😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $744 in Cali versus $608 in Villavicencio.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,224 in Cali versus $1,034 in Villavicencio.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,704 in Cali versus $1,459 in Villavicencio.
😐Living in Cali is roughly 22% more expensive than Villavicencio, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Cali44% lower, Villavicencio55% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Cali
Villavicencio
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.65COP 13.0K
$2.94COP 10.5K
24.15%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$29.25COP 104.5K
$21.86COP 78.1K
33.81%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.36COP 26.3K
$5.95COP 21.2K
23.70%
Cappuccino
$1.61COP 5,754
$1.22COP 4,373
31.97%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.94COP 3,353
$0.82COP 2,940
14.63%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.55COP 1,979
$0.58COP 2,054
-5.17%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.06COP 3,775
$1.06COP 3,795
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.56COP 9,130
$1.68COP 5,984
52.38%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Cali
Villavicencio
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.22COP 4,347
$1.01COP 3,624
20.79%
White Bread(500g)
$1.53COP 5,465
$1.21COP 4,304
26.45%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.21COP 4,319
$0.91COP 3,262
32.97%
Eggs
$2.46COP 8,779
$1.98COP 7,081
24.24%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$4.29COP 15.3K
$4.79COP 17.1K
-10.44%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.47COP 19.5K
$5.02COP 17.9K
8.96%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$7.60COP 27.1K
$7.29COP 26.0K
4.25%
Apples(1kg)
$2.40COP 8,570
$2.46COP 8,793
-2.44%
Banana(1kg)
$0.97COP 3,474
$0.80COP 2,853
21.25%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.20COP 4,274
$1.31COP 4,695
-8.40%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.27COP 4,548
$1.28COP 4,576
-0.78%
Potato(1kg)
$0.88COP 3,148
$1.11COP 3,978
-20.72%
Onion(1kg)
$1.11COP 3,949
$1.12COP 3,988
-0.89%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.75COP 2,679
$0.70COP 2,490
7.14%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.65COP 2,323
$0.68COP 2,425
-4.41%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.90COP 10.3K
$2.41COP 8,601
20.33%
Wine(Bottle)
$11.48COP 41.0K
$10.64COP 38.0K
7.89%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.10COP 3,932
$0.88COP 3,126
25.00%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.84COP 6,584
$1.57COP 5,603
17.20%
🚌 Getting Around
Cali
Villavicencio
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.67COP 2,407
$0.62COP 2,217
8.06%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$20.20COP 72.1K
$9.40COP 33.6K
114.89%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.54COP 5,485
$1.44COP 5,141
6.94%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.88COP 6,707
$1.37COP 4,909
37.23%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$9.80COP 35.0K
$6.21COP 22.2K
57.81%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.93COP 3,304
$0.98COP 3,515
-5.10%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.4KCOP 76.4M
$12.3KCOP 43.9M
74.15%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$30.3KCOP 108.3M
$16.8KCOP 60.1M
80.20%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Cali
Villavicencio
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$80.9COP 289.0K
$32.67COP 116.7K
147.75%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$8.78COP 31.4K
$10.93COP 39.0K
-19.67%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$23.99COP 85.7K
$23.09COP 82.5K
3.90%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Cali
Villavicencio
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$19.60COP 70.0K
$24.95COP 89.1K
-21.44%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$14.79COP 52.8K
$17.21COP 61.5K
-14.06%
Cinema Ticket
$4.87COP 17.4K
$3.64COP 13.0K
33.79%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Cali
Villavicencio
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$226COP 807.0K
$242COP 862.9K
-6.48%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$6,039COP 21.6M
$8,460COP 30.2M
-28.62%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Cali
Villavicencio
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$63.7COP 227.5K
$55.2COP 197.0K
15.50%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.16COP 157.7K
$32.12COP 114.7K
37.48%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$78.6COP 280.5K
$71.0COP 253.6K
10.62%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$89.5COP 319.6K
$67.1COP 239.7K
33.32%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Cali
Villavicencio
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$234COP 834.7K
$148COP 527.2K
58.34%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$186COP 665.2K
$139COP 495.0K
34.39%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$609COP 2.2M
$412COP 1.5M
47.71%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$408COP 1.5M
$382COP 1.4M
6.81%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,101COP 3.9M
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$890COP 3.2M
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Cali
Villavicencio
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$494COP 1.8M
$378COP 1.3M
30.80%
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: May 31, 2026
Last update for Villavicencio: May 30, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $234 in Cali and $148 in Villavicencio. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Cali pays 31% 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 $182 vs $169 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?
Cali pays 31% more on average, 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: $234 in Cali versus $148 in Villavicencio. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $226 in Cali versus $242 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 Villavicencio?
Supermarket bills run roughly 8% 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.