Measurement units Temperature, distance and clock format
Last update: Oct 2026
Cost of Living Comparison Between Peru and Colombia
For one person, living is cheaper in Peru: $878 a month against $1,368 in Colombia, rent and utilities included – about $5,900 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.
Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Peru and in Colombia actually costs, broken down by who's living it.
A single person spends $878 per month in Peru vs $1,368 in Colombia, rent included.
Peru $878
Colombia $1,368
A couple spends around $1,380 per month in Peru vs $2,063 in Colombia, rent included.
Peru $1,380
Colombia $2,063
A family of three spends $1,883 per month in Peru vs $2,759 in Colombia, rent included.
Peru $1,883
Colombia $2,759
📏
Cost ranges are similar: Peru spans $20–$1,108, Colombia $797–$1,639. City choice affects budget similarly in either country.
🌍
The cost of living in Peru is roughly 36% lower than in Colombia on average.
Currency
No currencies found
🍽 Eating Out
Peru
Colombia
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.51PEN 12.16
$7.21COP 23.3K
-51.32%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$27.65PEN 95.8
$47.60COP 153.5K
-41.91%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$6.21PEN 21.51
$9.26COP 29.9K
-32.94%
Cappuccino
$3.15PEN 10.92
$2.66COP 8,570
18.42%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.96PEN 3.31
$1.46COP 4,722
-34.25%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.51PEN 1.78
$1.03COP 3,306
-50.49%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.28PEN 7.90
$2.57COP 8,276
-11.28%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.56PEN 12.33
$3.83COP 12.4K
-7.05%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Peru
Colombia
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.47PEN 5.09
$1.59COP 5,111
-7.55%
White Bread(500g)
$2.30PEN 7.97
$2.13COP 6,867
7.98%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.38PEN 4.77
$1.66COP 5,355
-16.87%
Eggs
$2.63PEN 9.12
$2.97COP 9,569
-11.45%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.28PEN 28.71
$7.92COP 25.5K
4.55%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.71PEN 19.79
$8.96COP 28.9K
-36.27%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$9.04PEN 31.34
$11.41COP 36.8K
-20.77%
Apples(1kg)
$1.77PEN 6.15
$3.86COP 12.4K
-54.15%
Banana(1kg)
$1.09PEN 3.78
$1.40COP 4,519
-22.14%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.31PEN 4.53
$1.69COP 5,463
-22.49%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.21PEN 4.21
$1.96COP 6,329
-38.27%
Potato(1kg)
$0.89PEN 3.08
$1.49COP 4,817
-40.27%
Onion(1kg)
$0.86PEN 2.97
$1.52COP 4,908
-43.42%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.77PEN 2.67
$1.13COP 3,657
-31.86%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.84PEN 2.92
$1.09COP 3,507
-22.94%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$5.63PEN 19.50
$4.41COP 14.2K
27.66%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.65PEN 26.53
$13.17COP 42.5K
-41.91%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.99PEN 6.91
$1.46COP 4,694
36.30%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.02PEN 10.48
$2.51COP 8,102
20.32%
🚌 Getting Around
Peru
Colombia
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.61PEN 2.10
$1.14COP 3,666
-46.49%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$27.39PEN 94.9
$66.0COP 212.9K
-58.51%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.34PEN 8.10
$2.07COP 6,668
13.04%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.05PEN 7.11
$2.04COP 6,594
0.49%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.01PEN 24.30
$8.53COP 27.5K
-17.82%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.64PEN 5.69
$1.36COP 4,372
20.59%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.1KPEN 76.7K
$34.4KCOP 110.9M
-35.71%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.6KPEN 95.8K
$35.1KCOP 113.2M
-21.23%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Peru
Colombia
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$54.9PEN 190
$123COP 397.1K
-55.42%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.37PEN 46.33
$13.79COP 44.5K
-3.05%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$25.55PEN 88.6
