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 $985 in Soledad, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,159 per month in Bucaramanga vs $1,454 in Soledad, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,549 per month in Bucaramanga vs $1,923 in Soledad, rent included.

Bucaramanga is about 22% cheaper than Soledad, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Bucaramanga and Soledad are more affordable than the global median – Bucaramanga 43% lower, Soledad 27% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Bucaramanga
Soledad
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.21 COP 11.5K
$5.98 COP 21.4K
-46.32%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$19.56 COP 70.0K
$23.15 COP 82.8K
-15.51%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$6.80 COP 24.3K
$9.41 COP 33.7K
-27.74%
Cappuccino
$1.30 COP 4,656
$1.59 COP 5,689
-18.24%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.71 COP 2,541
$0.82 COP 2,935
-13.41%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.56 COP 1,994
$0.72 COP 2,576
-22.22%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.37 COP 4,917
$1.31 COP 4,679
4.58%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.07 COP 7,422
$2.96 COP 10.6K
-30.07%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Bucaramanga
Soledad
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.19 COP 4,245
$1.20 COP 4,299
-0.83%
White Bread (500g)
$1.07 COP 3,842
$1.94 COP 6,927
-44.85%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.24 COP 4,455
$1.39 COP 4,959
-10.79%
Eggs
$2.26 COP 8,076
$2.18 COP 7,813
3.67%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$4.19 COP 15.0K
$7.00 COP 25.1K
-40.14%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.64 COP 20.2K
$6.00 COP 21.5K
-6.00%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$7.36 COP 26.3K
$7.88 COP 28.2K
-6.60%
Apples (1kg)
$2.53 COP 9,047
$3.31 COP 11.9K
-23.56%
Banana (1kg)
$1.16 COP 4,166
$1.11 COP 3,959
4.50%
Oranges (1kg)
$0.84 COP 3,020
$1.46 COP 5,208
-42.47%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.93 COP 3,319
$1.63 COP 5,830
-42.94%
Potato (1kg)
$1.24 COP 4,444
$1.54 COP 5,511
-19.48%
Onion (1kg)
$1.02 COP 3,646
$1.06 COP 3,807
-3.77%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.96 COP 3,449
$1.05 COP 3,753
-8.57%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.79 COP 2,838
$0.60 COP 2,141
31.67%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$1.72 COP 6,167
$2.36 COP 8,451
-27.12%
Wine (Bottle)
$8.61 COP 30.8K
$18.60 COP 66.6K
-53.71%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.79 COP 2,810
$0.98 COP 3,492
-19.39%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.48 COP 5,297
$0.98 COP 3,519
51.02%
🚌 Getting Around
Bucaramanga
Soledad
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.69 COP 2,456
$0.73 COP 2,619
-5.48%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$38.00 COP 136.0K
$30.27 COP 108.3K
25.54%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.76 COP 6,291
$2.00 COP 7,142
-12.00%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.55 COP 5,539
$1.72 COP 6,167
-9.88%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$6.06 COP 21.7K
$4.70 COP 16.8K
28.94%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.95 COP 3,395
$1.03 COP 3,696
-7.77%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.8K COP 70.9M
$18.9K COP 67.5M
4.98%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.3K COP 97.8M
$30.1K COP 107.8M
-9.28%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Bucaramanga
Soledad
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$73.4 COP 262.7K
$142 COP 509.1K
-48.40%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$8.72 COP 31.2K
$10.65 COP 38.1K
-18.12%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$20.83 COP 74.6K
$24.75 COP 88.6K
-15.84%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Bucaramanga
Soledad
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$23.30 COP 83.4K
$23.19 COP 83.0K
0.47%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$15.45 COP 55.3K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$3.78 COP 13.5K
$2.89 COP 10.3K
30.80%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Bucaramanga
Soledad
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$242 COP 867.4K
$140 COP 501.8K
72.84%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$2,421 COP 8.7M
$6,010 COP 21.5M
-59.72%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Bucaramanga
Soledad
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$63.8 COP 228.4K
$49.22 COP 176.2K
29.66%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$33.27 COP 119.1K
$38.44 COP 137.6K
-13.45%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$84.1 COP 300.9K
$126 COP 452.3K
-33.47%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$38.89 COP 139.2K
$113 COP 405.6K
-65.68%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Bucaramanga
Soledad
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$291 COP 1.0M
$281 COP 1.0M
3.29%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$238 COP 853.1K
$235 COP 840.8K
1.45%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$479 COP 1.7M
$535 COP 1.9M
-10.37%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$372 COP 1.3M
$427 COP 1.5M
-12.97%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,071 COP 3.8M
$1,812 COP 6.5M
-40.89%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,400 COP 5.0M
$1,264 COP 4.5M
10.75%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Bucaramanga
Soledad
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$512 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: April 21, 2026

Last update for Soledad: April 20, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $291 in Bucaramanga versus $281 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 in Bucaramanga versus $23 in Soledad. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $170 vs $220 – 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 28% more than Bucaramanga, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. 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 $1,154 per month in Bucaramanga and $1,477 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 $769 in Bucaramanga and $985 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 $769 in Bucaramanga and $985 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 $985 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.

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