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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $773 per month in Bucaramanga vs $839 in Cartago, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,158 per month in Bucaramanga vs $1,282 in Cartago, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,543 per month in Bucaramanga vs $1,725 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 42% lower, Cartago 37% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.07 COP 9,656

$3.71 COP 11.7K

-17.25%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.46 COP 61.3K

$29.46 COP 92.8K

-33.94%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.88 COP 21.6K

$7.24 COP 22.8K

-4.97%

Cappuccino

$1.29 COP 4,063

$1.65 COP 5,179

-21.82%

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

$0.75 COP 2,374

$0.87 COP 2,753

-13.79%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.58 COP 1,832

$0.61 COP 1,913

-4.92%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.41 COP 4,427

$1.01 COP 3,193

39.60%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.01 COP 6,321

$2.47 COP 7,774

-18.62%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.18 COP 3,725

$1.29 COP 4,052

-8.53%

White Bread (500g)

$1.11 COP 3,498

$1.54 COP 4,847

-27.92%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.24 COP 3,896

$1.21 COP 3,821

2.48%

Eggs

$2.22 COP 7,002

$2.47 COP 7,786

-10.12%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.07 COP 12.8K

$4.13 COP 13.0K

-1.45%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.88 COP 18.5K

$5.58 COP 17.6K

5.38%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.53 COP 23.7K

$7.79 COP 24.5K

-3.34%

Apples (1kg)

$2.47 COP 7,775

$2.45 COP 7,726

0.82%

Banana (1kg)

$1.23 COP 3,871

$0.97 COP 3,068

26.80%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.83 COP 2,625

$1.16 COP 3,650

-28.45%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.92 COP 2,901

$1.27 COP 4,004

-27.56%

Potato (1kg)

$1.25 COP 3,939

$0.83 COP 2,598

50.60%

Onion (1kg)

$1.01 COP 3,194

$1.05 COP 3,315

-3.81%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.91 COP 2,852

$0.71 COP 2,250

28.17%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.79 COP 2,474

$0.68 COP 2,149

16.18%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.68 COP 5,301

$2.84 COP 8,949

-40.85%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.08 COP 28.6K

$12.78 COP 40.2K

-28.95%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.85 COP 2,670

$1.12 COP 3,522

-24.11%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.56 COP 4,908

$1.91 COP 6,018

-18.32%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.74 COP 2,317

$0.69 COP 2,167

7.25%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$38.29 COP 120.6K

$30.38 COP 95.7K

26.04%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.75 COP 5,512

$1.59 COP 5,017

10.06%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.58 COP 4,975

$1.91 COP 6,011

-17.28%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.93 COP 18.7K

$9.72 COP 30.6K

-38.99%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.97 COP 3,056

$0.93 COP 2,927

4.30%

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

$19.7K COP 62.0M

$21.7K COP 68.3M

-9.13%

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

$28.3K COP 89.2M

$29.5K COP 93.0M

-4.00%

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

$74.6 COP 234.7K

$81.3 COP 256.0K

-8.29%

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

$8.84 COP 27.8K

$8.61 COP 27.1K

2.67%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.44 COP 64.4K

$24.85 COP 78.3K

-17.75%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$23.24 COP 73.2K

$23.75 COP 74.8K

-2.15%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$15.79 COP 49.7K

Cinema Ticket

$3.95 COP 12.4K

$4.75 COP 15.0K

-16.84%

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

$242 COP 760.6K

$229 COP 721.5K

5.41%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,485 COP 7.8M

$6,018 COP 18.9M

-58.71%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$64.4 COP 202.7K

$64.6 COP 203.4K

-0.34%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$32.35 COP 101.8K

$44.43 COP 139.9K

-27.19%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$82.4 COP 259.3K

$77.8 COP 245.0K

5.85%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$37.82 COP 119.1K

$89.4 COP 281.3K

-57.68%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$286 COP 901.6K

$285 COP 896.6K

0.56%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$238 COP 749.3K

$234 COP 736.3K

1.76%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$478 COP 1.5M

$529 COP 1.7M

-9.62%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$377 COP 1.2M

$431 COP 1.4M

-12.51%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,193 COP 3.8M

$2,040 COP 6.4M

-41.52%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,621 COP 5.1M

$1,273 COP 4.0M

27.41%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$576 COP 1.8M

$360 COP 1.1M

59.80%

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: July 26, 2026

Last update for Cartago: July 25, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $286 in Bucaramanga versus $285 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 $19.00 in Bucaramanga versus $29.00 in Cartago. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $173 vs $186 – 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 $1,160 per month in Bucaramanga and $1,258 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 $773 in Bucaramanga and $839 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 $773 in Bucaramanga and $839 in Cartago, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Bucaramanga costs $773 versus $839 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.