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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,295 per month in Cartagena vs $1,270 in Bucaramanga, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,130 per month in Cartagena vs $1,928 in Bucaramanga, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,966 per month in Cartagena vs $2,586 in Bucaramanga, rent included.

Cartagena costs about 2% more than Bucaramanga, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Cartagena and Bucaramanga are more affordable than the global median – Cartagena 5% lower, Bucaramanga 7% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.95 COP 15.5K

$5.58 COP 17.4K

-11.29%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$135 COP 422.2K

$31.82 COP 99.3K

325.17%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.19 COP 31.8K

$9.55 COP 29.8K

6.70%

Cappuccino

$3.61 COP 11.3K

$2.17 COP 6,776

66.36%

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

$1.88 COP 5,879

$1.43 COP 4,467

31.47%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.82 COP 5,670

$1.09 COP 3,407

66.97%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.06 COP 6,425

$1.66 COP 5,186

24.10%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.87 COP 15.2K

$2.56 COP 7,974

90.23%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.97 COP 6,144

$1.53 COP 4,785

28.76%

White Bread (500g)

$2.99 COP 9,317

$1.49 COP 4,654

100.67%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.51 COP 4,703

$3.26 COP 10.2K

-53.68%

Eggs

$5.21 COP 16.2K

$3.16 COP 9,846

64.87%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.62 COP 42.5K

$8.25 COP 25.7K

65.09%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$17.97 COP 56.1K

$14.72 COP 45.9K

22.08%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$17.71 COP 55.3K

Apples (1kg)

$3.65 COP 11.4K

Banana (1kg)

$1.43 COP 4,468

Oranges (1kg)

$2.16 COP 6,729

Tomato (1kg)

$2.90 COP 9,048

Potato (1kg)

$1.40 COP 4,370

Onion (1kg)

$1.75 COP 5,454

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.93 COP 2,896

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.07 COP 6,464

$1.00 COP 3,107

107.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.28 COP 13.4K

Wine (Bottle)

$14.76 COP 46.1K

$12.88 COP 40.2K

14.60%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.40 COP 4,362

$1.39 COP 4,340

0.72%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.65 COP 5,151

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.29 COP 4,018

$1.13 COP 3,527

14.16%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$59.4 COP 185.2K

$76.3 COP 238.1K

-22.21%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.85 COP 15.1K

$2.85 COP 8,895

70.18%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.84 COP 12.0K

$1.98 COP 6,177

93.94%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$9.83 COP 30.7K

$8.02 COP 25.0K

22.57%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.38 COP 4,300

$1.38 COP 4,311

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

$23.9K COP 74.6M

$27.7K COP 86.5M

-13.66%

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

$34.8K COP 108.7M

$34.3K COP 107.2M

1.43%

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

$80.9 COP 252.4K

$180 COP 562.1K

-55.09%

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

$10.63 COP 33.2K

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$26.12 COP 81.5K

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$90.5 COP 282.5K

$39.27 COP 122.5K

130.56%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$32.17 COP 100.4K

Cinema Ticket

$8.48 COP 26.5K

$6.64 COP 20.7K

27.71%

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

$651 COP 2.0M

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,929 COP 18.5M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.0 COP 168.4K

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$57.8 COP 180.5K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$122 COP 379.4K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$98.5 COP 307.4K

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,087 COP 3.4M

$475 COP 1.5M

128.79%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$581 COP 1.8M

$345 COP 1.1M

68.40%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,355 COP 7.3M

$966 COP 3.0M

143.73%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$978 COP 3.1M

$560 COP 1.7M

74.69%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,127 COP 3.5M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$968 COP 3.0M

$1,636 COP 5.1M

-40.84%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$480 COP 1.5M

$588 COP 1.8M

-18.28%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

12.4

20.97%

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

Last update for Cartagena: September 14, 2026

Last update for Bucaramanga: September 15, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,087 in Cartagena versus $475 in Bucaramanga. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 22% higher in Bucaramanga, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $135 in Cartagena versus $32.00 in Bucaramanga. Groceries tell a different story – $268 in Cartagena vs $317 in Bucaramanga – so Cartagena wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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

Cartagena vs Bucaramanga: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Cartagena costs about 2% more than Bucaramanga, with the gap driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,942 per month in Cartagena and $1,905 in Bucaramanga. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Bucaramanga, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,295 in Cartagena and $1,270 in Bucaramanga. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $135 in Cartagena and $32.00 in Bucaramanga. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Bucaramanga, where all-in costs run around $1,270, than in Cartagena at $1,295. In Bucaramanga it covers expenses comfortably, while in Cartagena it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Bucaramanga costs $1,270 versus $1,295 in Cartagena. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Bucaramanga. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Cartagena makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.