Last update: Nov 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Calgary and Ibague

For one person, living is cheaper in Ibague: $1,137 a month against $2,297 in Calgary, rent and utilities included – about $13,900 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Calgary, Canada
Ibague, Colombia
Calgary
🇨🇦 Canada
$2,297
/mo nomad
Ibague
🇨🇴 Colombia
$1,137
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Calgary and in Ibague

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Calgary and in Ibague actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,297 in Calgary versus $1,137 in Ibague.

  • Calgary $2,297
  • Ibague $1,137

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,378 in Calgary versus $1,748 in Ibague.

  • Calgary $3,378
  • Ibague $1,748

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,459 in Calgary versus $2,358 in Ibague.

  • Calgary $4,459
  • Ibague $2,358

Living in Calgary is roughly 102% more expensive than in Ibague, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

The two cities straddle the global median: Calgary is 70% above, Ibague is 16% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Calgary
Ibague
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.94 CA$25.15
$7.98 COP 25.8K
124.81%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$68.9 CA$96.5
$41.45 COP 133.9K
66.15%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.94 CA$15.33
$7.85 COP 25.4K
39.36%
Cappuccino
$3.70 CA$5.19
$1.59 COP 5,142
132.70%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.07 CA$2.90
$1.07 COP 3,456
93.46%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.04 CA$2.86
$0.77 COP 2,475
164.94%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.74 CA$8.05
$1.39 COP 4,482
312.95%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.70 CA$7.99
$4.83 COP 15.6K
18.01%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Calgary
Ibague
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.98 CA$2.77
$1.12 COP 3,604
76.79%
White Bread (500g)
$2.65 CA$3.71
$2.39 COP 7,727
10.88%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$5.84 CA$8.18
$1.11 COP 3,572
426.13%
Eggs
$3.81 CA$5.35
$2.24 COP 7,236
70.09%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.81 CA$15.15
$8.07 COP 26.1K
33.95%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$11.02 CA$15.45
$6.58 COP 21.2K
67.48%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$17.87 CA$25.06
$10.65 COP 34.4K
67.79%
Apples (1kg)
$4.88 CA$6.84
$3.55 COP 11.5K
37.46%
Banana (1kg)
$1.45 CA$2.03
$0.93 COP 3,001
55.91%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.15 CA$5.82
$1.41 COP 4,544
194.33%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.99 CA$5.59
$1.81 COP 5,843
120.44%
Potato (1kg)
$2.93 CA$4.10
$0.79 COP 2,564
270.89%
Onion (1kg)
$3.02 CA$4.24
$0.75 COP 2,434
302.67%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.67 CA$3.74
$0.76 COP 2,444
251.32%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.57 CA$2.20
$1.19 COP 3,856
31.93%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$14.11 CA$19.77
$4.47 COP 14.4K
215.66%
Wine (Bottle)
$15.45 CA$21.66
$12.46 COP 40.3K
24.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.50 CA$3.51
$1.46 COP 4,708
71.23%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.18 CA$4.45
$3.22 COP 10.4K
-1.24%
🚌 Getting Around
Calgary
Ibague
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.85 CA$3.99
$1.01 COP 3,269
182.18%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$90.2 CA$126
$61.6 COP 199.0K
46.38%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.16 CA$4.43
$1.30 COP 4,203
143.08%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.41 CA$1.97
$0.39 COP 1,250
261.54%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$27.46 CA$38.49
$2.22 COP 7,172
1136.94%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.18 CA$1.66
$1.33 COP 4,290
-11.28%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.9K CA$39.1K
$20.5K COP 66.3M
35.63%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$21.1K CA$29.5K
$34.1K COP 110.2M
-38.26%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Calgary
Ibague
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$182 CA$255
$40.58 COP 131.1K
348.00%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$36.01 CA$50.5
$9.28 COP 30.0K
288.04%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$48.80 CA$68.4
$14.14 COP 45.7K
245.12%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Calgary
Ibague
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$48.78 CA$68.4
$37.96 COP 122.6K
28.50%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.15 CA$25.45
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$14.52 CA$20.35
$4.74 COP 15.3K
206.33%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Calgary
Ibague
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$542 CA$760
$561 COP 1.8M
-3.40%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$21.2K CA$29.7K
$13.3K COP 42.9M
59.29%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Calgary
Ibague
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$59.1 CA$82.8
$25.37 COP 81.9K
132.83%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.34 CA$59.4
$48.19 COP 155.7K
-12.14%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$94.2 CA$132
$77.7 COP 250.9K
21.23%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$109 CA$152
$107 COP 345.8K
1.48%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Calgary
Ibague
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,214 CA$1,702
$723 COP 2.3M
67.97%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,036 CA$1,453
$475 COP 1.5M
118.32%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,045 CA$2,867
$1,441 COP 4.7M
41.91%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,655 CA$2,319
$788 COP 2.5M
109.95%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,653 CA$5,121
$2,204 COP 7.1M
65.75%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,183 CA$4,462
$1,714 COP 5.5M
85.72%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Calgary
Ibague
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,219 CA$4,512
$637 COP 2.1M
405.04%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.43
12.81
-65.42%

