Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Huaraz Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Huaraz

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,003 in Medellin versus $111 in Huaraz.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,573 in Medellin versus $189 in Huaraz.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,143 in Medellin versus $267 in Huaraz.

Living in Medellin is roughly 800% more expensive than in Huaraz, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

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

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.91 COP 19.1K

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.96 COP 106.5K

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.43 COP 24.0K

Cappuccino

$1.65 COP 5,343

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

$1.10 COP 3,559

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.78 COP 2,523

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.72 COP 5,553

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.18 COP 10.3K

Milk (1 liter)

$1.10 COP 3,565

$1.90 PEN 6.40

-42.11%

White Bread (500g)

$1.26 COP 4,066

$1.08 PEN 3.65

16.67%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.38 COP 4,463

$0.85 PEN 2.86

62.35%

Eggs

$2.18 COP 7,038

$1.35 PEN 4.56

61.48%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.49 COP 14.5K

$5.63 PEN 19.02

-20.25%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.79 COP 18.7K

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.97 COP 29.0K

$6.99 PEN 23.58

28.33%

Apples (1kg)

$2.32 COP 7,499

$0.82 PEN 2.76

182.93%

Banana (1kg)

$1.06 COP 3,440

$0.54 PEN 1.82

96.30%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.52 COP 4,899

$0.86 PEN 2.90

76.74%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.36 COP 4,381

$0.57 PEN 1.93

138.60%

Potato (1kg)

$1.13 COP 3,645

$0.85 PEN 2.86

32.94%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 COP 3,785

$0.57 PEN 1.94

105.26%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.90 COP 2,912

$0.58 PEN 1.95

55.17%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.90 COP 2,897

$0.29 PEN 0.98

210.34%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.23 COP 7,218

Wine (Bottle)

$12.12 COP 39.2K

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.19 COP 3,841

$1.69 PEN 5.70

-29.59%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.48 COP 8,020

$1.97 PEN 6.66

25.89%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.85 COP 2,758

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.62 COP 134.5K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.42 COP 4,575

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.95 COP 6,302

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.89 COP 25.5K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.99 COP 3,200

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

$17.6K COP 56.9M

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

$26.8K COP 86.6M

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

$83.0 COP 268.2K

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

$9.70 COP 31.3K

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$23.52 COP 76.0K

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.26 COP 81.6K

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.10 COP 61.7K

Cinema Ticket

$3.95 COP 12.8K

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

$316 COP 1.0M

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,975 COP 19.3M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$60.0 COP 193.8K

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$31.82 COP 102.8K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$102 COP 328.5K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$107 COP 347.2K

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

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$719 COP 2.3M

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,265 COP 10.5M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,441 COP 4.7M

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 Huaraz: July 28, 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 Huaraz: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Huaraz is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Eating Out, Getting Around, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 800% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $1,504 in Medellin and $167 in Huaraz 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 73% higher in Medellin. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $1,003 per month in Medellin versus $111 in Huaraz – a 800% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $111 in Huaraz versus $1,003 in Medellin, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Huaraz but tight or insufficient in Medellin. The gap between the two cities makes Huaraz the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

For families, Huaraz 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 Huaraz 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 Huaraz gentler on the wallet – expenses run 800% less than in Medellin. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.