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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $769 per month in Bucaramanga vs $831 in Cartago, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,161 per month in Bucaramanga vs $1,277 in Cartago, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,553 per month in Bucaramanga vs $1,722 in Cartago, rent included.

Bucaramanga is about 7% cheaper than Cartago, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Bucaramanga and Cartago are more affordable than the global median – Bucaramanga 42% lower, Cartago 38% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.06 COP 10.5K

$3.65 COP 12.6K

-16.16%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.30 COP 66.3K

$28.95 COP 99.5K

-33.33%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.67 COP 22.9K

$7.20 COP 24.7K

-7.36%

Cappuccino

$1.29 COP 4,441

$1.59 COP 5,464

-18.87%

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

$0.69 COP 2,385

$0.88 COP 3,020

-21.59%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.58 COP 2,000

$0.60 COP 2,055

-3.33%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.35 COP 4,636

$1.01 COP 3,482

33.66%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.03 COP 6,975

$2.61 COP 8,969

-22.22%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.18 COP 4,040

$1.27 COP 4,376

-7.09%

White Bread (500g)

$1.06 COP 3,659

$1.47 COP 5,065

-27.89%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.19 COP 4,098

$1.22 COP 4,184

-2.46%

Eggs

$2.18 COP 7,491

$2.48 COP 8,511

-12.10%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.04 COP 13.9K

$4.19 COP 14.4K

-3.58%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.96 COP 20.5K

$5.53 COP 19.0K

7.78%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.17 COP 24.6K

$7.46 COP 25.6K

-3.89%

Apples (1kg)

$2.61 COP 8,964

$2.42 COP 8,323

7.85%

Banana (1kg)

$1.22 COP 4,179

$0.96 COP 3,297

27.08%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.85 COP 2,920

$1.15 COP 3,944

-26.09%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.88 COP 3,013

$1.31 COP 4,518

-32.82%

Potato (1kg)

$1.23 COP 4,234

$0.82 COP 2,812

50.00%

Onion (1kg)

$1.03 COP 3,551

$1.06 COP 3,646

-2.83%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.98 COP 3,355

$0.70 COP 2,394

40.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.74 COP 2,530

$0.69 COP 2,355

7.25%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.74 COP 5,974

$2.96 COP 10.2K

-41.22%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.77 COP 30.2K

$11.82 COP 40.6K

-25.80%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.79 COP 2,718

$1.11 COP 3,817

-28.83%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.55 COP 5,343

$1.87 COP 6,436

-17.11%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.70 COP 2,389

$0.72 COP 2,476

-2.78%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$38.18 COP 131.3K

$30.55 COP 105.0K

24.98%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.68 COP 5,765

$1.55 COP 5,337

8.39%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.61 COP 5,534

$1.90 COP 6,521

-15.26%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.00 COP 20.6K

$9.72 COP 33.4K

-38.27%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.94 COP 3,217

$0.93 COP 3,199

1.08%

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

$19.3K COP 66.3M

$21.9K COP 75.2M

-11.85%

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

$28.2K COP 96.8M

$29.6K COP 101.9M

-4.94%

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

$75.7 COP 260.1K

$80.8 COP 277.8K

-6.38%

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

$8.57 COP 29.5K

$8.60 COP 29.6K

-0.35%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.35 COP 69.9K

$24.44 COP 84.0K

-16.73%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$23.01 COP 79.1K

$23.06 COP 79.3K

-0.22%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$15.64 COP 53.8K

Cinema Ticket

$3.97 COP 13.6K

$4.97 COP 17.1K

-20.12%

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

$237 COP 814.7K

$229 COP 787.3K

3.48%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,494 COP 8.6M

$6,068 COP 20.9M

-58.90%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$64.7 COP 222.2K

$62.8 COP 215.8K

2.98%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$33.11 COP 113.8K

$44.20 COP 151.9K

-25.09%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$83.1 COP 285.6K

$77.1 COP 264.9K

7.83%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$37.60 COP 129.3K

$91.3 COP 313.8K

-58.81%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$289 COP 992.7K

$278 COP 957.0K

3.73%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$238 COP 817.4K

$243 COP 833.6K

-1.95%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$478 COP 1.6M

$536 COP 1.8M

-10.70%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$378 COP 1.3M

$437 COP 1.5M

-13.35%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,119 COP 3.8M

$1,460 COP 5.0M

-23.38%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,466 COP 5.0M

$1,117 COP 3.8M

31.29%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$529 COP 1.8M

$324 COP 1.1M

63.32%

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: June 15, 2026

Last update for Cartago: June 16, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $289 in Bucaramanga versus $278 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 63% 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 $29.00 in Cartago. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $171 vs $182 – 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 8% 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 $1,153 per month in Bucaramanga and $1,246 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 $19.00 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 $769 in Bucaramanga and $831 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 $769 in Bucaramanga and $831 in Cartago, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Bucaramanga costs $769 versus $831 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.