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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,270 per month in Bucaramanga vs $1,277 in Cartago, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,928 per month in Bucaramanga vs $2,012 in Cartago, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,586 per month in Bucaramanga vs $2,747 in Cartago, rent included.

Bucaramanga is about 1% cheaper than Cartago, driven mainly by Getting Around.

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

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.58 COP 17.4K

$7.52 COP 23.5K

-25.80%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$31.82 COP 99.3K

$39.19 COP 122.3K

-18.81%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.55 COP 29.8K

$8.40 COP 26.2K

13.69%

Cappuccino

$2.17 COP 6,776

$1.59 COP 4,963

36.48%

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

$1.43 COP 4,467

$1.31 COP 4,101

9.16%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.09 COP 3,407

$0.90 COP 2,798

21.11%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.66 COP 5,186

$3.18 COP 9,927

-47.80%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.56 COP 7,974

$3.85 COP 12.0K

-33.51%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.53 COP 4,785

$1.67 COP 5,200

-8.38%

White Bread (500g)

$1.49 COP 4,654

$1.98 COP 6,173

-24.75%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.26 COP 10.2K

$1.53 COP 4,779

113.07%

Eggs

$3.16 COP 9,846

$2.96 COP 9,235

6.76%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.25 COP 25.7K

$6.57 COP 20.5K

25.57%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.72 COP 45.9K

$7.17 COP 22.4K

105.30%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$17.71 COP 55.3K

$10.58 COP 33.0K

67.39%

Apples (1kg)

$3.65 COP 11.4K

$3.66 COP 11.4K

-0.27%

Banana (1kg)

$1.43 COP 4,468

$1.41 COP 4,409

1.42%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.16 COP 6,729

$1.78 COP 5,551

21.35%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.90 COP 9,048

$1.75 COP 5,468

65.71%

Potato (1kg)

$1.40 COP 4,370

$1.47 COP 4,573

-4.76%

Onion (1kg)

$1.75 COP 5,454

$1.61 COP 5,011

8.70%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.93 COP 2,896

$1.16 COP 3,622

-19.83%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.00 COP 3,107

$1.03 COP 3,229

-2.91%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.28 COP 13.4K

$3.78 COP 11.8K

13.23%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.88 COP 40.2K

$13.28 COP 41.4K

-3.01%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.39 COP 4,340

$1.48 COP 4,605

-6.08%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.65 COP 5,151

$2.58 COP 8,066

-36.05%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.13 COP 3,527

$1.06 COP 3,313

6.60%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$76.3 COP 238.1K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.85 COP 8,895

$0.87 COP 2,727

227.59%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.98 COP 6,177

$2.19 COP 6,822

-9.59%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.02 COP 25.0K

$9.84 COP 30.7K

-18.50%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.38 COP 4,311

$1.35 COP 4,214

2.22%

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

$27.7K COP 86.5M

$29.6K COP 92.3M

-6.29%

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

$34.3K COP 107.2M

$36.1K COP 112.5M

-4.77%

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

$180 COP 562.1K

$117 COP 365.2K

53.92%

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

$10.63 COP 33.2K

$13.25 COP 41.3K

-19.77%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$26.12 COP 81.5K

$31.12 COP 97.1K

-16.07%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$39.27 COP 122.5K

$41.56 COP 129.7K

-5.51%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$32.17 COP 100.4K

Cinema Ticket

$6.64 COP 20.7K

$8.41 COP 26.2K

-21.05%

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

$549 COP 1.7M

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,925 COP 21.6M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.0 COP 168.4K

$82.1 COP 256.2K

-34.30%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$57.8 COP 180.5K

$56.3 COP 175.6K

2.79%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$122 COP 379.4K

$127 COP 396.2K

-4.24%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$98.5 COP 307.4K

$113 COP 351.9K

-12.65%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$475 COP 1.5M

$609 COP 1.9M

-22.03%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$345 COP 1.1M

$490 COP 1.5M

-29.54%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$966 COP 3.0M

$1,158 COP 3.6M

-16.57%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$560 COP 1.7M

$993 COP 3.1M

-43.63%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,127 COP 3.5M

$2,255 COP 7.0M

-50.00%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,636 COP 5.1M

$1,779 COP 5.6M

-8.05%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$588 COP 1.8M

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

12.4

11.58

7.08%

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

Last update for Bucaramanga: September 15, 2026

Last update for Cartago: September 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $475 in Bucaramanga versus $609 in Cartago. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $32.00 in Bucaramanga versus $39.00 in Cartago. Groceries tell a different story – $317 in Bucaramanga vs $248 in Cartago – so Cartago 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 Cartago: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Cartago costs about 1% more than Bucaramanga, with the gap driven mainly by Getting Around. 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 $1,916 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.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,270 in Bucaramanga and $1,277 in Cartago. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Interestingly, groceries are about 28% cheaper in Cartago – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Bucaramanga, where all-in costs run around $1,270, than in Cartago at $1,277. In Bucaramanga it covers expenses comfortably, while in Cartago it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Bucaramanga costs $1,270 versus $1,277 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.