Cost of Living Comparison Between Cali and Bucaramanga Cost of Living Comparison Between Cali and Bucaramanga

😐 Solo nomad: Cali is 4.6% more expensive than Bucaramanga without rent, and 0.6% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Cali is 12.2% more expensive than Bucaramanga without rent, and 11.4% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Cali
Bucaramanga
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.59 COP 13.5K
$3.07 COP 11.5K
16.94%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$29.51 COP 111.1K
$19.31 COP 72.7K
52.82%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.46 COP 28.1K
$6.63 COP 25.0K
12.52%
Cappuccino
$1.63 COP 6,132
$1.35 COP 5,073
20.74%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.95 COP 3,584
$0.72 COP 2,700
31.94%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.56 COP 2,122
$0.56 COP 2,090
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.05 COP 3,958
$1.40 COP 5,284
-25.00%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.50 COP 9,419
$2.03 COP 7,630
23.15%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Cali
Bucaramanga
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.22 COP 4,572
$1.23 COP 4,616
-0.81%
White Bread (500g)
$1.51 COP 5,692
$1.11 COP 4,165
36.04%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.20 COP 4,521
$1.25 COP 4,688
-4.00%
Eggs
$2.54 COP 9,540
$2.26 COP 8,492
12.39%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$4.17 COP 15.7K
$4.22 COP 15.9K
-1.18%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.36 COP 20.2K
$5.83 COP 22.0K
-8.06%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$7.59 COP 28.6K
$7.29 COP 27.4K
4.12%
Apples (1kg)
$2.40 COP 9,050
$2.59 COP 9,732
-7.34%
Banana (1kg)
$0.90 COP 3,392
$1.18 COP 4,429
-23.73%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.14 COP 4,276
$0.89 COP 3,356
28.09%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.26 COP 4,756
$0.91 COP 3,432
38.46%
Potato (1kg)
$0.87 COP 3,263
$1.18 COP 4,454
-26.27%
Onion (1kg)
$1.06 COP 4,004
$0.95 COP 3,575
11.58%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.76 COP 2,863
$0.92 COP 3,449
-17.39%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.65 COP 2,462
$0.79 COP 2,973
-17.72%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.82 COP 10.6K
$1.74 COP 6,560
62.07%
Wine (Bottle)
$11.21 COP 42.2K
$7.71 COP 29.0K
45.40%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.11 COP 4,158
$0.78 COP 2,936
42.31%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.92 COP 7,223
$1.57 COP 5,891
22.29%
🚌 Getting Around
Cali
Bucaramanga
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.68 COP 2,555
$0.69 COP 2,593
-1.45%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$20.33 COP 76.5K
$38.35 COP 144.3K
-46.99%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.61 COP 6,051
$1.76 COP 6,638
-8.52%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.95 COP 7,327
$1.54 COP 5,780
26.62%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$9.76 COP 36.7K
$5.93 COP 22.3K
64.59%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.95 COP 3,573
$1.01 COP 3,784
-5.94%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.8K COP 82.2M
$19.3K COP 72.8M
12.85%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$29.7K COP 111.9M
$28.1K COP 105.9M
5.61%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Cali
Bucaramanga
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$82.8 COP 311.6K
$74.4 COP 280.1K
11.22%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$8.79 COP 33.1K
$8.96 COP 33.7K
-1.90%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.10 COP 90.7K
$20.58 COP 77.4K
17.10%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Cali
Bucaramanga
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$20.12 COP 75.7K
$23.37 COP 87.9K
-13.91%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$14.36 COP 54.0K
$15.97 COP 60.1K
-10.08%
Cinema Ticket
$4.96 COP 18.7K
$3.79 COP 14.3K
30.87%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Cali
Bucaramanga
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$228 COP 857.7K
$236 COP 887.6K
-3.37%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,953 COP 22.4M
$2,405 COP 9.1M
147.49%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Cali
Bucaramanga
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$62.9 COP 236.8K
$63.9 COP 240.5K
-1.52%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$43.78 COP 164.7K
$32.17 COP 121.0K
36.09%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$77.0 COP 289.8K
$84.7 COP 318.6K
-9.04%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$89.0 COP 334.8K
$38.67 COP 145.5K
130.07%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Cali
Bucaramanga
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$242 COP 909.1K
$291 COP 1.1M
-16.95%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$185 COP 697.4K
$235 COP 884.0K
-21.12%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$624 COP 2.3M
$481 COP 1.8M
29.73%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$407 COP 1.5M
$378 COP 1.4M
7.75%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,085 COP 4.1M
$1,263 COP 4.8M
-14.08%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$854 COP 3.2M
$1,369 COP 5.2M
-37.64%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Cali
Bucaramanga
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$489 COP 1.8M
$479 COP 1.8M
2.10%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.58
15.25
-24.07%

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

Last update for Cali: March 1, 2026

Last update for Bucaramanga: March 2, 2026

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated December 2025)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

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