For one person, living is cheaper in Colombia: $1,326 a month against $2,539 in Australia, rent and utilities included – about $14,600 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.
How much you'll spend in Australia and in Colombia
Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Australia and in Colombia actually costs, broken down by who's living it.
A single person spends $2,539 per month in Australia vs $1,326 in Colombia, rent included.
Australia $2,539
Colombia $1,326
A couple spends around $3,716 per month in Australia vs $2,051 in Colombia, rent included.
Australia $3,716
Colombia $2,051
A family of three spends $4,892 per month in Australia vs $2,777 in Colombia, rent included.
Australia $4,892
Colombia $2,777
📏
The regional cost range is wider in Australia ($1,635–$3,245) than in Colombia ($799–$1,625), so city choice matters more there.
🌍
The cost of living in Australia is about 92% higher than in Colombia on average.
📊
Australia sits 87% above the global median, while Colombia is 2% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
No currencies found
🍽 Eating Out
Australia
Colombia
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.35A$24.97
$7.41COP 23.5K
134.14%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$84.5A$122
$46.52COP 147.5K
81.73%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.98A$15.79
$9.20COP 29.2K
19.35%
Cappuccino
$3.84A$5.53
$2.75COP 8,718
39.64%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.89A$4.16
$1.50COP 4,748
92.67%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.29A$3.29
$1.10COP 3,487
108.18%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$7.79A$11.21
$2.56COP 8,117
204.30%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$8.42A$12.12
$3.79COP 12.0K
122.16%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Australia
Colombia
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.75A$2.52
$1.58COP 5,001
10.76%
White Bread(500g)
$2.78A$4.00
$2.22COP 7,028
25.23%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.31A$3.33
$1.64COP 5,201
40.85%
Eggs
$4.89A$7.04
$2.95COP 9,342
65.76%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.95A$14.32
$8.00COP 25.4K
24.37%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.06A$13.03
$9.09COP 28.8K
-0.33%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$14.92A$21.46
$11.47COP 36.4K
30.08%
Apples(1kg)
$3.65A$5.25
$3.71COP 11.8K
-1.62%
Banana(1kg)
$3.03A$4.36
$1.40COP 4,436
116.43%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.24A$4.66
$1.71COP 5,417
89.47%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.69A$6.76
$1.99COP 6,312
135.68%
Potato(1kg)
$2.85A$4.11
$1.50COP 4,747
90.00%
Onion(1kg)
$2.32A$3.34
$1.50COP 4,746
54.67%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.43A$3.50
$1.13COP 3,588
115.04%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.66A$2.39
$1.06COP 3,365
56.60%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$38.47A$55.4
$4.33COP 13.7K
788.45%
Wine(Bottle)
$13.84A$19.92
$13.13COP 41.6K
5.41%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$4.87A$7.01
$1.51COP 4,782
222.52%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.28A$7.59
$2.36COP 7,472
123.73%
🚌 Getting Around
Australia
Colombia
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.71A$3.90
$1.13COP 3,572
139.82%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$94.0A$135
$61.9COP 196.3K
51.79%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.57A$5.14
$2.12COP 6,708
68.40%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.63A$2.35
$2.13COP 6,760
-23.47%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$40.04A$57.6
$8.49COP 26.9K
371.61%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.33A$1.91
$1.31COP 4,149
1.53%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.1KA$41.9K
$35.0KCOP 111.0M
-16.77%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.7KA$37.0K
$34.4KCOP 109.2M
-25.34%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Australia
Colombia
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$205A$296
$127COP 403.4K
61.44%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$28.24A$40.63
$13.77COP 43.7K
105.08%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$57.0A$82.0
$29.32COP 93.0K
94.24%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Australia
Colombia
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$55.4A$79.7
$36.19COP 114.8K
53.00%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.46A$28.01
$15.74COP 49.9K
23.63%
Cinema Ticket
$15.06A$21.66
$6.34COP 20.1K
137.54%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Australia
Colombia
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$2,097A$3,017
$590COP 1.9M
255.17%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$18.0KA$26.0K
$9,440COP 29.9M
91.06%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Australia
Colombia
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$78.0A$112
$78.5COP 248.7K
-0.57%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$55.3A$79.6
$51.1COP 162.0K
8.30%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$112A$161
$134COP 424.1K
-16.36%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$122A$175
$105COP 334.3K
15.62%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Australia
Colombia
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,559A$2,244
$693COP 2.2M
124.92%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,215A$1,748
$443COP 1.4M
173.91%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,435A$3,504
$1,277COP 4.0M
90.75%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,924A$2,769
$807COP 2.6M
138.41%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$8,175A$11.8K
$2,281COP 7.2M
258.41%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$6,060A$8,721
$1,476COP 4.7M
310.71%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Australia
Colombia
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$4,038A$5,811
$619COP 2.0M
552.87%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.94
12.81
-53.63%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Australia: October 19, 2026
Last update for Colombia: October 17, 2026
Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Share of the monthly basket for a family of three, rent included.
