Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Cali and Neiva

For one person, living is cheaper in Cali: $1,060 a month against $1,241 in Neiva, rent and utilities included – about $2,200 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Cali
🇨🇴 Colombia
$1,060
/mo nomad
Neiva
🇨🇴 Colombia
$1,241
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Cali and in Neiva

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Cali and in Neiva actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,060 in Cali versus $1,241 in Neiva.

  • Cali $1,060
  • Neiva $1,241

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,626 in Cali versus $2,034 in Neiva.

  • Cali $1,626
  • Neiva $2,034

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,192 in Cali versus $2,826 in Neiva.

  • Cali $2,192
  • Neiva $2,826

Living in Cali costs roughly 15% less than in Neiva, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both cities sit below the global median: Cali 21% lower, Neiva 8% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Cali
Neiva
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.32 COP 23.2K
$7.72 COP 24.5K
-5.18%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$37.35 COP 118.4K
$41.66 COP 132.1K
-10.35%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.32 COP 26.4K
$10.26 COP 32.5K
-18.91%
Cappuccino
$1.52 COP 4,832
$2.61 COP 8,281
-41.76%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.23 COP 3,885
$1.34 COP 4,245
-8.21%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.86 COP 2,728
$0.91 COP 2,883
-5.49%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.11 COP 9,872
$2.06 COP 6,533
50.97%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.80 COP 12.1K
$3.96 COP 12.6K
-4.04%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Cali
Neiva
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.54 COP 4,891
$1.62 COP 5,131
-4.94%
White Bread (500g)
$1.96 COP 6,203
$2.45 COP 7,754
-20.00%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.48 COP 4,701
$1.62 COP 5,136
-8.64%
Eggs
$2.91 COP 9,242
$3.54 COP 11.2K
-17.80%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$6.31 COP 20.0K
$8.18 COP 25.9K
-22.86%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.85 COP 21.7K
$7.51 COP 23.8K
-8.79%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.22 COP 32.4K
$9.91 COP 31.4K
3.13%
Apples (1kg)
$3.45 COP 10.9K
$3.41 COP 10.8K
1.17%
Banana (1kg)
$1.40 COP 4,433
$1.85 COP 5,877
-24.32%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.79 COP 5,668
$1.94 COP 6,148
-7.73%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.65 COP 5,223
$1.77 COP 5,615
-6.78%
Potato (1kg)
$1.43 COP 4,539
$1.42 COP 4,515
0.70%
Onion (1kg)
$1.55 COP 4,917
$1.42 COP 4,505
9.15%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.14 COP 3,613
$1.33 COP 4,231
-14.29%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.94 COP 2,983
$1.19 COP 3,759
-21.01%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.79 COP 12.0K
$4.30 COP 13.6K
-11.86%
Wine (Bottle)
$12.94 COP 41.0K
$12.60 COP 39.9K
2.70%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.43 COP 4,539
$1.44 COP 4,575
-0.69%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.55 COP 8,079
$2.88 COP 9,126
-11.46%
🚌 Getting Around
Cali
Neiva
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.07 COP 3,387
$1.05 COP 3,325
1.90%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$30.29 COP 96.0K
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.78 COP 2,488
$2.39 COP 7,583
-67.36%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
-
$2.30 COP 7,297
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
-
$9.66 COP 30.6K
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.34 COP 4,245
$1.35 COP 4,275
-0.74%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
-
$23.2K COP 73.7M
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$35.4K COP 112.1M
$34.8K COP 110.3M
1.69%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Cali
Neiva
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$110 COP 347.5K
$125 COP 397.4K
-12.55%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$12.96 COP 41.1K
$16.32 COP 51.7K
-20.59%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.06 COP 95.3K
$29.80 COP 94.5K
0.87%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Cali
Neiva
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$28.81 COP 91.3K
$38.69 COP 122.7K
-25.54%
Cinema Ticket
$8.40 COP 26.6K
$7.72 COP 24.5K
8.81%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Cali
Neiva
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
-
$504 COP 1.6M
-
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
-
$7,398 COP 23.5M
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Cali
Neiva
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$78.4 COP 248.5K
$82.5 COP 261.7K
-5.03%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$53.2 COP 168.8K
$48.05 COP 152.4K
10.80%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$126 COP 398.3K
$144 COP 456.1K
-12.69%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$111 COP 351.4K
$105 COP 334.0K
5.23%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Cali
Neiva
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$655 COP 2.1M
$559 COP 1.8M
17.10%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$288 COP 914.6K
$413 COP 1.3M
-30.12%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,558 COP 4.9M
$1,112 COP 3.5M
40.06%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$498 COP 1.6M
$1,002 COP 3.2M
-50.37%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$1,854 COP 5.9M
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$1,770 COP 5.6M
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Cali
Neiva
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$585 COP 1.9M
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.58
12
-3.50%

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

Last update for Cali: October 12, 2026

Last update for Neiva: October 12, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Cali
$288
Neiva
$413 43.1% $124
Groceries & Markets
Cali
$239
Neiva
$263 10% $24
Clothing & Footwear
Cali
$166
Neiva
$171 3.2% $5.3
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Cali
$153
Neiva
$171 12.3% $19
Eating Out
Cali
$133
Neiva
$151 13.3% $18
Sport & Entertainment
Cali
$46
Neiva
$54 18.7% $8.5
Getting Around
Cali
$35 *
Neiva
$18 * 48.8% $17

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $655 in Cali and $559 in Neiva. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $37.00 in Cali vs $42.00 in Neiva for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $239 vs $263 per month, with Cali cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇨🇴 Cali
🇨🇴 Neiva
🕒 Local time
20:04 8:04 PM
20:04 8:04 PM
Same time as Cali
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
2,568,609
357,392
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to COP – Colombian Peso Converter

Colombian Peso exchange rates as of October 19, 2026: 1 USD = 3,171 COP (10,000 COP = 3.15 USD). 1 EUR = 3,565 COP (10,000 COP = 2.81 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Cali Neiva 150 km
From you
  • Cali
  • Neiva

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 Neiva: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Neiva cheaper than Cali?
Cali is cheaper overall, especially in groceries, clothing, and eating out. The 17% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $1,590 in Cali and $1,862 in Neiva 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 Neiva?
Rent for a central apartment: $655 in Cali versus $559 in Neiva. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do food prices compare in Cali and in Neiva?
Supermarket bills run roughly 10% higher in Neiva. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Is eating out cheaper in Cali or in Neiva?
Dining out is cheaper in Cali – a meal for two runs $37.00 versus $42.00 in Neiva. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Cali or in Neiva?
At $1,060 in Cali versus $1,241 in Neiva, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Cali but tight or insufficient in Neiva. The gap between the two cities makes Cali the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Cali or Neiva more family-friendly?
For families, Cali is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Neiva, 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 17% less than in Neiva. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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