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

🙂 Solo nomad: Bucaramanga is 22% cheaper than Cartagena without rent, and 29.9% cheaper with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: Bucaramanga is 32.7% cheaper than Cartagena without rent, and 30.7% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Bucaramanga
Cartagena
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.23 COP 11.8K
$5.99 COP 22.0K
-46.08%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$19.64 COP 72.1K
$46.65 COP 171.3K
-57.90%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$6.93 COP 25.4K
$9.77 COP 35.9K
-29.07%
Cappuccino
$1.36 COP 4,988
$1.58 COP 5,796
-13.92%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.70 COP 2,554
$0.86 COP 3,172
-18.60%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.55 COP 2,010
$0.72 COP 2,658
-23.61%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.42 COP 5,203
$1.24 COP 4,562
14.52%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.10 COP 7,702
$2.86 COP 10.5K
-26.57%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Bucaramanga
Cartagena
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.18 COP 4,329
$1.14 COP 4,175
3.51%
White Bread (500g)
$1.07 COP 3,929
$1.85 COP 6,775
-42.16%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.20 COP 4,414
$1.32 COP 4,842
-9.09%
Eggs
$2.22 COP 8,140
$2.12 COP 7,785
4.72%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$4.14 COP 15.2K
$7.07 COP 26.0K
-41.44%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.71 COP 21.0K
$6.11 COP 22.4K
-6.55%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$7.16 COP 26.3K
$7.90 COP 29.0K
-9.37%
Apples (1kg)
$2.60 COP 9,533
$3.15 COP 11.6K
-17.46%
Banana (1kg)
$1.22 COP 4,493
$2.00 COP 7,328
-39.00%
Oranges (1kg)
$0.90 COP 3,312
$1.44 COP 5,297
-37.50%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.93 COP 3,431
$1.60 COP 5,863
-41.88%
Potato (1kg)
$1.24 COP 4,540
$1.53 COP 5,625
-18.95%
Onion (1kg)
$0.97 COP 3,554
$1.06 COP 3,884
-8.49%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.94 COP 3,467
$1.05 COP 3,872
-10.48%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.73 COP 2,689
$0.60 COP 2,194
21.67%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$1.69 COP 6,197
$2.24 COP 8,214
-24.55%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.88 COP 28.9K
$24.08 COP 88.4K
-67.28%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.83 COP 3,062
$0.94 COP 3,443
-11.70%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.55 COP 5,690
$1.02 COP 3,731
51.96%
🚌 Getting Around
Bucaramanga
Cartagena
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.69 COP 2,540
$1.06 COP 3,908
-34.91%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$38.40 COP 141.0K
$28.72 COP 105.4K
33.70%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.71 COP 6,276
$2.49 COP 9,145
-31.33%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.53 COP 5,615
$2.35 COP 8,623
-34.89%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$6.08 COP 22.3K
$4.89 COP 18.0K
24.34%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.99 COP 3,635
$1.03 COP 3,789
-3.88%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.2K COP 70.4M
$21.6K COP 79.3M
-11.21%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.4K COP 100.6M
$23.3K COP 85.5M
17.60%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Bucaramanga
Cartagena
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$74.1 COP 272.1K
$144 COP 527.3K
-48.38%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$8.95 COP 32.9K
$10.78 COP 39.6K
-16.98%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$20.56 COP 75.5K
$24.52 COP 90.0K
-16.15%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Bucaramanga
Cartagena
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$23.46 COP 86.1K
$34.66 COP 127.3K
-32.31%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$15.55 COP 57.1K
$8.77 COP 32.2K
77.31%
Cinema Ticket
$3.98 COP 14.6K
$2.96 COP 10.9K
34.46%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Bucaramanga
Cartagena
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$235 COP 861.8K
$143 COP 523.5K
64.61%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$2,476 COP 9.1M
$5,863 COP 21.5M
-57.77%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Bucaramanga
Cartagena
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$64.3 COP 236.1K
$47.68 COP 175.1K
34.84%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$32.46 COP 119.2K
$39.05 COP 143.4K
-16.88%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$83.7 COP 307.2K
$124 COP 453.5K
-32.26%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$38.63 COP 141.8K
$113 COP 413.2K
-65.67%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Bucaramanga
Cartagena
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$285 COP 1.0M
$718 COP 2.6M
-60.31%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$241 COP 883.3K
$331 COP 1.2M
-27.29%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$486 COP 1.8M
$1,278 COP 4.7M
-61.96%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$371 COP 1.4M
$467 COP 1.7M
-20.64%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,317 COP 4.8M
$3,007 COP 11.0M
-56.20%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,400 COP 5.1M
$1,920 COP 7.0M
-27.09%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Bucaramanga
Cartagena
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$456 COP 1.7M
$423 COP 1.6M
7.64%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
15.25
15
1.67%

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

Last update for Bucaramanga: January 12, 2026

Last update for Cartagena: January 12, 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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