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: $1,013 in Medellin versus $110 in Ayacucho.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,602 in Medellin versus $191 in Ayacucho.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,192 in Medellin versus $272 in Ayacucho.

Living in Medellin is roughly 824% more expensive than Ayacucho, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Medellin 24% lower, Ayacucho 92% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.99 COP 21.4K

$1.64 PEN 5.58

265.24%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.86 COP 117.2K

$13.75 PEN 46.78

138.98%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.09 COP 25.3K

$4.07 PEN 13.84

74.20%

Cappuccino

$1.71 COP 6,105

$2.25 PEN 7.66

-24.00%

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

$1.10 COP 3,918

$0.80 PEN 2.71

37.50%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.78 COP 2,776

$0.29 PEN 1.00

168.97%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.68 COP 5,987

$1.89 PEN 6.42

-11.11%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.07 COP 10.9K

$2.25 PEN 7.67

36.44%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.09 COP 3,899

White Bread (500g)

$1.26 COP 4,500

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.38 COP 4,914

Eggs

$2.19 COP 7,813

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.40 COP 15.7K

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.63 COP 20.1K

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.89 COP 31.7K

Apples (1kg)

$2.34 COP 8,334

Banana (1kg)

$1.06 COP 3,771

Oranges (1kg)

$1.50 COP 5,365

Tomato (1kg)

$1.38 COP 4,915

Potato (1kg)

$1.15 COP 4,104

Onion (1kg)

$1.16 COP 4,148

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.89 COP 3,176

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.84 COP 2,992

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.28 COP 8,131

Wine (Bottle)

$10.64 COP 37.9K

$5.80 PEN 19.74

83.45%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.20 COP 4,276

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.47 COP 8,809

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.86 COP 3,051

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.40 COP 147.6K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.47 COP 5,255

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.96 COP 6,997

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.74 COP 27.6K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.95 COP 3,403

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

$18.1K COP 64.6M

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

$26.5K COP 94.4M

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

$82.3 COP 293.2K

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

$9.50 COP 33.9K

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.23 COP 86.4K

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.89 COP 92.3K

$24.55 PEN 83.5

5.46%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.00 COP 67.7K

Cinema Ticket

$3.93 COP 14.0K

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

$309 COP 1.1M

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,965 COP 21.3M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.7 COP 209.1K

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$32.35 COP 115.3K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$103 COP 365.7K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$108 COP 386.5K

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$476 COP 1.7M

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$379 COP 1.4M

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$838 COP 3.0M

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$724 COP 2.6M

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,791 COP 9.9M

$1,944 PEN 6,617

43.52%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,211 COP 4.3M

$1,747 PEN 5,944

-30.65%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$512 COP 1.8M

$492 PEN 1,676

3.95%

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: May 31, 2026

Last update for Ayacucho: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Medellin pays 4% 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 $188 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 824% 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.

Medellin pays 4% more on average, 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 $1,013 per month in Medellin versus $110 in Ayacucho – a 824% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Supermarket bills run roughly 1525% higher in Medellin. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

At $110 in Ayacucho versus $1,013 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 $110 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 824% less than in Medellin. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.