Cost of Living Comparison Between Cali and Barranquilla Cost of Living Comparison Between Cali and Barranquilla

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,090 per month in Cali vs $1,480 in Barranquilla, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,649 per month in Cali vs $2,301 in Barranquilla, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,208 per month in Cali vs $3,122 in Barranquilla, rent included.

Cali is about 26% cheaper than Barranquilla, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Cali sits 21% below the global median, while Barranquilla is 8% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.70 COP 24.3K

$8.43 COP 26.6K

-8.66%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$38.08 COP 120.1K

$62.5 COP 197.2K

-39.08%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.61 COP 27.2K

$12.66 COP 40.0K

-31.99%

Cappuccino

$1.62 COP 5,111

$2.78 COP 8,783

-41.73%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.26 COP 3,973

$1.34 COP 4,215

-5.97%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.87 COP 2,755

$1.29 COP 4,084

-32.56%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.25 COP 10.2K

$4.05 COP 12.8K

-19.75%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.85 COP 12.1K

$7.94 COP 25.1K

-51.51%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.57 COP 4,969

$0.88 COP 2,780

78.41%

White Bread (500g)

$1.99 COP 6,282

$1.28 COP 4,045

55.47%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.51 COP 4,765

$1.62 COP 5,106

-6.79%

Eggs

$2.83 COP 8,921

$2.10 COP 6,612

34.76%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.43 COP 20.3K

$4.97 COP 15.7K

29.38%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.06 COP 22.3K

$17.95 COP 56.6K

-60.67%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.39 COP 32.8K

$7.12 COP 22.5K

45.93%

Apples (1kg)

$3.49 COP 11.0K

$2.27 COP 7,160

53.74%

Banana (1kg)

$1.41 COP 4,456

$0.93 COP 2,933

51.61%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.76 COP 5,542

$0.60 COP 1,904

193.33%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.75 COP 5,522

$1.85 COP 5,841

-5.41%

Potato (1kg)

$1.45 COP 4,584

$1.25 COP 3,943

16.00%

Onion (1kg)

$1.57 COP 4,949

$0.98 COP 3,089

60.20%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.15 COP 3,640

$1.25 COP 3,950

-8.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.04 COP 3,272

$0.93 COP 2,947

11.83%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.70 COP 11.7K

$5.09 COP 16.1K

-27.31%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.26 COP 41.8K

$12.85 COP 40.6K

3.19%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.45 COP 4,569

$1.54 COP 4,855

-5.84%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.53 COP 7,990

$4.87 COP 15.4K

-48.05%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.08 COP 3,422

$1.20 COP 3,800

-10.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$29.95 COP 94.5K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.84 COP 2,662

$3.46 COP 10.9K

-75.72%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.22 COP 10.2K

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$15.59 COP 49.2K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.30 COP 4,114

$1.34 COP 4,230

-2.99%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$22.1K COP 69.7M

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$35.7K COP 112.6M

$29.2K COP 92.2M

22.12%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$114 COP 358.3K

$151 COP 475.8K

-24.70%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$13.49 COP 42.6K

$14.54 COP 45.9K

-7.22%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$31.05 COP 98.0K

$32.67 COP 103.1K

-4.96%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$28.87 COP 91.1K

$34.51 COP 108.9K

-16.34%

Cinema Ticket

$8.43 COP 26.6K

$4.82 COP 15.2K

74.90%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$323 COP 1.0M

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,682 COP 14.8M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$80.3 COP 253.3K

$112 COP 353.1K

-28.25%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$54.4 COP 171.6K

$47.13 COP 148.7K

15.36%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$124 COP 391.8K

$190 COP 599.2K

-34.62%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$109 COP 343.7K

$255 COP 804.8K

-57.29%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$641 COP 2.0M

$794 COP 2.5M

-19.28%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$299 COP 944.9K

$503 COP 1.6M

-40.47%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,577 COP 5.0M

$806 COP 2.5M

95.75%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$493 COP 1.6M

$915 COP 2.9M

-46.14%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,882 COP 5.9M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$647 COP 2.0M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$591 COP 1.9M

$513 COP 1.6M

15.19%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.58

15.80%

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

Last update for Cali: September 1, 2026

Last update for Barranquilla: August 29, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $641 in Cali versus $794 in Barranquilla. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 15% higher in Cali, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $38.00 in Cali versus $63.0 in Barranquilla. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $244 vs $256 – making Cali 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

Cali vs Barranquilla: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Barranquilla costs about 36% more than Cali, with the gap driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,636 per month in Cali and $2,220 in Barranquilla. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Cali, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,090 in Cali and $1,480 in Barranquilla. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 5% more in Barranquilla, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Cali, where all-in costs run around $1,090, than in Barranquilla at $1,480. In Cali it covers expenses comfortably, while in Barranquilla it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Cali costs $1,090 versus $1,480 in Barranquilla. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

If budget matters most, go with Cali. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Barranquilla makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.