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

Last update for Calgary: November 2, 2026

Last update for Ibague: October 31, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Calgary
$1K
Ibague
$475 54.2% $562
Groceries & Markets
Calgary
$390
Ibague
$235 39.6% $154
Eating Out
Calgary
$277
Ibague
$130 53% $147
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Calgary
$267
Ibague
$64 76% $203
Clothing & Footwear
Calgary
$137
Ibague
$116 15.1% $21
Getting Around
Calgary
$112
Ibague
$69 38.4% $43
Sport & Entertainment
Calgary
$78
Ibague
$47 39% $30

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,214 in Calgary and $723 in Ibague. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Calgary pays about 5.1 times more on average. How far that income stretches comes down to housing choices and lifestyle.

Dining out: $69 in Calgary vs $41 in Ibague for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $390 vs $235 per month, with Ibague cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇨🇦 Calgary
🇨🇴 Ibague
🕒 Local time
05:51 5:51 AM
06:51 6:51 AM
1 h ahead of Calgary
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
1,267,344
530,000
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

COP, USD, EUR to CAD – Canadian Dollar Converter

Canadian Dollar exchange rates as of November 6, 2026: 1 USD = 1.4 CAD (1 CAD = 0.713 USD). 1 EUR = 1.57 CAD (1 CAD = 0.635 EUR).

Colombian Peso exchange rates as of November 6, 2026: 1 USD = 3,230 COP (10,000 COP = 3.1 USD). 1 EUR = 3,628 COP (10,000 COP = 2.76 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Calgary Ibague 6,310 km ≈ 8 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Calgary
  • Ibague

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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
Calgary vs Ibague: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Ibague cheaper than Calgary?
Ibague is about 50% cheaper overall, especially in groceries, eating out, and utilities. That difference adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Calgary or Ibague?
Average pay in Calgary is about 5.1 times higher, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
What is the rent difference between Calgary and Ibague?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,214 in Calgary versus $723 in Ibague. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Is eating out cheaper in Calgary or in Ibague?
Dining out is cheaper in Ibague – a meal for two runs $41 versus $69 in Calgary. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
What are total monthly expenses in Calgary and in Ibague?
All in, you’ll spend $2,297 per month in Calgary versus $1,137 in Ibague – Ibague is about 50% cheaper, which adds up to real savings over time.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Calgary or in Ibague?
At $1,137 in Ibague versus $2,297 in Calgary, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Ibague but tight or insufficient in Calgary. The gap between the two cities makes Ibague the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is it better to live in Calgary or in Ibague?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Ibague gentler on the wallet – expenses run 50% less than in Calgary. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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