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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $769 per month in Bucaramanga vs $974 in Soledad, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,152 per month in Bucaramanga vs $1,437 in Soledad, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,535 per month in Bucaramanga vs $1,901 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
$3.14 COP 10.1K
$6.08 COP 19.6K
-48.36%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$19.17 COP 61.7K
$23.84 COP 76.7K
-19.59%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$6.87 COP 22.1K
$9.58 COP 30.8K
-28.29%
Cappuccino
$1.31 COP 4,230
$1.62 COP 5,223
-19.14%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.72 COP 2,301
$0.87 COP 2,804
-17.24%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.54 COP 1,743
$0.67 COP 2,159
-19.40%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.41 COP 4,551
$1.26 COP 4,038
11.90%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.11 COP 6,781
$2.84 COP 9,147
-25.70%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Bucaramanga
Soledad
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.22 COP 3,935
$1.18 COP 3,810
3.39%
White Bread (500g)
$1.11 COP 3,568
$1.86 COP 5,992
-40.32%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.20 COP 3,862
$1.38 COP 4,429
-13.04%
Eggs
$2.17 COP 6,969
$2.11 COP 6,794
2.84%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$4.15 COP 13.3K
$6.84 COP 22.0K
-39.33%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.91 COP 19.0K
$6.18 COP 19.9K
-4.37%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$7.13 COP 23.0K
$7.70 COP 24.8K
-7.40%
Apples (1kg)
$2.61 COP 8,386
$3.17 COP 10.2K
-17.67%
Banana (1kg)
$1.17 COP 3,774
$1.10 COP 3,551
6.36%
Oranges (1kg)
$0.84 COP 2,706
$1.46 COP 4,711
-42.47%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.91 COP 2,937
$1.60 COP 5,143
-43.13%
Potato (1kg)
$1.21 COP 3,893
$1.61 COP 5,182
-24.84%
Onion (1kg)
$0.97 COP 3,126
$1.12 COP 3,598
-13.39%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.95 COP 3,062
$1.05 COP 3,370
-9.52%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.75 COP 2,404
$0.63 COP 2,037
19.05%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$1.67 COP 5,375
$2.24 COP 7,222
-25.45%
Wine (Bottle)
$9.22 COP 29.7K
$18.22 COP 58.6K
-49.40%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.83 COP 2,662
$0.99 COP 3,177
-16.16%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.48 COP 4,761
$1.03 COP 3,312
43.69%
🚌 Getting Around
Bucaramanga
Soledad
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.72 COP 2,320
$0.68 COP 2,180
5.88%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$38.50 COP 123.9K
$29.60 COP 95.2K
30.07%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.70 COP 5,475
$1.95 COP 6,277
-12.82%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.54 COP 4,947
$1.67 COP 5,358
-7.78%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.92 COP 19.0K
$4.73 COP 15.2K
25.16%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.01 COP 3,237
$0.96 COP 3,103
5.21%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.6K COP 63.0M
$19.1K COP 61.6M
2.34%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.7K COP 89.2M
$30.0K COP 96.4M
-7.51%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Bucaramanga
Soledad
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$76.1 COP 244.8K
$141 COP 453.5K
-46.01%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$8.82 COP 28.4K
$10.96 COP 35.3K
-19.53%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$20.45 COP 65.8K
$25.03 COP 80.5K
-18.30%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Bucaramanga
Soledad
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$23.59 COP 75.9K
$23.35 COP 75.1K
1.03%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$15.65 COP 50.4K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$3.84 COP 12.4K
$2.95 COP 9,503
30.17%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Bucaramanga
Soledad
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$241 COP 775.5K
$142 COP 457.5K
69.51%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$2,409 COP 7.8M
$6,040 COP 19.4M
-60.12%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Bucaramanga
Soledad
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$65.9 COP 212.2K
$47.81 COP 153.8K
37.90%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$32.19 COP 103.6K
$38.77 COP 124.8K
-16.97%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$82.3 COP 264.9K
$126 COP 405.6K
-34.70%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$38.86 COP 125.0K
$113 COP 365.1K
-65.75%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Bucaramanga
Soledad
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$290 COP 932.9K
$285 COP 916.4K
1.80%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$235 COP 756.4K
$240 COP 772.6K
-2.09%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$479 COP 1.5M
$522 COP 1.7M
-8.21%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$368 COP 1.2M
$430 COP 1.4M
-14.49%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,201 COP 3.9M
$1,821 COP 5.9M
-34.05%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,576 COP 5.1M
$1,346 COP 4.3M
17.04%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Bucaramanga
Soledad
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$562 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: July 22, 2026

Last update for Soledad: July 22, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $290 in Bucaramanga versus $285 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 $19.00 in Bucaramanga versus $24.00 in Soledad. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $172 vs $218 – 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 27% 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 and in Soledad?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,153 per month in Bucaramanga and $1,461 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 and in Soledad?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $19.00 in Bucaramanga and $24.00 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 $769 in Bucaramanga and $974 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 in Soledad?
$800 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $769 in Bucaramanga and $974 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 $769 versus $974 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 to 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.

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