Cost of Living Comparison Between Tacna and Medellin Cost of Living Comparison Between Tacna and Medellin

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $453 per month in Tacna vs $1,681 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $653 per month in Tacna vs $2,445 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $853 per month in Tacna vs $3,210 in Medellin, rent included.

Tacna is about 73% cheaper than Medellin, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Tacna sits 67% below the global median, while Medellin is 23% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.05 PEN 10.24

$8.02 COP 25.0K

-61.97%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$14.86 PEN 49.88

$47.87 COP 149.4K

-68.96%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.94 PEN 16.59

$9.89 COP 30.8K

-50.05%

Cappuccino

$3.49 PEN 11.70

$3.13 COP 9,767

11.50%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.22 PEN 4.11

$1.91 COP 5,954

-36.13%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.46 PEN 1.56

$1.51 COP 4,712

-69.54%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.90 PEN 9.74

$3.12 COP 9,747

-7.05%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.56 PEN 11.93

$5.75 COP 17.9K

-38.09%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.16 PEN 3.88

$1.44 COP 4,509

-19.44%

White Bread (500g)

$1.51 PEN 5.06

$2.49 COP 7,759

-39.36%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.87 PEN 2.90

$1.77 COP 5,535

-50.85%

Eggs

$1.75 PEN 5.88

$2.96 COP 9,235

-40.88%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.49 PEN 15.07

$10.07 COP 31.4K

-55.41%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.69 PEN 15.73

$10.12 COP 31.6K

-53.66%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.14 PEN 30.67

$14.30 COP 44.6K

-36.08%

Apples (1kg)

$4.14 COP 12.9K

Banana (1kg)

$1.53 PEN 5.12

$1.61 COP 5,019

-4.97%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.85 PEN 2.85

$2.25 COP 7,007

-62.22%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.25 COP 7,028

Potato (1kg)

$0.78 PEN 2.60

$2.04 COP 6,375

-61.76%

Onion (1kg)

$1.54 COP 4,790

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.17 COP 3,651

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.77 PEN 2.58

$1.31 COP 4,077

-41.22%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.56 PEN 15.29

$3.90 COP 12.2K

16.92%

Wine (Bottle)

$6.49 PEN 21.79

$14.01 COP 43.7K

-53.68%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.69 PEN 9.03

$1.74 COP 5,439

54.60%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.87 COP 8,956

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.29 PEN 0.96

$1.22 COP 3,792

-76.23%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$80.5 COP 251.1K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.95 PEN 6.54

$1.31 COP 4,084

48.85%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.19 COP 6,825

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.71 COP 27.2K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.37 COP 4,260

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$27.8K COP 86.9M

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$35.8K COP 111.6M

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$177 COP 553.2K

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$18.95 PEN 63.6

$13.88 COP 43.3K

36.53%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$26.84 PEN 90.1

$29.72 COP 92.8K

-9.69%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$29.96 PEN 101

$44.88 COP 140.1K

-33.24%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.12 COP 53.4K

Cinema Ticket

$2.74 PEN 9.20

$6.65 COP 20.7K

-58.80%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$59.2 PEN 199

$813 COP 2.5M

-92.71%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$9,187 COP 28.7M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$21.06 PEN 70.7

$89.5 COP 279.3K

-76.47%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$20.66 PEN 69.3

$59.0 COP 184.0K

-64.97%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$138 COP 431.2K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$26.68 PEN 89.5

$102 COP 318.7K

-73.88%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,062 COP 3.3M

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$71.5 PEN 240

$663 COP 2.1M

-89.22%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,888 COP 5.9M

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,027 COP 3.2M

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,183 COP 13.1M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,675 COP 5.2M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$483 PEN 1,620

$678 COP 2.1M

-28.79%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

10.94

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

Last update for Tacna: September 14, 2026

Last update for Medellin: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 40% higher in Medellin, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $15.00 in Tacna versus $48.00 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $152 vs $305 – making Tacna the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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

Tacna vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 271%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $680 per month in Tacna and $2,521 in Medellin. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $15.00 in Tacna and $48.00 in Medellin. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 100% more in Medellin, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Tacna, where all-in costs run around $453, than in Medellin at $1,681. In Tacna it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Tacna – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Tacna. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Medellin makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.