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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $769 per month in Bucaramanga vs $1,063 in Cartagena, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,161 per month in Bucaramanga vs $1,611 in Cartagena, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,553 per month in Bucaramanga vs $2,160 in Cartagena, rent included.

Bucaramanga is about 28% cheaper than Cartagena, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Bucaramanga and Cartagena are more affordable than the global median – Bucaramanga 42% lower, Cartagena 20% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.06 COP 10.5K

$6.09 COP 20.9K

-49.75%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.30 COP 66.2K

$47.00 COP 161.1K

-58.94%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.67 COP 22.9K

$9.47 COP 32.4K

-29.57%

Cappuccino

$1.29 COP 4,428

$1.64 COP 5,616

-21.34%

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

$0.69 COP 2,379

$0.87 COP 2,971

-20.69%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.58 COP 1,994

$0.66 COP 2,249

-12.12%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.35 COP 4,622

$1.25 COP 4,269

8.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.03 COP 6,955

$2.93 COP 10.1K

-30.72%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.18 COP 4,028

$1.16 COP 3,968

1.72%

White Bread (500g)

$1.06 COP 3,648

$1.90 COP 6,511

-44.21%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.19 COP 4,086

$1.33 COP 4,563

-10.53%

Eggs

$2.18 COP 7,469

$2.10 COP 7,206

3.81%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.04 COP 13.8K

$6.80 COP 23.3K

-40.59%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.96 COP 20.4K

$6.16 COP 21.1K

-3.25%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.17 COP 24.6K

$8.16 COP 28.0K

-12.13%

Apples (1kg)

$2.61 COP 8,938

$3.28 COP 11.2K

-20.43%

Banana (1kg)

$1.22 COP 4,166

$1.99 COP 6,819

-38.69%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.85 COP 2,911

$1.46 COP 4,997

-41.78%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.88 COP 3,004

$1.65 COP 5,665

-46.67%

Potato (1kg)

$1.23 COP 4,222

$1.60 COP 5,480

-23.13%

Onion (1kg)

$1.03 COP 3,541

$1.06 COP 3,647

-2.83%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.98 COP 3,346

$1.05 COP 3,595

-6.67%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.74 COP 2,523

$0.58 COP 1,988

27.59%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.74 COP 5,957

$2.35 COP 8,045

-25.96%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.77 COP 30.1K

$18.92 COP 64.8K

-53.65%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.79 COP 2,710

$1.00 COP 3,422

-21.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.55 COP 5,327

$0.99 COP 3,385

56.57%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.70 COP 2,382

$1.02 COP 3,508

-31.37%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$38.18 COP 130.9K

$29.14 COP 99.9K

31.02%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.68 COP 5,748

$2.47 COP 8,451

-31.98%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.61 COP 5,518

$2.35 COP 8,049

-31.49%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.00 COP 20.6K

$4.96 COP 17.0K

20.97%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.94 COP 3,208

$0.96 COP 3,298

-2.08%

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

$19.3K COP 66.1M

$20.8K COP 71.3M

-7.41%

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

$28.2K COP 96.6M

$23.6K COP 80.8M

19.49%

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

$75.7 COP 259.3K

$140 COP 478.8K

-45.83%

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

$8.57 COP 29.4K

$10.70 COP 36.7K

-19.91%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.35 COP 69.7K

$25.03 COP 85.8K

-18.70%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$23.01 COP 78.8K

$35.17 COP 120.5K

-34.57%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$15.64 COP 53.6K

$8.48 COP 29.1K

84.43%

Cinema Ticket

$3.97 COP 13.6K

$2.93 COP 10.1K

35.49%

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

$237 COP 812.3K

$144 COP 492.3K

65.00%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,494 COP 8.5M

$5,840 COP 20.0M

-57.29%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$64.7 COP 221.6K

$48.52 COP 166.3K

33.24%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$33.11 COP 113.5K

$39.07 COP 133.9K

-15.25%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$83.1 COP 284.8K

$124 COP 425.6K

-33.08%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$37.60 COP 128.9K

$112 COP 385.1K

-66.54%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$289 COP 989.8K

$716 COP 2.5M

-59.65%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$238 COP 815.0K

$335 COP 1.1M

-29.02%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$478 COP 1.6M

$1,270 COP 4.4M

-62.35%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$378 COP 1.3M

$475 COP 1.6M

-20.31%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,119 COP 3.8M

$3,197 COP 11.0M

-65.01%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,466 COP 5.0M

$871 COP 3.0M

68.36%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$529 COP 1.8M

$422 COP 1.4M

25.29%

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: June 15, 2026

Last update for Cartagena: June 16, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $289 in Bucaramanga versus $716 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 25% 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: $171 vs $225 – 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 38% 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 $1,153 per month in Bucaramanga and $1,594 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 $769 in Bucaramanga and $1,063 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 $769, than in Cartagena at $1,063. 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 $769 versus $1,063 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.