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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,087 in Cali versus $1,295 in Cartagena.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,694 in Cali versus $2,130 in Cartagena.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,301 in Cali versus $2,966 in Cartagena.

Living in Cali costs roughly 16% less than in Cartagena, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Cali 21% lower, Cartagena 5% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.59 COP 23.7K

$4.95 COP 15.5K

53.33%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$38.62 COP 120.5K

$135 COP 422.2K

-71.45%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.46 COP 26.4K

$10.19 COP 31.8K

-16.98%

Cappuccino

$1.65 COP 5,153

$3.61 COP 11.3K

-54.29%

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

$1.27 COP 3,971

$1.88 COP 5,879

-32.45%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.85 COP 2,638

$1.82 COP 5,670

-53.30%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.28 COP 10.2K

$2.06 COP 6,425

59.22%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.85 COP 12.0K

$4.87 COP 15.2K

-20.94%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.66 COP 5,172

$1.97 COP 6,144

-15.74%

White Bread (500g)

$1.95 COP 6,077

$2.99 COP 9,317

-34.78%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.52 COP 4,744

$1.51 COP 4,703

0.66%

Eggs

$3.00 COP 9,375

$5.21 COP 16.2K

-42.42%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.48 COP 20.2K

$13.62 COP 42.5K

-52.42%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.22 COP 22.5K

$17.97 COP 56.1K

-59.82%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.39 COP 32.4K

Apples (1kg)

$3.67 COP 11.4K

Banana (1kg)

$1.37 COP 4,284

Oranges (1kg)

$1.83 COP 5,713

Tomato (1kg)

$1.77 COP 5,538

Potato (1kg)

$1.46 COP 4,556

Onion (1kg)

$1.54 COP 4,801

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.17 COP 3,658

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.05 COP 3,267

$2.07 COP 6,464

-49.28%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.79 COP 11.8K

Wine (Bottle)

$13.24 COP 41.3K

$14.76 COP 46.1K

-10.30%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.47 COP 4,598

$1.40 COP 4,362

5.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.51 COP 7,833

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.15 COP 3,603

$1.29 COP 4,018

-10.85%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$30.69 COP 95.8K

$59.4 COP 185.2K

-48.30%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.88 COP 2,742

$4.85 COP 15.1K

-81.86%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.84 COP 12.0K

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$9.83 COP 30.7K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.31 COP 4,093

$1.38 COP 4,300

-5.07%

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

$23.9K COP 74.6M

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

$36.1K COP 112.7M

$34.8K COP 108.7M

3.69%

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

$114 COP 357.1K

$80.9 COP 252.4K

41.45%

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

$13.68 COP 42.7K

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$31.26 COP 97.5K

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$29.82 COP 93.1K

$90.5 COP 282.5K

-67.06%

Cinema Ticket

$8.36 COP 26.1K

$8.48 COP 26.5K

-1.42%

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

$651 COP 2.0M

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,929 COP 18.5M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$79.7 COP 248.6K

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$55.1 COP 171.9K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$130 COP 405.4K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$114 COP 357.1K

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$666 COP 2.1M

$1,087 COP 3.4M

-38.73%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$306 COP 955.3K

$581 COP 1.8M

-47.30%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,627 COP 5.1M

$2,355 COP 7.3M

-30.90%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$509 COP 1.6M

$978 COP 3.1M

-47.93%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$968 COP 3.0M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$598 COP 1.9M

$480 COP 1.5M

24.58%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.58

-22.80%

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

Last update for Cali: September 13, 2026

Last update for Cartagena: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $666 in Cali and $1,087 in Cartagena. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Cali pays 25% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $39.00 in Cali vs $135 in Cartagena for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $247 vs $268 per month, with Cali cheaper across the board.

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 Cartagena: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Cali is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 19% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Average pay runs 25% higher in Cali, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $666 in Cali versus $1,087 in Cartagena. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Dining out is cheaper in Cali – a meal for two runs $39.00 versus $135 in Cartagena. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

A monthly transit pass in Cali runs roughly 93% less than in Cartagena. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $1,087 in Cali versus $1,295 in Cartagena, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Cali but tight or insufficient in Cartagena. The gap between the two cities makes Cali the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

For families, Cali is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Cartagena, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.

Expats usually find Cali gentler on the wallet – expenses run 19% less than in Cartagena. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.