🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,080 in Campina versus $1,397 in Cartagena.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,639 in Campina versus $1,993 in Cartagena.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,197 in Campina versus $2,589 in Cartagena.
🙂Living in Campina costs roughly 23% less than in Cartagena, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Campina is 19% below, Cartagena is 4% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Campina
Cartagena
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$9.77RON 42.60
$13.94€11.94
-29.91%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$43.43RON 189
$57.5€49.20
-24.44%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.09RON 30.91
$7.93€6.79
-10.59%
Cappuccino
$2.68RON 11.69
$2.57€2.20
4.28%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.99RON 8.67
$2.39€2.04
-16.74%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.73RON 7.55
$1.95€1.67
-11.28%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.27RON 9.89
$3.44€2.95
-34.01%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.38RON 14.73
$3.45€2.95
-2.03%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Campina
Cartagena
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.45RON 6.31
$1.14€0.97
27.19%
White Bread(500g)
$1.12RON 4.90
$1.01€0.86
10.89%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.53RON 6.68
$1.76€1.51
-13.07%
Eggs
$3.23RON 14.09
$2.94€2.52
9.86%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.65RON 37.72
$11.54€9.88
-25.04%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.03RON 30.65
$8.43€7.22
-16.61%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.79RON 38.33
$14.18€12.14
-38.01%
Apples(1kg)
$1.21RON 5.27
$2.27€1.94
-46.70%
Banana(1kg)
$1.40RON 6.12
$1.80€1.54
-22.22%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.29RON 5.64
$1.39€1.19
-7.19%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.18RON 9.51
$1.75€1.50
24.57%
Potato(1kg)
$0.77RON 3.36
$1.29€1.10
-40.31%
Onion(1kg)
$0.93RON 4.06
$1.05€0.90
-11.43%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.07RON 4.65
$1.10€0.94
-2.73%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.92RON 3.99
$0.56€0.48
64.29%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$5.90RON 25.72
$5.65€4.84
4.42%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.70RON 33.56
$6.19€5.30
24.39%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.92RON 4.01
$1.15€0.98
-20.00%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.43RON 6.22
$1.29€1.11
10.85%
🚌 Getting Around
Campina
Cartagena
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.95RON 4.14
$1.41€1.21
-32.62%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$19.82RON 86.4
$11.64€9.97
70.27%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.79RON 3.45
$3.48€2.98
-77.30%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.75RON 3.27
$1.20€1.02
-37.50%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.71RON 24.90
$24.92€21.33
-77.09%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.58RON 6.90
$1.76€1.51
-10.23%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.8KRON 108.1K
$30.9K€26.5K
-19.80%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.9KRON 113.1K
$31.9K€27.3K
-18.62%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Campina
Cartagena
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$141RON 613
$143€123
-2.00%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$8.78RON 38.30
$13.23€11.32
-33.64%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$11.42RON 49.79
$30.14€25.80
-62.11%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Campina
Cartagena
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$63.9RON 279
$38.62€33.06
65.43%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.04RON 83.0
$15.09€12.92
26.18%
Cinema Ticket
$7.00RON 30.54
$8.13€6.96
-13.90%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Campina
Cartagena
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$423RON 1,845
$433€370
-2.22%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$6,996RON 30.5K
$2,792€2,390
150.58%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Campina
Cartagena
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$83.2RON 363
$44.05€37.71
88.97%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.44RON 185
$31.92€27.32
32.96%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$82.4RON 359
$44.25€37.88
86.17%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$98.9RON 431
$77.1€66.0
28.33%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Campina
Cartagena
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$384RON 1,675
$778€666
-50.59%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$292RON 1,274
$616€527
-52.56%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$589RON 2,566
$921€789
-36.10%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$431RON 1,881
$771€660
-44.04%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,162RON 5,067
$1,839€1,574
-36.81%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$714RON 3,112
$1,467€1,256
-51.34%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Campina
Cartagena
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$770RON 3,357
$1,842€1,576
-58.19%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6.5
3.44
88.95%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Campina: April 27, 2026
Last update for Cartagena: April 25, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $384 in Campina and $778 in Cartagena. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Cartagena pays 139% 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: $43.00 in Campina vs $57.0 in Cartagena for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $205 vs $234 per month, with Campina 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
Campina vs Cartagena: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Campina or Cartagena?
Campina wins on cost – living expenses run 29% lower than in Cartagena. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Campina the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Campina or Cartagena?
On paper, Cartagena earns 139% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Campina vs Cartagena?
Rent for a central apartment: $384 in Campina versus $778 in Cartagena. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do dining costs compare in Campina vs Cartagena?
Dining out is cheaper in Campina – a meal for two runs $43.00 versus $57.0 in Cartagena. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
How much does it cost to live in Campina compared to Cartagena?
All in, you'll spend $1,080 per month in Campina versus $1,397 in Cartagena – a 29% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Campina or Cartagena?
At $1,080 in Campina versus $1,397 in Cartagena, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Campina but tight or insufficient in Cartagena. The gap between the two cities makes Campina the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city offers a better quality of life: Campina or Cartagena?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
How safe is Campina compared to Cartagena?
Safety-wise, Campina and Cartagena are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Campina gentler on the wallet – expenses run 29% less than in Cartagena. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.