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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $421 per month in Peru vs $805 in Colombia, rent included.

A couple spends around $666 per month in Peru vs $1,229 in Colombia, rent included.

A family of three spends $911 per month in Peru vs $1,652 in Colombia, rent included.

The cost of living in Peru is roughly 48% 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 68% lower, Colombia 40% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Peru
Colombia
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.16 PEN 14.13
$4.43 COP 14.1K
-6.09%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$27.72 PEN 94.3
$28.55 COP 91.1K
-2.91%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$6.15 PEN 20.91
$7.43 COP 23.7K
-17.23%
Cappuccino
$2.55 PEN 8.69
$1.55 COP 4,957
64.52%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.90 PEN 3.07
$0.93 COP 2,978
-3.23%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.54 PEN 1.85
$0.62 COP 1,972
-12.90%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.26 PEN 7.68
$1.23 COP 3,911
83.74%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.97 PEN 13.50
$2.37 COP 7,550
67.51%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Peru
Colombia
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.33 PEN 4.53
$1.15 COP 3,662
15.65%
White Bread (500g)
$2.38 PEN 8.11
$1.32 COP 4,213
80.30%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.30 PEN 4.41
$1.20 COP 3,814
8.33%
Eggs
$2.60 PEN 8.83
$2.14 COP 6,844
21.50%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.18 PEN 24.41
$4.65 COP 14.8K
54.41%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.41 PEN 18.40
$5.02 COP 16.0K
7.77%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$8.87 PEN 30.15
$7.75 COP 24.7K
14.45%
Apples (1kg)
$1.83 PEN 6.21
$2.56 COP 8,173
-28.52%
Banana (1kg)
$1.03 PEN 3.49
$1.08 COP 3,458
-4.63%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.00 PEN 3.39
$1.27 COP 4,060
-21.26%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.13 PEN 3.85
$1.27 COP 4,064
-11.02%
Potato (1kg)
$0.90 PEN 3.05
$1.06 COP 3,370
-15.09%
Onion (1kg)
$0.89 PEN 3.02
$1.18 COP 3,764
-24.58%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.71 PEN 2.43
$0.76 COP 2,429
-6.58%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.81 PEN 2.74
$0.72 COP 2,285
12.50%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.71 PEN 19.40
$2.51 COP 8,014
127.49%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.67 PEN 26.07
$12.72 COP 40.6K
-39.70%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.77 PEN 6.02
$1.09 COP 3,472
62.39%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.76 PEN 9.40
$1.88 COP 6,006
46.81%
🚌 Getting Around
Peru
Colombia
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.54 PEN 1.83
$0.71 COP 2,274
-23.94%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$16.34 PEN 55.6
$38.26 COP 122.1K
-57.29%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.23 PEN 7.60
$1.57 COP 4,998
42.04%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.85 PEN 6.29
$1.68 COP 5,356
10.12%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.65 PEN 19.22
$7.39 COP 23.6K
-23.55%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.34 PEN 4.57
$0.95 COP 3,021
41.05%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$20.0K PEN 68.1K
$16.6K COP 53.0M
20.46%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.1K PEN 81.9K
$25.7K COP 82.1M
-6.41%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Peru
Colombia
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$46.44 PEN 158
$84.5 COP 269.5K
-45.03%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$12.01 PEN 40.85
$9.27 COP 29.6K
29.56%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$25.23 PEN 85.8
$23.83 COP 76.0K
5.87%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Peru
Colombia
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$30.13 PEN 102
$23.12 COP 73.8K
30.32%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.63 PEN 56.6
$12.44 COP 39.7K
33.68%
Cinema Ticket
$5.47 PEN 18.62
$3.97 COP 12.7K
37.78%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Peru
Colombia
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$165 PEN 560
$264 COP 843.1K
-37.64%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,607 PEN 19.1K
$5,933 COP 18.9M
-5.49%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Peru
Colombia
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$47.04 PEN 160
$57.5 COP 183.4K
-18.16%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$30.60 PEN 104
$38.83 COP 123.9K
-21.19%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$82.7 PEN 281
$91.8 COP 292.8K
-9.92%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$76.3 PEN 260
$77.3 COP 246.5K
-1.19%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Peru
Colombia
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$472 PEN 1,606
$346 COP 1.1M
36.44%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$266 PEN 904
$302 COP 963.6K
-11.94%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$831 PEN 2,826
$677 COP 2.2M
22.78%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$484 PEN 1,645
$552 COP 1.8M
-12.39%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,141 PEN 7,280
$2,043 COP 6.5M
4.79%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,208 PEN 4,108
$1,325 COP 4.2M
-8.83%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Peru
Colombia
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$586 PEN 1,993
$578 COP 1.8M
1.38%
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: July 26, 2026

Last update for Colombia: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Average rent: $141 in Peru vs $294 in Colombia. For reference, capital cities sit at $621 in Lima and $458 in Bogota.

Average salary: $537 in Peru vs $537 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 41% more in Colombia.

Public transport is 600% more expensive in Colombia.

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 59% 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 59% 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.

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