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

Monthly Cost of Living

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 – Bucaramanga 8% lower, Soledad 8% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Bucaramanga
Soledad
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.73 COP 17.6K
$4.96 COP 15.3K
15.52%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$31.44 COP 96.7K
$41.34 COP 127.2K
-23.95%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.69 COP 29.8K
$9.92 COP 30.5K
-2.32%
Cappuccino
$2.25 COP 6,929
$3.52 COP 10.8K
-36.08%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.41 COP 4,352
$1.93 COP 5,925
-26.94%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.09 COP 3,366
$1.83 COP 5,647
-40.44%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.72 COP 5,285
$1.94 COP 5,985
-11.34%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.53 COP 7,784
$4.84 COP 14.9K
-47.73%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Bucaramanga
Soledad
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.46 COP 4,491
$1.94 COP 5,970
-24.74%
White Bread (500g)
$1.40 COP 4,323
$2.36 COP 7,275
-40.68%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.22 COP 9,907
$1.43 COP 4,395
125.17%
Eggs
$3.16 COP 9,726
$4.91 COP 15.1K
-35.64%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.77 COP 23.9K
$7.23 COP 22.3K
7.47%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$14.28 COP 44.0K
$10.96 COP 33.7K
30.29%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$17.83 COP 54.9K
$12.75 COP 39.2K
39.84%
Apples (1kg)
$3.49 COP 10.7K
$3.48 COP 10.7K
0.29%
Banana (1kg)
$1.38 COP 4,238
$1.57 COP 4,827
-12.10%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.11 COP 6,499
$1.89 COP 5,812
11.64%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.73 COP 8,393
$1.81 COP 5,571
50.83%
Potato (1kg)
$1.38 COP 4,243
$1.43 COP 4,402
-3.50%
Onion (1kg)
$1.71 COP 5,265
$1.46 COP 4,497
17.12%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.97 COP 2,998
$1.14 COP 3,521
-14.91%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.97 COP 2,998
$1.13 COP 3,493
-14.16%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.18 COP 12.9K
$4.00 COP 12.3K
4.50%
Wine (Bottle)
$12.74 COP 39.2K
$14.37 COP 44.2K
-11.34%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.42 COP 4,378
$1.47 COP 4,517
-3.40%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.59 COP 4,879
$2.96 COP 9,096
-46.28%
🚌 Getting Around
Bucaramanga
Soledad
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.12 COP 3,439
$1.16 COP 3,572
-3.45%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$74.9 COP 230.6K
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.75 COP 8,472
$1.56 COP 4,805
76.28%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.97 COP 6,051
$3.77 COP 11.6K
-47.75%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.72 COP 23.7K
$9.61 COP 29.6K
-19.67%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.35 COP 4,149
$1.29 COP 3,977
4.65%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.5K COP 84.7M
$23.9K COP 73.5M
15.27%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.2K COP 105.3M
$34.3K COP 105.4M
-0.10%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Bucaramanga
Soledad
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$178 COP 547.2K
$79.4 COP 244.3K
123.99%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$10.74 COP 33.0K
$13.29 COP 40.9K
-19.19%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$25.79 COP 79.4K
$30.12 COP 92.7K
-14.38%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Bucaramanga
Soledad
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$38.76 COP 119.3K
$36.24 COP 111.5K
6.95%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$31.94 COP 98.3K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.39 COP 19.7K
$8.28 COP 25.5K
-22.83%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Bucaramanga
Soledad
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
-
$645 COP 2.0M
-
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
-
$5,855 COP 18.0M
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Bucaramanga
Soledad
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$53.5 COP 164.6K
$83.3 COP 256.3K
-35.78%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$57.9 COP 178.1K
$56.7 COP 174.4K
2.08%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$120 COP 369.0K
$141 COP 433.6K
-14.90%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$96.8 COP 298.0K
$108 COP 331.5K
-10.12%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Bucaramanga
Soledad
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$479 COP 1.5M
$673 COP 2.1M
-28.77%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$341 COP 1.0M
$475 COP 1.5M
-28.23%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$932 COP 2.9M
$1,018 COP 3.1M
-8.43%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$572 COP 1.8M
$947 COP 2.9M
-39.56%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,113 COP 3.4M
$1,937 COP 6.0M
-42.57%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,584 COP 4.9M
$1,704 COP 5.2M
-7.03%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Bucaramanga
Soledad
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$574 COP 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.

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