Cost of Living Comparison Between Cali and Minca Cost of Living Comparison Between Cali and Minca

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $751 in Cali versus $785 in Minca.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,205 in Cali versus $1,203 in Minca.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,659 in Cali versus $1,621 in Minca.

Living in Cali costs roughly 4% less than in Minca, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Cali 44% lower, Minca 42% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.73 COP 13.3K

$3.84 COP 13.7K

-2.86%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$28.95 COP 103.2K

$23.89 COP 85.2K

21.18%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.06 COP 25.2K

$7.13 COP 25.4K

-0.98%

Cappuccino

$1.56 COP 5,557

$1.50 COP 5,346

4.00%

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

$0.88 COP 3,130

$0.88 COP 3,153

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.60 COP 2,158

$0.60 COP 2,140

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.05 COP 3,752

$1.15 COP 4,118

-8.70%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.52 COP 8,993

$2.24 COP 7,991

12.50%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.28 COP 4,580

$1.07 COP 3,810

19.63%

White Bread (500g)

$1.46 COP 5,201

$1.29 COP 4,616

13.18%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.21 COP 4,313

$1.13 COP 4,040

7.08%

Eggs

$2.47 COP 8,810

$2.12 COP 7,553

16.51%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.20 COP 15.0K

$4.46 COP 15.9K

-5.83%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.53 COP 19.7K

$5.26 COP 18.8K

5.13%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.85 COP 28.0K

$7.24 COP 25.8K

8.43%

Apples (1kg)

$2.42 COP 8,614

$2.45 COP 8,744

-1.22%

Banana (1kg)

$0.95 COP 3,397

$1.03 COP 3,681

-7.77%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.19 COP 4,254

$1.36 COP 4,857

-12.50%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.30 COP 4,642

$1.06 COP 3,791

22.64%

Potato (1kg)

$0.81 COP 2,899

$1.12 COP 3,997

-27.68%

Onion (1kg)

$1.06 COP 3,764

$1.18 COP 4,204

-10.17%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.76 COP 2,708

$0.87 COP 3,120

-12.64%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.70 COP 2,484

$0.65 COP 2,327

7.69%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.85 COP 10.2K

$2.44 COP 8,698

16.80%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.57 COP 41.3K

$9.53 COP 34.0K

21.41%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.07 COP 3,821

$1.10 COP 3,910

-2.73%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.95 COP 6,961

$1.77 COP 6,303

10.17%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.72 COP 2,576

$0.69 COP 2,443

4.35%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$20.01 COP 71.4K

$30.05 COP 107.2K

-33.41%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.58 COP 5,642

$1.42 COP 5,079

11.27%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.91 COP 6,819

$1.72 COP 6,148

11.05%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$9.72 COP 34.7K

$6.06 COP 21.6K

60.40%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.92 COP 3,264

$1.00 COP 3,553

-8.00%

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

$21.5K COP 76.8M

$18.0K COP 64.3M

19.45%

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

$30.4K COP 108.2M

$25.5K COP 90.9M

19.11%

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

$81.2 COP 289.6K

$82.7 COP 295.0K

-1.83%

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

$8.63 COP 30.8K

$9.18 COP 32.7K

-5.99%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.09 COP 85.9K

$23.06 COP 82.3K

4.47%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$19.55 COP 69.7K

$23.10 COP 82.4K

-15.37%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.36 COP 51.2K

Cinema Ticket

$4.94 COP 17.6K

$4.04 COP 14.4K

22.28%

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

$227 COP 808.1K

$235 COP 836.4K

-3.39%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,871 COP 20.9M

$5,867 COP 20.9M

0.07%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$63.7 COP 227.1K

$57.8 COP 206.2K

10.17%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.88 COP 160.1K

$32.21 COP 114.9K

39.34%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$75.8 COP 270.3K

$82.8 COP 295.2K

-8.42%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$89.7 COP 320.0K

$74.1 COP 264.2K

21.13%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$242 COP 864.5K

$268 COP 955.8K

-9.55%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$186 COP 664.1K

$241 COP 858.0K

-22.60%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$608 COP 2.2M

$543 COP 1.9M

11.95%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$397 COP 1.4M

$411 COP 1.5M

-3.45%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,114 COP 4.0M

$1,414 COP 5.0M

-21.23%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$920 COP 3.3M

$1,056 COP 3.8M

-12.90%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$512 COP 1.8M

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.58

13.06

-11.33%

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

Last update for Cali: June 9, 2026

Last update for Minca: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $242 in Cali and $268 in Minca. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $29.00 in Cali vs $24.00 in Minca for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $183 vs $172 per month, with Minca 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 Minca: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Cali is cheaper overall, especially in Eating Out, Getting Around, Sport & Entertainment. The 5% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $1,127 in Cali and $1,178 in Minca 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.

Rent for a central apartment: $242 in Cali versus $268 in Minca. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $227 in Cali versus $235 in Minca. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Shoppers in Minca pay roughly 6% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.

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.

For families, Cali is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Minca, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.

Safety-wise, Cali and Minca 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 Cali gentler on the wallet – expenses run 5% less than in Minca. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.