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: $751 in Cali versus $839 in Envigado.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,205 in Cali versus $1,238 in Envigado.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,659 in Cali versus $1,638 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
$3.73COP 13.3K
$4.03COP 14.4K
-7.44%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$28.95COP 103.2K
$23.83COP 85.0K
21.49%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.06COP 25.2K
$7.45COP 26.6K
-5.23%
Cappuccino
$1.56COP 5,557
$1.51COP 5,396
3.31%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.88COP 3,130
$0.87COP 3,096
1.15%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.60COP 2,158
$0.62COP 2,197
-3.23%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.05COP 3,752
$1.21COP 4,308
-13.22%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.52COP 8,993
$2.17COP 7,729
16.13%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Cali
Envigado
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.28COP 4,580
$1.13COP 4,029
13.27%
White Bread(500g)
$1.46COP 5,201
$1.28COP 4,550
14.06%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.21COP 4,313
$1.15COP 4,086
5.22%
Eggs
$2.47COP 8,810
$2.23COP 7,938
10.76%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$4.20COP 15.0K
$4.38COP 15.6K
-4.11%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.53COP 19.7K
$5.34COP 19.0K
3.56%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$7.85COP 28.0K
$7.28COP 26.0K
7.83%
Apples(1kg)
$2.42COP 8,614
$2.55COP 9,077
-5.10%
Banana(1kg)
$0.95COP 3,397
$1.07COP 3,832
-11.21%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.19COP 4,254
$1.29COP 4,614
-7.75%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.30COP 4,642
$0.92COP 3,289
41.30%
Potato(1kg)
$0.81COP 2,899
$1.12COP 3,980
-27.68%
Onion(1kg)
$1.06COP 3,764
$1.17COP 4,178
-9.40%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.76COP 2,708
$0.83COP 2,957
-8.43%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.70COP 2,484
$0.69COP 2,461
1.45%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.85COP 10.2K
$2.30COP 8,207
23.91%
Wine(Bottle)
$11.57COP 41.3K
$10.94COP 39.0K
5.76%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.07COP 3,821
$1.13COP 4,038
-5.31%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.95COP 6,961
$1.71COP 6,084
14.04%
🚌 Getting Around
Cali
Envigado
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.72COP 2,576
$0.68COP 2,436
5.88%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$20.01COP 71.4K
$29.57COP 105.5K
-32.33%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.58COP 5,642
$1.47COP 5,233
7.48%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.91COP 6,819
$1.70COP 6,067
12.35%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$9.72COP 34.7K
$5.99COP 21.3K
62.27%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.92COP 3,264
$0.80COP 2,852
15.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.5KCOP 76.8M
$17.9KCOP 63.8M
20.46%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$30.4KCOP 108.2M
$25.5KCOP 91.1M
18.88%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Cali
Envigado
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$81.2COP 289.6K
$97.4COP 347.5K
-16.65%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$8.63COP 30.8K
$11.29COP 40.3K
-23.56%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.09COP 85.9K
$25.18COP 89.8K
-4.33%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Cali
Envigado
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$19.55COP 69.7K
$23.08COP 82.3K
-15.29%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$14.36COP 51.2K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.94COP 17.6K
$4.02COP 14.4K
22.89%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Cali
Envigado
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$227COP 808.1K
$242COP 862.5K
-6.31%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,871COP 20.9M
$5,920COP 21.1M
-0.83%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Cali
Envigado
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$63.7COP 227.1K
$59.9COP 213.6K
6.34%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.88COP 160.1K
$32.31COP 115.2K
38.90%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$75.8COP 270.3K
$84.6COP 301.5K
-10.35%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$89.7COP 320.0K
$72.3COP 257.7K
24.18%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Cali
Envigado
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$242COP 864.5K
$266COP 948.3K
-8.83%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$186COP 664.1K
$241COP 858.8K
-22.67%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$608COP 2.2M
$660COP 2.4M
-7.96%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$397COP 1.4M
$433COP 1.5M
-8.46%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,114COP 4.0M
$1,620COP 5.8M
-31.27%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$920COP 3.3M
$1,216COP 4.3M
-24.36%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Cali
Envigado
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$512COP 1.8M
-
-
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: June 9, 2026
Last update for Envigado: June 8, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $242 in Cali and $266 in Envigado. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $29.00 in Cali vs $24.00 in Envigado for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $183 vs $176 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 12% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $1,127 in Cali and $1,259 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: $242 in Cali versus $266 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 $242 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 12% less than in Envigado. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.