Cost of Living Comparison Between Cali and Cartago Cost of Living Comparison Between Cali and Cartago

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $747 in Cali versus $836 in Cartago.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,229 in Cali versus $1,266 in Cartago.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,710 in Cali versus $1,696 in Cartago.

Living in Cali costs roughly 11% less than in Cartago, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities sit below the global median: Cali 44% lower, Cartago 37% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.65 COP 11.9K

$3.64 COP 11.9K

0.27%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$29.20 COP 95.0K

$28.68 COP 93.4K

1.81%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.41 COP 24.1K

$7.29 COP 23.7K

1.65%

Cappuccino

$1.58 COP 5,137

$1.59 COP 5,176

-0.63%

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

$0.95 COP 3,099

$0.87 COP 2,830

9.20%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.60 COP 1,942

$0.57 COP 1,855

5.26%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.01 COP 3,301

$1.00 COP 3,268

1.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.61 COP 8,496

$2.51 COP 8,176

3.98%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.24 COP 4,035

$1.24 COP 4,023

White Bread (500g)

$1.47 COP 4,777

$1.51 COP 4,922

-2.65%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.25 COP 4,082

$1.27 COP 4,119

-1.57%

Eggs

$2.48 COP 8,076

$2.52 COP 8,205

-1.59%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.33 COP 14.1K

$4.11 COP 13.4K

5.35%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.36 COP 17.5K

$5.49 COP 17.9K

-2.37%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.49 COP 24.4K

$7.76 COP 25.2K

-3.48%

Apples (1kg)

$2.49 COP 8,119

$2.43 COP 7,910

2.47%

Banana (1kg)

$0.92 COP 2,990

$0.91 COP 2,979

1.10%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.15 COP 3,754

$1.19 COP 3,887

-3.36%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.31 COP 4,265

$1.27 COP 4,150

3.15%

Potato (1kg)

$0.89 COP 2,885

$0.81 COP 2,630

9.88%

Onion (1kg)

$1.11 COP 3,598

$1.06 COP 3,455

4.72%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.75 COP 2,430

$0.70 COP 2,280

7.14%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.68 COP 2,214

$0.69 COP 2,245

-1.45%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.91 COP 9,467

$2.85 COP 9,265

2.11%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.88 COP 41.9K

$12.59 COP 41.0K

2.30%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.07 COP 3,483

$1.12 COP 3,651

-4.46%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.86 COP 6,049

$1.88 COP 6,133

-1.06%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.73 COP 2,389

$0.68 COP 2,224

7.35%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$20.17 COP 65.7K

$29.88 COP 97.3K

-32.50%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.55 COP 5,049

$1.54 COP 5,001

0.65%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.90 COP 6,180

$1.88 COP 6,132

1.06%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$9.45 COP 30.8K

$9.65 COP 31.4K

-2.07%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.98 COP 3,194

$0.99 COP 3,224

-1.01%

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

$21.9K COP 71.4M

$21.7K COP 70.7M

1.01%

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

$29.6K COP 96.4M

$30.4K COP 98.8M

-2.49%

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

$83.3 COP 271.3K

$83.1 COP 270.5K

0.26%

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

$8.94 COP 29.1K

$8.68 COP 28.3K

3.00%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.55 COP 79.9K

$24.16 COP 78.7K

1.61%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$19.79 COP 64.4K

$23.67 COP 77.0K

-16.39%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.72 COP 47.9K

Cinema Ticket

$4.88 COP 15.9K

$4.97 COP 16.2K

-1.81%

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

$222 COP 721.7K

$225 COP 731.6K

-1.36%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,871 COP 19.1M

0.00%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$64.0 COP 208.3K

$63.2 COP 205.7K

1.28%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$43.51 COP 141.7K

$44.52 COP 144.9K

-2.27%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$76.3 COP 248.4K

$75.6 COP 246.1K

0.97%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$89.5 COP 291.5K

$91.1 COP 296.5K

-1.69%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$241 COP 784.1K

$284 COP 924.0K

-15.14%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$188 COP 612.3K

$238 COP 775.4K

-21.03%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$615 COP 2.0M

$527 COP 1.7M

16.68%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$398 COP 1.3M

$428 COP 1.4M

-6.90%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,258 COP 4.1M

$1,740 COP 5.7M

-27.69%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$990 COP 3.2M

$1,273 COP 4.1M

-22.22%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$554 COP 1.8M

$347 COP 1.1M

59.43%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.58

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

Last update for Cali: July 12, 2026

Last update for Cartago: July 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $241 in Cali and $284 in Cartago. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Cali pays 59% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $29.00 in Cali vs $29.00 in Cartago for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $184 vs $185 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 Cartago: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Cali is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Getting Around, Sport & Entertainment. The 12% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Average pay runs 59% 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: $241 in Cali versus $284 in Cartago. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $222 in Cali versus $225 in Cartago. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Supermarket bills run roughly 0% higher in Cartago. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

Either city works on $1,000 a month, though Cali gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.

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

Safety-wise, Cali and Cartago are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Cali gentler on the wallet – expenses run 12% less than in Cartago. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.