Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Iquitos Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Iquitos

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,003 per month in Medellin vs $620 in Iquitos, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,573 per month in Medellin vs $1,145 in Iquitos, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,143 per month in Medellin vs $1,670 in Iquitos, rent included.

Medellin costs about 62% more than Iquitos, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Medellin and Iquitos are more affordable than the global median – Medellin 25% lower, Iquitos 53% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.91 COP 19.1K

$4.22 PEN 14.23

40.05%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.96 COP 106.5K

$36.59 PEN 123

-9.92%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.43 COP 24.0K

$6.99 PEN 23.58

6.29%

Cappuccino

$1.65 COP 5,343

$3.34 PEN 11.28

-50.60%

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

$1.10 COP 3,559

$0.79 PEN 2.68

39.24%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.78 COP 2,523

$0.99 PEN 3.34

-21.21%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.72 COP 5,553

$2.71 PEN 9.13

-36.53%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.18 COP 10.3K

$6.85 PEN 23.12

-53.58%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.10 COP 3,565

$1.70 PEN 5.73

-35.29%

White Bread (500g)

$1.26 COP 4,066

$2.25 PEN 7.59

-44.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.38 COP 4,463

Eggs

$2.18 COP 7,038

$2.42 PEN 8.18

-9.92%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.49 COP 14.5K

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.79 COP 18.7K

$2.97 PEN 10.04

94.95%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.97 COP 29.0K

Apples (1kg)

$2.32 COP 7,499

Banana (1kg)

$1.06 COP 3,440

Oranges (1kg)

$1.52 COP 4,899

Tomato (1kg)

$1.36 COP 4,381

Potato (1kg)

$1.13 COP 3,645

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 COP 3,785

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.90 COP 2,912

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.90 COP 2,897

$0.80 PEN 2.69

12.50%

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

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.48 COP 8,020

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

$33.54 PEN 113

147.50%

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

$9.70 COP 31.3K

$11.00 PEN 37.13

-11.82%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$23.52 COP 76.0K

$8.30 PEN 28.01

183.37%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.26 COP 81.6K

$27.67 PEN 93.4

-8.71%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.10 COP 61.7K

$8.47 PEN 28.59

125.50%

Cinema Ticket

$3.95 COP 12.8K

$5.73 PEN 19.33

-31.06%

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

$316 COP 1.0M

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,975 COP 19.3M

$2,648 PEN 8,936

125.65%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$60.0 COP 193.8K

$84.4 PEN 285

-28.88%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$31.82 COP 102.8K

$33.22 PEN 112

-4.21%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$102 COP 328.5K

$49.61 PEN 167

104.94%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$107 COP 347.2K

$25.12 PEN 84.8

327.75%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$475 COP 1.5M

$328 PEN 1,107

44.78%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$374 COP 1.2M

$246 PEN 829

52.32%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$849 COP 2.7M

$830 PEN 2,803

2.24%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$719 COP 2.3M

$694 PEN 2,341

3.73%

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

$591 PEN 1,996

5.58%

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 Iquitos: July 25, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $475 in Medellin versus $328 in Iquitos. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 6% higher in Medellin, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $33.00 in Medellin versus $37.00 in Iquitos. Groceries tell a different story – $193 in Medellin vs $74.0 in Iquitos – so Iquitos wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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 Iquitos: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 62%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,504 per month in Medellin and $930 in Iquitos. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Iquitos, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Groceries cost about 163% more in Medellin, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $33.00 in Medellin and $37.00 in Iquitos. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Iquitos, where all-in costs run around $620, than in Medellin at $1,003. In Iquitos it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Iquitos – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

If budget matters most, go with Iquitos. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Medellin makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.