Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Ayacucho Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Ayacucho

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,031 in Medellin versus $109 in Ayacucho.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,599 in Medellin versus $191 in Ayacucho.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,167 in Medellin versus $273 in Ayacucho.

Living in Medellin is roughly 847% more expensive than in Ayacucho, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

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

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.16 COP 20.1K

$1.70 PEN 5.78

262.35%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.60 COP 106.1K

$13.69 PEN 46.43

138.13%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.34 COP 23.9K

$4.13 PEN 14.00

77.72%

Cappuccino

$1.72 COP 5,600

$2.17 PEN 7.38

-20.74%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.05 COP 3,420

$0.84 PEN 2.87

25.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.77 COP 2,515

$0.29 PEN 0.99

165.52%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.69 COP 5,488

$1.89 PEN 6.41

-10.58%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.17 COP 10.3K

$2.25 PEN 7.62

40.89%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.05 COP 3,423

White Bread (500g)

$1.30 COP 4,236

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.40 COP 4,544

Eggs

$2.16 COP 7,047

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.39 COP 14.3K

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.88 COP 19.1K

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.64 COP 28.1K

Apples (1kg)

$2.28 COP 7,426

Banana (1kg)

$1.11 COP 3,604

Oranges (1kg)

$1.53 COP 4,983

Tomato (1kg)

$1.35 COP 4,410

Potato (1kg)

$1.13 COP 3,674

Onion (1kg)

$1.13 COP 3,692

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.85 COP 2,753

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.91 COP 2,975

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.34 COP 7,630

Wine (Bottle)

$12.37 COP 40.3K

$5.94 PEN 20.16

108.25%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.20 COP 3,909

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.49 COP 8,104

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.84 COP 2,728

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$40.57 COP 132.1K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.42 COP 4,623

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.92 COP 6,235

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.66 COP 24.9K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.99 COP 3,223

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$18.0K COP 58.7M

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$26.6K COP 86.7M

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$80.8 COP 263.1K

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$9.95 COP 32.4K

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.18 COP 78.7K

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.08 COP 81.7K

$25.40 PEN 86.2

-1.26%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.15 COP 62.3K

Cinema Ticket

$3.98 COP 13.0K

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$305 COP 993.5K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,059 COP 19.7M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.1 COP 189.2K

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$32.20 COP 104.8K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$101 COP 327.9K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$108 COP 350.8K

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$477 COP 1.6M

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$376 COP 1.2M

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$845 COP 2.7M

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$730 COP 2.4M

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,215 COP 10.5M

$1,890 PEN 6,413

70.09%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,372 COP 4.5M

$1,764 PEN 5,983

-22.19%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$617 COP 2.0M

$481 PEN 1,631

28.30%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.43

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

Last update for Medellin: July 12, 2026

Last update for Ayacucho: July 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Medellin pays 28% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $33.00 in Medellin vs $14.00 in Ayacucho for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $193 vs $12.00 per month, with Ayacucho cheaper across the board.

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

Medellin vs Ayacucho: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Ayacucho wins on cost – living expenses run 847% lower than in Medellin. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Ayacucho the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Average pay runs 28% higher in Medellin, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

All in, you'll spend $1,031 per month in Medellin versus $109 in Ayacucho – a 847% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Supermarket bills run roughly 1523% higher in Medellin. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

At $109 in Ayacucho versus $1,031 in Medellin, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Ayacucho but tight or insufficient in Medellin. The gap between the two cities makes Ayacucho the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both work as nomad bases, but Ayacucho delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $109 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Ayacucho hard to pass up.

Safety-wise, Medellin and Ayacucho are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Ayacucho gentler on the wallet – expenses run 847% less than in Medellin. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.