😐A single person spends $1,273 per month in Bucaramanga vs $1,272 in Soledad, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $1,922 per month in Bucaramanga vs $2,032 in Soledad, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $2,570 per month in Bucaramanga vs $2,791 in Soledad, rent included.
😐Bucaramanga and Soledad have comparable living costs – the differences are in the details.
📊Both Bucaramanga and Soledad are more affordable than the global median – Bucaramanga8% lower, Soledad8% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Bucaramanga
Soledad
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.73COP 17.6K
$4.96COP 15.3K
15.52%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$31.44COP 96.7K
$41.34COP 127.2K
-23.95%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.69COP 29.8K
$9.92COP 30.5K
-2.32%
Cappuccino
$2.25COP 6,929
$3.52COP 10.8K
-36.08%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.41COP 4,352
$1.93COP 5,925
-26.94%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.09COP 3,366
$1.83COP 5,647
-40.44%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.72COP 5,285
$1.94COP 5,985
-11.34%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.53COP 7,784
$4.84COP 14.9K
-47.73%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Bucaramanga
Soledad
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.46COP 4,491
$1.94COP 5,970
-24.74%
White Bread(500g)
$1.40COP 4,323
$2.36COP 7,275
-40.68%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.22COP 9,907
$1.43COP 4,395
125.17%
Eggs
$3.16COP 9,726
$4.91COP 15.1K
-35.64%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.77COP 23.9K
$7.23COP 22.3K
7.47%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$14.28COP 44.0K
$10.96COP 33.7K
30.29%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$17.83COP 54.9K
$12.75COP 39.2K
39.84%
Apples(1kg)
$3.49COP 10.7K
$3.48COP 10.7K
0.29%
Banana(1kg)
$1.38COP 4,238
$1.57COP 4,827
-12.10%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.11COP 6,499
$1.89COP 5,812
11.64%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.73COP 8,393
$1.81COP 5,571
50.83%
Potato(1kg)
$1.38COP 4,243
$1.43COP 4,402
-3.50%
Onion(1kg)
$1.71COP 5,265
$1.46COP 4,497
17.12%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.97COP 2,998
$1.14COP 3,521
-14.91%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.97COP 2,998
$1.13COP 3,493
-14.16%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.18COP 12.9K
$4.00COP 12.3K
4.50%
Wine(Bottle)
$12.74COP 39.2K
$14.37COP 44.2K
-11.34%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.42COP 4,378
$1.47COP 4,517
-3.40%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.59COP 4,879
$2.96COP 9,096
-46.28%
🚌 Getting Around
Bucaramanga
Soledad
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.12COP 3,439
$1.16COP 3,572
-3.45%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$74.9COP 230.6K
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.75COP 8,472
$1.56COP 4,805
76.28%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.97COP 6,051
$3.77COP 11.6K
-47.75%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.72COP 23.7K
$9.61COP 29.6K
-19.67%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.35COP 4,149
$1.29COP 3,977
4.65%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.5KCOP 84.7M
$23.9KCOP 73.5M
15.27%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.2KCOP 105.3M
$34.3KCOP 105.4M
-0.10%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Bucaramanga
Soledad
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$178COP 547.2K
$79.4COP 244.3K
123.99%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$10.74COP 33.0K
$13.29COP 40.9K
-19.19%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$25.79COP 79.4K
$30.12COP 92.7K
-14.38%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Bucaramanga
Soledad
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$38.76COP 119.3K
$36.24COP 111.5K
6.95%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$31.94COP 98.3K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.39COP 19.7K
$8.28COP 25.5K
-22.83%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Bucaramanga
Soledad
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
-
$645COP 2.0M
-
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
-
$5,855COP 18.0M
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Bucaramanga
Soledad
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$53.5COP 164.6K
$83.3COP 256.3K
-35.78%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$57.9COP 178.1K
$56.7COP 174.4K
2.08%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$120COP 369.0K
$141COP 433.6K
-14.90%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$96.8COP 298.0K
$108COP 331.5K
-10.12%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Bucaramanga
Soledad
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$479COP 1.5M
$673COP 2.1M
-28.77%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$341COP 1.0M
$475COP 1.5M
-28.23%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$932COP 2.9M
$1,018COP 3.1M
-8.43%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$572COP 1.8M
$947COP 2.9M
-39.56%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,113COP 3.4M
$1,937COP 6.0M
-42.57%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,584COP 4.9M
$1,704COP 5.2M
-7.03%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Bucaramanga
Soledad
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$574COP 1.8M
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
12.4
15
-17.33%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Bucaramanga: September 6, 2026
Last update for Soledad: September 7, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $479 in Bucaramanga versus $673 in Soledad. 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 $31.00 in Bucaramanga versus $41.00 in Soledad. Groceries tell a different story – $309 in Bucaramanga vs $294 in Soledad – so Soledad 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 Soledad: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Bucaramanga and in Soledad?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,909 per month in Bucaramanga and $1,908 in Soledad. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Bucaramanga or Soledad?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Soledad, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Are groceries more expensive in Bucaramanga or in Soledad?
Groceries cost about 5% more in Bucaramanga, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
How do dining costs compare in Bucaramanga and in Soledad?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $31.00 in Bucaramanga and $41.00 in Soledad. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Can you live on $1,500/month in Bucaramanga or in Soledad?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Soledad, where all-in costs run around $1,272, than in Bucaramanga at $1,273. In Soledad it covers expenses comfortably, while in Bucaramanga it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Bucaramanga or Soledad?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Soledad costs $1,272 versus $1,273 in Bucaramanga. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Bucaramanga compared to Soledad?
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.
Should I move to Bucaramanga or to Soledad?
If budget matters most, go with Soledad. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Bucaramanga makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.
Bucaramanga vs other spots: cost of living compared