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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $422 per month in Peru vs $800 in Colombia, rent included.

A couple spends around $670 per month in Peru vs $1,226 in Colombia, rent included.

A family of three spends $918 per month in Peru vs $1,651 in Colombia, rent included.

Peru is roughly 47% cheaper than Colombia on average – the gap runs across housing, groceries, transport, and services.

Both Peru and Colombia are more affordable than the global median – Peru 68% lower, Colombia 40% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Peru
Colombia
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.08 PEN 14.33
$4.34 COP 15.8K
-5.99%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$28.02 PEN 98.4
$29.05 COP 105.6K
-3.55%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$6.09 PEN 21.37
$7.14 COP 26.0K
-14.71%
Cappuccino
$2.67 PEN 9.35
$1.61 COP 5,874
65.84%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.84 PEN 2.97
$0.88 COP 3,189
-4.55%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.55 PEN 1.93
$0.65 COP 2,379
-15.38%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.24 PEN 7.85
$1.23 COP 4,489
82.11%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.81 PEN 13.38
$2.48 COP 9,015
53.63%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Peru
Colombia
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.35 PEN 4.75
$1.09 COP 3,961
23.85%
White Bread (500g)
$2.39 PEN 8.39
$1.38 COP 5,011
73.19%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.28 PEN 4.49
$1.20 COP 4,354
6.67%
Eggs
$2.63 PEN 9.24
$2.06 COP 7,494
27.67%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$6.81 PEN 23.91
$4.53 COP 16.5K
50.33%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.48 PEN 19.25
$5.26 COP 19.1K
4.18%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.03 PEN 31.69
$7.54 COP 27.4K
19.76%
Apples (1kg)
$1.80 PEN 6.30
$2.63 COP 9,553
-31.56%
Banana (1kg)
$1.02 PEN 3.58
$1.05 COP 3,817
-2.86%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.00 PEN 3.52
$1.28 COP 4,658
-21.88%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.13 PEN 3.98
$1.28 COP 4,657
-11.72%
Potato (1kg)
$0.97 PEN 3.39
$1.08 COP 3,930
-10.19%
Onion (1kg)
$0.88 PEN 3.07
$1.13 COP 4,123
-22.12%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.77 PEN 2.71
$0.76 COP 2,765
1.32%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.78 PEN 2.73
$0.70 COP 2,564
11.43%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.51 PEN 19.32
$2.64 COP 9,606
108.71%
Wine (Bottle)
$8.82 PEN 30.97
$11.29 COP 41.1K
-21.88%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.79 PEN 6.27
$1.13 COP 4,108
58.41%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.74 PEN 9.63
$1.95 COP 7,091
40.51%
🚌 Getting Around
Peru
Colombia
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.59 PEN 2.06
$0.75 COP 2,729
-21.33%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$16.60 PEN 58.3
$39.20 COP 142.6K
-57.65%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.17 PEN 7.61
$1.51 COP 5,499
43.71%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.93 PEN 6.79
$1.71 COP 6,232
12.87%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.42 PEN 19.03
$7.19 COP 26.2K
-24.62%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.34 PEN 4.71
$1.00 COP 3,655
34.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$20.1K PEN 70.6K
$17.2K COP 62.6M
16.82%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.5K PEN 86.1K
$26.2K COP 95.3M
-6.37%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Peru
Colombia
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$46.55 PEN 163
$83.9 COP 305.1K
-44.50%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$12.32 PEN 43.23
$9.82 COP 35.7K
25.46%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$25.25 PEN 88.6
$23.82 COP 86.6K
6.00%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Peru
Colombia
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$30.34 PEN 106
$23.03 COP 83.8K
31.74%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.47 PEN 57.8
$12.47 COP 45.3K
32.08%
Cinema Ticket
$5.66 PEN 19.87
$3.78 COP 13.8K
49.74%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Peru
Colombia
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$166 PEN 583
$265 COP 963.7K
-37.28%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,511 PEN 19.3K
$5,946 COP 21.6M
-7.31%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Peru
Colombia
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$48.38 PEN 170
$57.5 COP 209.1K
-15.86%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$31.04 PEN 109
$39.09 COP 142.2K
-20.59%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$83.9 PEN 294
$93.0 COP 338.2K
-9.80%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$78.0 PEN 274
$78.4 COP 285.1K
-0.54%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Peru
Colombia
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$472 PEN 1,657
$358 COP 1.3M
31.85%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$267 PEN 938
$301 COP 1.1M
-11.10%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$825 PEN 2,896
$683 COP 2.5M
20.73%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$485 PEN 1,702
$547 COP 2.0M
-11.32%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,094 PEN 7,351
$1,908 COP 6.9M
9.78%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,235 PEN 4,334
$1,244 COP 4.5M
-0.71%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Peru
Colombia
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$555 PEN 1,950
$504 COP 1.8M
10.19%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
10.63
12.68
-16.17%

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

Last update for Peru: April 25, 2026

Last update for Colombia: April 28, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Average rent: $141 in Peru vs $294 in Colombia. For reference, capital cities sit at $610 in Lima and $447 in Bogota.

Average salary: $530 in Peru vs $470 in Colombia. The income gap affects purchasing power and how far your budget stretches in each country.

Cost Highlights

Rent is 109% higher in Colombia.

Dining out costs 47% more in Colombia.

Public transport is 575% more expensive in Colombia.

Salaries are 13% higher in Peru, giving Peru stronger purchasing power.

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 56% lower on average. The gap is consistent across housing, groceries, transport, and entertainment.
Is rent more expensive in Colombia or 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 56% 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

Similar countries