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: $744 in Cali versus $741 in Duitama.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,224 in Cali versus $1,108 in Duitama.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,704 in Cali versus $1,476 in Duitama.

Monthly costs are close between Cali and Duitama; which city is cheaper depends on the spending category.

Both cities sit below the global median: Cali 44% lower, Duitama 45% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Cali
Duitama
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.65 COP 13.0K
$3.14 COP 11.2K
16.24%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$29.25 COP 104.5K
$19.21 COP 68.6K
52.26%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.36 COP 26.3K
$6.66 COP 23.8K
10.51%
Cappuccino
$1.61 COP 5,754
$1.36 COP 4,872
18.38%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.94 COP 3,353
$0.72 COP 2,559
30.56%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.55 COP 1,979
$0.55 COP 1,950
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.06 COP 3,775
$1.42 COP 5,061
-25.35%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.56 COP 9,130
$2.10 COP 7,482
21.90%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Cali
Duitama
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.22 COP 4,347
$1.21 COP 4,324
0.83%
White Bread (500g)
$1.53 COP 5,465
$1.10 COP 3,930
39.09%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.21 COP 4,319
$1.23 COP 4,405
-1.63%
Eggs
$2.46 COP 8,779
$2.24 COP 8,002
9.82%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$4.29 COP 15.3K
$4.06 COP 14.5K
5.67%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.47 COP 19.5K
$5.85 COP 20.9K
-6.50%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$7.60 COP 27.1K
$7.16 COP 25.6K
6.15%
Apples (1kg)
$2.40 COP 8,570
$2.51 COP 8,948
-4.38%
Banana (1kg)
$0.97 COP 3,474
$1.18 COP 4,214
-17.80%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.20 COP 4,274
$0.89 COP 3,188
34.83%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.27 COP 4,548
$0.93 COP 3,315
36.56%
Potato (1kg)
$0.88 COP 3,148
$1.24 COP 4,435
-29.03%
Onion (1kg)
$1.11 COP 3,949
$0.97 COP 3,448
14.43%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.75 COP 2,679
$0.96 COP 3,430
-21.87%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.65 COP 2,323
$0.75 COP 2,666
-13.33%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.90 COP 10.3K
$1.73 COP 6,179
67.63%
Wine (Bottle)
$11.48 COP 41.0K
$8.25 COP 29.5K
39.15%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.10 COP 3,932
$0.79 COP 2,814
39.24%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.84 COP 6,584
$1.55 COP 5,549
18.71%
🚌 Getting Around
Cali
Duitama
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.67 COP 2,407
$0.72 COP 2,563
-6.94%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$20.20 COP 72.1K
$30.13 COP 107.6K
-32.96%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.54 COP 5,485
$1.68 COP 6,001
-8.33%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.88 COP 6,707
$1.61 COP 5,746
16.77%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$9.80 COP 35.0K
$6.08 COP 21.7K
61.18%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.93 COP 3,304
$0.91 COP 3,265
2.20%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.4K COP 76.4M
$19.6K COP 69.9M
9.33%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$30.3K COP 108.3M
$27.7K COP 98.8M
9.57%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Cali
Duitama
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$80.9 COP 289.0K
$71.7 COP 256.1K
12.84%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$8.78 COP 31.4K
$8.93 COP 31.9K
-1.68%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$23.99 COP 85.7K
$11.87 COP 42.4K
102.11%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Cali
Duitama
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$19.60 COP 70.0K
$23.50 COP 83.9K
-16.60%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$14.79 COP 52.8K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.87 COP 17.4K
$2.47 COP 8,823
97.17%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Cali
Duitama
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$226 COP 807.0K
$237 COP 845.9K
-4.60%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$6,039 COP 21.6M
$2,433 COP 8.7M
148.17%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Cali
Duitama
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$63.7 COP 227.5K
$64.1 COP 229.0K
-0.66%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.16 COP 157.7K
$32.34 COP 115.5K
36.55%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$78.6 COP 280.5K
$83.0 COP 296.5K
-5.39%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$89.5 COP 319.6K
$37.94 COP 135.5K
135.90%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Cali
Duitama
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$234 COP 834.7K
$279 COP 996.9K
-16.26%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$186 COP 665.2K
$241 COP 859.0K
-22.56%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$609 COP 2.2M
$725 COP 2.6M
-15.98%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$408 COP 1.5M
$393 COP 1.4M
3.82%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,101 COP 3.9M
$1,508 COP 5.4M
-26.96%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$890 COP 3.2M
$1,201 COP 4.3M
-25.91%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Cali
Duitama
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$494 COP 1.8M
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.58
15.25
-24.07%

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

Last update for Cali: May 31, 2026

Last update for Duitama: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $234 in Cali and $279 in Duitama. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $29.00 in Cali vs $19.00 in Duitama for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $182 vs $170 per month, with Duitama 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 Duitama: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $1,116 in Cali and $1,111 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: $234 in Cali versus $279 in Duitama. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $226 in Cali versus $237 in Duitama. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Is eating out cheaper in Cali or Duitama?
Dining out is cheaper in Duitama – a meal for two runs $19.00 versus $29.00 in Cali. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Is $800 enough for either Cali or Duitama?
Either city works on $800 a month, though Duitama gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.
Is Cali or Duitama more family-friendly?
For families, Duitama is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Cali, 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 the better choice to relocate to?
It comes down to priorities – Duitama wins on affordability, Cali on earning potential. Factor in climate, language, visa rules, and proximity to places that matter to you before deciding.

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