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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $353 per month in Tacna vs $1,003 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $465 per month in Tacna vs $1,573 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $577 per month in Tacna vs $2,143 in Medellin, rent included.

Tacna is about 65% cheaper than Medellin, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Tacna and Medellin are more affordable than the global median – Tacna 73% lower, Medellin 25% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.89 PEN 6.41

$5.91 COP 18.6K

-68.02%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.96 COP 103.8K

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.43 COP 23.4K

Cappuccino

$2.48 PEN 8.43

$1.65 COP 5,207

50.30%

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

$1.10 COP 3,468

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.29 PEN 0.99

$0.78 COP 2,458

-62.82%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.72 COP 5,412

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.18 COP 10.0K

Milk (1 liter)

$0.92 PEN 3.12

$1.10 COP 3,474

-16.36%

White Bread (500g)

$1.38 PEN 4.68

$1.26 COP 3,962

9.52%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.87 PEN 2.94

$1.38 COP 4,349

-36.96%

Eggs

$1.41 PEN 4.80

$2.18 COP 6,858

-35.32%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.19 PEN 14.22

$4.49 COP 14.1K

-6.68%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.55 PEN 12.04

$5.79 COP 18.2K

-38.69%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.36 PEN 28.37

$8.97 COP 28.2K

-6.80%

Apples (1kg)

$2.32 COP 7,308

Banana (1kg)

$1.06 COP 3,352

Oranges (1kg)

$1.52 COP 4,774

Tomato (1kg)

$1.36 COP 4,270

Potato (1kg)

$0.54 PEN 1.84

$1.13 COP 3,552

-52.21%

Onion (1kg)

$0.44 PEN 1.50

$1.17 COP 3,689

-62.39%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.29 PEN 0.99

$0.90 COP 2,838

-67.78%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.72 PEN 2.46

$0.90 COP 2,823

-20.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.22 PEN 14.32

$2.23 COP 7,034

89.24%

Wine (Bottle)

$6.59 PEN 22.36

$12.12 COP 38.2K

-45.63%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.44 PEN 8.28

$1.19 COP 3,743

105.04%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.48 COP 7,815

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.29 PEN 0.99

$0.85 COP 2,687

-65.88%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.62 COP 131.0K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.37 PEN 4.66

$1.42 COP 4,459

-3.52%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.95 COP 6,141

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.89 COP 24.8K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.99 COP 3,118

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

$17.6K COP 55.4M

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

$26.8K COP 84.4M

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

$83.0 COP 261.4K

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

$19.64 PEN 66.7

$9.70 COP 30.5K

102.47%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.84 PEN 84.3

$23.52 COP 74.1K

5.61%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$28.28 PEN 96.0

$25.26 COP 79.5K

11.96%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.10 COP 60.1K

Cinema Ticket

$2.46 PEN 8.35

$3.95 COP 12.4K

-37.72%

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

$56.3 PEN 191

$316 COP 994.2K

-82.19%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,975 COP 18.8M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$19.09 PEN 64.8

$60.0 COP 188.9K

-68.18%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$19.62 PEN 66.6

$31.82 COP 100.2K

-38.34%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$102 COP 320.1K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$25.17 PEN 85.5

$107 COP 338.3K

-76.58%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$475 COP 1.5M

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$65.8 PEN 223

$374 COP 1.2M

-82.41%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$849 COP 2.7M

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$719 COP 2.3M

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,265 COP 10.3M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,441 COP 4.5M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$462 PEN 1,567

$624 COP 2.0M

-26.08%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.43

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

Last update for Tacna: July 27, 2026

Last update for Medellin: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 35% higher in Medellin, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

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 184%, and the gap shows up most in Clothing & Footwear. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $530 per month in Tacna and $1,504 in Medellin. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Groceries cost about 54% more in Medellin, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

Kindergarten costs $56.3 per month in Tacna and $316 in Medellin. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Tacna, where all-in costs run around $353, than in Medellin at $1,003. 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.