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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,017 per month in Medellin vs $354 in Tacna, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,602 per month in Medellin vs $465 in Tacna, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,188 per month in Medellin vs $576 in Tacna, rent included.

Medellin costs about 187% more than Tacna, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Medellin and Tacna are more affordable than the global median – Medellin 24% lower, Tacna 74% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.95 COP 20.8K

$1.99 PEN 6.75

198.99%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$33.33 COP 116.3K

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.23 COP 25.2K

Cappuccino

$1.63 COP 5,687

$2.51 PEN 8.54

-35.06%

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

$1.09 COP 3,821

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.73 COP 2,548

$0.27 PEN 0.91

170.37%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.74 COP 6,065

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.23 COP 11.3K

Milk (1 liter)

$1.05 COP 3,662

$0.87 PEN 2.95

20.69%

White Bread (500g)

$1.29 COP 4,515

$1.35 PEN 4.59

-4.44%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.32 COP 4,617

$0.87 PEN 2.97

51.72%

Eggs

$2.27 COP 7,927

$1.42 PEN 4.82

59.86%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.35 COP 15.2K

$4.27 PEN 14.51

1.87%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.88 COP 20.5K

$3.64 PEN 12.38

61.54%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.61 COP 30.0K

$8.49 PEN 28.87

1.41%

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

$0.57 PEN 1.94

105.26%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 COP 4,077

$0.40 PEN 1.36

192.50%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.89 COP 3,096

$0.27 PEN 0.91

229.63%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.90 COP 3,146

$0.71 PEN 2.41

26.76%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.25 COP 7,837

$4.27 PEN 14.52

-47.31%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.04 COP 38.5K

$6.29 PEN 21.37

75.52%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.14 COP 3,977

$2.51 PEN 8.55

-54.58%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.38 COP 8,301

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.84 COP 2,916

$0.29 PEN 0.99

189.66%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.95 COP 146.4K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 COP 4,912

$1.42 PEN 4.81

-0.70%

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

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

$9.45 COP 33.0K

$19.20 PEN 65.3

-50.78%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.11 COP 84.1K

$24.89 PEN 84.6

-3.13%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.31 COP 88.3K

$28.24 PEN 96.0

-10.38%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.14 COP 66.8K

Cinema Ticket

$4.10 COP 14.3K

$2.53 PEN 8.59

62.06%

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

$312 COP 1.1M

$55.7 PEN 189

460.44%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,993 COP 20.9M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.0 COP 202.6K

$19.54 PEN 66.4

197.03%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$32.56 COP 113.6K

$19.17 PEN 65.2

69.85%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$99.6 COP 347.7K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$109 COP 378.8K

$25.10 PEN 85.4

332.43%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$482 COP 1.7M

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$379 COP 1.3M

$65.4 PEN 222

480.24%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$837 COP 2.9M

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$723 COP 2.5M

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

$466 PEN 1,586

15.97%

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 Tacna: June 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 16% 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 187%, 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 $1,525 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 52% 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 $312 per month in Medellin and $55.7 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 $354, than in Medellin at $1,017. 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.