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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $354 per month in Tacna vs $1,017 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $465 per month in Tacna vs $1,602 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $576 per month in Tacna vs $2,188 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 74% lower, Medellin 24% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.99 PEN 6.75

$5.95 COP 20.8K

-66.55%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$33.33 COP 116.3K

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.23 COP 25.2K

Cappuccino

$2.51 PEN 8.54

$1.63 COP 5,687

53.99%

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

$1.09 COP 3,821

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.27 PEN 0.91

$0.73 COP 2,548

-63.01%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.74 COP 6,065

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.23 COP 11.3K

Milk (1 liter)

$0.87 PEN 2.95

$1.05 COP 3,662

-17.14%

White Bread (500g)

$1.35 PEN 4.59

$1.29 COP 4,515

4.65%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.87 PEN 2.97

$1.32 COP 4,617

-34.09%

Eggs

$1.42 PEN 4.82

$2.27 COP 7,927

-37.44%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.27 PEN 14.51

$4.35 COP 15.2K

-1.84%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.64 PEN 12.38

$5.88 COP 20.5K

-38.10%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.49 PEN 28.87

$8.61 COP 30.0K

-1.39%

Apples (1kg)

$2.25 COP 7,844

Banana (1kg)

$1.07 COP 3,733

Oranges (1kg)

$1.52 COP 5,322

Tomato (1kg)

$1.42 COP 4,964

Potato (1kg)

$0.57 PEN 1.94

$1.17 COP 4,084

-51.28%

Onion (1kg)

$0.40 PEN 1.36

$1.17 COP 4,077

-65.81%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.27 PEN 0.91

$0.89 COP 3,096

-69.66%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.71 PEN 2.41

$0.90 COP 3,146

-21.11%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.27 PEN 14.52

$2.25 COP 7,837

89.78%

Wine (Bottle)

$6.29 PEN 21.37

$11.04 COP 38.5K

-43.03%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.51 PEN 8.55

$1.14 COP 3,977

120.18%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.38 COP 8,301

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.29 PEN 0.99

$0.84 COP 2,916

-65.48%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.95 COP 146.4K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.42 PEN 4.81

$1.41 COP 4,912

0.71%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.90 COP 6,634

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.75 COP 27.0K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.01 COP 3,509

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

$17.6K COP 61.4M

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

$26.5K COP 92.5M

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

$83.7 COP 292.1K

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

$19.20 PEN 65.3

$9.45 COP 33.0K

103.17%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.89 PEN 84.6

$24.11 COP 84.1K

3.24%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$28.24 PEN 96.0

$25.31 COP 88.3K

11.58%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.14 COP 66.8K

Cinema Ticket

$2.53 PEN 8.59

$4.10 COP 14.3K

-38.29%

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

$55.7 PEN 189

$312 COP 1.1M

-82.16%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,993 COP 20.9M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$19.54 PEN 66.4

$58.0 COP 202.6K

-66.33%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$19.17 PEN 65.2

$32.56 COP 113.6K

-41.12%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$99.6 COP 347.7K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$25.10 PEN 85.4

$109 COP 378.8K

-76.87%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$482 COP 1.7M

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$65.4 PEN 222

$379 COP 1.3M

-82.77%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$837 COP 2.9M

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$723 COP 2.5M

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,840 COP 9.9M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,223 COP 4.3M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$466 PEN 1,586

$541 COP 1.9M

-13.77%

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: June 8, 2026

Last update for Medellin: June 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 16% 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 187%, 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 $1,525 in Medellin. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Groceries cost about 52% 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 $55.7 per month in Tacna and $312 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 $354, than in Medellin at $1,017. 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.