Cost of Living Comparison Between Cali and EnvigadoCost of Living Comparison Between Cali and Envigado
Monthly Cost of Living
🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $753 in Cali versus $835 in Envigado.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,207 in Cali versus $1,250 in Envigado.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,661 in Cali versus $1,665 in Envigado.
🙂Living in Cali costs roughly 10% less than in Envigado, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Cali44% lower, Envigado38% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Cali
Envigado
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.72COP 13.3K
$4.04COP 14.4K
-7.92%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$28.96COP 103.7K
$23.55COP 84.3K
22.97%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.07COP 25.3K
$7.09COP 25.4K
-0.28%
Cappuccino
$1.58COP 5,667
$1.51COP 5,396
4.64%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.94COP 3,364
$0.92COP 3,298
2.17%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.57COP 2,026
$0.62COP 2,207
-8.06%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.05COP 3,751
$1.19COP 4,262
-11.76%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.59COP 9,273
$2.12COP 7,584
22.17%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Cali
Envigado
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.28COP 4,572
$1.12COP 3,992
14.29%
White Bread(500g)
$1.47COP 5,264
$1.29COP 4,633
13.95%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.25COP 4,480
$1.18COP 4,224
5.93%
Eggs
$2.56COP 9,161
$2.14COP 7,650
19.63%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$4.27COP 15.3K
$4.32COP 15.5K
-1.16%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.35COP 19.1K
$5.21COP 18.6K
2.69%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$7.59COP 27.2K
$7.41COP 26.5K
2.43%
Apples(1kg)
$2.38COP 8,512
$2.45COP 8,766
-2.86%
Banana(1kg)
$0.96COP 3,433
$1.08COP 3,857
-11.11%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.20COP 4,292
$1.32COP 4,717
-9.09%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.32COP 4,721
$0.92COP 3,307
43.48%
Potato(1kg)
$0.88COP 3,138
$1.11COP 3,967
-20.72%
Onion(1kg)
$1.09COP 3,913
$1.13COP 4,033
-3.54%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.69COP 2,485
$0.87COP 3,131
-20.69%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.64COP 2,301
$0.65COP 2,321
-1.54%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.85COP 10.2K
$2.39COP 8,553
19.25%
Wine(Bottle)
$11.39COP 40.8K
$10.39COP 37.2K
9.62%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.11COP 3,977
$1.14COP 4,068
-2.63%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.95COP 6,988
$1.73COP 6,196
12.72%
🚌 Getting Around
Cali
Envigado
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.71COP 2,549
$0.68COP 2,440
4.41%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$20.03COP 71.7K
$29.54COP 105.7K
-32.19%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.59COP 5,708
$1.49COP 5,324
6.71%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.90COP 6,799
$1.72COP 6,145
10.47%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$9.74COP 34.9K
$6.14COP 22.0K
58.63%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.95COP 3,390
$0.80COP 2,864
18.75%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.6KCOP 77.5M
$17.7KCOP 63.5M
22.08%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$29.4KCOP 105.4M
$25.4KCOP 91.0M
15.81%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Cali
Envigado
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$83.0COP 296.9K
$97.7COP 349.6K
-15.06%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.11COP 32.6K
$11.37COP 40.7K
-19.88%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.66COP 88.3K
$25.80COP 92.3K
-4.42%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Cali
Envigado
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$20.17COP 72.2K
$23.39COP 83.7K
-13.77%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$14.58COP 52.2K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.74COP 17.0K
$4.04COP 14.4K
17.33%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Cali
Envigado
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$227COP 811.6K
$237COP 848.5K
-4.35%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$6,005COP 21.5M
$6,021COP 21.5M
-0.27%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Cali
Envigado
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$62.8COP 224.9K
$58.7COP 210.0K
7.11%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$43.59COP 156.0K
$32.22COP 115.3K
35.29%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$77.6COP 277.8K
$82.9COP 296.8K
-6.40%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$88.8COP 317.8K
$72.7COP 260.3K
22.08%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Cali
Envigado
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$234COP 838.7K
$264COP 945.1K
-11.26%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$185COP 662.9K
$241COP 862.1K
-23.11%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$609COP 2.2M
$642COP 2.3M
-5.23%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$409COP 1.5M
$431COP 1.5M
-5.06%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,127COP 4.0M
$1,652COP 5.9M
-31.75%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$901COP 3.2M
$1,354COP 4.8M
-33.48%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Cali
Envigado
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$524COP 1.9M
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.58
13.18
-12.14%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Cali: April 20, 2026
Last update for Envigado: April 21, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $234 in Cali and $264 in Envigado. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $29 in Cali vs $24 in Envigado for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $182 vs $174 per month, with Envigado 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 Envigado: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Envigado cheaper than Cali?
Cali is cheaper overall, especially in Eating Out, Getting Around, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Sport & Entertainment. The 11% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $1,130 in Cali and $1,253 in Envigado 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 Envigado?
Rent for a central apartment: $234 in Cali versus $264 in Envigado. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $227 in Cali versus $237 in Envigado. 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 Envigado?
Shoppers in Envigado pay roughly 4% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
Is $1,000 enough for either Cali or Envigado?
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 Envigado more family-friendly?
For families, Cali is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Envigado, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Cali gentler on the wallet – expenses run 11% less than in Envigado. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.