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Medellín vs Puno cost of living 2026
Which is cheaper, what exactly is cheaper, and how it feels on your money · Updated October 2026
🇨🇴 Medellín
🇵🇪 Puno
At a glance
- Where Puno is clearly cheaper: Entry ticket (66%↓), Studio rent (month) (65%↓), Tuk-tuk / moto taxi (63%↓)
- Where Medellín is clearly cheaper: Beer (41%↓), Coffee (26%↓)
By category
Salary equivalence
Travel difficulty
Medellín is easier to travel (3.0 vs 3.2). Biggest gap: getting around — Medellín 2 vs Puno 4. Closer to 1 is easier. Difficulty ranking ›
Item by item
| Item | Medellín | Puno | Cheaper |
|---|---|---|---|
| Local mealper person | COL$ 16,000$3.9 | S/ 15$4.05 | similar |
| Street food1 item | COL$ 7,200$1.76 | S/ 6$1.62 | Puno −8% |
| Restaurant dinnerper person | COL$ 57,000$13.9 | S/ 40$10.8 | Puno −22% |
| Coffeeone cup | COL$ 8,200$2 | S/ 10$2.7 | Medellín −26% |
| Beerone bottle | COL$ 6,500$1.59 | S/ 10$2.7 | Medellín −41% |
| Cocktail & wineone cup | COL$ 30,000$7.32 | S/ 25$6.76 | Puno −8% |
| Bottled water | COL$ 2,500$0.61 | S/ 2$0.54 | Puno −11% |
| Convenience store1 snack or drink | COL$ 3,500$0.85 | S/ 3$0.81 | Puno −5% |
| Taxi5 km in town | COL$ 14,000$3.41 | S/ 8$2.16 | Puno −37% |
| Tuk-tuk / moto taxishort hop | COL$ 9,000$2.2 | S/ 3$0.81 | Puno −63% |
| Transitone ride | COL$ 4,400$1.07 | S/ 1.5$0.41 | Puno −62% |
| Scooter rentalper day | COL$ 90,000$22 | S/ 40$10.8 | Puno −51% |
| Hotel night3-star | COL$ 200,000$48.8 | S/ 180$48.6 | similar |
| Studio rent (month) | COL$ 2,200,000$537 | S/ 700$189 | Puno −65% |
| Laundry | COL$ 7,000$1.71 | S/ 7$1.89 | Medellín −10% |
| SIM card1 week data | COL$ 33,000$8.05 | S/ 30$8.11 | similar |
| Haircutcut | COL$ 25,000$6.1 | S/ 12$3.24 | Puno −47% |
| Massage1 hour | COL$ 80,000$19.5 | S/ 60$16.2 | Puno −17% |
| Half-day tourper person | COL$ 100,000$24.4 | S/ 50$13.5 | Puno −45% |
| Entry ticketTourist town | COL$ 33,000$8.05 | S/ 10$2.7 | Puno −66% |
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, Medellín or Puno?
Puno is 23% cheaper than Medellín. Daily budget $89.6 vs $83.5; a month $1,812 vs $1,090.
Which is easier to travel, Medellín or Puno?
Medellín is easier: Medellín 3.0/5 vs Puno 3.2/5 (average of rip-offs, language, transport, payments and safety).
How do monthly costs compare between Medellín and Puno?
With a short-term studio and living costs, Medellín is about $1,812 and Puno about $1,090 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.