Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Chimbote Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Chimbote

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,687 in Medellin versus $20.03 in Chimbote.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,535 in Medellin versus $32.00 in Chimbote.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,383 in Medellin versus $43.17 in Chimbote.

Living in Medellin is roughly 8320% more expensive than in Chimbote, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Medellin is 23% above, Chimbote is 99% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.89 COP 24.2K

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$44.53 COP 136.5K

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.29 COP 28.5K

Cappuccino

$2.90 COP 8,874

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

$1.81 COP 5,541

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.55 COP 4,741

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.25 COP 9,962

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.88 COP 18.0K

Milk (1 liter)

$1.38 COP 4,230

White Bread (500g)

$2.45 COP 7,517

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.51 COP 4,617

Eggs

$2.78 COP 8,516

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.05 COP 27.7K

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.65 COP 32.6K

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.63 COP 44.8K

Apples (1kg)

$3.97 COP 12.2K

Banana (1kg)

$1.38 COP 4,219

Oranges (1kg)

$2.30 COP 7,056

Tomato (1kg)

$2.02 COP 6,185

Potato (1kg)

$2.09 COP 6,390

Onion (1kg)

$1.63 COP 4,996

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.08 COP 3,313

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.25 COP 3,843

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.03 COP 12.4K

Wine (Bottle)

$13.47 COP 41.3K

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.60 COP 4,904

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.00 COP 9,189

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.18 COP 3,611

$1.00 PEN 3.36

18.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$79.9 COP 244.9K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.61 COP 4,920

$1.46 PEN 4.89

10.27%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.13 COP 6,533

$3.04 PEN 10.19

-29.93%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.52 COP 26.1K

$2.98 PEN 10.00

185.91%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.35 COP 4,142

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

$28.3K COP 86.8M

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

$35.7K COP 109.4M

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

$151 COP 463.8K

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

$13.10 COP 40.1K

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$32.30 COP 99.0K

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$46.33 COP 141.9K

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.26 COP 52.9K

Cinema Ticket

$6.43 COP 19.7K

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

$835 COP 2.6M

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,887 COP 27.2M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$89.3 COP 273.7K

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$55.3 COP 169.5K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$137 COP 418.5K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$109 COP 335.1K

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$952 COP 2.9M

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$668 COP 2.0M

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,020 COP 6.2M

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,148 COP 3.5M

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,696 COP 11.3M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,586 COP 4.9M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$625 COP 1.9M

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

10.43

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

Last update for Medellin: August 17, 2026

Last update for Chimbote: August 17, 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

Medellin vs Chimbote: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chimbote is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Eating Out, Getting Around, Sport & Entertainment. The 8320% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $2,530 in Medellin and $30.05 in Chimbote 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.

At $20.03 in Chimbote versus $1,687 in Medellin, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Chimbote but tight or insufficient in Medellin. The gap between the two cities makes Chimbote the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

For families, Chimbote 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.

Safety-wise, Medellin and Chimbote 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 Chimbote gentler on the wallet – expenses run 8320% less than in Medellin. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.