Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Arequipa Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Arequipa

😐 Solo nomad: Medellin is 33.6% more expensive than Arequipa without rent, and 56.8% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Medellin is 22.4% more expensive than Arequipa without rent, and 43.3% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Arequipa
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.23 COP 26K
$4.13 PEN 14.9
50.85%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.34 COP 134.8K
$27.5 PEN 99.3
17.60%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.39 COP 30.8K
$5.63 PEN 20.32
31.26%
Cappuccino
$1.72 COP 7,155
$2.51 PEN 9.05
-31.47%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.1 COP 4,575
$0.76 PEN 2.75
44.74%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.73 COP 3,060
$0.37 PEN 1.34
97.30%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.66 COP 6,916
$2.19 PEN 7.92
-24.20%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.2 COP 13.3K
$5.92 PEN 21.38
-45.95%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Arequipa
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.09 COP 4,552
$1.6 PEN 5.78
-31.87%
White Bread (500g)
$1.24 COP 5,188
$1.23 PEN 4.45
0.81%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.33 COP 5,544
$1.22 PEN 4.4
9.02%
Eggs
$2.22 COP 9,252
$2.09 PEN 7.54
6.22%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$4.55 COP 19K
$5.39 PEN 19.49
-15.58%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.71 COP 23.8K
$5.42 PEN 19.58
5.35%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$8.59 COP 35.8K
$7.73 PEN 27.92
11.13%
Apples (1kg)
$2.26 COP 9,410
$1.52 PEN 5.48
48.68%
Banana (1kg)
$1.07 COP 4,461
$1.21 PEN 4.39
-11.57%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.51 COP 6,293
$1.22 PEN 4.41
23.77%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.42 COP 5,911
$0.8 PEN 2.89
77.50%
Potato (1kg)
$1.11 COP 4,619
$0.58 PEN 2.11
91.38%
Onion (1kg)
$1.18 COP 4,932
$0.55 PEN 1.97
114.55%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.89 COP 3,718
$0.47 PEN 1.71
89.36%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.84 COP 3,507
$0.71 PEN 2.58
18.31%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.35 COP 9,809
$5.02 PEN 18.15
-53.19%
Wine (Bottle)
$9.34 COP 38.9K
$5.1 PEN 18.43
83.14%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.18 COP 4,927
$2.5 PEN 9.02
-52.80%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.49 COP 10.4K
$2.24 PEN 8.11
11.16%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Arequipa
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.83 COP 3,464
$0.27 PEN 0.97
207.41%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$41.9 COP 174.7K
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.41 COP 5,899
$2.14 PEN 7.73
-34.11%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.96 COP 8,164
$2.06 PEN 7.45
-4.85%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.85 COP 32.7K
$12.93 PEN 46.71
-39.29%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.02 COP 4,265
$1.55 PEN 5.61
-34.19%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$17.6K COP 73.4M
$19.2K PEN 69.5K
-8.47%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.2K COP 109.2M
$24.9K PEN 89.8K
5.40%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Arequipa
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$82.5 COP 344.1K
$39.77 PEN 144
107.52%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.44 COP 39.4K
$10.54 PEN 38.09
-10.44%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$23.51 COP 98K
$31.12 PEN 112
-24.45%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Arequipa
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$25.68 COP 107.1K
$21.83 PEN 78.9
17.64%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.14 COP 79.8K
$8.56 PEN 30.91
123.60%
Cinema Ticket
$3.96 COP 16.5K
$4.57 PEN 16.51
-13.35%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Arequipa
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$305 COP 1.3M
$60.1 PEN 217
406.83%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,925 COP 24.7M
$6,375 PEN 23K
-7.06%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Arequipa
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.9 COP 241.4K
$36.87 PEN 133
57.04%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$31.59 COP 131.7K
$22.42 PEN 81
40.90%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$103 COP 430.1K
$62.2 PEN 225
65.93%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$106 COP 440.5K
$55.2 PEN 199
91.47%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Arequipa
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$489 COP 2M
$239 PEN 865
104.38%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$379 COP 1.6M
$156 PEN 562
143.73%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$827 COP 3.4M
$532 PEN 1,921
55.55%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$729 COP 3M
$396 PEN 1,429
84.27%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,190 COP 9.1M
$2,431 PEN 8,781
-9.90%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,532 COP 6.4M
$1,336 PEN 4,826
14.72%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Arequipa
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$550 COP 2.3M
$637 PEN 2,301
-13.64%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
13.43
15
-10.47%

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

Last update for Medellin: October 28, 2025

Last update for Arequipa: October 28, 2025

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