Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Tacna Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Tacna

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,003 per month in Medellin vs $353 in Tacna, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,573 per month in Medellin vs $465 in Tacna, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,143 per month in Medellin vs $577 in Tacna, rent included.

Medellin costs about 184% more than Tacna, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Medellin and Tacna are more affordable than the global median – Medellin 25% lower, Tacna 73% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.91 COP 18.6K

$1.89 PEN 6.41

212.70%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.96 COP 103.8K

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.43 COP 23.4K

Cappuccino

$1.65 COP 5,207

$2.48 PEN 8.43

-33.47%

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

$1.10 COP 3,468

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.78 COP 2,458

$0.29 PEN 0.99

168.97%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.72 COP 5,412

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.18 COP 10.0K

Milk (1 liter)

$1.10 COP 3,474

$0.92 PEN 3.12

19.57%

White Bread (500g)

$1.26 COP 3,962

$1.38 PEN 4.68

-8.70%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.38 COP 4,349

$0.87 PEN 2.94

58.62%

Eggs

$2.18 COP 6,858

$1.41 PEN 4.80

54.61%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.49 COP 14.1K

$4.19 PEN 14.22

7.16%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.79 COP 18.2K

$3.55 PEN 12.04

63.10%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.97 COP 28.2K

$8.36 PEN 28.37

7.30%

Apples (1kg)

$2.32 COP 7,308

Banana (1kg)

$1.06 COP 3,352

Oranges (1kg)

$1.52 COP 4,774

Tomato (1kg)

$1.36 COP 4,270

Potato (1kg)

$1.13 COP 3,552

$0.54 PEN 1.84

109.26%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 COP 3,689

$0.44 PEN 1.50

165.91%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.90 COP 2,838

$0.29 PEN 0.99

210.34%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.90 COP 2,823

$0.72 PEN 2.46

25.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.23 COP 7,034

$4.22 PEN 14.32

-47.16%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.12 COP 38.2K

$6.59 PEN 22.36

83.92%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.19 COP 3,743

$2.44 PEN 8.28

-51.23%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.48 COP 7,815

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.85 COP 2,687

$0.29 PEN 0.99

193.10%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.62 COP 131.0K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.42 COP 4,459

$1.37 PEN 4.66

3.65%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.95 COP 6,141

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.89 COP 24.8K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.99 COP 3,118

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

$17.6K COP 55.4M

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

$26.8K COP 84.4M

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

$83.0 COP 261.4K

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

$9.70 COP 30.5K

$19.64 PEN 66.7

-50.61%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$23.52 COP 74.1K

$24.84 PEN 84.3

-5.31%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.26 COP 79.5K

$28.28 PEN 96.0

-10.68%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.10 COP 60.1K

Cinema Ticket

$3.95 COP 12.4K

$2.46 PEN 8.35

60.57%

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

$316 COP 994.2K

$56.3 PEN 191

461.40%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,975 COP 18.8M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$60.0 COP 188.9K

$19.09 PEN 64.8

214.30%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$31.82 COP 100.2K

$19.62 PEN 66.6

62.18%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$102 COP 320.1K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$107 COP 338.3K

$25.17 PEN 85.5

326.90%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$475 COP 1.5M

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$374 COP 1.2M

$65.8 PEN 223

468.60%

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 10.3M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,441 COP 4.5M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$624 COP 2.0M

$462 PEN 1,567

35.28%

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 Tacna: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 35% higher in Medellin, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

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 Tacna: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 184%, and the gap shows up most in Clothing & Footwear. 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 $530 in Tacna. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Groceries cost about 54% more in Medellin, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

Kindergarten costs $316 per month in Medellin and $56.3 in Tacna. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Tacna, where all-in costs run around $353, than in Medellin at $1,003. In Tacna it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

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

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Tacna. 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.