Cost of Living Comparison Between Bucaramanga and Cartago Cost of Living Comparison Between Bucaramanga and Cartago

😐 Solo nomad: Bucaramanga is 9.8% more expensive than Cartago without rent, and 5.1% cheaper with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: Bucaramanga is 15.2% cheaper than Cartago without rent, and 6.7% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Bucaramanga
Cartago
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.07 COP 11.6K
$3.70 COP 14.0K
-17.03%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$19.31 COP 73.1K
$28.90 COP 109.4K
-33.18%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$6.63 COP 25.1K
$7.42 COP 28.1K
-10.65%
Cappuccino
$1.35 COP 5,104
$1.55 COP 5,878
-12.90%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.72 COP 2,717
$0.87 COP 3,311
-17.24%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.56 COP 2,103
$0.55 COP 2,100
1.82%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.40 COP 5,317
$1.04 COP 3,951
34.62%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.03 COP 7,676
$2.47 COP 9,351
-17.81%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Bucaramanga
Cartago
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.23 COP 4,644
$1.23 COP 4,644
-
White Bread (500g)
$1.11 COP 4,190
$1.46 COP 5,533
-23.97%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.25 COP 4,717
$1.21 COP 4,580
3.31%
Eggs
$2.26 COP 8,544
$2.48 COP 9,385
-8.87%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$4.22 COP 16.0K
$4.19 COP 15.9K
0.72%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.83 COP 22.1K
$5.45 COP 20.7K
6.97%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$7.29 COP 27.6K
$7.41 COP 28.1K
-1.62%
Apples (1kg)
$2.59 COP 9,792
$2.40 COP 9,080
7.92%
Banana (1kg)
$1.18 COP 4,457
$0.98 COP 3,722
20.41%
Oranges (1kg)
$0.89 COP 3,376
$1.20 COP 4,547
-25.83%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.91 COP 3,453
$1.27 COP 4,805
-28.35%
Potato (1kg)
$1.18 COP 4,482
$0.83 COP 3,128
42.17%
Onion (1kg)
$0.95 COP 3,596
$1.11 COP 4,185
-14.41%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.92 COP 3,470
$0.76 COP 2,870
21.05%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.79 COP 2,991
$0.65 COP 2,478
21.54%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$1.74 COP 6,600
$2.89 COP 11.0K
-39.79%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.71 COP 29.2K
$10.83 COP 41.0K
-28.81%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.78 COP 2,954
$1.11 COP 4,211
-29.73%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.57 COP 5,927
$1.85 COP 7,008
-15.14%
🚌 Getting Around
Bucaramanga
Cartago
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.69 COP 2,609
$0.69 COP 2,605
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$38.35 COP 145.2K
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.76 COP 6,679
$1.54 COP 5,815
14.29%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.54 COP 5,815
$1.96 COP 7,410
-21.43%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.93 COP 22.4K
$9.96 COP 37.7K
-40.46%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.01 COP 3,807
$0.95 COP 3,592
6.32%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.3K COP 73.3M
$21.7K COP 82.3M
-10.96%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$28.1K COP 106.6M
$29.7K COP 112.6M
-5.33%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Bucaramanga
Cartago
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$74.4 COP 281.8K
$83.0 COP 314.4K
-10.35%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$8.96 COP 33.9K
$8.88 COP 33.6K
0.90%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$20.58 COP 77.9K
$24.19 COP 91.6K
-14.92%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Bucaramanga
Cartago
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$23.37 COP 88.5K
$23.62 COP 89.4K
-1.06%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$15.97 COP 60.5K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$3.79 COP 14.4K
$4.94 COP 18.7K
-23.28%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Bucaramanga
Cartago
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$236 COP 893.0K
$228 COP 864.1K
3.34%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$2,405 COP 9.1M
$5,962 COP 22.6M
-59.66%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Bucaramanga
Cartago
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$63.9 COP 242.0K
$63.8 COP 241.5K
0.20%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$32.17 COP 121.8K
$44.68 COP 169.2K
-28.00%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$84.7 COP 320.5K
$76.4 COP 289.2K
10.85%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$38.67 COP 146.4K
$91.0 COP 344.4K
-57.50%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Bucaramanga
Cartago
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$291 COP 1.1M
$288 COP 1.1M
0.98%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$235 COP 889.4K
$243 COP 919.4K
-3.26%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$481 COP 1.8M
$537 COP 2.0M
-10.42%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$378 COP 1.4M
$426 COP 1.6M
-11.22%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,263 COP 4.8M
$1,495 COP 5.7M
-15.57%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,369 COP 5.2M
$1,363 COP 5.2M
0.43%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Bucaramanga
Cartago
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$479 COP 1.8M
$310 COP 1.2M
54.76%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
15.25
11.58
31.69%

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

Last update for Bucaramanga: March 2, 2026

Last update for Cartago: March 3, 2026

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated December 2025)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

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