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: $747 in Cali versus $758 in Duitama.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,229 in Cali versus $1,118 in Duitama.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,710 in Cali versus $1,479 in Duitama.

Living in Cali costs roughly 1% less than in Duitama, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Cali 44% lower, Duitama 43% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Cali
Duitama
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.65 COP 11.9K
$3.22 COP 10.5K
13.35%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$29.20 COP 95.0K
$19.21 COP 62.5K
52.00%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.41 COP 24.1K
$6.88 COP 22.4K
7.70%
Cappuccino
$1.58 COP 5,137
$1.35 COP 4,393
17.04%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.95 COP 3,099
$0.76 COP 2,471
25.00%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.60 COP 1,942
$0.58 COP 1,903
3.45%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.01 COP 3,301
$1.42 COP 4,620
-28.87%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.61 COP 8,495
$2.11 COP 6,874
23.70%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Cali
Duitama
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.24 COP 4,035
$1.18 COP 3,825
5.08%
White Bread (500g)
$1.47 COP 4,776
$1.07 COP 3,488
37.38%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.25 COP 4,081
$1.19 COP 3,874
5.04%
Eggs
$2.48 COP 8,075
$2.23 COP 7,265
11.21%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$4.33 COP 14.1K
$4.05 COP 13.2K
6.91%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.36 COP 17.4K
$5.79 COP 18.8K
-7.43%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$7.49 COP 24.4K
$7.36 COP 24.0K
1.77%
Apples (1kg)
$2.49 COP 8,119
$2.57 COP 8,374
-3.11%
Banana (1kg)
$0.92 COP 2,990
$1.23 COP 4,018
-25.20%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.15 COP 3,754
$0.88 COP 2,871
30.68%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.31 COP 4,265
$0.87 COP 2,816
50.57%
Potato (1kg)
$0.89 COP 2,885
$1.23 COP 4,017
-27.64%
Onion (1kg)
$1.11 COP 3,597
$1.02 COP 3,314
8.82%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.75 COP 2,430
$0.97 COP 3,159
-22.68%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.68 COP 2,214
$0.78 COP 2,542
-12.82%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.91 COP 9,466
$1.71 COP 5,567
70.18%
Wine (Bottle)
$12.88 COP 41.9K
$9.29 COP 30.3K
38.64%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.07 COP 3,482
$0.78 COP 2,545
37.18%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.86 COP 6,048
$1.49 COP 4,847
24.83%
🚌 Getting Around
Cali
Duitama
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.73 COP 2,389
$0.73 COP 2,377
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$20.17 COP 65.6K
$29.70 COP 96.7K
-32.09%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.55 COP 5,049
$1.67 COP 5,435
-7.19%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.90 COP 6,179
$1.53 COP 4,979
24.18%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$9.45 COP 30.7K
$6.19 COP 20.2K
52.67%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.98 COP 3,194
$1.00 COP 3,271
-2.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.9K COP 71.4M
$19.5K COP 63.5M
12.48%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$29.6K COP 96.3M
$28.0K COP 91.1M
5.76%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Cali
Duitama
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$83.3 COP 271.2K
$73.8 COP 240.2K
12.90%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$8.94 COP 29.1K
$8.86 COP 28.8K
0.90%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.55 COP 79.9K
$11.96 COP 38.9K
105.27%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Cali
Duitama
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$19.79 COP 64.4K
$23.02 COP 74.9K
-14.03%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$14.72 COP 47.9K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.88 COP 15.9K
$2.39 COP 7,783
104.18%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Cali
Duitama
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$222 COP 721.6K
$235 COP 764.2K
-5.57%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,871 COP 19.1M
$2,452 COP 8.0M
139.41%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Cali
Duitama
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$64.0 COP 208.3K
$65.7 COP 213.8K
-2.53%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$43.51 COP 141.6K
$32.13 COP 104.6K
35.42%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$76.3 COP 248.4K
$84.4 COP 274.7K
-9.56%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$89.5 COP 291.4K
$38.60 COP 125.6K
131.94%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Cali
Duitama
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$241 COP 784.0K
$279 COP 907.0K
-13.56%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$188 COP 612.3K
$239 COP 778.3K
-21.33%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$615 COP 2.0M
$711 COP 2.3M
-13.50%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$398 COP 1.3M
$389 COP 1.3M
2.51%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,258 COP 4.1M
$1,796 COP 5.8M
-29.93%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$990 COP 3.2M
$1,208 COP 3.9M
-18.00%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Cali
Duitama
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$554 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: July 12, 2026

Last update for Duitama: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $241 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 $184 vs $172 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
Is Duitama cheaper than Cali?
Cali is cheaper overall, especially in Getting Around. The 1% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $1,121 in Cali and $1,137 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: $241 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 $222 in Cali versus $235 in Duitama. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
How do food prices compare in Cali and in Duitama?
Shoppers in Duitama pay roughly 7% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
Is $1,000 enough for either Cali or Duitama?
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.
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 1% less than in Duitama. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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