Cost of Living Comparison Between Cartagena and Ocho Rios Cost of Living Comparison Between Cartagena and Ocho Rios

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,086 per month in Cartagena vs $924 in Ocho Rios, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,604 per month in Cartagena vs $1,935 in Ocho Rios, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,121 per month in Cartagena vs $2,947 in Ocho Rios, rent included.

Cartagena costs about 18% more than Ocho Rios, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Cartagena and Ocho Rios are more affordable than the global median – Cartagena 18% lower, Ocho Rios 31% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.93 COP 18.7K

$7.58 JMD 1,192

-21.77%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$47.34 COP 149.2K

$61.6 JMD 9,675

-23.09%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.95 COP 31.4K

$6.39 JMD 1,004

55.71%

Cappuccino

$1.57 COP 4,954

$2.66 JMD 419

-40.98%

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

$0.82 COP 2,581

$1.36 JMD 215

-39.71%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.68 COP 2,129

$0.76 JMD 119

-10.53%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.31 COP 4,115

$2.24 JMD 352

-41.52%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.89 COP 9,115

$3.05 JMD 479

-5.25%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.14 COP 3,593

$4.07 JMD 639

-71.99%

White Bread (500g)

$1.83 COP 5,782

$2.69 JMD 423

-31.97%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.37 COP 4,328

$1.61 JMD 253

-14.91%

Eggs

$2.19 COP 6,916

$3.61 JMD 567

-39.34%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.81 COP 21.5K

$6.76 JMD 1,063

0.74%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.22 COP 19.6K

$6.38 JMD 1,003

-2.51%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.77 COP 24.5K

$7.81 JMD 1,227

-0.51%

Apples (1kg)

$3.26 COP 10.3K

$5.91 JMD 929

-44.84%

Banana (1kg)

$1.91 COP 6,019

$3.04 JMD 477

-37.17%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.45 COP 4,559

$4.34 JMD 682

-66.59%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.62 COP 5,105

$2.24 JMD 352

-27.68%

Potato (1kg)

$1.61 COP 5,078

$2.01 JMD 317

-19.90%

Onion (1kg)

$1.08 COP 3,403

$1.95 JMD 307

-44.62%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.01 COP 3,180

$2.08 JMD 327

-51.44%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.59 COP 1,867

$1.13 JMD 177

-47.79%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.35 COP 7,409

$9.00 JMD 1,414

-73.89%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.80 COP 59.3K

$9.55 JMD 1,501

96.86%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.98 COP 3,086

$2.37 JMD 373

-58.65%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.98 COP 3,084

$2.97 JMD 467

-67.00%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.05 COP 3,314

$1.53 JMD 240

-31.37%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$28.98 COP 91.3K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.46 COP 7,759

$0.61 JMD 95.8

303.28%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.37 COP 7,467

$0.96 JMD 151

146.88%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.86 COP 15.3K

$6.21 JMD 976

-21.74%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.02 COP 3,207

$1.24 JMD 195

-17.74%

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

$21.1K COP 66.5M

$42.3K JMD 6.7M

-50.13%

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

$24.0K COP 75.8M

$33.3K JMD 5.2M

-27.82%

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

$143 COP 449.4K

$105 JMD 16.6K

35.39%

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

$10.93 COP 34.4K

$22.42 JMD 3,525

-51.25%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$25.27 COP 79.6K

$39.49 JMD 6,207

-36.01%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$35.26 COP 111.1K

$15.55 JMD 2,445

126.75%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$8.60 COP 27.1K

$5.58 JMD 877

54.12%

Cinema Ticket

$2.84 COP 8,956

$11.20 JMD 1,760

-74.64%

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

$144 COP 454.1K

$222 JMD 34.9K

-35.07%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,062 COP 19.1M

$2,516 JMD 395.5K

140.95%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$47.97 COP 151.2K

$15.93 JMD 2,504

201.13%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$38.50 COP 121.3K

$12.45 JMD 1,957

209.24%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$125 COP 394.1K

$49.67 JMD 7,807

151.78%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$112 COP 351.5K

$61.5 JMD 9,668

81.40%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$720 COP 2.3M

$383 JMD 60.2K

88.21%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$333 COP 1.0M

$185 JMD 29.1K

79.93%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,292 COP 4.1M

$1,220 JMD 191.7K

5.90%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$471 COP 1.5M

$1,207 JMD 189.8K

-60.95%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,492 COP 11.0M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$935 COP 2.9M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$467 COP 1.5M

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

200.00%

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

Last update for Cartagena: July 26, 2026

Last update for Ocho Rios: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $720 in Cartagena versus $383 in Ocho Rios. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $47.00 in Cartagena versus $62.0 in Ocho Rios. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $223 vs $309 – making Cartagena the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 Ocho Rios: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Cartagena costs about 18% more than Ocho Rios, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,629 per month in Cartagena and $1,386 in Ocho Rios. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

A mid-range dinner for two costs $47.00 in Cartagena and $62.0 in Ocho Rios. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 39% cheaper in Cartagena – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Ocho Rios, where all-in costs run around $924, than in Cartagena at $1,086. In Ocho Rios it covers expenses comfortably, while in Cartagena it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Ocho Rios costs $924 versus $1,086 in Cartagena. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

If budget matters most, go with Ocho Rios. 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.