😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $747 in Cali versus $612 in Villavicencio.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,229 in Cali versus $1,021 in Villavicencio.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,710 in Cali versus $1,430 in Villavicencio.
🌍Living in Cali is roughly 22% more expensive than in Villavicencio, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Cali44% lower, Villavicencio54% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Cali
Villavicencio
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.65COP 11.9K
$2.86COP 9,297
27.62%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$29.20COP 95.0K
$21.52COP 70.1K
35.69%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.41COP 24.1K
$6.16COP 20.1K
20.29%
Cappuccino
$1.58COP 5,137
$1.27COP 4,135
24.41%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.95COP 3,099
$0.82COP 2,679
15.85%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.60COP 1,942
$0.61COP 1,991
-1.64%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.01COP 3,301
$1.12COP 3,630
-9.82%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.61COP 8,495
$1.66COP 5,395
57.23%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Cali
Villavicencio
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.24COP 4,035
$1.00COP 3,247
24.00%
White Bread(500g)
$1.47COP 4,776
$1.20COP 3,904
22.50%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.25COP 4,081
$0.90COP 2,935
38.89%
Eggs
$2.48COP 8,075
$1.96COP 6,373
26.53%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$4.33COP 14.1K
$4.81COP 15.7K
-9.98%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.36COP 17.4K
$5.15COP 16.8K
4.08%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$7.49COP 24.4K
$7.21COP 23.5K
3.88%
Apples(1kg)
$2.49COP 8,119
$2.49COP 8,108
-
Banana(1kg)
$0.92COP 2,990
$0.78COP 2,554
17.95%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.15COP 3,754
$1.36COP 4,433
-15.44%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.31COP 4,265
$1.24COP 4,044
5.65%
Potato(1kg)
$0.89COP 2,885
$1.11COP 3,606
-19.82%
Onion(1kg)
$1.11COP 3,597
$1.14COP 3,696
-2.63%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.75COP 2,430
$0.72COP 2,341
4.17%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.68COP 2,214
$0.67COP 2,174
1.49%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.91COP 9,466
$2.44COP 7,930
19.26%
Wine(Bottle)
$12.88COP 41.9K
$12.11COP 39.4K
6.36%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.07COP 3,482
$0.81COP 2,651
32.10%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.86COP 6,048
$1.60COP 5,205
16.25%
🚌 Getting Around
Cali
Villavicencio
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.73COP 2,389
$0.62COP 2,030
17.74%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$20.17COP 65.6K
$9.54COP 31.0K
111.43%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.55COP 5,049
$1.43COP 4,649
8.39%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.90COP 6,179
$1.39COP 4,517
36.69%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$9.45COP 30.7K
$6.09COP 19.8K
55.17%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.98COP 3,194
$1.02COP 3,317
-3.92%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.9KCOP 71.4M
$12.1KCOP 39.5M
80.87%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$29.6KCOP 96.3M
$17.0KCOP 55.3M
74.30%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Cali
Villavicencio
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$83.3COP 271.2K
$31.70COP 103.2K
162.84%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$8.94COP 29.1K
$11.00COP 35.8K
-18.73%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.55COP 79.9K
$22.79COP 74.2K
7.72%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Cali
Villavicencio
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$19.79COP 64.4K
$25.61COP 83.4K
-22.73%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$14.72COP 47.9K
$16.87COP 54.9K
-12.74%
Cinema Ticket
$4.88COP 15.9K
$3.79COP 12.3K
28.76%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Cali
Villavicencio
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$222COP 721.6K
$240COP 781.2K
-7.62%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,871COP 19.1M
$8,420COP 27.4M
-30.27%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Cali
Villavicencio
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$64.0COP 208.3K
$53.5COP 174.1K
19.67%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$43.51COP 141.6K
$32.14COP 104.6K
35.38%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$76.3COP 248.4K
$71.0COP 231.0K
7.54%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$89.5COP 291.4K
$66.3COP 215.8K
35.02%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Cali
Villavicencio
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$241COP 784.0K
$145COP 473.0K
65.75%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$188COP 612.3K
$137COP 444.5K
37.75%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$615COP 2.0M
$405COP 1.3M
51.67%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$398COP 1.3M
$382COP 1.2M
4.24%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,258COP 4.1M
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$990COP 3.2M
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Cali
Villavicencio
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$554COP 1.8M
$416COP 1.4M
33.17%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.58
12.93
-10.44%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Cali: July 12, 2026
Last update for Villavicencio: July 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $241 in Cali and $145 in Villavicencio. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Cali pays 33% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
🛒Dining out: $29.00 in Cali vs $22.00 in Villavicencio for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $184 vs $172 per month, with Villavicencio 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 Villavicencio: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Villavicencio cheaper than Cali?
Villavicencio is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Eating Out, Getting Around. The 22% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Cali or Villavicencio?
Average pay runs 33% higher in Cali, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
What is the rent difference between Cali and Villavicencio?
Rent for a central apartment: $241 in Cali versus $145 in Villavicencio. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $222 in Cali versus $240 in Villavicencio. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
How do food prices compare in Cali and in Villavicencio?
Supermarket bills run roughly 7% higher in Cali. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Is $800 enough for either Cali or Villavicencio?
Either city works on $800 a month, though Villavicencio gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.
Is Cali or Villavicencio more family-friendly?
For families, Villavicencio 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.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Villavicencio gentler on the wallet – expenses run 22% less than in Cali. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.