Cost of Living Comparison Between Bucaramanga and Buenaventura Cost of Living Comparison Between Bucaramanga and Buenaventura

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,270 per month in Bucaramanga vs $1,307 in Buenaventura, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,928 per month in Bucaramanga vs $2,084 in Buenaventura, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,586 per month in Bucaramanga vs $2,861 in Buenaventura, rent included.

Bucaramanga is about 3% cheaper than Buenaventura, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Bucaramanga and Buenaventura are more affordable than the global median – Bucaramanga 7% lower, Buenaventura 4% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.58 COP 17.6K

$6.63 COP 20.9K

-15.84%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$31.82 COP 100.4K

$44.33 COP 139.8K

-28.22%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.55 COP 30.1K

$10.27 COP 32.4K

-7.01%

Cappuccino

$2.17 COP 6,850

$2.71 COP 8,536

-19.93%

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

$1.43 COP 4,516

$1.40 COP 4,415

2.14%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.09 COP 3,444

$1.01 COP 3,194

7.92%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.66 COP 5,243

$2.96 COP 9,351

-43.92%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.56 COP 8,061

$3.38 COP 10.7K

-24.26%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.53 COP 4,837

$1.52 COP 4,798

0.66%

White Bread (500g)

$1.49 COP 4,705

$2.71 COP 8,537

-45.02%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.26 COP 10.3K

$1.52 COP 4,785

114.47%

Eggs

$3.16 COP 9,953

$3.21 COP 10.1K

-1.56%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.25 COP 26.0K

$8.90 COP 28.1K

-7.30%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.72 COP 46.4K

$9.28 COP 29.3K

58.62%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$17.71 COP 55.9K

$11.72 COP 37.0K

51.11%

Apples (1kg)

$3.65 COP 11.5K

$3.84 COP 12.1K

-4.95%

Banana (1kg)

$1.43 COP 4,517

$1.35 COP 4,265

5.93%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.16 COP 6,802

$1.74 COP 5,492

24.14%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.90 COP 9,146

$2.01 COP 6,342

44.28%

Potato (1kg)

$1.40 COP 4,417

$1.53 COP 4,840

-8.50%

Onion (1kg)

$1.75 COP 5,514

$1.65 COP 5,198

6.06%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.93 COP 2,928

$1.12 COP 3,519

-16.96%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.00 COP 3,141

$1.19 COP 3,755

-15.97%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.28 COP 13.5K

$4.77 COP 15.0K

-10.27%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.88 COP 40.6K

$14.38 COP 45.3K

-10.43%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.39 COP 4,387

$1.49 COP 4,699

-6.71%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.65 COP 5,207

$2.73 COP 8,609

-39.56%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.13 COP 3,566

$1.09 COP 3,430

3.67%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$76.3 COP 240.7K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.85 COP 8,992

$1.37 COP 4,319

108.03%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.98 COP 6,244

$1.88 COP 5,940

5.32%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.02 COP 25.3K

$9.36 COP 29.5K

-14.32%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.38 COP 4,358

$1.54 COP 4,859

-10.39%

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

$27.7K COP 87.4M

$29.3K COP 92.6M

-5.56%

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

$34.3K COP 108.3M

$37.9K COP 119.6M

-9.44%

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

$180 COP 568.3K

$125 COP 395.0K

43.87%

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

$10.63 COP 33.5K

$14.31 COP 45.1K

-25.72%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$26.12 COP 82.4K

$30.98 COP 97.7K

-15.69%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$39.27 COP 123.9K

$34.48 COP 108.7K

13.89%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$32.17 COP 101.5K

Cinema Ticket

$6.64 COP 20.9K

$6.18 COP 19.5K

7.44%

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

$549 COP 1.7M

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,589 COP 20.8M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.0 COP 170.2K

$97.6 COP 307.9K

-44.73%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$57.8 COP 182.5K

$54.9 COP 173.3K

5.28%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$122 COP 383.6K

$132 COP 416.7K

-7.95%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$98.5 COP 310.7K

$113 COP 355.3K

-12.55%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$475 COP 1.5M

$781 COP 2.5M

-39.18%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$345 COP 1.1M

$530 COP 1.7M

-34.87%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$966 COP 3.0M

$1,164 COP 3.7M

-17.02%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$560 COP 1.8M

$880 COP 2.8M

-36.39%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,127 COP 3.6M

$2,227 COP 7.0M

-49.38%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,636 COP 5.2M

$1,478 COP 4.7M

10.67%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$588 COP 1.9M

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

12.4

11.58

7.08%

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

Last update for Bucaramanga: September 15, 2026

Last update for Buenaventura: September 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $475 in Bucaramanga versus $781 in Buenaventura. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $32.00 in Bucaramanga versus $44.00 in Buenaventura. Groceries tell a different story – $317 in Bucaramanga vs $282 in Buenaventura – so Buenaventura wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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

Bucaramanga vs Buenaventura: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Buenaventura costs about 3% more than Bucaramanga, with the gap driven mainly by Getting Around. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,905 per month in Bucaramanga and $1,961 in Buenaventura. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Bucaramanga, 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 $1,270 in Bucaramanga and $1,307 in Buenaventura. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Interestingly, groceries are about 12% cheaper in Buenaventura – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Bucaramanga, where all-in costs run around $1,270, than in Buenaventura at $1,307. In Bucaramanga it covers expenses comfortably, while in Buenaventura it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Bucaramanga costs $1,270 versus $1,307 in Buenaventura. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

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 Bucaramanga. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Buenaventura makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.