$29.31COP 94.5K
-12.83%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Peru
Colombia
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$31.24PEN 108
$34.38COP 110.9K
-9.13%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.62PEN 57.6
$15.28COP 49.3K
8.77%
Cinema Ticket
$5.93PEN 20.56
$6.44COP 20.8K
-7.92%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Peru
Colombia
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$207PEN 719
$580COP 1.9M
-64.27%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$11.2KPEN 38.7K
$9,439COP 30.4M
18.38%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Peru
Colombia
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$49.87PEN 173
$80.1COP 258.4K
-37.77%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$30.02PEN 104
$49.20COP 158.7K
-38.98%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$72.2PEN 250
$134COP 431.2K
-46.04%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$71.1PEN 246
$104COP 334.4K
-31.45%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Peru
Colombia
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$514PEN 1,782
$731COP 2.4M
-29.63%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$279PEN 967
$492COP 1.6M
-43.26%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$899PEN 3,118
$1,451COP 4.7M
-38.00%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$536PEN 1,856
$793COP 2.6M
-32.47%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,247PEN 7,787
$2,498COP 8.1M
-10.05%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,310PEN 4,542
$1,682COP 5.4M
-22.10%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Peru
Colombia
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$575PEN 1,993
$613COP 2.0M
-6.16%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
9.66
12.81
-24.59%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Peru: October 27, 2026
Last update for Colombia: October 24, 2026
Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Share of the monthly basket for a family of three, rent included.
🏠Accommodation & Living
Peru
$279 31.8%
Colombia
$492 36% ↑ 76.2%$213
🛒Groceries & Markets
Peru
$210 23.9%
Colombia
$267 19.5% ↑ 27%$57
🍽Eating Out
Peru
$109 12.4%
Colombia
$148 10.8% ↑ 35.8%$39
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
Peru
$100 11.4%
Colombia
$165 12.1% ↑ 64.4%$65
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
Peru
$94 10.7%
Colombia
$166 12.2% ↑ 77.2%$72
🎉Sport & Entertainment
Peru
$43 4.9%
Colombia
$47 3.5% ↑ 9.7%$4.2
🚌Getting Around
Peru
$42 4.8%
Colombia
$83 6.1% ↑ 95.4%$40
🏠Accommodation & Living
Peru
$536 28.5%
Colombia
$793 28.7% ↑ 48.1%$258
🛒Groceries & Markets
Peru
$479 25.4%
Colombia
$612 22.2% ↑ 27.9%$134
🍽Eating Out
Peru
$349 18.6%
Colombia
$529 19.2% ↑ 51.3%$179
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
Peru
$223 11.9%
Colombia
$367 13.3% ↑ 64.4%$144
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
Peru
$107 5.7%
Colombia
$180 6.5% ↑ 68%$73
🎉Sport & Entertainment
Peru
$103 5.5%
Colombia
$110 4% ↑ 6.8%$7
🚌Getting Around
Peru
$86 4.6%
Colombia
$168 6.1% ↑ 95.3%$82
Cost Breakdown
🏠Average rent: $339 in Peru vs $702 in Colombia. For reference, capital cities sit at $734 in Lima and $749 in Bogota.
💰Average salary: $522 in Peru vs $637 in Colombia. The income gap affects purchasing power and how far your budget stretches in each country.
Cost Highlights
⭐Rent is 107% higher in Colombia.
⭐Dining out costs 74% more in Colombia.
⭐Public transport is 148% more expensive in Colombia.
⭐Salaries are 22% higher in Colombia, and purchasing power comes out stronger in Peru.
Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.
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 36% lower on average.
Is rent more expensive in Colombia or in Peru?
Housing costs more in Colombia: a central one-bedroom averages $702 versus $339 in Peru.
How do daily expenses compare in Colombia vs Peru?
Groceries, public transport, and eating out all cost less in Peru – part of why living there is about 36% cheaper overall.
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. But cost isn’t everything: visa policies, language, healthcare quality, and job markets all weigh in too.