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: $1,034 in Medellin versus $111 in Huaraz.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,577 in Medellin versus $187 in Huaraz.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,120 in Medellin versus $263 in Huaraz.

Living in Medellin is roughly 827% more expensive than Huaraz, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Medellin 23% lower, Huaraz 92% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.92 COP 21.4K

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.75 COP 118.2K

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.20 COP 26.0K

Cappuccino

$1.70 COP 6,140

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

$1.10 COP 3,966

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.72 COP 2,605

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.67 COP 6,022

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.10 COP 11.2K

Milk (1 liter)

$1.06 COP 3,809

$1.96 PEN 6.88

-45.92%

White Bread (500g)

$1.25 COP 4,497

$1.13 PEN 3.98

10.62%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.39 COP 5,022

$0.82 PEN 2.88

69.51%

Eggs

$2.26 COP 8,168

$1.43 PEN 5.02

58.04%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.33 COP 15.6K

$5.64 PEN 19.85

-23.23%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.84 COP 21.1K

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.83 COP 31.9K

$6.91 PEN 24.32

27.79%

Apples (1kg)

$2.24 COP 8,099

$0.79 PEN 2.79

183.54%

Banana (1kg)

$1.08 COP 3,882

$0.59 PEN 2.06

83.05%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.53 COP 5,522

$0.81 PEN 2.85

88.89%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.37 COP 4,950

$0.58 PEN 2.05

136.21%

Potato (1kg)

$1.13 COP 4,078

$0.85 PEN 3.01

32.94%

Onion (1kg)

$1.12 COP 4,036

$0.58 PEN 2.04

93.10%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.85 COP 3,057

$0.54 PEN 1.89

57.41%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.91 COP 3,281

$0.29 PEN 1.03

213.79%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.33 COP 8,414

Wine (Bottle)

$11.13 COP 40.2K

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.19 COP 4,309

$1.70 PEN 5.97

-30.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.37 COP 8,553

$1.92 PEN 6.75

23.44%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.79 COP 2,838

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.13 COP 148.5K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.44 COP 5,184

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.91 COP 6,901

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.02 COP 28.9K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.94 COP 3,385

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

$17.9K COP 64.7M

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

$26.8K COP 96.7M

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

$84.0 COP 303.1K

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

$9.60 COP 34.7K

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.16 COP 87.2K

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.88 COP 93.4K

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.04 COP 68.7K

Cinema Ticket

$3.92 COP 14.1K

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

$306 COP 1.1M

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,919 COP 21.4M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$57.9 COP 209.1K

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$31.82 COP 114.9K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$99.9 COP 360.6K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$107 COP 386.8K

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$487 COP 1.8M

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$368 COP 1.3M

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$826 COP 3.0M

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$716 COP 2.6M

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,925 COP 10.6M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,407 COP 5.1M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$546 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: April 27, 2026

Last update for Huaraz: April 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 827% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $1,550 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 68% higher in Medellin. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $1,034 per month in Medellin versus $111 in Huaraz – a 827% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $111 in Huaraz versus $1,034 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 827% less than in Medellin. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.