ 386.8K
-
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Huaraz
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
-
$487 COPΒ 1.8M
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
-
$368 COPΒ 1.3M
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
-
$826 COPΒ 3.0M
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
-
$716 COPΒ 2.6M
-
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$2,925 COPΒ 10.6M
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$1,407 COPΒ 5.1M
-
πŸ’΅ Salaries & Financials
Huaraz
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$546 COPΒ 2.0M
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
0
13.43
-

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

Last update for Huaraz: April 28, 2026

Last update for Medellin: April 27, 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
Huaraz vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Medellin cheaper than Huaraz?
Huaraz is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Getting Around, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Clothing & Footwear. The 827% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $167 in Huaraz and $1,550 in Medellin to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
How do food prices compare in Huaraz and Medellin?
Supermarket bills run roughly 68% higher in Medellin. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
What are total monthly expenses in Huaraz vs Medellin?
All in, you'll spend $111 per month in Huaraz versus $1,034 in Medellin – a 827% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Huaraz or Medellin?
At $111 in Huaraz versus $1,034 in Medellin, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Huaraz but tight or insufficient in Medellin. The gap between the two cities makes Huaraz the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Huaraz or Medellin more family-friendly?
For families, Huaraz is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Medellin, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Huaraz or Medellin?
Safety-wise, Huaraz and Medellin are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Huaraz gentler on the wallet – expenses run 827% less than in Medellin. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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