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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,034 per month in Medellin vs $350 in Tacna, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,577 per month in Medellin vs $458 in Tacna, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,120 per month in Medellin vs $567 in Tacna, rent included.

Medellin costs about 195% more than Tacna, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Medellin and Tacna are more affordable than the global median – Medellin 23% lower, Tacna 74% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.92 COP 21.4K

$1.88 PEN 6.63

214.89%

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

$2.57 PEN 9.06

-33.85%

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

$1.10 COP 3,966

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.72 COP 2,605

$0.27 PEN 0.94

166.67%

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

$0.87 PEN 3.07

21.84%

White Bread (500g)

$1.25 COP 4,497

$1.36 PEN 4.80

-8.09%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.39 COP 5,022

$0.91 PEN 3.20

52.75%

Eggs

$2.26 COP 8,168

$1.36 PEN 4.80

66.18%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.33 COP 15.6K

$4.07 PEN 14.33

6.39%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.84 COP 21.1K

$3.59 PEN 12.65

62.67%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.83 COP 31.9K

$8.55 PEN 30.10

3.27%

Apples (1kg)

$2.24 COP 8,099

Banana (1kg)

$1.08 COP 3,882

Oranges (1kg)

$1.53 COP 5,522

Tomato (1kg)

$1.37 COP 4,950

Potato (1kg)

$1.13 COP 4,078

$0.53 PEN 1.88

113.21%

Onion (1kg)

$1.12 COP 4,036

$0.44 PEN 1.54

154.55%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.85 COP 3,057

$0.27 PEN 0.94

214.81%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.91 COP 3,281

$0.71 PEN 2.48

28.17%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.33 COP 8,414

$4.14 PEN 14.58

-43.72%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.13 COP 40.2K

$6.13 PEN 21.59

81.57%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.19 COP 4,309

$2.43 PEN 8.55

-51.03%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.37 COP 8,553

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.79 COP 2,838

$0.27 PEN 0.95

192.59%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.13 COP 148.5K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.44 COP 5,184

$1.43 PEN 5.03

0.70%

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

$19.53 PEN 68.7

-50.84%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.16 COP 87.2K

$24.59 PEN 86.6

-1.75%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.88 COP 93.4K

$28.76 PEN 101

-10.01%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.04 COP 68.7K

Cinema Ticket

$3.92 COP 14.1K

$2.53 PEN 8.89

54.94%

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

$306 COP 1.1M

$54.5 PEN 192

461.72%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,919 COP 21.4M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$57.9 COP 209.1K

$19.58 PEN 68.9

195.76%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$31.82 COP 114.9K

$19.48 PEN 68.6

63.35%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$99.9 COP 360.6K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$107 COP 386.8K

$24.75 PEN 87.1

332.89%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$487 COP 1.8M

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$368 COP 1.3M

$67.2 PEN 237

447.71%

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

$455 PEN 1,601

19.91%

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 Tacna: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 20% 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 195%, 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 $1,550 per month in Medellin and $525 in Tacna. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Groceries cost about 53% 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 $306 per month in Medellin and $54.5 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 $350, than in Medellin at $1,034. 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.