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 $803 in Colombia, rent included.

A couple spends around $670 per month in Peru vs $1,224 in Colombia, rent included.

A family of three spends $917 per month in Peru vs $1,644 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 69% lower, Colombia 40% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Peru
Colombia
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.28 PEN 14.56
$4.45 COP 15.5K
-3.82%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$27.37 PEN 93.1
$29.37 COP 102.5K
-6.81%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$6.21 PEN 21.11
$7.29 COP 25.4K
-14.81%
Cappuccino
$2.61 PEN 8.87
$1.62 COP 5,640
61.11%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.83 PEN 2.83
$0.96 COP 3,348
-13.54%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.54 PEN 1.85
$0.65 COP 2,271
-16.92%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.20 PEN 7.49
$1.23 COP 4,305
78.86%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.84 PEN 13.06
$2.39 COP 8,334
60.67%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Peru
Colombia
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.34 PEN 4.54
$1.15 COP 4,008
16.52%
White Bread (500g)
$2.42 PEN 8.23
$1.34 COP 4,669
80.60%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.28 PEN 4.35
$1.17 COP 4,083
9.40%
Eggs
$2.58 PEN 8.78
$2.17 COP 7,581
18.89%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.14 PEN 24.28
$4.53 COP 15.8K
57.62%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.34 PEN 18.16
$5.11 COP 17.8K
4.50%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.21 PEN 31.32
$7.75 COP 27.1K
18.84%
Apples (1kg)
$1.73 PEN 5.88
$2.57 COP 8,964
-32.68%
Banana (1kg)
$1.02 PEN 3.46
$1.05 COP 3,652
-2.86%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.04 PEN 3.53
$1.27 COP 4,417
-18.11%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.09 PEN 3.72
$1.22 COP 4,247
-10.66%
Potato (1kg)
$0.89 PEN 3.02
$1.05 COP 3,669
-15.24%
Onion (1kg)
$0.87 PEN 2.96
$1.12 COP 3,899
-22.32%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.72 PEN 2.44
$0.77 COP 2,696
-6.49%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.75 PEN 2.55
$0.77 COP 2,674
-2.60%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.42 PEN 18.42
$2.54 COP 8,872
113.39%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.67 PEN 26.09
$11.32 COP 39.5K
-32.24%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.83 PEN 6.23
$1.09 COP 3,790
67.89%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.71 PEN 9.21
$1.88 COP 6,558
44.15%
🚌 Getting Around
Peru
Colombia
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.54 PEN 1.84
$0.75 COP 2,616
-28.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$16.87 PEN 57.4
$39.37 COP 137.4K
-57.15%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.28 PEN 7.74
$1.49 COP 5,191
53.02%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.94 PEN 6.60
$1.64 COP 5,726
18.29%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.43 PEN 18.48
$7.10 COP 24.8K
-23.52%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.33 PEN 4.53
$0.96 COP 3,364
38.54%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.9K PEN 67.8K
$17.1K COP 59.6M
16.73%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.4K PEN 82.9K
$26.5K COP 92.5M
-7.96%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Peru
Colombia
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$48.24 PEN 164
$84.7 COP 295.5K
-43.03%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$12.02 PEN 40.86
$9.38 COP 32.7K
28.14%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$25.99 PEN 88.3
$23.29 COP 81.3K
11.59%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Peru
Colombia
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$30.68 PEN 104
$22.95 COP 80.1K
33.68%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.81 PEN 57.1
$12.34 COP 43.1K
36.22%
Cinema Ticket
$5.54 PEN 18.83
$3.92 COP 13.7K
41.33%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Peru
Colombia
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$168 PEN 571
$264 COP 922.6K
-36.51%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,582 PEN 19.0K
$5,877 COP 20.5M
-5.02%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Peru
Colombia
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$47.69 PEN 162
$58.1 COP 202.8K
-17.90%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$31.55 PEN 107
$38.50 COP 134.4K
-18.05%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$81.5 PEN 277
$90.6 COP 316.3K
-10.14%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$77.1 PEN 262
$77.1 COP 269.1K
0.04%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Peru
Colombia
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$484 PEN 1,645
$355 COP 1.2M
36.39%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$266 PEN 904
$299 COP 1.0M
-11.03%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$833 PEN 2,833
$688 COP 2.4M
21.15%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$479 PEN 1,629
$550 COP 1.9M
-12.89%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,182 PEN 7,416
$1,890 COP 6.6M
15.40%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,211 PEN 4,116
$1,228 COP 4.3M
-1.37%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Peru
Colombia
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$576 PEN 1,960
$514 COP 1.8M
12.22%
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: June 8, 2026

Last update for Colombia: June 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Average rent: $142 in Peru vs $294 in Colombia. For reference, capital cities sit at $624 in Lima and $448 in Bogota.

Average salary: $525 in Peru vs $472 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 41% more in Colombia.

Public transport is 575% more expensive in Colombia.

Salaries are 11% 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 55% 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 55% 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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