Cost of Living Comparison Between Peru and Colombia Cost of Living Comparison Between Peru and Colombia

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $506 per month in Peru vs $1,259 in Colombia, rent included.

A couple spends around $792 per month in Peru vs $1,978 in Colombia, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,078 per month in Peru vs $2,697 in Colombia, rent included.

The cost of living in Peru is roughly 60% lower than in Colombia on average – the gap runs across housing, groceries, transport, and services.

Both Peru and Colombia are more affordable than the global median – Peru 63% lower, Colombia 8% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Peru
Colombia
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.48 PEN 11.67
$8.27 COP 25.7K
-57.92%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$29.90 PEN 100
$45.33 COP 140.8K
-34.04%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$6.63 PEN 22.24
$9.87 COP 30.7K
-32.83%
Cappuccino
$3.18 PEN 10.67
$2.82 COP 8,751
12.77%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.96 PEN 3.22
$1.40 COP 4,345
-31.43%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.56 PEN 1.89
$0.98 COP 3,044
-42.86%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.35 PEN 7.88
$2.29 COP 7,120
2.62%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.53 PEN 11.83
$4.21 COP 13.1K
-16.15%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Peru
Colombia
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.54 PEN 5.17
$1.57 COP 4,884
-1.91%
White Bread (500g)
$2.41 PEN 8.08
$2.27 COP 7,056
6.17%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.33 PEN 4.46
$1.65 COP 5,136
-19.39%
Eggs
$2.77 PEN 9.28
$3.15 COP 9,801
-12.06%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.07 PEN 27.06
$7.98 COP 24.8K
1.13%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.96 PEN 19.98
$9.02 COP 28.0K
-33.92%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.21 PEN 30.87
$11.75 COP 36.5K
-21.62%
Apples (1kg)
$1.78 PEN 5.96
$3.64 COP 11.3K
-51.10%
Banana (1kg)
$1.06 PEN 3.54
$1.60 COP 4,958
-33.75%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.21 PEN 4.05
$1.91 COP 5,927
-36.65%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.28 PEN 4.31
$1.93 COP 5,998
-33.68%
Potato (1kg)
$0.96 PEN 3.21
$1.56 COP 4,853
-38.46%
Onion (1kg)
$0.88 PEN 2.95
$1.43 COP 4,446
-38.46%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.83 PEN 2.79
$1.26 COP 3,911
-34.13%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.87 PEN 2.91
$1.17 COP 3,647
-25.64%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.79 PEN 19.41
$4.18 COP 13.0K
38.52%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.86 PEN 26.36
$13.18 COP 41.0K
-40.36%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.05 PEN 6.86
$1.45 COP 4,520
41.38%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.94 PEN 9.85
$2.81 COP 8,735
4.63%
🚌 Getting Around
Peru
Colombia
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.63 PEN 2.10
$1.17 COP 3,632
-46.15%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$24.23 PEN 81.2
$64.5 COP 200.4K
-62.43%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.42 PEN 8.10
$2.31 COP 7,164
4.76%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.14 PEN 7.17
$2.09 COP 6,481
2.39%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.91 PEN 19.82
$8.41 COP 26.1K
-29.73%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.56 PEN 5.23
$1.38 COP 4,292
13.04%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.2K PEN 74.3K
$27.9K COP 86.8M
-20.72%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.5K PEN 85.3K
$35.4K COP 110.1M
-28.16%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Peru
Colombia
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$55.4 PEN 186
$136 COP 423.9K
-59.43%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$14.12 PEN 47.33
$14.38 COP 44.7K
-1.81%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$26.52 PEN 88.9
$29.24 COP 90.8K
-9.30%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Peru
Colombia
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$31.03 PEN 104
$36.65 COP 113.9K
-15.33%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.90 PEN 60.0
$17.32 COP 53.8K
3.35%
Cinema Ticket
$5.92 PEN 19.84
$6.54 COP 20.3K
-9.48%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Peru
Colombia
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$162 PEN 544
$685 COP 2.1M
-76.30%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$11.6K PEN 38.8K
$8,661 COP 26.9M
33.56%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Peru
Colombia
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$51.1 PEN 171
$77.4 COP 240.4K
-33.98%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$30.22 PEN 101
$54.8 COP 170.2K
-44.84%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$76.1 PEN 255
$140 COP 436.0K
-45.81%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$71.8 PEN 241
$108 COP 336.1K
-33.61%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Peru
Colombia
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$499 PEN 1,673
$696 COP 2.2M
-28.28%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$256 PEN 859
$451 COP 1.4M
-43.26%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$874 PEN 2,930
$1,343 COP 4.2M
-34.92%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$479 PEN 1,605
$871 COP 2.7M
-45.04%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,253 PEN 7,554
$2,637 COP 8.2M
-14.56%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,239 PEN 4,155
$1,574 COP 4.9M
-21.27%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Peru
Colombia
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$586 PEN 1,963
$618 COP 1.9M
-5.26%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
9.6
12.51
-23.26%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Peru: September 14, 2026

Last update for Colombia: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Average rent: $197 in Peru vs $674 in Colombia. For reference, capital cities sit at $764 in Lima and $720 in Bogota.

Average salary: $544 in Peru vs $653 in Colombia. The income gap affects purchasing power and how far your budget stretches in each country.

Cost Highlights

Rent is 242% higher in Colombia.

Dining out costs 91% more in Colombia.

Public transport is 88% more expensive in Colombia.

Salaries are 20% higher in Colombia, and purchasing power comes out stronger in Peru.

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
Peru vs Colombia: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which country is cheaper: Colombia or Peru?
Peru is the cheaper option – living costs run roughly 114% lower on average. The gap is consistent across housing, groceries, transport, and entertainment.
Is rent more expensive in Colombia or in Peru?
Housing costs more in Colombia, and the gap is biggest in capital cities. Regional towns show less difference, but Colombia consistently has higher rents.
How do daily expenses compare in Colombia vs Peru?
Groceries, transport, and utilities all cost less in Peru, contributing to the overall 114% price gap. The savings show up everywhere – from supermarket receipts to monthly bills.
Can you live in both Colombia and Peru on $1,000 per month?
$1,000 buys a comfortable lifestyle in Peru, but in Colombia it only works with careful planning outside the capital. Same money, very different lives.
Which country is better for expats: Colombia or Peru?
Peru is the budget-friendly choice for expats – lower housing and daily costs. But cost isn't everything: visa policies, language, healthcare quality, and job markets all weigh in too.

Peru vs other spots: cost of living compared

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