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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,295 in Cartagena versus $1,087 in Cali.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,130 in Cartagena versus $1,694 in Cali.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,966 in Cartagena versus $2,301 in Cali.

Living in Cartagena is roughly 19% more expensive than in Cali, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Cartagena 5% lower, Cali 21% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.95 COP 15.5K

$7.59 COP 23.7K

-34.78%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$135 COP 422.2K

$38.62 COP 120.5K

250.31%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.19 COP 31.8K

$8.46 COP 26.4K

20.45%

Cappuccino

$3.61 COP 11.3K

$1.65 COP 5,153

118.79%

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

$1.88 COP 5,879

$1.27 COP 3,971

48.03%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.82 COP 5,670

$0.85 COP 2,638

114.12%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.06 COP 6,425

$3.28 COP 10.2K

-37.20%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.87 COP 15.2K

$3.85 COP 12.0K

26.49%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.97 COP 6,144

$1.66 COP 5,172

18.67%

White Bread (500g)

$2.99 COP 9,317

$1.95 COP 6,077

53.33%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.51 COP 4,703

$1.52 COP 4,744

-0.66%

Eggs

$5.21 COP 16.2K

$3.00 COP 9,375

73.67%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.62 COP 42.5K

$6.48 COP 20.2K

110.19%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$17.97 COP 56.1K

$7.22 COP 22.5K

148.89%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.39 COP 32.4K

Apples (1kg)

$3.67 COP 11.4K

Banana (1kg)

$1.37 COP 4,284

Oranges (1kg)

$1.83 COP 5,713

Tomato (1kg)

$1.77 COP 5,538

Potato (1kg)

$1.46 COP 4,556

Onion (1kg)

$1.54 COP 4,801

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.17 COP 3,658

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.07 COP 6,464

$1.05 COP 3,267

97.14%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.79 COP 11.8K

Wine (Bottle)

$14.76 COP 46.1K

$13.24 COP 41.3K

11.48%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.40 COP 4,362

$1.47 COP 4,598

-4.76%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.51 COP 7,833

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.29 COP 4,018

$1.15 COP 3,603

12.17%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$59.4 COP 185.2K

$30.69 COP 95.8K

93.42%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.85 COP 15.1K

$0.88 COP 2,742

451.14%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.84 COP 12.0K

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$9.83 COP 30.7K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.38 COP 4,300

$1.31 COP 4,093

5.34%

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

$23.9K COP 74.6M

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

$34.8K COP 108.7M

$36.1K COP 112.7M

-3.56%

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

$80.9 COP 252.4K

$114 COP 357.1K

-29.30%

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

$13.68 COP 42.7K

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$31.26 COP 97.5K

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$90.5 COP 282.5K

$29.82 COP 93.1K

203.62%

Cinema Ticket

$8.48 COP 26.5K

$8.36 COP 26.1K

1.44%

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)

$79.7 COP 248.6K

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$55.1 COP 171.9K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$130 COP 405.4K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$114 COP 357.1K

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,087 COP 3.4M

$666 COP 2.1M

63.20%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$581 COP 1.8M

$306 COP 955.3K

89.74%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,355 COP 7.3M

$1,627 COP 5.1M

44.72%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$978 COP 3.1M

$509 COP 1.6M

92.07%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$968 COP 3.0M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$480 COP 1.5M

$598 COP 1.9M

-19.73%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.58

29.53%

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

Last update for Cartagena: September 14, 2026

Last update for Cali: September 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,087 in Cartagena and $666 in Cali. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Cali pays 25% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $135 in Cartagena vs $39.00 in Cali for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $268 vs $247 per month, with Cali 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

Cartagena vs Cali: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Cali is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 19% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, salaries run 25% lower in Cali. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $1,087 in Cartagena versus $666 in Cali. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Dining out is cheaper in Cali – a meal for two runs $39.00 versus $135 in Cartagena. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

A monthly transit pass in Cali runs roughly 93% less than in Cartagena. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $1,087 in Cali versus $1,295 in Cartagena, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Cali but tight or insufficient in Cartagena. The gap between the two cities makes Cali the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

For families, Cali is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Cartagena, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.

Expats usually find Cali gentler on the wallet – expenses run 19% less than in Cartagena. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.