Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Huánuco Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Huánuco

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,003 in Medellin versus $112 in Huánuco.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,573 in Medellin versus $198 in Huánuco.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,143 in Medellin versus $283 in Huánuco.

Living in Medellin is roughly 792% more expensive than in Huánuco, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Medellin 25% lower, Huánuco 92% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.91 COP 18.6K

$3.52 PEN 11.96

67.90%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.96 COP 103.8K

$18.19 PEN 61.8

81.20%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.43 COP 23.4K

Cappuccino

$1.65 COP 5,207

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

$1.10 COP 3,468

$0.81 PEN 2.76

35.80%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.78 COP 2,458

$0.57 PEN 1.94

36.84%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.72 COP 5,412

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.18 COP 10.0K

Milk (1 liter)

$1.10 COP 3,474

White Bread (500g)

$1.26 COP 3,962

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.38 COP 4,349

Eggs

$2.18 COP 6,858

$1.58 PEN 5.37

37.97%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.49 COP 14.1K

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.79 COP 18.2K

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.97 COP 28.2K

Apples (1kg)

$2.32 COP 7,308

$2.29 PEN 7.78

1.31%

Banana (1kg)

$1.06 COP 3,352

Oranges (1kg)

$1.52 COP 4,774

$0.57 PEN 1.94

166.67%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.36 COP 4,270

Potato (1kg)

$1.13 COP 3,552

$0.58 PEN 1.98

94.83%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 COP 3,689

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.90 COP 2,838

$0.29 PEN 1.00

210.34%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.90 COP 2,823

$0.58 PEN 1.97

55.17%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.23 COP 7,034

Wine (Bottle)

$12.12 COP 38.2K

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.19 COP 3,743

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.48 COP 7,815

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.85 COP 2,687

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.62 COP 131.0K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.42 COP 4,459

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.95 COP 6,141

$0.53 PEN 1.79

267.92%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.89 COP 24.8K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.99 COP 3,118

$1.30 PEN 4.41

-23.85%

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

$17.6K COP 55.4M

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

$26.8K COP 84.4M

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

$83.0 COP 261.4K

$24.46 PEN 83.0

239.37%

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

$9.70 COP 30.5K

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$23.52 COP 74.1K

$19.31 PEN 65.5

21.80%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.26 COP 79.5K

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.10 COP 60.1K

Cinema Ticket

$3.95 COP 12.4K

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

$316 COP 994.2K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,975 COP 18.8M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$60.0 COP 188.9K

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$31.82 COP 100.2K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$102 COP 320.1K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$107 COP 338.3K

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$475 COP 1.5M

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$374 COP 1.2M

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$849 COP 2.7M

$195 PEN 660

336.53%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$719 COP 2.3M

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,265 COP 10.3M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,441 COP 4.5M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$624 COP 2.0M

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 27, 2026

Last update for Huánuco: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Dining out: $33.00 in Medellin vs $18.00 in Huánuco for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $193 vs $30.00 per month, with Huánuco 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 Huánuco: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Huánuco is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Eating Out, Getting Around, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 792% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $1,504 in Medellin and $169 in Huánuco 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.

Supermarket bills run roughly 545% higher in Medellin. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

Dining out is cheaper in Huánuco – a meal for two runs $18.00 versus $33.00 in Medellin. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $112 in Huánuco versus $1,003 in Medellin, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Huánuco but tight or insufficient in Medellin. The gap between the two cities makes Huánuco the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

For families, Huánuco 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 Huánuco 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 Huánuco gentler on the wallet – expenses run 792% less than in Medellin. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.