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Compare cities › Lima vs Medellín
Lima vs Medellín cost of living 2026
Which is cheaper, what exactly is cheaper, and how it feels on your money · Updated September 2026
🇵🇪 Lima
🇨🇴 MedellínMedellín is 20% cheaper than Lima
Living on $1,841 a month in Lima feels like about $1,524 in Medellín — same standard of living, compared by feel rather than exchange rate.
Per day
$121 vs $93.3
Per month
$1,841 vs $1,524
Local meal
S/ 18 vs COL$ 16,000
$4.86 vs $3.9
Taxi 5 km
S/ 18 vs COL$ 20,000
$4.86 vs $4.88
At a glance
FoodMedellín 17% cheaper
Cafés & drinksMedellín 18% cheaper
TransportLima 9% cheaper
StayMedellín 25% cheaper
FunMedellín 12% cheaper
- Where Medellín is clearly cheaper: Hotel night (31%↓), Local meal (20%↓), Street food (20%↓)
- Where Lima is clearly cheaper: Transit (24%↓)
Item by item
| Item | Lima | Medellín | Cheaper |
|---|---|---|---|
| Local mealper person | S/ 18$4.86 | COL$ 16,000$3.9 | Medellín −20% |
| Street food1 item | S/ 8.1$2.19 | COL$ 7,200$1.76 | Medellín −20% |
| Restaurant dinnerper person | S/ 59$15.9 | COL$ 57,000$13.9 | Medellín −13% |
| Coffeeone cup | S/ 9$2.43 | COL$ 8,200$2 | Medellín −18% |
| Beerone bottle | S/ 9$2.43 | COL$ 8,200$2 | Medellín −18% |
| Cocktail & wineone cup | S/ 23$6.22 | COL$ 21,000$5.12 | Medellín −18% |
| Bottled water | S/ 2$0.54 | COL$ 2,000$0.49 | Medellín −10% |
| Convenience store1 snack or drink | S/ 5$1.35 | COL$ 5,000$1.22 | Medellín −10% |
| Taxi5 km in town | S/ 18$4.86 | COL$ 20,000$4.88 | similar |
| Tuk-tuk / moto taxishort hop | S/ 11$2.97 | COL$ 12,000$2.93 | similar |
| Transitone ride | S/ 2$0.54 | COL$ 2,900$0.71 | Lima −24% |
| Scooter rentalper day | S/ 74$20 | COL$ 82,000$20 | similar |
| Hotel night3-star | S/ 260$70.3 | COL$ 200,000$48.8 | Medellín −31% |
| Studio rent (month) | S/ 1,800$486 | COL$ 1,600,000$390 | Medellín −20% |
| Laundry | S/ 7.5$2.03 | COL$ 8,200$2 | similar |
| SIM card1 week data | S/ 30$8.11 | COL$ 33,000$8.05 | similar |
| Haircutcut | S/ 32$8.65 | COL$ 35,000$8.54 | similar |
| Massage1 hour | S/ 92$24.9 | COL$ 100,000$24.4 | similar |
| Half-day tourper person | S/ 150$40.5 | COL$ 140,000$34.1 | Medellín −16% |
| Entry ticketTourist town | S/ 37$10 | COL$ 33,000$8.05 | Medellín −20% |
Reference prices start as estimates from published price levels; items with 3+ traveler reports use the median of real reports. Hostels and local eateries cut both by 30%+.
FAQ
Which is cheaper, Lima or Medellín?
Medellín is 20% cheaper than Lima. Daily budget $121 vs $93.3; a month $1,841 vs $1,524.
How do monthly costs compare between Lima and Medellín?
With a short-term studio and living costs, Lima is about $1,841 and Medellín about $1,524 per month.
Where do the numbers come from?
They start as estimates informed by published price levels; any item with 3+ traveler reports switches to the median of real reports. Live reports are in the app.