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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $773 per month in Bucaramanga vs $1,086 in Cartagena, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,158 per month in Bucaramanga vs $1,604 in Cartagena, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,543 per month in Bucaramanga vs $2,121 in Cartagena, rent included.

Bucaramanga is about 29% cheaper than Cartagena, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Bucaramanga and Cartagena are more affordable than the global median – Bucaramanga 42% lower, Cartagena 18% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.07 COP 9,656

$5.93 COP 18.7K

-48.23%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.46 COP 61.3K

$47.34 COP 149.1K

-58.89%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.88 COP 21.6K

$9.95 COP 31.3K

-30.85%

Cappuccino

$1.29 COP 4,063

$1.57 COP 4,950

-17.83%

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

$0.75 COP 2,374

$0.82 COP 2,579

-8.54%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.58 COP 1,832

$0.68 COP 2,128

-14.71%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.41 COP 4,427

$1.31 COP 4,111

7.63%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.01 COP 6,321

$2.89 COP 9,107

-30.45%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.18 COP 3,725

$1.14 COP 3,590

3.51%

White Bread (500g)

$1.11 COP 3,498

$1.83 COP 5,777

-39.34%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.24 COP 3,896

$1.37 COP 4,324

-9.49%

Eggs

$2.22 COP 7,002

$2.19 COP 6,910

1.37%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.07 COP 12.8K

$6.81 COP 21.5K

-40.23%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.88 COP 18.5K

$6.22 COP 19.6K

-5.47%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.53 COP 23.7K

$7.77 COP 24.5K

-3.09%

Apples (1kg)

$2.47 COP 7,775

$3.26 COP 10.3K

-24.23%

Banana (1kg)

$1.23 COP 3,871

$1.91 COP 6,014

-35.60%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.83 COP 2,625

$1.45 COP 4,556

-42.76%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.92 COP 2,901

$1.62 COP 5,101

-43.21%

Potato (1kg)

$1.25 COP 3,939

$1.61 COP 5,074

-22.36%

Onion (1kg)

$1.01 COP 3,194

$1.08 COP 3,400

-6.48%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.91 COP 2,852

$1.01 COP 3,177

-9.90%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.79 COP 2,474

$0.59 COP 1,865

33.90%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.68 COP 5,301

$2.35 COP 7,403

-28.51%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.08 COP 28.6K

$18.80 COP 59.2K

-51.70%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.85 COP 2,670

$0.98 COP 3,083

-13.27%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.56 COP 4,908

$0.98 COP 3,081

59.18%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.74 COP 2,317

$1.05 COP 3,311

-29.52%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$38.29 COP 120.6K

$28.98 COP 91.2K

32.13%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.75 COP 5,512

$2.46 COP 7,753

-28.86%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.58 COP 4,975

$2.37 COP 7,461

-33.33%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.93 COP 18.7K

$4.86 COP 15.3K

22.02%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.97 COP 3,056

$1.02 COP 3,204

-4.90%

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

$19.7K COP 62.0M

$21.1K COP 66.5M

-6.71%

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

$28.3K COP 89.2M

$24.0K COP 75.7M

17.88%

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

$74.6 COP 234.7K

$143 COP 449.0K

-47.72%

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

$8.84 COP 27.8K

$10.93 COP 34.4K

-19.12%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.44 COP 64.4K

$25.27 COP 79.6K

-19.11%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$23.24 COP 73.2K

$35.26 COP 111.0K

-34.09%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$15.79 COP 49.7K

$8.60 COP 27.1K

83.60%

Cinema Ticket

$3.95 COP 12.4K

$2.84 COP 8,948

39.08%

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

$242 COP 760.6K

$144 COP 453.7K

67.63%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,485 COP 7.8M

$6,062 COP 19.1M

-59.01%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$64.4 COP 202.7K

$47.97 COP 151.0K

34.23%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$32.35 COP 101.8K

$38.50 COP 121.2K

-15.97%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$82.4 COP 259.3K

$125 COP 393.7K

-34.14%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$37.82 COP 119.1K

$112 COP 351.2K

-66.10%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$286 COP 901.6K

$720 COP 2.3M

-60.25%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$238 COP 749.3K

$333 COP 1.0M

-28.55%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$478 COP 1.5M

$1,292 COP 4.1M

-62.98%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$377 COP 1.2M

$471 COP 1.5M

-20.07%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,193 COP 3.8M

$3,492 COP 11.0M

-65.82%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,621 COP 5.1M

$935 COP 2.9M

73.45%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$576 COP 1.8M

$467 COP 1.5M

23.22%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

15.25

1.67%

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

Last update for Bucaramanga: July 26, 2026

Last update for Cartagena: July 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $286 in Bucaramanga versus $720 in Cartagena. 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 23% higher in Bucaramanga, 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 $19.00 in Bucaramanga versus $47.00 in Cartagena. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $173 vs $223 – making Bucaramanga 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

Bucaramanga vs Cartagena: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Cartagena costs about 40% more than Bucaramanga, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,160 per month in Bucaramanga and $1,629 in Cartagena. 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.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $19.00 in Bucaramanga and $47.00 in Cartagena. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $773 in Bucaramanga and $1,086 in Cartagena. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Bucaramanga, where all-in costs run around $773, than in Cartagena at $1,086. In Bucaramanga it covers expenses comfortably, while in Cartagena it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Bucaramanga costs $773 versus $1,086 in Cartagena. 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, Cartagena makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.