🏠Accommodation & Living
Australia
$1.2K 47.8%
Colombia
$443 33.5% ↓ 63.5%$771
🛒Groceries & Markets
Australia
$372 14.7%
Colombia
$267 20.2% ↓ 28.2%$105
🍽Eating Out
Australia
$294 11.6%
Colombia
$151 11.4% ↓ 48.8%$144
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
Australia
$291 11.4%
Colombia
$170 12.9% ↓ 41.4%$120
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
Australia
$165 6.5%
Colombia
$166 12.5% ↑ 0.4%$0.7
🚌Getting Around
Australia
$117 4.6%
Colombia
$79 6% ↓ 32.1%$37
🎉Sport & Entertainment
Australia
$85 3.4%
Colombia
$49 3.7% ↓ 42.8%$37
🏠Accommodation & Living
Australia
$1.9K 39.3%
Colombia
$807 29.1% ↓ 58.1%$1.1K
🛒Groceries & Markets
Australia
$844 17.3%
Colombia
$614 22.1% ↓ 27.3%$230
🍽Eating Out
Australia
$1K 20.6%
Colombia
$529 19.1% ↓ 47.6%$480
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
Australia
$319 6.5%
Colombia
$184 6.6% ↓ 42.3%$135
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
Australia
$367 7.5%
Colombia
$369 13.3% ↑ 0.4%$1.6
🚌Getting Around
Australia
$239 4.9%
Colombia
$161 5.8% ↓ 32.6%$78
🎉Sport & Entertainment
Australia
$190 3.9%
Colombia
$113 4.1% ↓ 40.4%$77
Cost Breakdown
🏠Average rent: $1,364 in Australia vs $646 in Colombia. For reference, capital cities sit at $1,719 in Canberra and $801 in Bogota.
💰Average salary: $3,853 in Australia vs $640 in Colombia. The income gap affects purchasing power and how far your budget stretches in each country.
Cost Highlights
⭐Rent is 111% higher in Australia.
⭐Dining out costs 86% more in Australia.
⭐Public transport is 369% more expensive in Australia.
⭐Salaries are 502% higher in Australia, and purchasing power comes out stronger in Australia.
Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.
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
Australia vs Colombia: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Australia more expensive than Colombia?
Colombia is the cheaper option – living costs run roughly 92% lower on average.
Which country has higher housing costs?
Housing costs more in Australia: a central one-bedroom averages $1,364 versus $646 in Colombia.
Which country is cheaper for everyday spending?
Groceries, public transport, and eating out all cost less in Colombia, adding to the overall 92% price gap.
Is $2,000 a realistic budget in Australia or in Colombia?
$2,000 buys a comfortable lifestyle in Colombia, but in Australia it only works with careful planning outside the capital. Same money, very different lives.
Should I move to Australia or to Colombia?
Colombia is the budget-friendly choice for expats – lower housing and daily costs. But cost isn't everything: visa policies, language, healthcare quality, and job markets all weigh in too.