Cost of Living Comparison Between Bucaramanga and San Juan de Pasto Cost of Living Comparison Between Bucaramanga and San Juan de Pasto

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,270 per month in Bucaramanga vs $1,305 in San Juan de Pasto, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,928 per month in Bucaramanga vs $2,098 in San Juan de Pasto, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,586 per month in Bucaramanga vs $2,891 in San Juan de Pasto, rent included.

Bucaramanga is about 3% cheaper than San Juan de Pasto, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Bucaramanga and San Juan de Pasto are more affordable than the global median – Bucaramanga 7% lower, San Juan de Pasto 5% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.58 COP 17.7K

$7.15 COP 22.7K

-21.96%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$31.82 COP 101.0K

$37.98 COP 120.6K

-16.22%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.55 COP 30.3K

$11.12 COP 35.3K

-14.12%

Cappuccino

$2.17 COP 6,894

$2.51 COP 7,953

-13.55%

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

$1.43 COP 4,545

$1.33 COP 4,212

7.52%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.09 COP 3,466

$0.85 COP 2,704

28.24%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.66 COP 5,277

$2.69 COP 8,540

-38.29%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.56 COP 8,113

$3.33 COP 10.6K

-23.12%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.53 COP 4,868

$1.53 COP 4,858

White Bread (500g)

$1.49 COP 4,735

$2.44 COP 7,744

-38.93%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.26 COP 10.4K

$1.66 COP 5,256

96.39%

Eggs

$3.16 COP 10.0K

$3.32 COP 10.5K

-4.82%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.25 COP 26.2K

$9.33 COP 29.6K

-11.58%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.72 COP 46.7K

$10.45 COP 33.2K

40.86%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$17.71 COP 56.2K

$13.66 COP 43.4K

29.65%

Apples (1kg)

$3.65 COP 11.6K

$3.56 COP 11.3K

2.53%

Banana (1kg)

$1.43 COP 4,546

$1.28 COP 4,048

11.72%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.16 COP 6,846

$2.21 COP 7,022

-2.26%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.90 COP 9,205

$2.14 COP 6,802

35.51%

Potato (1kg)

$1.40 COP 4,446

$1.38 COP 4,390

1.45%

Onion (1kg)

$1.75 COP 5,549

$1.53 COP 4,844

14.38%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.93 COP 2,947

$1.37 COP 4,334

-32.12%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.00 COP 3,161

$1.31 COP 4,157

-23.66%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.28 COP 13.6K

$3.66 COP 11.6K

16.94%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.88 COP 40.9K

$13.22 COP 42.0K

-2.57%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.39 COP 4,416

$1.26 COP 3,987

10.32%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.65 COP 5,241

$3.08 COP 9,786

-46.43%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.13 COP 3,589

$1.10 COP 3,504

2.73%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$76.3 COP 242.3K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.85 COP 9,050

$1.74 COP 5,532

63.79%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.98 COP 6,284

$2.48 COP 7,861

-20.16%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.02 COP 25.5K

$9.29 COP 29.5K

-13.67%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.38 COP 4,386

$1.27 COP 4,033

8.66%

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

$27.7K COP 88.0M

$25.5K COP 81.1M

8.49%

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

$34.3K COP 109.0M

$35.5K COP 112.6M

-3.17%

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

$180 COP 571.9K

$129 COP 409.0K

39.86%

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

$10.63 COP 33.7K

$14.14 COP 44.9K

-24.82%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$26.12 COP 82.9K

$29.87 COP 94.8K

-12.55%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$39.27 COP 124.7K

$36.86 COP 117.0K

6.54%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$32.17 COP 102.1K

Cinema Ticket

$6.64 COP 21.1K

$6.18 COP 19.6K

7.44%

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

$569 COP 1.8M

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,789 COP 18.4M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.0 COP 171.3K

$96.1 COP 305.2K

-43.88%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$57.8 COP 183.6K

$59.3 COP 188.4K

-2.53%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$122 COP 386.1K

$148 COP 471.3K

-18.09%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$98.5 COP 312.7K

$108 COP 341.5K

-8.41%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$475 COP 1.5M

$670 COP 2.1M

-29.14%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$345 COP 1.1M

$464 COP 1.5M

-25.71%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$966 COP 3.1M

$1,073 COP 3.4M

-9.92%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$560 COP 1.8M

$1,032 COP 3.3M

-45.79%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,127 COP 3.6M

$1,958 COP 6.2M

-42.41%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,636 COP 5.2M

$1,854 COP 5.9M

-11.75%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$588 COP 1.9M

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 San Juan de Pasto: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $475 in Bucaramanga versus $670 in San Juan de Pasto. 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 $38.00 in San Juan de Pasto. Groceries tell a different story – $317 in Bucaramanga vs $293 in San Juan de Pasto – so San Juan de Pasto 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 San Juan de Pasto: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

San Juan de Pasto costs about 3% 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 $1,957 in San Juan de Pasto. 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 $1,305 in San Juan de Pasto. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Interestingly, groceries are about 8% cheaper in San Juan de Pasto – 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 San Juan de Pasto at $1,305. In Bucaramanga it covers expenses comfortably, while in San Juan de Pasto it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Bucaramanga costs $1,270 versus $1,305 in San Juan de Pasto. 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, San Juan de Pasto makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.