Cost of Living Comparison Between Bucaramanga and Soledad Cost of Living Comparison Between Bucaramanga and Soledad

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $777 per month in Bucaramanga vs $980 in Soledad, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,157 per month in Bucaramanga vs $1,432 in Soledad, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,536 per month in Bucaramanga vs $1,883 in Soledad, rent included.

Bucaramanga is about 21% cheaper than Soledad, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Bucaramanga and Soledad are more affordable than the global median – Bucaramanga 42% lower, Soledad 27% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Bucaramanga
Soledad
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.24 COP 11.5K
$6.00 COP 21.4K
-46.00%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$19.62 COP 70.0K
$23.29 COP 83.1K
-15.76%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$6.81 COP 24.3K
$9.75 COP 34.8K
-30.15%
Cappuccino
$1.30 COP 4,646
$1.57 COP 5,603
-17.20%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.74 COP 2,648
$0.81 COP 2,893
-8.64%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.56 COP 1,991
$0.72 COP 2,571
-22.22%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.36 COP 4,867
$1.29 COP 4,589
5.43%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.03 COP 7,249
$2.94 COP 10.5K
-30.95%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Bucaramanga
Soledad
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.17 COP 4,172
$1.14 COP 4,079
2.63%
White Bread (500g)
$1.11 COP 3,950
$1.84 COP 6,577
-39.67%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.23 COP 4,397
$1.38 COP 4,926
-10.87%
Eggs
$2.23 COP 7,940
$2.18 COP 7,758
2.29%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$4.22 COP 15.1K
$6.76 COP 24.1K
-37.57%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.65 COP 20.1K
$5.99 COP 21.4K
-5.68%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$7.37 COP 26.3K
$7.98 COP 28.4K
-7.64%
Apples (1kg)
$2.47 COP 8,812
$3.25 COP 11.6K
-24.00%
Banana (1kg)
$1.19 COP 4,234
$1.11 COP 3,961
7.21%
Oranges (1kg)
$0.84 COP 3,007
$1.45 COP 5,180
-42.07%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.87 COP 3,090
$1.60 COP 5,703
-45.63%
Potato (1kg)
$1.23 COP 4,402
$1.54 COP 5,488
-20.13%
Onion (1kg)
$0.96 COP 3,423
$1.07 COP 3,810
-10.28%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.97 COP 3,475
$1.01 COP 3,599
-3.96%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.78 COP 2,788
$0.60 COP 2,124
30.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$1.67 COP 5,955
$2.34 COP 8,346
-28.63%
Wine (Bottle)
$8.26 COP 29.5K
$18.09 COP 64.5K
-54.34%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.79 COP 2,824
$0.99 COP 3,519
-20.20%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.53 COP 5,458
$0.98 COP 3,508
56.12%
🚌 Getting Around
Bucaramanga
Soledad
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.74 COP 2,653
$0.72 COP 2,565
2.78%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$38.53 COP 137.4K
$29.99 COP 106.9K
28.48%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.68 COP 6,000
$1.92 COP 6,859
-12.50%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.58 COP 5,649
$1.71 COP 6,115
-7.60%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$6.03 COP 21.5K
$4.91 COP 17.5K
22.81%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.94 COP 3,368
$1.02 COP 3,638
-7.84%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.2K COP 68.3M
$18.8K COP 67.2M
1.76%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$28.1K COP 100.2M
$30.8K COP 109.8M
-8.72%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Bucaramanga
Soledad
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$75.8 COP 270.5K
$143 COP 508.6K
-46.82%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$8.69 COP 31.0K
$10.94 COP 39.0K
-20.57%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$21.11 COP 75.3K
$25.33 COP 90.3K
-16.66%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Bucaramanga
Soledad
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$23.74 COP 84.7K
$23.80 COP 84.9K
-0.25%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$15.64 COP 55.8K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$3.81 COP 13.6K
$2.94 COP 10.5K
29.59%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Bucaramanga
Soledad
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$242 COP 862.6K
$144 COP 514.2K
67.75%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$2,420 COP 8.6M
$5,892 COP 21.0M
-58.93%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Bucaramanga
Soledad
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$65.2 COP 232.6K
$48.10 COP 171.6K
35.57%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$32.84 COP 117.1K
$38.58 COP 137.6K
-14.88%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$82.1 COP 292.7K
$126 COP 450.9K
-35.09%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$37.52 COP 133.8K
$115 COP 410.2K
-67.38%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Bucaramanga
Soledad
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$292 COP 1.0M
$283 COP 1.0M
2.93%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$236 COP 839.9K
$235 COP 839.0K
0.11%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$475 COP 1.7M
$521 COP 1.9M
-8.84%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$370 COP 1.3M
$422 COP 1.5M
-12.27%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,073 COP 3.8M
$1,581 COP 5.6M
-32.15%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,395 COP 5.0M
$1,353 COP 4.8M
3.08%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Bucaramanga
Soledad
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$503 COP 1.8M
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
15.25
15
1.67%

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

Last update for Bucaramanga: June 9, 2026

Last update for Soledad: June 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $292 in Bucaramanga versus $283 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 $20.00 in Bucaramanga versus $23.00 in Soledad. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $169 vs $216 – 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 Soledad: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Bucaramanga or Soledad?
Soledad costs about 26% 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.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Bucaramanga vs Soledad?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,166 per month in Bucaramanga and $1,471 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 Bucaramanga, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How do dining costs compare in Bucaramanga vs Soledad?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $20.00 in Bucaramanga and $23.00 in Soledad. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
How much does it cost to live in Bucaramanga compared to Soledad?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $777 in Bucaramanga and $980 in Soledad. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Can you live on $800/month in Bucaramanga or Soledad?
$800 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $777 in Bucaramanga and $980 in Soledad, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Bucaramanga or Soledad?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Bucaramanga costs $777 versus $980 in Soledad. 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 Soledad?
If budget matters most, go with Bucaramanga. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Soledad makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

Bucaramanga vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities