Cost of Living Comparison Between Barranquilla and Cali Cost of Living Comparison Between Barranquilla and Cali

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,480 per month in Barranquilla vs $1,090 in Cali, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,301 per month in Barranquilla vs $1,649 in Cali, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,122 per month in Barranquilla vs $2,208 in Cali, rent included.

Barranquilla costs about 36% more than Cali, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Barranquilla sits 8% above the global median, while Cali is 21% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$8.43 COP 26.6K

$7.70 COP 24.3K

9.48%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$62.5 COP 197.2K

$38.08 COP 120.1K

64.15%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.66 COP 40.0K

$8.61 COP 27.2K

47.04%

Cappuccino

$2.78 COP 8,783

$1.62 COP 5,111

71.60%

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

$1.34 COP 4,215

$1.26 COP 3,973

6.35%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.29 COP 4,084

$0.87 COP 2,755

48.28%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.05 COP 12.8K

$3.25 COP 10.2K

24.62%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.94 COP 25.1K

$3.85 COP 12.1K

106.23%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.88 COP 2,780

$1.57 COP 4,969

-43.95%

White Bread (500g)

$1.28 COP 4,045

$1.99 COP 6,282

-35.68%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.62 COP 5,106

$1.51 COP 4,765

7.28%

Eggs

$2.10 COP 6,612

$2.83 COP 8,921

-25.80%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.97 COP 15.7K

$6.43 COP 20.3K

-22.71%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$17.95 COP 56.6K

$7.06 COP 22.3K

154.25%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.12 COP 22.5K

$10.39 COP 32.8K

-31.47%

Apples (1kg)

$2.27 COP 7,160

$3.49 COP 11.0K

-34.96%

Banana (1kg)

$0.93 COP 2,933

$1.41 COP 4,456

-34.04%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.60 COP 1,904

$1.76 COP 5,542

-65.91%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.85 COP 5,841

$1.75 COP 5,522

5.71%

Potato (1kg)

$1.25 COP 3,943

$1.45 COP 4,584

-13.79%

Onion (1kg)

$0.98 COP 3,089

$1.57 COP 4,949

-37.58%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.25 COP 3,950

$1.15 COP 3,640

8.70%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.93 COP 2,947

$1.04 COP 3,272

-10.58%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.09 COP 16.1K

$3.70 COP 11.7K

37.57%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.85 COP 40.6K

$13.26 COP 41.8K

-3.09%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.54 COP 4,855

$1.45 COP 4,569

6.21%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.87 COP 15.4K

$2.53 COP 7,990

92.49%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.20 COP 3,800

$1.08 COP 3,422

11.11%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$29.95 COP 94.5K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.46 COP 10.9K

$0.84 COP 2,662

311.90%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.22 COP 10.2K

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$15.59 COP 49.2K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.34 COP 4,230

$1.30 COP 4,114

3.08%

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

$22.1K COP 69.7M

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

$29.2K COP 92.2M

$35.7K COP 112.6M

-18.11%

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

$151 COP 475.8K

$114 COP 358.3K

32.80%

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

$14.54 COP 45.9K

$13.49 COP 42.6K

7.78%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$32.67 COP 103.1K

$31.05 COP 98.0K

5.22%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$34.51 COP 108.9K

$28.87 COP 91.1K

19.54%

Cinema Ticket

$4.82 COP 15.2K

$8.43 COP 26.6K

-42.82%

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

$323 COP 1.0M

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,682 COP 14.8M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$112 COP 353.1K

$80.3 COP 253.3K

39.37%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$47.13 COP 148.7K

$54.4 COP 171.6K

-13.32%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$190 COP 599.2K

$124 COP 391.8K

52.94%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$255 COP 804.8K

$109 COP 343.7K

134.15%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$794 COP 2.5M

$641 COP 2.0M

23.88%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$503 COP 1.6M

$299 COP 944.9K

67.98%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$806 COP 2.5M

$1,577 COP 5.0M

-48.91%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$915 COP 2.9M

$493 COP 1.6M

85.66%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,882 COP 5.9M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$647 COP 2.0M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$513 COP 1.6M

$591 COP 1.9M

-13.19%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.58

-13.64%

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

Last update for Barranquilla: August 29, 2026

Last update for Cali: September 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $794 in Barranquilla versus $641 in Cali. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 15% higher in Cali, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $63.0 in Barranquilla versus $38.00 in Cali. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $256 vs $244 – making Cali the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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

Barranquilla vs Cali: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Barranquilla costs about 36% more than Cali, with the gap driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,220 per month in Barranquilla and $1,636 in Cali. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Cali, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,480 in Barranquilla and $1,090 in Cali. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 5% more in Barranquilla, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Cali, where all-in costs run around $1,090, than in Barranquilla at $1,480. In Cali it covers expenses comfortably, while in Barranquilla it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Cali costs $1,090 versus $1,480 in Barranquilla. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

If budget matters most, go with Cali. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Barranquilla makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.