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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,017 per month in Medellin vs $633 in Iquitos, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,602 per month in Medellin vs $1,133 in Iquitos, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,188 per month in Medellin vs $1,633 in Iquitos, rent included.

Medellin costs about 61% more than Iquitos, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Medellin and Iquitos are more affordable than the global median – Medellin 24% lower, Iquitos 53% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.95 COP 20.8K

$4.21 PEN 14.30

41.33%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$33.33 COP 116.3K

$36.32 PEN 123

-8.23%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.23 COP 25.2K

$6.96 PEN 23.65

3.88%

Cappuccino

$1.63 COP 5,687

$3.29 PEN 11.18

-50.46%

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

$1.09 COP 3,821

$0.86 PEN 2.92

26.74%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.73 COP 2,548

$0.94 PEN 3.20

-22.34%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.74 COP 6,065

$2.84 PEN 9.67

-38.73%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.23 COP 11.3K

$6.84 PEN 23.27

-52.78%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.05 COP 3,662

$1.63 PEN 5.55

-35.58%

White Bread (500g)

$1.29 COP 4,515

$2.15 PEN 7.32

-40.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.32 COP 4,617

Eggs

$2.27 COP 7,927

$2.41 PEN 8.20

-5.81%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.35 COP 15.2K

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.88 COP 20.5K

$3.11 PEN 10.56

89.07%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.61 COP 30.0K

Apples (1kg)

$2.25 COP 7,844

Banana (1kg)

$1.07 COP 3,733

Oranges (1kg)

$1.52 COP 5,322

Tomato (1kg)

$1.42 COP 4,964

Potato (1kg)

$1.17 COP 4,084

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 COP 4,077

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.89 COP 3,096

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.90 COP 3,146

$0.85 PEN 2.87

5.88%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.25 COP 7,837

Wine (Bottle)

$11.04 COP 38.5K

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.14 COP 3,977

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.38 COP 8,301

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.84 COP 2,916

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.95 COP 146.4K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 COP 4,912

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.90 COP 6,634

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.75 COP 27.0K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.01 COP 3,509

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

$17.6K COP 61.4M

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

$26.5K COP 92.5M

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

$83.7 COP 292.1K

$33.11 PEN 113

152.73%

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

$9.45 COP 33.0K

$10.73 PEN 36.48

-11.93%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.11 COP 84.1K

$8.29 PEN 28.18

190.83%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.31 COP 88.3K

$27.82 PEN 94.6

-9.02%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.14 COP 66.8K

$8.46 PEN 28.77

126.24%

Cinema Ticket

$4.10 COP 14.3K

$5.61 PEN 19.07

-26.92%

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

$312 COP 1.1M

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,993 COP 20.9M

$2,698 PEN 9,171

122.16%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.0 COP 202.6K

$83.5 PEN 284

-30.48%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$32.56 COP 113.6K

$33.64 PEN 114

-3.21%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$99.6 COP 347.7K

$49.23 PEN 167

102.36%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$109 COP 378.8K

$24.79 PEN 84.3

337.84%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$482 COP 1.7M

$337 PEN 1,147

42.96%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$379 COP 1.3M

$254 PEN 864

49.33%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$837 COP 2.9M

$842 PEN 2,862

-0.52%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$723 COP 2.5M

$700 PEN 2,381

3.25%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,840 COP 9.9M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,223 COP 4.3M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$541 COP 1.9M

$579 PEN 1,967

-6.51%

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: June 8, 2026

Last update for Iquitos: June 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $482 in Medellin versus $337 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 7% higher in Iquitos, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $33.00 in Medellin versus $36.00 in Iquitos. Groceries tell a different story – $190 in Medellin vs $73.0 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 61%, 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 $1,525 per month in Medellin and $950 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 159% 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 $36.00 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 $633, than in Medellin at $1,017. 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.