Cost of Living Comparison Between Cali and Tunja Cost of Living Comparison Between Cali and Tunja

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $752 in Cali versus $703 in Tunja.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,212 in Cali versus $1,078 in Tunja.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,672 in Cali versus $1,453 in Tunja.

Living in Cali is roughly 7% more expensive than Tunja, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Cali 44% lower, Tunja 47% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.57 COP 12.9K

$2.60 COP 9,387

37.31%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$29.24 COP 105.5K

$14.73 COP 53.2K

98.51%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.47 COP 27.0K

$6.90 COP 24.9K

8.26%

Cappuccino

$1.64 COP 5,920

$1.07 COP 3,867

53.27%

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

$0.87 COP 3,146

$0.76 COP 2,747

14.47%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.56 COP 2,036

$0.59 COP 2,128

-5.08%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.04 COP 3,759

$1.22 COP 4,410

-14.75%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.47 COP 8,919

$2.04 COP 7,382

21.08%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.27 COP 4,593

$1.23 COP 4,436

3.25%

White Bread (500g)

$1.48 COP 5,361

$1.06 COP 3,835

39.62%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.24 COP 4,492

$1.19 COP 4,298

4.20%

Eggs

$2.53 COP 9,120

$2.26 COP 8,143

11.95%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.29 COP 15.5K

$4.04 COP 14.6K

6.19%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.53 COP 19.9K

$5.93 COP 21.4K

-6.75%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.78 COP 28.1K

$7.48 COP 27.0K

4.01%

Apples (1kg)

$2.43 COP 8,759

$2.58 COP 9,330

-5.81%

Banana (1kg)

$0.90 COP 3,260

$1.22 COP 4,422

-26.23%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.19 COP 4,306

$0.88 COP 3,178

35.23%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.32 COP 4,763

$0.91 COP 3,303

45.05%

Potato (1kg)

$0.86 COP 3,119

$1.20 COP 4,330

-28.33%

Onion (1kg)

$1.06 COP 3,836

$0.97 COP 3,495

9.28%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.74 COP 2,681

$0.97 COP 3,520

-23.71%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.66 COP 2,380

$0.78 COP 2,833

-15.38%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.96 COP 10.7K

$1.74 COP 6,278

70.11%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.44 COP 41.3K

$8.34 COP 30.1K

37.17%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.10 COP 3,980

$0.83 COP 2,979

32.53%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.88 COP 6,795

$1.51 COP 5,440

24.50%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.72 COP 2,612

$0.52 COP 1,876

38.46%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$20.29 COP 73.3K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.56 COP 5,624

$0.70 COP 2,518

122.86%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.89 COP 6,815

$1.56 COP 5,616

21.15%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$9.60 COP 34.6K

$5.88 COP 21.2K

63.27%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.94 COP 3,405

$0.92 COP 3,313

2.17%

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

$21.9K COP 78.9M

$19.6K COP 70.8M

11.39%

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

$30.2K COP 109.0M

$28.0K COP 101.0M

7.89%

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

$82.4 COP 297.3K

$74.5 COP 268.8K

10.58%

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

$8.75 COP 31.6K

$8.80 COP 31.8K

-0.57%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.48 COP 88.4K

$20.58 COP 74.3K

18.95%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$19.72 COP 71.2K

$17.27 COP 62.4K

14.19%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.66 COP 52.9K

Cinema Ticket

$4.89 COP 17.6K

$3.76 COP 13.6K

30.05%

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

$230 COP 832.0K

$240 COP 867.2K

-4.06%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,948 COP 21.5M

$2,469 COP 8.9M

140.92%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$63.5 COP 229.2K

$65.5 COP 236.6K

-3.11%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.13 COP 159.3K

$33.11 COP 119.5K

33.28%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$77.7 COP 280.6K

$84.1 COP 303.7K

-7.61%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$89.2 COP 321.8K

$38.28 COP 138.2K

132.89%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$238 COP 857.6K

$294 COP 1.1M

-19.11%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$189 COP 682.9K

$232 COP 839.0K

-18.61%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$620 COP 2.2M

$529 COP 1.9M

17.19%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$409 COP 1.5M

$426 COP 1.5M

-3.89%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,146 COP 4.1M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$920 COP 3.3M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$514 COP 1.9M

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.58

15.25

-24.07%

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

Last update for Cali: April 27, 2026

Last update for Tunja: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $238 in Cali and $294 in Tunja. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $29.00 in Cali vs $15.00 in Tunja for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $183 vs $172 per month, with Tunja 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 Tunja: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Tunja is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Eating Out, Getting Around, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 7% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $1,128 in Cali and $1,055 in Tunja 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: $238 in Cali versus $294 in Tunja. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $230 in Cali versus $240 in Tunja. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in Tunja – a meal for two runs $15.00 versus $29.00 in Cali. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

Either city works on $800 a month, though Tunja gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.

For families, Tunja 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 Tunja 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 Tunja gentler on the wallet – expenses run 7% less than in Cali. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.