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: $1,681 in Medellin versus $26.91 in Huánuco.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,445 in Medellin versus $81.0 in Huánuco.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,210 in Medellin versus $135 in Huánuco.

Living in Medellin is roughly 6146% more expensive than in Huánuco, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Medellin is 23% above, Huánuco is 98% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$8.02 COP 25.4K

$3.07 PEN 10.35

161.24%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$47.87 COP 152.0K

$14.59 PEN 49.23

228.10%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.89 COP 31.4K

Cappuccino

$3.13 COP 9,937

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

$1.91 COP 6,058

$0.63 PEN 2.12

203.17%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.51 COP 4,794

$0.29 PEN 0.98

420.69%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.12 COP 9,917

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.75 COP 18.3K

Milk (1 liter)

$1.44 COP 4,587

White Bread (500g)

$2.49 COP 7,894

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.77 COP 5,631

Eggs

$2.96 COP 9,396

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.07 COP 32.0K

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.12 COP 32.1K

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.30 COP 45.4K

Apples (1kg)

$4.14 COP 13.1K

Banana (1kg)

$1.61 COP 5,106

Oranges (1kg)

$2.25 COP 7,129

Tomato (1kg)

$2.25 COP 7,150

Potato (1kg)

$2.04 COP 6,486

Onion (1kg)

$1.54 COP 4,873

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.17 COP 3,715

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.31 COP 4,148

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.90 COP 12.4K

Wine (Bottle)

$14.01 COP 44.5K

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.74 COP 5,534

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.87 COP 9,112

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.22 COP 3,858

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$80.5 COP 255.5K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.31 COP 4,155

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.19 COP 6,944

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.71 COP 27.7K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.37 COP 4,334

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

$27.8K COP 88.4M

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

$35.8K COP 113.6M

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

$177 COP 562.9K

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

$13.88 COP 44.1K

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$29.72 COP 94.4K

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$44.88 COP 142.5K

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.12 COP 54.4K

Cinema Ticket

$6.65 COP 21.1K

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

$813 COP 2.6M

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$9,187 COP 29.2M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$89.5 COP 284.1K

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$59.0 COP 187.2K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$138 COP 438.8K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$102 COP 324.2K

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,062 COP 3.4M

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$663 COP 2.1M

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,888 COP 6.0M

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,027 COP 3.3M

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,183 COP 13.3M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,675 COP 5.3M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$678 COP 2.2M

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

10.94

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

Last update for Medellin: September 14, 2026

Last update for Huánuco: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Dining out at a mid-range restaurant: $48.00 in Medellin vs $15.00 in Huánuco for two.

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, Sport & Entertainment. The 6146% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $2,521 in Medellin and $40.37 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.

Dining out is cheaper in Huánuco – a meal for two runs $15.00 versus $48.00 in Medellin. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $1,681 per month in Medellin versus $26.91 in Huánuco – a 6146% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $26.91 in Huánuco versus $1,681 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 6146% less than in Medellin. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.