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: $751 in Cali versus $711 in Tunja.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,205 in Cali versus $1,062 in Tunja.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,659 in Cali versus $1,413 in Tunja.

Living in Cali is roughly 6% 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

$3.73 COP 13.0K

$2.68 COP 9,353

39.18%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$28.95 COP 101.0K

$14.38 COP 50.2K

101.32%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.06 COP 24.6K

$6.71 COP 23.4K

5.22%

Cappuccino

$1.56 COP 5,438

$1.07 COP 3,731

45.79%

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

$0.88 COP 3,063

$0.74 COP 2,588

18.92%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.60 COP 2,111

$0.56 COP 1,937

7.14%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.05 COP 3,672

$1.19 COP 4,151

-11.76%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.52 COP 8,800

$2.11 COP 7,356

19.43%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.28 COP 4,482

$1.21 COP 4,239

5.79%

White Bread (500g)

$1.46 COP 5,090

$1.06 COP 3,698

37.74%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.21 COP 4,221

$1.20 COP 4,185

0.83%

Eggs

$2.47 COP 8,621

$2.18 COP 7,595

13.30%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.20 COP 14.7K

$4.24 COP 14.8K

-0.94%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.53 COP 19.3K

$5.67 COP 19.8K

-2.47%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.85 COP 27.4K

$7.24 COP 25.3K

8.43%

Apples (1kg)

$2.42 COP 8,430

$2.48 COP 8,667

-2.42%

Banana (1kg)

$0.95 COP 3,324

$1.18 COP 4,124

-19.49%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.19 COP 4,163

$0.85 COP 2,959

40.00%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.30 COP 4,542

$0.92 COP 3,219

41.30%

Potato (1kg)

$0.81 COP 2,837

$1.19 COP 4,154

-31.93%

Onion (1kg)

$1.06 COP 3,684

$0.94 COP 3,292

12.77%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.76 COP 2,650

$0.95 COP 3,312

-20.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.70 COP 2,431

$0.74 COP 2,586

-5.41%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.85 COP 9,948

$1.66 COP 5,797

71.69%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.57 COP 40.4K

$8.41 COP 29.4K

37.57%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.07 COP 3,739

$0.83 COP 2,889

28.92%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.95 COP 6,812

$1.56 COP 5,447

25.00%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.72 COP 2,521

$0.51 COP 1,768

41.18%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$20.01 COP 69.8K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.58 COP 5,521

$0.66 COP 2,312

139.39%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.91 COP 6,674

$1.55 COP 5,421

23.23%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$9.72 COP 33.9K

$5.95 COP 20.8K

63.36%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.92 COP 3,194

$0.93 COP 3,230

-1.08%

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

$21.5K COP 75.2M

$19.2K COP 66.9M

12.39%

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

$30.4K COP 105.9M

$28.0K COP 97.6M

8.56%

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

$81.2 COP 283.4K

$76.1 COP 265.7K

6.69%

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

$8.63 COP 30.1K

$8.86 COP 30.9K

-2.60%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.09 COP 84.1K

$20.41 COP 71.2K

18.03%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$19.55 COP 68.2K

$16.80 COP 58.6K

16.37%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.36 COP 50.1K

Cinema Ticket

$4.94 COP 17.3K

$3.81 COP 13.3K

29.66%

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

$227 COP 790.8K

$242 COP 844.3K

-6.33%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,871 COP 20.5M

$2,419 COP 8.4M

142.70%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$63.7 COP 222.3K

$63.7 COP 222.2K

0.05%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.88 COP 156.6K

$33.19 COP 115.8K

35.22%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$75.8 COP 264.5K

$83.8 COP 292.3K

-9.49%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$89.7 COP 313.1K

$37.53 COP 131.0K

139.06%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$242 COP 846.1K

$286 COP 998.0K

-15.22%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$186 COP 649.9K

$230 COP 801.8K

-18.95%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$608 COP 2.1M

$521 COP 1.8M

16.62%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$397 COP 1.4M

$421 COP 1.5M

-5.66%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,114 COP 3.9M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$920 COP 3.2M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$512 COP 1.8M

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: June 9, 2026

Last update for Tunja: June 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $242 in Cali and $286 in Tunja. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $29.00 in Cali vs $14.00 in Tunja for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $183 vs $169 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 6% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $1,127 in Cali and $1,066 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: $242 in Cali versus $286 in Tunja. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $227 in Cali versus $242 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 $14.00 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 6% less than in Cali. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.