Cost of Living Comparison Between Cartagena and Cali Cost of Living Comparison Between Cartagena and Cali

😐 Solo nomad: Cartagena is 26.6% more expensive than Cali without rent, and 41.2% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Cartagena is 39.2% more expensive than Cali without rent, and 27.6% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Cartagena
Cali
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.89 COP 22.3K
$3.59 COP 13.6K
64.07%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.55 COP 176.3K
$29.51 COP 111.7K
57.74%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.47 COP 35.8K
$7.46 COP 28.3K
26.94%
Cappuccino
$1.64 COP 6,207
$1.63 COP 6,169
0.61%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.86 COP 3,253
$0.95 COP 3,606
-9.47%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.66 COP 2,497
$0.56 COP 2,135
17.86%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.24 COP 4,711
$1.05 COP 3,982
18.10%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.95 COP 11.2K
$2.50 COP 9,476
18.00%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Cartagena
Cali
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.14 COP 4,308
$1.22 COP 4,600
-6.56%
White Bread (500g)
$1.93 COP 7,294
$1.51 COP 5,727
27.81%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.33 COP 5,031
$1.20 COP 4,549
10.83%
Eggs
$2.13 COP 8,058
$2.54 COP 9,599
-16.14%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$6.78 COP 25.7K
$4.17 COP 15.8K
62.59%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.11 COP 23.1K
$5.36 COP 20.3K
13.99%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$8.05 COP 30.5K
$7.59 COP 28.7K
6.06%
Apples (1kg)
$3.30 COP 12.5K
$2.40 COP 9,105
37.50%
Banana (1kg)
$1.91 COP 7,242
$0.90 COP 3,413
112.22%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.44 COP 5,469
$1.14 COP 4,302
26.32%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.65 COP 6,257
$1.26 COP 4,785
30.95%
Potato (1kg)
$1.53 COP 5,789
$0.87 COP 3,283
75.86%
Onion (1kg)
$1.12 COP 4,234
$1.06 COP 4,028
5.66%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.01 COP 3,832
$0.76 COP 2,880
32.89%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.60 COP 2,271
$0.65 COP 2,477
-7.69%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.35 COP 8,896
$2.82 COP 10.7K
-16.67%
Wine (Bottle)
$17.67 COP 66.9K
$11.21 COP 42.4K
57.63%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.93 COP 3,537
$1.11 COP 4,184
-16.22%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.98 COP 3,697
$1.92 COP 7,267
-48.96%
🚌 Getting Around
Cartagena
Cali
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.06 COP 4,018
$0.68 COP 2,571
55.88%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$28.38 COP 107.4K
$20.33 COP 77.0K
39.60%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.36 COP 8,953
$1.61 COP 6,088
46.58%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.47 COP 9,352
$1.95 COP 7,372
26.67%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$4.70 COP 17.8K
$9.76 COP 37.0K
-51.84%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.03 COP 3,918
$0.95 COP 3,595
8.42%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.6K COP 81.7M
$21.8K COP 82.7M
-1.15%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.8K COP 90.0M
$29.7K COP 112.6M
-20.07%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Cartagena
Cali
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$140 COP 531.3K
$82.8 COP 313.5K
69.50%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$10.86 COP 41.1K
$8.79 COP 33.3K
23.55%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$25.12 COP 95.1K
$24.10 COP 91.3K
4.23%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Cartagena
Cali
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$34.78 COP 131.7K
$20.12 COP 76.2K
72.86%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$8.55 COP 32.4K
$14.36 COP 54.4K
-40.46%
Cinema Ticket
$2.94 COP 11.1K
$4.96 COP 18.8K
-40.73%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Cartagena
Cali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$140 COP 529.9K
$228 COP 862.9K
-38.59%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,849 COP 22.1M
$5,953 COP 22.5M
-1.73%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Cartagena
Cali
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$48.55 COP 183.8K
$62.9 COP 238.3K
-22.86%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$38.87 COP 147.2K
$43.78 COP 165.8K
-11.22%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$126 COP 478.4K
$77.0 COP 291.6K
64.06%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$113 COP 427.0K
$89.0 COP 336.8K
26.76%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Cartagena
Cali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$735 COP 2.8M
$242 COP 914.6K
204.18%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$330 COP 1.2M
$185 COP 701.6K
77.92%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,266 COP 4.8M
$624 COP 2.4M
102.96%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$476 COP 1.8M
$407 COP 1.5M
16.82%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,950 COP 11.2M
$1,085 COP 4.1M
171.96%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,914 COP 7.2M
$854 COP 3.2M
124.21%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Cartagena
Cali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$393 COP 1.5M
$489 COP 1.9M
-19.67%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
15
11.58
29.53%

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

Last update for Cartagena: February 28, 2026

Last update for Cali: March 1, 2026

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated December 2025)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Similar cities