Cost of Living Comparison Between Cali and Manizales Cost of Living Comparison Between Cali and Manizales

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,087 in Cali versus $766 in Manizales.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,694 in Cali versus $1,743 in Manizales.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,301 in Cali versus $2,721 in Manizales.

Living in Cali is roughly 42% more expensive than in Manizales, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both cities sit below the global median: Cali 21% lower, Manizales 44% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.59 COP 23.7K

$6.42 COP 20.0K

18.22%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$38.62 COP 120.5K

$41.11 COP 128.3K

-6.06%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.46 COP 26.4K

$10.27 COP 32.0K

-17.62%

Cappuccino

$1.65 COP 5,153

$2.56 COP 7,974

-35.55%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.27 COP 3,971

$1.37 COP 4,287

-7.30%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.85 COP 2,638

$0.83 COP 2,594

2.41%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.28 COP 10.2K

$1.59 COP 4,950

106.29%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.85 COP 12.0K

$2.61 COP 8,147

47.51%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.66 COP 5,172

$1.61 COP 5,038

3.11%

White Bread (500g)

$1.95 COP 6,077

$2.44 COP 7,617

-20.08%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.52 COP 4,744

$1.67 COP 5,206

-8.98%

Eggs

$3.00 COP 9,375

$3.85 COP 12.0K

-22.08%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.48 COP 20.2K

$7.91 COP 24.7K

-18.08%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.22 COP 22.5K

$7.50 COP 23.4K

-3.73%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.39 COP 32.4K

$10.86 COP 33.9K

-4.33%

Apples (1kg)

$3.67 COP 11.4K

$3.54 COP 11.1K

3.67%

Banana (1kg)

$1.37 COP 4,284

$1.82 COP 5,693

-24.73%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.83 COP 5,713

$2.05 COP 6,404

-10.73%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.77 COP 5,538

$1.85 COP 5,768

-4.32%

Potato (1kg)

$1.46 COP 4,556

$1.54 COP 4,799

-5.19%

Onion (1kg)

$1.54 COP 4,801

$1.46 COP 4,554

5.48%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.17 COP 3,658

$1.39 COP 4,335

-15.83%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.05 COP 3,267

$1.22 COP 3,822

-13.93%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.79 COP 11.8K

$4.59 COP 14.3K

-17.43%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.24 COP 41.3K

$12.73 COP 39.7K

4.01%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.47 COP 4,598

$1.44 COP 4,478

2.08%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.51 COP 7,833

$2.86 COP 8,923

-12.24%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.15 COP 3,603

$1.08 COP 3,363

6.48%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$30.69 COP 95.8K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.88 COP 2,742

$1.64 COP 5,121

-46.34%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.64 COP 5,107

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$9.88 COP 30.8K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.31 COP 4,093

$1.38 COP 4,297

-5.07%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$22.3K COP 69.6M

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$36.1K COP 112.7M

$35.3K COP 110.1M

2.41%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$114 COP 357.1K

$129 COP 401.8K

-11.14%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$13.68 COP 42.7K

$12.46 COP 38.9K

9.79%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$31.26 COP 97.5K

$31.40 COP 98.0K

-0.45%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$29.82 COP 93.1K

Cinema Ticket

$8.36 COP 26.1K

$7.95 COP 24.8K

5.16%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$489 COP 1.5M

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,507 COP 20.3M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$79.7 COP 248.6K

$83.4 COP 260.3K

-4.48%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$55.1 COP 171.9K

$49.64 COP 154.9K

11.00%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$130 COP 405.4K

$144 COP 448.8K

-9.68%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$114 COP 357.1K

$112 COP 350.2K

1.97%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$666 COP 2.1M

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$306 COP 955.3K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,627 COP 5.1M

$1,041 COP 3.2M

56.35%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$509 COP 1.6M

$1,038 COP 3.2M

-50.97%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,136 COP 6.7M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,123 COP 6.6M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$598 COP 1.9M

$1,213 COP 3.8M

-50.66%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.58

-3.50%

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

Last update for Cali: September 13, 2026

Last update for Manizales: September 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Manizales pays 103% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $39.00 in Cali vs $41.00 in Manizales for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $247 vs $269 per month, with Cali 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 Manizales: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Manizales is cheaper overall, especially in Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Getting Around. The 42% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, salaries run 103% lower in Manizales. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Shoppers in Cali pay roughly 9% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.

Dining out is cheaper in Manizales – a meal for two runs $41.00 versus $39.00 in Cali. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $766 in Manizales versus $1,087 in Cali, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Manizales but tight or insufficient in Cali. The gap between the two cities makes Manizales the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

For families, Manizales 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.

Safety-wise, Cali and Manizales are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Manizales gentler on the wallet – expenses run 42% less than in Cali. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.