Cost of Living Comparison Between Cali and Cartagena Cost of Living Comparison Between Cali and Cartagena

🙂 Solo nomad: Cali is 21% cheaper than Cartagena without rent, and 29.2% cheaper with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: Cali is 28.1% cheaper than Cartagena without rent, and 21.6% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Cali
Cartagena
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.59 COP 13.6K
$5.89 COP 22.3K
-39.05%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$29.51 COP 111.7K
$46.55 COP 176.3K
-36.61%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.46 COP 28.3K
$9.47 COP 35.8K
-21.22%
Cappuccino
$1.63 COP 6,169
$1.64 COP 6,207
-0.61%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.95 COP 3,606
$0.86 COP 3,253
10.47%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.56 COP 2,135
$0.66 COP 2,497
-15.15%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.05 COP 3,982
$1.24 COP 4,711
-15.32%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.50 COP 9,476
$2.95 COP 11.2K
-15.25%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Cali
Cartagena
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.22 COP 4,600
$1.14 COP 4,308
7.02%
White Bread (500g)
$1.51 COP 5,727
$1.93 COP 7,294
-21.76%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.20 COP 4,549
$1.33 COP 5,031
-9.77%
Eggs
$2.54 COP 9,599
$2.13 COP 8,058
19.25%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$4.17 COP 15.8K
$6.78 COP 25.7K
-38.50%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.36 COP 20.3K
$6.11 COP 23.1K
-12.27%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$7.59 COP 28.7K
$8.05 COP 30.5K
-5.71%
Apples (1kg)
$2.40 COP 9,105
$3.30 COP 12.5K
-27.27%
Banana (1kg)
$0.90 COP 3,413
$1.91 COP 7,242
-52.88%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.14 COP 4,302
$1.44 COP 5,469
-20.83%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.26 COP 4,785
$1.65 COP 6,257
-23.64%
Potato (1kg)
$0.87 COP 3,283
$1.53 COP 5,789
-43.14%
Onion (1kg)
$1.06 COP 4,028
$1.12 COP 4,234
-5.36%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.76 COP 2,880
$1.01 COP 3,832
-24.75%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.65 COP 2,477
$0.60 COP 2,271
8.33%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.82 COP 10.7K
$2.35 COP 8,896
20.00%
Wine (Bottle)
$11.21 COP 42.4K
$17.67 COP 66.9K
-36.56%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.11 COP 4,184
$0.93 COP 3,537
19.35%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.92 COP 7,267
$0.98 COP 3,697
95.92%
🚌 Getting Around
Cali
Cartagena
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.68 COP 2,571
$1.06 COP 4,018
-35.85%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$20.33 COP 77.0K
$28.38 COP 107.4K
-28.37%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.61 COP 6,088
$2.36 COP 8,953
-31.78%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.95 COP 7,372
$2.47 COP 9,352
-21.05%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$9.76 COP 37.0K
$4.70 COP 17.8K
107.66%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.95 COP 3,595
$1.03 COP 3,918
-7.77%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.8K COP 82.7M
$21.6K COP 81.7M
1.17%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$29.7K COP 112.6M
$23.8K COP 90.0M
25.11%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Cali
Cartagena
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$82.8 COP 313.5K
$140 COP 531.3K
-41.00%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$8.79 COP 33.3K
$10.86 COP 41.1K
-19.06%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.10 COP 91.3K
$25.12 COP 95.1K
-4.06%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Cali
Cartagena
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$20.12 COP 76.2K
$34.78 COP 131.7K
-42.15%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$14.36 COP 54.4K
$8.55 COP 32.4K
67.95%
Cinema Ticket
$4.96 COP 18.8K
$2.94 COP 11.1K
68.71%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Cali
Cartagena
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$228 COP 862.9K
$140 COP 529.9K
62.83%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,953 COP 22.5M
$5,849 COP 22.1M
1.76%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Cali
Cartagena
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$62.9 COP 238.3K
$48.55 COP 183.8K
29.64%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$43.78 COP 165.8K
$38.87 COP 147.2K
12.63%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$77.0 COP 291.6K
$126 COP 478.4K
-39.05%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$89.0 COP 336.8K
$113 COP 427.0K
-21.11%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Cali
Cartagena
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$242 COP 914.6K
$735 COP 2.8M
-67.12%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$185 COP 701.6K
$330 COP 1.2M
-43.80%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$624 COP 2.4M
$1,266 COP 4.8M
-50.73%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$407 COP 1.5M
$476 COP 1.8M
-14.40%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,085 COP 4.1M
$2,950 COP 11.2M
-63.23%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$854 COP 3.2M
$1,914 COP 7.2M
-55.40%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Cali
Cartagena
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$489 COP 1.9M
$393 COP 1.5M
24.48%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.58
15
-22.80%

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

Last update for Cali: March 1, 2026

Last update for Cartagena: February 28, 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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