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: $1,043 in Cali versus $1,333 in Tunja.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,602 in Cali versus $2,026 in Tunja.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,160 in Cali versus $2,720 in Tunja.

Living in Cali costs roughly 22% less than in Tunja, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Cali 23% lower, Tunja 2% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.59 COP 17.5K

$7.93 COP 24.8K

-29.51%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$37.94 COP 118.7K

$40.53 COP 126.8K

-6.39%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.14 COP 25.5K

$9.52 COP 29.8K

-14.50%

Cappuccino

$1.38 COP 4,332

$2.51 COP 7,866

-45.02%

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

$1.26 COP 3,936

$1.30 COP 4,082

-3.08%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.82 COP 2,570

$0.81 COP 2,529

1.23%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.88 COP 5,879

$1.91 COP 5,972

-1.57%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.70 COP 11.6K

$3.83 COP 12.0K

-3.39%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.62 COP 5,054

$1.61 COP 5,049

0.62%

White Bread (500g)

$1.93 COP 6,026

$2.34 COP 7,324

-17.52%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.52 COP 4,750

$1.63 COP 5,098

-6.75%

Eggs

$2.95 COP 9,232

$3.78 COP 11.8K

-21.96%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.60 COP 20.7K

$7.03 COP 22.0K

-6.12%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.03 COP 22.0K

$7.31 COP 22.9K

-3.83%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.06 COP 31.5K

$10.80 COP 33.8K

-6.85%

Apples (1kg)

$3.51 COP 11.0K

$3.40 COP 10.6K

3.24%

Banana (1kg)

$1.35 COP 4,214

$1.71 COP 5,354

-21.05%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.80 COP 5,632

$1.91 COP 5,988

-5.76%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.66 COP 5,205

$1.79 COP 5,598

-7.26%

Potato (1kg)

$1.45 COP 4,546

$1.41 COP 4,417

2.84%

Onion (1kg)

$1.56 COP 4,889

$1.35 COP 4,237

15.56%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.10 COP 3,452

$1.32 COP 4,142

-16.67%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.98 COP 3,066

$1.06 COP 3,319

-7.55%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.75 COP 11.7K

$4.45 COP 13.9K

-15.73%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.11 COP 41.0K

$12.87 COP 40.3K

1.86%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.45 COP 4,543

$1.36 COP 4,242

6.62%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.58 COP 8,072

$2.97 COP 9,305

-13.13%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.08 COP 3,376

$1.09 COP 3,414

-0.92%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$30.78 COP 96.3K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.80 COP 2,517

$1.00 COP 3,121

-20.00%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.36 COP 7,394

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.52 COP 26.7K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.34 COP 4,206

$1.28 COP 4,016

4.69%

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

$22.3K COP 69.9M

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

$36.1K COP 112.8M

-0.03%

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

$111 COP 347.6K

$128 COP 401.9K

-13.48%

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

$13.32 COP 41.7K

$16.40 COP 51.3K

-18.78%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$30.75 COP 96.2K

$31.28 COP 97.8K

-1.69%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$28.83 COP 90.2K

$32.96 COP 103.1K

-12.53%

Cinema Ticket

$8.55 COP 26.7K

$7.96 COP 24.9K

7.41%

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

$472 COP 1.5M

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,540 COP 20.5M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$80.2 COP 250.8K

$79.3 COP 248.1K

1.07%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$54.4 COP 170.1K

$50.3 COP 157.3K

8.18%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$126 COP 394.3K

$138 COP 433.1K

-8.97%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$111 COP 347.8K

$112 COP 351.5K

-1.05%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$648 COP 2.0M

$657 COP 2.1M

-1.33%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$295 COP 921.5K

$491 COP 1.5M

-40.02%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,561 COP 4.9M

$1,006 COP 3.1M

55.19%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$505 COP 1.6M

$935 COP 2.9M

-45.93%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,032 COP 6.4M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,561 COP 4.9M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$577 COP 1.8M

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.58

12.71

-8.89%

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

Last update for Cali: August 10, 2026

Last update for Tunja: August 10, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $648 in Cali and $657 in Tunja. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $38.00 in Cali vs $41.00 in Tunja for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $242 vs $259 per month, with Cali 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

Cali is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 28% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $1,564 in Cali and $1,999 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: $648 in Cali versus $657 in Tunja. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 7% higher in Tunja. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

Dining out is cheaper in Cali – a meal for two runs $38.00 versus $41.00 in Tunja. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $1,043 in Cali versus $1,333 in Tunja, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Cali but tight or insufficient in Tunja. The gap between the two cities makes Cali the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

For families, Cali is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Tunja, 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 Cali gentler on the wallet – expenses run 28% less than in Tunja. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.