Cost of Living Comparison Between Bucaramanga and Cartagena Cost of Living Comparison Between Bucaramanga and Cartagena

šŸ™‚ Solo nomad: Bucaramanga is 24.5% cheaper than Cartagena without rent, and 29.6% cheaper with rent.
šŸ™‚ Family of 3: Bucaramanga is 36% cheaper than Cartagena without rent, and 29.6% cheaper with rent.
Currency
šŸ½ Eating Out
Bucaramanga
Cartagena
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.07 COPĀ 11.6K
$5.89 COPĀ 22.3K
-47.88%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$19.31 COPĀ 73.1K
$46.55 COPĀ 176.3K
-58.52%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$6.63 COPĀ 25.1K
$9.47 COPĀ 35.8K
-29.99%
Cappuccino
$1.35 COPĀ 5,104
$1.64 COPĀ 6,207
-17.68%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.72 COPĀ 2,717
$0.86 COPĀ 3,253
-16.28%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.56 COPĀ 2,103
$0.66 COPĀ 2,497
-15.15%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.40 COPĀ 5,317
$1.24 COPĀ 4,711
12.90%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.03 COPĀ 7,676
$2.95 COPĀ 11.2K
-31.19%
šŸ›’ Groceries & Markets
Bucaramanga
Cartagena
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.23 COPĀ 4,644
$1.14 COPĀ 4,308
7.89%
White Bread (500g)
$1.11 COPĀ 4,190
$1.93 COPĀ 7,294
-42.49%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.25 COPĀ 4,717
$1.33 COPĀ 5,031
-6.02%
Eggs
$2.26 COPĀ 8,544
$2.13 COPĀ 8,058
6.10%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$4.22 COPĀ 16.0K
$6.78 COPĀ 25.7K
-37.76%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.83 COPĀ 22.1K
$6.11 COPĀ 23.1K
-4.58%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$7.29 COPĀ 27.6K
$8.05 COPĀ 30.5K
-9.44%
Apples (1kg)
$2.59 COPĀ 9,792
$3.30 COPĀ 12.5K
-21.52%
Banana (1kg)
$1.18 COPĀ 4,457
$1.91 COPĀ 7,242
-38.22%
Oranges (1kg)
$0.89 COPĀ 3,376
$1.44 COPĀ 5,469
-38.19%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.91 COPĀ 3,453
$1.65 COPĀ 6,257
-44.85%
Potato (1kg)
$1.18 COPĀ 4,482
$1.53 COPĀ 5,789
-22.88%
Onion (1kg)
$0.95 COPĀ 3,596
$1.12 COPĀ 4,234
-15.18%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.92 COPĀ 3,470
$1.01 COPĀ 3,832
-8.91%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.79 COPĀ 2,991
$0.60 COPĀ 2,271
31.67%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$1.74 COPĀ 6,600
$2.35 COPĀ 8,896
-25.96%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.71 COPĀ 29.2K
$17.67 COPĀ 66.9K
-56.37%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.78 COPĀ 2,954
$0.93 COPĀ 3,537
-16.13%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.57 COPĀ 5,927
$0.98 COPĀ 3,697
60.20%
šŸšŒ Getting Around
Bucaramanga
Cartagena
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.69 COPĀ 2,609
$1.06 COPĀ 4,018
-34.91%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$38.35 COPĀ 145.2K
$28.38 COPĀ 107.4K
35.13%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.76 COPĀ 6,679
$2.36 COPĀ 8,953
-25.42%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.54 COPĀ 5,815
$2.47 COPĀ 9,352
-37.65%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.93 COPĀ 22.4K
$4.70 COPĀ 17.8K
26.17%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.01 COPĀ 3,807
$1.03 COPĀ 3,918
-1.94%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.3K COPĀ 73.3M
$21.6K COPĀ 81.7M
-10.35%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$28.1K COPĀ 106.6M
$23.8K COPĀ 90.0M
18.46%
šŸ§¾ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Bucaramanga
Cartagena
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$74.4 COPĀ 281.8K
$140 COPĀ 531.3K
-46.95%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$8.96 COPĀ 33.9K
$10.86 COPĀ 41.1K
-17.50%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$20.58 COPĀ 77.9K
$25.12 COPĀ 95.1K
-18.07%
šŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Bucaramanga
Cartagena
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$23.37 COPĀ 88.5K
$34.78 COPĀ 131.7K
-32.81%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$15.97 COPĀ 60.5K
$8.55 COPĀ 32.4K
86.78%
Cinema Ticket
$3.79 COPĀ 14.4K
$2.94 COPĀ 11.1K
28.91%
šŸ§ø Childcare & Education
Bucaramanga
Cartagena
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$236 COPĀ 893.0K
$140 COPĀ 529.9K
68.51%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$2,405 COPĀ 9.1M
$5,849 COPĀ 22.1M
-58.88%
šŸ‘•šŸ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Bucaramanga
Cartagena
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$63.9 COPĀ 242.0K
$48.55 COPĀ 183.8K
31.64%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$32.17 COPĀ 121.8K
$38.87 COPĀ 147.2K
-17.24%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$84.7 COPĀ 320.5K
$126 COPĀ 478.4K
-32.99%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$38.67 COPĀ 146.4K
$113 COPĀ 427.0K
-65.71%
šŸ  Accommodation & Living
Bucaramanga
Cartagena
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$291 COPĀ 1.1M
$735 COPĀ 2.8M
-60.42%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$235 COPĀ 889.4K
$330 COPĀ 1.2M
-28.75%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$481 COPĀ 1.8M
$1,266 COPĀ 4.8M
-62.02%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$378 COPĀ 1.4M
$476 COPĀ 1.8M
-20.55%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,263 COPĀ 4.8M
$2,950 COPĀ 11.2M
-57.21%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,369 COPĀ 5.2M
$1,914 COPĀ 7.2M
-28.48%
šŸ’µ Salaries & Financials
Bucaramanga
Cartagena
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$479 COPĀ 1.8M
$393 COPĀ 1.5M
21.93%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
15.25
15
1.67%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input ā€“ minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Bucaramanga: March 2, 2026

Last update for Cartagena: February 28, 2026

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated December 2025)
The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

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