Cost of Living Comparison Between Cali and DuitamaCost of Living Comparison Between Cali and Duitama
Monthly Cost of Living
🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,087 in Cali versus $1,332 in Duitama.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,694 in Cali versus $2,039 in Duitama.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,301 in Cali versus $2,746 in Duitama.
🌍Living in Cali costs roughly 18% less than in Duitama, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Cali21% lower, Duitama3% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Cali
Duitama
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.59COP 23.6K
$5.66COP 17.6K
34.10%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$38.62COP 120.0K
$32.12COP 99.8K
20.24%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.46COP 26.3K
$9.49COP 29.5K
-10.85%
Cappuccino
$1.65COP 5,131
$2.16COP 6,724
-23.61%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.27COP 3,954
$1.43COP 4,456
-11.19%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.85COP 2,626
$1.07COP 3,312
-20.56%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.28COP 10.2K
$1.67COP 5,177
96.41%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.85COP 12.0K
$2.54COP 7,884
51.57%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Cali
Duitama
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.66COP 5,150
$1.46COP 4,527
13.70%
White Bread(500g)
$1.95COP 6,051
$1.48COP 4,583
31.76%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.52COP 4,724
$1.69COP 5,265
-10.06%
Eggs
$3.00COP 9,334
$3.14COP 9,759
-4.46%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$6.48COP 20.1K
$7.99COP 24.8K
-18.90%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.22COP 22.4K
$14.54COP 45.2K
-50.34%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.39COP 32.3K
$17.63COP 54.8K
-41.07%
Apples(1kg)
$3.67COP 11.4K
$3.53COP 11.0K
3.97%
Banana(1kg)
$1.37COP 4,265
$1.44COP 4,474
-4.86%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.83COP 5,689
$2.19COP 6,811
-16.44%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.77COP 5,514
$1.88COP 5,848
-5.85%
Potato(1kg)
$1.46COP 4,536
$1.44COP 4,489
1.39%
Onion(1kg)
$1.54COP 4,780
$1.52COP 4,732
1.32%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.17COP 3,642
$1.00COP 3,109
17.00%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.05COP 3,252
$0.95COP 2,948
10.53%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.79COP 11.8K
$4.41COP 13.7K
-14.06%
Wine(Bottle)
$13.24COP 41.1K
$12.95COP 40.2K
2.24%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.47COP 4,578
$1.45COP 4,497
1.38%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.51COP 7,799
$1.67COP 5,196
50.30%
🚌 Getting Around
Cali
Duitama
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.15COP 3,587
$1.03COP 3,215
11.65%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$30.69COP 95.3K
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.88COP 2,730
$2.91COP 9,035
-69.76%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
-
$2.06COP 6,385
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
-
$8.17COP 25.4K
-
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.31COP 4,075
$1.34COP 4,162
-2.24%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
-
$27.5KCOP 85.5M
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$36.1KCOP 112.2M
$34.2KCOP 106.1M
5.74%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Cali
Duitama
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$114COP 355.5K
$175COP 543.6K
-34.59%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.68COP 42.5K
$10.85COP 33.7K
26.08%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$31.26COP 97.1K
$26.55COP 82.5K
17.74%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Cali
Duitama
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$29.82COP 92.7K
$33.53COP 104.2K
-11.06%
Cinema Ticket
$8.36COP 26.0K
$6.60COP 20.5K
26.67%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Cali
Duitama
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
-
$676COP 2.1M
-
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
-
$6,088COP 18.9M
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Cali
Duitama
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$79.7COP 247.5K
$54.3COP 168.6K
46.80%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$55.1COP 171.2K
$57.3COP 177.9K
-3.77%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$130COP 403.6K
$123COP 381.2K
5.87%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$114COP 355.6K
$98.6COP 306.3K
16.10%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Cali
Duitama
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$666COP 2.1M
$765COP 2.4M
-12.92%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$306COP 951.2K
$480COP 1.5M
-36.16%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,627COP 5.1M
$1,192COP 3.7M
36.47%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$509COP 1.6M
$1,030COP 3.2M
-50.58%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$1,784COP 5.5M
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$1,629COP 5.1M
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Cali
Duitama
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$598COP 1.9M
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.58
12.4
-6.61%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Cali: September 13, 2026
Last update for Duitama: September 14, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $666 in Cali and $765 in Duitama. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $39.00 in Cali vs $32.00 in Duitama. Groceries flip the comparison at $247 vs $302, with Cali cheaper for home cooking.
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 Duitama: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Duitama cheaper than Cali?
Cali is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Sport & Entertainment. The 23% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $1,630 in Cali and $1,998 in Duitama to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
What is the rent difference between Cali and Duitama?
Rent for a central apartment: $666 in Cali versus $765 in Duitama. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do food prices compare in Cali and in Duitama?
Supermarket bills run roughly 22% higher in Duitama. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Is eating out cheaper in Cali or in Duitama?
Dining out is cheaper in Cali – a meal for two runs $39.00 versus $32.00 in Duitama. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Cali or in Duitama?
At $1,087 in Cali versus $1,332 in Duitama, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Cali but tight or insufficient in Duitama. The gap between the two cities makes Cali the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Cali or Duitama more family-friendly?
For families, Cali is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Duitama, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Cali or Duitama?
Safety-wise, Cali and Duitama are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Cali gentler on the wallet – expenses run 23% less than in Duitama. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.