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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,270 per month in Bucaramanga vs $1,295 in Cartagena, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,928 per month in Bucaramanga vs $2,130 in Cartagena, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,586 per month in Bucaramanga vs $2,966 in Cartagena, rent included.

Bucaramanga is about 2% cheaper than Cartagena, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Bucaramanga and Cartagena are more affordable than the global median – Bucaramanga 7% lower, Cartagena 5% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.58 COP 17.4K

$4.95 COP 15.5K

12.73%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$31.82 COP 99.3K

$135 COP 422.2K

-76.48%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.55 COP 29.8K

$10.19 COP 31.8K

-6.28%

Cappuccino

$2.17 COP 6,776

$3.61 COP 11.3K

-39.89%

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

$1.43 COP 4,467

$1.88 COP 5,879

-23.94%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.09 COP 3,407

$1.82 COP 5,670

-40.11%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.66 COP 5,186

$2.06 COP 6,425

-19.42%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.56 COP 7,974

$4.87 COP 15.2K

-47.43%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.53 COP 4,785

$1.97 COP 6,144

-22.34%

White Bread (500g)

$1.49 COP 4,654

$2.99 COP 9,317

-50.17%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.26 COP 10.2K

$1.51 COP 4,703

115.89%

Eggs

$3.16 COP 9,846

$5.21 COP 16.2K

-39.35%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.25 COP 25.7K

$13.62 COP 42.5K

-39.43%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.72 COP 45.9K

$17.97 COP 56.1K

-18.09%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$17.71 COP 55.3K

Apples (1kg)

$3.65 COP 11.4K

Banana (1kg)

$1.43 COP 4,468

Oranges (1kg)

$2.16 COP 6,729

Tomato (1kg)

$2.90 COP 9,048

Potato (1kg)

$1.40 COP 4,370

Onion (1kg)

$1.75 COP 5,454

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.93 COP 2,896

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.00 COP 3,107

$2.07 COP 6,464

-51.69%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.28 COP 13.4K

Wine (Bottle)

$12.88 COP 40.2K

$14.76 COP 46.1K

-12.74%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.39 COP 4,340

$1.40 COP 4,362

-0.71%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.65 COP 5,151

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.13 COP 3,527

$1.29 COP 4,018

-12.40%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$76.3 COP 238.1K

$59.4 COP 185.2K

28.55%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.85 COP 8,895

$4.85 COP 15.1K

-41.24%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.98 COP 6,177

$3.84 COP 12.0K

-48.44%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.02 COP 25.0K

$9.83 COP 30.7K

-18.41%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.38 COP 4,311

$1.38 COP 4,300

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

$27.7K COP 86.5M

$23.9K COP 74.6M

15.82%

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

$34.3K COP 107.2M

$34.8K COP 108.7M

-1.41%

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

$180 COP 562.1K

$80.9 COP 252.4K

122.68%

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

$10.63 COP 33.2K

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$26.12 COP 81.5K

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$39.27 COP 122.5K

$90.5 COP 282.5K

-56.63%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$32.17 COP 100.4K

Cinema Ticket

$6.64 COP 20.7K

$8.48 COP 26.5K

-21.70%

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

$651 COP 2.0M

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,929 COP 18.5M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.0 COP 168.4K

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$57.8 COP 180.5K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$122 COP 379.4K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$98.5 COP 307.4K

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$475 COP 1.5M

$1,087 COP 3.4M

-56.29%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$345 COP 1.1M

$581 COP 1.8M

-40.62%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$966 COP 3.0M

$2,355 COP 7.3M

-58.97%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$560 COP 1.7M

$978 COP 3.1M

-42.76%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,127 COP 3.5M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,636 COP 5.1M

$968 COP 3.0M

69.02%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$588 COP 1.8M

$480 COP 1.5M

22.36%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

12.4

-17.33%

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

Last update for Bucaramanga: September 15, 2026

Last update for Cartagena: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $475 in Bucaramanga versus $1,087 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 22% 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 $32.00 in Bucaramanga versus $135 in Cartagena. Groceries tell a different story – $317 in Bucaramanga vs $268 in Cartagena – so Cartagena wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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 2% more than Bucaramanga, with the gap driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,905 per month in Bucaramanga and $1,942 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.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,270 in Bucaramanga and $1,295 in Cartagena. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $32.00 in Bucaramanga and $135 in Cartagena. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Bucaramanga, where all-in costs run around $1,270, than in Cartagena at $1,295. 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 $1,270 versus $1,295 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.