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: $1,088 in Cali versus $794 in Minca.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,643 in Cali versus $1,198 in Minca.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,199 in Cali versus $1,601 in Minca.

Living in Cali is roughly 37% more expensive than in Minca, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Cali 21% lower, Minca 42% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.69 COP 23.7K

$3.93 COP 12.1K

95.67%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$37.56 COP 115.6K

$23.51 COP 72.4K

59.76%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.23 COP 25.3K

$7.18 COP 22.1K

14.62%

Cappuccino

$1.60 COP 4,929

$1.55 COP 4,769

3.23%

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

$1.32 COP 4,057

$0.91 COP 2,809

45.05%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.82 COP 2,515

$0.57 COP 1,749

43.86%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.31 COP 10.2K

$1.15 COP 3,543

187.83%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.72 COP 11.4K

$2.13 COP 6,564

74.65%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.59 COP 4,883

$1.10 COP 3,384

44.55%

White Bread (500g)

$1.94 COP 5,982

$1.28 COP 3,944

51.56%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.57 COP 4,837

$1.17 COP 3,615

34.19%

Eggs

$2.89 COP 8,892

$2.15 COP 6,605

34.42%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.67 COP 20.5K

$4.47 COP 13.7K

49.22%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.07 COP 21.7K

$5.33 COP 16.4K

32.65%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.31 COP 31.7K

$7.27 COP 22.4K

41.82%

Apples (1kg)

$3.58 COP 11.0K

$2.56 COP 7,889

39.84%

Banana (1kg)

$1.38 COP 4,240

$1.09 COP 3,355

26.61%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.84 COP 5,653

$1.35 COP 4,146

36.30%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.75 COP 5,375

$1.11 COP 3,418

57.66%

Potato (1kg)

$1.46 COP 4,483

$1.12 COP 3,438

30.36%

Onion (1kg)

$1.55 COP 4,761

$1.17 COP 3,590

32.48%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.10 COP 3,390

$0.88 COP 2,701

25.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.99 COP 3,045

$0.65 COP 1,998

52.31%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.92 COP 12.1K

$2.41 COP 7,419

62.66%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.12 COP 40.4K

$9.40 COP 28.9K

39.57%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.50 COP 4,623

$1.13 COP 3,469

32.74%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.55 COP 7,848

$1.80 COP 5,539

41.67%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.10 COP 3,376

$0.72 COP 2,206

52.78%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$30.41 COP 93.6K

$29.71 COP 91.4K

2.36%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.85 COP 2,623

$1.42 COP 4,382

-40.14%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.77 COP 5,442

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.17 COP 19.0K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.29 COP 3,983

$0.95 COP 2,910

35.79%

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

$17.9K COP 55.1M

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

$35.2K COP 108.2M

$25.4K COP 78.1M

38.60%

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

$112 COP 345.6K

$81.7 COP 251.5K

37.43%

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

$13.25 COP 40.8K

$9.22 COP 28.4K

43.71%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$30.87 COP 95.0K

$22.83 COP 70.3K

35.22%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$28.95 COP 89.1K

$22.98 COP 70.7K

25.98%

Cinema Ticket

$8.57 COP 26.4K

$3.84 COP 11.8K

123.18%

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

$234 COP 718.7K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,862 COP 18.0M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$80.0 COP 246.1K

$58.9 COP 181.1K

35.90%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$54.7 COP 168.3K

$32.81 COP 101.0K

66.63%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$127 COP 390.0K

$83.8 COP 257.9K

51.22%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$113 COP 346.8K

$72.7 COP 223.6K

55.11%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$658 COP 2.0M

$275 COP 845.6K

139.37%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$295 COP 907.2K

$234 COP 721.2K

25.79%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,597 COP 4.9M

$527 COP 1.6M

203.25%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$503 COP 1.5M

$413 COP 1.3M

21.80%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,401 COP 4.3M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,075 COP 3.3M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$580 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: September 7, 2026

Last update for Minca: September 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $658 in Cali and $275 in Minca. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $38.00 in Cali vs $24.00 in Minca for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $244 vs $174 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

Minca is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 37% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $1,632 in Cali and $1,192 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: $658 in Cali versus $275 in Minca. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Dining out is cheaper in Minca – a meal for two runs $24.00 versus $38.00 in Cali. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

A monthly transit pass in Minca runs roughly 2% less than in Cali. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $794 in Minca versus $1,088 in Cali, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Minca but tight or insufficient in Cali. The gap between the two cities makes Minca the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

For families, Minca 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 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 Minca gentler on the wallet – expenses run 37% less than in Cali. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.