Cost of Living Comparison Between Cali and Duitama Cost 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: Cali 21% lower, Duitama 3% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Cali
Duitama
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.59 COP 23.6K
$5.66 COP 17.6K
34.10%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$38.62 COP 120.0K
$32.12 COP 99.8K
20.24%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.46 COP 26.3K
$9.49 COP 29.5K
-10.85%
Cappuccino
$1.65 COP 5,131
$2.16 COP 6,724
-23.61%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.27 COP 3,954
$1.43 COP 4,456
-11.19%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.85 COP 2,626
$1.07 COP 3,312
-20.56%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.28 COP 10.2K
$1.67 COP 5,177
96.41%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.85 COP 12.0K
$2.54 COP 7,884
51.57%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Cali
Duitama
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.66 COP 5,150
$1.46 COP 4,527
13.70%
White Bread (500g)
$1.95 COP 6,051
$1.48 COP 4,583
31.76%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.52 COP 4,724
$1.69 COP 5,265
-10.06%
Eggs
$3.00 COP 9,334
$3.14 COP 9,759
-4.46%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$6.48 COP 20.1K
$7.99 COP 24.8K
-18.90%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.22 COP 22.4K
$14.54 COP 45.2K
-50.34%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.39 COP 32.3K
$17.63 COP 54.8K
-41.07%
Apples (1kg)
$3.67 COP 11.4K
$3.53 COP 11.0K
3.97%
Banana (1kg)
$1.37 COP 4,265
$1.44 COP 4,474
-4.86%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.83 COP 5,689
$2.19 COP 6,811
-16.44%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.77 COP 5,514
$1.88 COP 5,848
-5.85%
Potato (1kg)
$1.46 COP 4,536
$1.44 COP 4,489
1.39%
Onion (1kg)
$1.54 COP 4,780
$1.52 COP 4,732
1.32%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.17 COP 3,642
$1.00 COP 3,109
17.00%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.05 COP 3,252
$0.95 COP 2,948
10.53%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.79 COP 11.8K
$4.41 COP 13.7K
-14.06%
Wine (Bottle)
$13.24 COP 41.1K
$12.95 COP 40.2K
2.24%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.47 COP 4,578
$1.45 COP 4,497
1.38%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.51 COP 7,799
$1.67 COP 5,196
50.30%
🚌 Getting Around
Cali
Duitama
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.15 COP 3,587
$1.03 COP 3,215
11.65%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$30.69 COP 95.3K
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.88 COP 2,730
$2.91 COP 9,035
-69.76%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
-
$2.06 COP 6,385
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
-
$8.17 COP 25.4K
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.31 COP 4,075
$1.34 COP 4,162
-2.24%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
-
$27.5K COP 85.5M
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$36.1K COP 112.2M
$34.2K COP 106.1M
5.74%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Cali
Duitama
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$114 COP 355.5K
$175 COP 543.6K
-34.59%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.68 COP 42.5K
$10.85 COP 33.7K
26.08%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$31.26 COP 97.1K
$26.55 COP 82.5K
17.74%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Cali
Duitama
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$29.82 COP 92.7K
$33.53 COP 104.2K
-11.06%
Cinema Ticket
$8.36 COP 26.0K
$6.60 COP 20.5K
26.67%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Cali
Duitama
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
-
$676 COP 2.1M
-
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
-
$6,088 COP 18.9M
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Cali
Duitama
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$79.7 COP 247.5K
$54.3 COP 168.6K
46.80%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$55.1 COP 171.2K
$57.3 COP 177.9K
-3.77%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$130 COP 403.6K
$123 COP 381.2K
5.87%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$114 COP 355.6K
$98.6 COP 306.3K
16.10%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Cali
Duitama
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$666 COP 2.1M
$765 COP 2.4M
-12.92%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$306 COP 951.2K
$480 COP 1.5M
-36.16%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,627 COP 5.1M
$1,192 COP 3.7M
36.47%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$509 COP 1.6M
$1,030 COP 3.2M
-50.58%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$1,784 COP 5.5M
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$1,629 COP 5.1M
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Cali
Duitama
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$598 COP 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.

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