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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $762 per month in Bucaramanga vs $1,062 in Cartagena, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,156 per month in Bucaramanga vs $1,608 in Cartagena, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,549 per month in Bucaramanga vs $2,153 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 43% lower, Cartagena 21% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.10 COP 11.2K

$6.17 COP 22.3K

-49.76%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.66 COP 71.0K

$47.58 COP 171.8K

-58.68%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.79 COP 24.5K

$9.85 COP 35.5K

-31.07%

Cappuccino

$1.32 COP 4,759

$1.65 COP 5,948

-20.00%

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

$0.70 COP 2,521

$0.81 COP 2,914

-13.58%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.58 COP 2,102

$0.67 COP 2,407

-13.43%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.38 COP 4,965

$1.30 COP 4,682

6.15%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.10 COP 7,585

$2.95 COP 10.6K

-28.81%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.17 COP 4,209

$1.14 COP 4,124

2.63%

White Bread (500g)

$1.12 COP 4,032

$1.86 COP 6,715

-39.78%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.20 COP 4,332

$1.33 COP 4,784

-9.77%

Eggs

$2.23 COP 8,055

$2.11 COP 7,605

5.69%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.03 COP 14.6K

$7.07 COP 25.5K

-43.00%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.70 COP 20.6K

$5.91 COP 21.3K

-3.55%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.46 COP 26.9K

$8.13 COP 29.4K

-8.24%

Apples (1kg)

$2.59 COP 9,350

$3.20 COP 11.6K

-19.06%

Banana (1kg)

$1.18 COP 4,275

$1.96 COP 7,059

-39.80%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.86 COP 3,090

$1.50 COP 5,424

-42.67%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.93 COP 3,364

$1.58 COP 5,689

-41.14%

Potato (1kg)

$1.19 COP 4,290

$1.55 COP 5,588

-23.23%

Onion (1kg)

$1.03 COP 3,732

$1.08 COP 3,892

-4.63%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.97 COP 3,492

$1.00 COP 3,619

-3.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.74 COP 2,666

$0.59 COP 2,144

25.42%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.68 COP 6,059

$2.36 COP 8,503

-28.81%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.28 COP 29.9K

$18.52 COP 66.8K

-55.29%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.80 COP 2,877

$0.93 COP 3,367

-13.98%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.56 COP 5,644

$1.03 COP 3,709

51.46%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.68 COP 2,439

$1.05 COP 3,805

-35.24%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$39.14 COP 141.3K

$28.08 COP 101.4K

39.39%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.69 COP 6,098

$2.38 COP 8,602

-28.99%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.53 COP 5,526

$2.37 COP 8,556

-35.44%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.90 COP 21.3K

$4.93 COP 17.8K

19.68%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.98 COP 3,538

$1.03 COP 3,709

-4.85%

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

$19.4K COP 69.9M

$20.9K COP 75.4M

-7.28%

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

$27.8K COP 100.2M

$23.6K COP 85.3M

17.49%

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

$75.1 COP 271.0K

$142 COP 514.1K

-47.29%

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

$8.52 COP 30.8K

$10.96 COP 39.6K

-22.26%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.88 COP 75.4K

$25.17 COP 90.9K

-17.04%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$23.56 COP 85.0K

$35.27 COP 127.3K

-33.20%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.05 COP 57.9K

$8.84 COP 31.9K

81.56%

Cinema Ticket

$3.85 COP 13.9K

$2.94 COP 10.6K

30.95%

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

$242 COP 873.5K

$142 COP 512.4K

70.46%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,433 COP 8.8M

$5,910 COP 21.3M

-58.84%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$64.7 COP 233.5K

$48.13 COP 173.8K

34.39%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$32.30 COP 116.6K

$39.46 COP 142.5K

-18.14%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.6 COP 305.5K

$123 COP 445.3K

-31.38%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$38.49 COP 139.0K

$115 COP 413.6K

-66.40%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$290 COP 1.0M

$741 COP 2.7M

-60.89%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$235 COP 846.7K

$330 COP 1.2M

-28.98%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$487 COP 1.8M

$1,308 COP 4.7M

-62.75%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$371 COP 1.3M

$479 COP 1.7M

-22.57%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,096 COP 4.0M

$3,077 COP 11.1M

-64.39%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,421 COP 5.1M

$1,977 COP 7.1M

-28.10%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$523 COP 1.9M

$420 COP 1.5M

24.47%

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: April 27, 2026

Last update for Cartagena: April 25, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $290 in Bucaramanga versus $741 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 24% 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 $20.00 in Bucaramanga versus $48.00 in Cartagena. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $170 vs $222 – 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 39% 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 $1,143 per month in Bucaramanga and $1,593 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 $20.00 in Bucaramanga and $48.00 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 $762 in Bucaramanga and $1,062 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 $762, than in Cartagena at $1,062. 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 $762 versus $1,062 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.