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

🙂 Solo nomad: Bucaramanga is 28.1% cheaper than Cartagena without rent, and 27.6% cheaper with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: Bucaramanga is 39.1% cheaper than Cartagena without rent, and 29% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Bucaramanga
Cartagena
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.16 COP 13.2K
$5.96 COP 24.8K
-46.98%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$19.11 COP 79.7K
$46.85 COP 195.3K
-59.21%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$6.9 COP 28.8K
$9.9 COP 41.3K
-30.30%
Cappuccino
$1.31 COP 5,446
$1.65 COP 6,894
-20.61%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.7 COP 2,927
$0.8 COP 3,333
-12.50%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.59 COP 2,460
$0.71 COP 2,946
-16.90%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.41 COP 5,877
$1.3 COP 5,428
8.46%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.04 COP 8,524
$2.88 COP 12K
-29.17%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Bucaramanga
Cartagena
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.17 COP 4,864
$1.2 COP 4,999
-2.50%
White Bread (500g)
$1.08 COP 4,497
$1.83 COP 7,626
-40.98%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.19 COP 4,958
$1.32 COP 5,518
-9.85%
Eggs
$2.21 COP 9,222
$2.11 COP 8,808
4.74%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$4.21 COP 17.5K
$7.12 COP 29.7K
-40.87%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.98 COP 24.9K
$6.13 COP 25.6K
-2.45%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$7.14 COP 29.8K
$7.78 COP 32.4K
-8.23%
Apples (1kg)
$2.49 COP 10.4K
$3.26 COP 13.6K
-23.62%
Banana (1kg)
$1.18 COP 4,936
$1.93 COP 8,044
-38.86%
Oranges (1kg)
$0.86 COP 3,570
$1.47 COP 6,118
-41.50%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.87 COP 3,611
$1.59 COP 6,620
-45.28%
Potato (1kg)
$1.24 COP 5,170
$1.56 COP 6,485
-20.51%
Onion (1kg)
$1.02 COP 4,239
$1.07 COP 4,470
-4.67%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.92 COP 3,819
$1.05 COP 4,389
-12.38%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.79 COP 3,312
$0.64 COP 2,665
23.44%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$1.65 COP 6,879
$2.27 COP 9,446
-27.31%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.9 COP 32.9K
$23.76 COP 99.1K
-66.75%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.78 COP 3,248
$0.97 COP 4,055
-19.59%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.5 COP 6,273
$0.98 COP 4,090
53.06%
🚌 Getting Around
Bucaramanga
Cartagena
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.68 COP 2,826
$1.06 COP 4,412
-35.85%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$39.21 COP 163.5K
$28.09 COP 117.1K
39.59%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.76 COP 7,329
$2.49 COP 10.4K
-29.32%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.61 COP 6,724
$2.44 COP 10.2K
-34.02%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.91 COP 24.7K
$4.97 COP 20.7K
18.91%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.98 COP 4,093
$0.97 COP 4,064
1.03%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.2K COP 80.1M
$21.5K COP 89.7M
-10.74%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$28.3K COP 118M
$23.9K COP 99.6M
18.47%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Bucaramanga
Cartagena
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$74 COP 308.5K
$141 COP 586.1K
-47.36%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$8.84 COP 36.9K
$10.92 COP 45.5K
-19.05%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$20.51 COP 85.5K
$24.73 COP 103.1K
-17.06%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Bucaramanga
Cartagena
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$23.08 COP 96.2K
$35.51 COP 148K
-35.00%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.01 COP 66.8K
$8.69 COP 36.2K
84.23%
Cinema Ticket
$3.94 COP 16.4K
$2.94 COP 12.3K
34.01%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Bucaramanga
Cartagena
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$239 COP 995.6K
$143 COP 594.7K
67.41%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$2,491 COP 10.4M
$5,872 COP 24.5M
-57.59%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Bucaramanga
Cartagena
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$64.2 COP 267.7K
$49.11 COP 204.8K
30.73%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$32.95 COP 137.4K
$39.16 COP 163.3K
-15.86%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$82.8 COP 345.2K
$125 COP 521.4K
-33.80%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$37.54 COP 156.5K
$114 COP 474.6K
-67.02%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Bucaramanga
Cartagena
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$289 COP 1.2M
$724 COP 3M
-60.04%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$241 COP 1M
$335 COP 1.4M
-28.21%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$480 COP 2M
$1,312 COP 5.5M
-63.41%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$375 COP 1.6M
$477 COP 2M
-21.46%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,376 COP 5.7M
$2,840 COP 11.8M
-51.56%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,140 COP 4.8M
$2,905 COP 12.1M
-60.76%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Bucaramanga
Cartagena
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$456 COP 1.9M
$577 COP 2.4M
-20.95%
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: October 27, 2025

Last update for Cartagena: October 28, 2025

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