Cost of Living Comparison Between Cartagena and Bucaramanga Cost of Living Comparison Between Cartagena and Bucaramanga

😐 Solo nomad: Cartagena is 39.1% more expensive than Bucaramanga without rent, and 38.1% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Cartagena is 64.1% more expensive than Bucaramanga without rent, and 40.8% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Cartagena
Bucaramanga
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.96 COP 24.8K
$3.16 COP 13.2K
88.61%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.85 COP 195.3K
$19.11 COP 79.7K
145.16%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.9 COP 41.3K
$6.9 COP 28.8K
43.48%
Cappuccino
$1.65 COP 6,894
$1.31 COP 5,446
25.95%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.8 COP 3,333
$0.7 COP 2,927
14.29%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.71 COP 2,946
$0.59 COP 2,460
20.34%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.3 COP 5,428
$1.41 COP 5,877
-7.80%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.88 COP 12K
$2.04 COP 8,524
41.18%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Cartagena
Bucaramanga
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.2 COP 4,999
$1.17 COP 4,864
2.56%
White Bread (500g)
$1.83 COP 7,626
$1.08 COP 4,497
69.44%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.32 COP 5,518
$1.19 COP 4,958
10.92%
Eggs
$2.11 COP 8,808
$2.21 COP 9,222
-4.52%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.12 COP 29.7K
$4.21 COP 17.5K
69.12%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.13 COP 25.6K
$5.98 COP 24.9K
2.51%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$7.78 COP 32.4K
$7.14 COP 29.8K
8.96%
Apples (1kg)
$3.26 COP 13.6K
$2.49 COP 10.4K
30.92%
Banana (1kg)
$1.93 COP 8,044
$1.18 COP 4,936
63.56%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.47 COP 6,118
$0.86 COP 3,570
70.93%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.59 COP 6,620
$0.87 COP 3,611
82.76%
Potato (1kg)
$1.56 COP 6,485
$1.24 COP 5,170
25.81%
Onion (1kg)
$1.07 COP 4,470
$1.02 COP 4,239
4.90%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.05 COP 4,389
$0.92 COP 3,819
14.13%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.64 COP 2,665
$0.79 COP 3,312
-18.99%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.27 COP 9,446
$1.65 COP 6,879
37.58%
Wine (Bottle)
$23.76 COP 99.1K
$7.9 COP 32.9K
200.76%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.97 COP 4,055
$0.78 COP 3,248
24.36%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.98 COP 4,090
$1.5 COP 6,273
-34.67%
🚌 Getting Around
Cartagena
Bucaramanga
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.06 COP 4,412
$0.68 COP 2,826
55.88%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$28.09 COP 117.1K
$39.21 COP 163.5K
-28.36%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.49 COP 10.4K
$1.76 COP 7,329
41.48%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.44 COP 10.2K
$1.61 COP 6,724
51.55%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$4.97 COP 20.7K
$5.91 COP 24.7K
-15.91%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.97 COP 4,064
$0.98 COP 4,093
-1.02%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.5K COP 89.7M
$19.2K COP 80.1M
12.03%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.9K COP 99.6M
$28.3K COP 118M
-15.59%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Cartagena
Bucaramanga
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$141 COP 586.1K
$74 COP 308.5K
89.97%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$10.92 COP 45.5K
$8.84 COP 36.9K
23.53%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.73 COP 103.1K
$20.51 COP 85.5K
20.58%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Cartagena
Bucaramanga
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$35.51 COP 148K
$23.08 COP 96.2K
53.86%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$8.69 COP 36.2K
$16.01 COP 66.8K
-45.72%
Cinema Ticket
$2.94 COP 12.3K
$3.94 COP 16.4K
-25.38%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Cartagena
Bucaramanga
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$143 COP 594.7K
$239 COP 995.6K
-40.27%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,872 COP 24.5M
$2,491 COP 10.4M
135.77%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Cartagena
Bucaramanga
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$49.11 COP 204.8K
$64.2 COP 267.7K
-23.50%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.16 COP 163.3K
$32.95 COP 137.4K
18.85%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$125 COP 521.4K
$82.8 COP 345.2K
51.06%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$114 COP 474.6K
$37.54 COP 156.5K
203.25%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Cartagena
Bucaramanga
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$724 COP 3M
$289 COP 1.2M
150.28%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$335 COP 1.4M
$241 COP 1M
39.29%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,312 COP 5.5M
$480 COP 2M
173.28%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$477 COP 2M
$375 COP 1.6M
27.33%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,840 COP 11.8M
$1,376 COP 5.7M
106.45%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,905 COP 12.1M
$1,140 COP 4.8M
154.84%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Cartagena
Bucaramanga
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$577 COP 2.4M
$456 COP 1.9M
26.51%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
15
15.25
-1.64%

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

Last update for Cartagena: October 28, 2025

Last update for Bucaramanga: October 27, 2025

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