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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $762 per month in Bucaramanga vs $830 in Cartago, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,156 per month in Bucaramanga vs $1,258 in Cartago, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,549 per month in Bucaramanga vs $1,686 in Cartago, rent included.

Bucaramanga is about 8% cheaper than Cartago, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Bucaramanga and Cartago are more affordable than the global median – Bucaramanga 43% lower, Cartago 38% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.10 COP 11.2K

$3.69 COP 13.3K

-15.99%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.66 COP 71.0K

$28.64 COP 103.4K

-31.35%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.79 COP 24.5K

$7.16 COP 25.9K

-5.17%

Cappuccino

$1.32 COP 4,759

$1.63 COP 5,867

-19.02%

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

$0.70 COP 2,521

$0.94 COP 3,398

-25.53%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.58 COP 2,102

$0.56 COP 2,026

3.57%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.38 COP 4,965

$1.01 COP 3,663

36.63%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.10 COP 7,585

$2.51 COP 9,070

-16.33%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.17 COP 4,209

$1.26 COP 4,549

-7.14%

White Bread (500g)

$1.12 COP 4,032

$1.51 COP 5,457

-25.83%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.20 COP 4,332

$1.24 COP 4,481

-3.23%

Eggs

$2.23 COP 8,055

$2.58 COP 9,313

-13.57%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.03 COP 14.6K

$4.15 COP 15.0K

-2.89%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.70 COP 20.6K

$5.50 COP 19.9K

3.64%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.46 COP 26.9K

$7.76 COP 28.0K

-3.87%

Apples (1kg)

$2.59 COP 9,350

$2.50 COP 9,022

3.60%

Banana (1kg)

$1.18 COP 4,275

$0.97 COP 3,503

21.65%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.86 COP 3,090

$1.15 COP 4,149

-25.22%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.93 COP 3,364

$1.25 COP 4,518

-25.60%

Potato (1kg)

$1.19 COP 4,290

$0.88 COP 3,162

35.23%

Onion (1kg)

$1.03 COP 3,732

$1.11 COP 4,010

-7.21%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.97 COP 3,492

$0.72 COP 2,597

34.72%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.74 COP 2,666

$0.68 COP 2,459

8.82%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.68 COP 6,059

$2.84 COP 10.3K

-40.85%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.28 COP 29.9K

$11.44 COP 41.3K

-27.62%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.80 COP 2,877

$1.08 COP 3,885

-25.93%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.56 COP 5,644

$1.92 COP 6,930

-18.75%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.68 COP 2,439

$0.73 COP 2,649

-6.85%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$39.14 COP 141.3K

$30.35 COP 109.6K

28.96%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.69 COP 6,098

$1.59 COP 5,736

6.29%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.53 COP 5,526

$1.95 COP 7,029

-21.54%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.90 COP 21.3K

$9.46 COP 34.2K

-37.63%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.98 COP 3,538

$0.95 COP 3,422

3.16%

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

$19.4K COP 69.9M

$22.2K COP 80.2M

-12.93%

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

$27.8K COP 100.2M

$29.9K COP 107.8M

-7.02%

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

$75.1 COP 271.0K

$81.2 COP 293.0K

-7.53%

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

$8.52 COP 30.8K

$9.09 COP 32.8K

-6.27%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.88 COP 75.4K

$24.36 COP 87.9K

-14.29%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$23.56 COP 85.0K

$23.12 COP 83.5K

1.90%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.05 COP 57.9K

Cinema Ticket

$3.85 COP 13.9K

$4.70 COP 17.0K

-18.09%

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

$242 COP 873.5K

$222 COP 801.6K

8.96%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,433 COP 8.8M

$5,904 COP 21.3M

-58.79%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$64.7 COP 233.5K

$63.2 COP 228.0K

2.41%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$32.30 COP 116.6K

$44.18 COP 159.5K

-26.89%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.6 COP 305.5K

$78.6 COP 283.6K

7.73%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$38.49 COP 139.0K

$89.9 COP 324.7K

-57.20%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$290 COP 1.0M

$288 COP 1.0M

0.65%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$235 COP 846.7K

$236 COP 851.2K

-0.53%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$487 COP 1.8M

$524 COP 1.9M

-6.99%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$371 COP 1.3M

$430 COP 1.6M

-13.82%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,096 COP 4.0M

$1,776 COP 6.4M

-38.31%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,421 COP 5.1M

$1,493 COP 5.4M

-4.80%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$523 COP 1.9M

$327 COP 1.2M

59.77%

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: April 27, 2026

Last update for Cartago: April 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $290 in Bucaramanga versus $288 in Cartago. 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 60% 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 $29.00 in Cartago. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $170 vs $183 – 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 Cartago: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Cartago costs about 9% 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 $1,143 per month in Bucaramanga and $1,245 in Cartago. 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 $29.00 in Cartago. 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 $830 in Cartago. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

$800 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $762 in Bucaramanga and $830 in Cartago, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Bucaramanga costs $762 versus $830 in Cartago. 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, Cartago makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.