Cost of Living Comparison Between Cartagena and Samsun Cost of Living Comparison Between Cartagena and Samsun

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,259 per month in Cartagena vs $928 in Samsun, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,096 per month in Cartagena vs $1,607 in Samsun, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,934 per month in Cartagena vs $2,286 in Samsun, rent included.

Cartagena costs about 36% more than Samsun, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Cartagena and Samsun are more affordable than the global median – Cartagena 9% lower, Samsun 33% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.16 COP 15.9K

$8.01 ₺389

-35.58%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$137 COP 420.4K

$63.2 ₺3,068

116.22%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.07 COP 31.0K

$7.61 ₺370

32.33%

Cappuccino

$3.65 COP 11.2K

$3.28 ₺159

11.28%

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

$1.87 COP 5,762

$0.97 ₺47.11

92.78%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.89 COP 5,823

$0.25 ₺12.00

656.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.95 COP 5,995

$2.02 ₺97.9

-3.47%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.75 COP 14.6K

$2.73 ₺133

73.99%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.93 COP 5,947

$1.13 ₺54.8

70.80%

White Bread (500g)

$2.94 COP 9,041

$1.68 ₺81.6

75.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.44 COP 4,426

$2.75 ₺133

-47.64%

Eggs

$4.97 COP 15.3K

$2.50 ₺122

98.80%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.52 COP 41.6K

$8.73 ₺424

54.87%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$17.48 COP 53.8K

$5.79 ₺281

201.90%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$24.41 ₺1,185

Apples (1kg)

$2.44 ₺118

Banana (1kg)

$2.37 ₺115

Oranges (1kg)

$1.55 ₺75.4

Tomato (1kg)

$1.11 ₺54.0

Potato (1kg)

$0.47 ₺22.99

Onion (1kg)

$0.34 ₺16.63

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.89 ₺43.45

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.06 COP 6,340

$0.58 ₺28.29

255.17%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.00 ₺97.3

Wine (Bottle)

$14.62 COP 45.0K

$9.32 ₺452

56.87%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.42 COP 4,370

$1.68 ₺81.6

-15.48%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.24 ₺109

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.21 COP 3,734

$0.60 ₺29.15

101.67%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$58.9 COP 181.2K

$10.79 ₺524

445.69%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.82 COP 14.8K

$1.91 ₺92.6

152.36%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.88 COP 11.9K

$0.61 ₺29.85

536.07%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$9.46 COP 29.1K

$5.29 ₺257

78.83%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.32 COP 4,048

$1.22 ₺59.4

8.20%

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

$24.0K COP 73.8M

$41.5K ₺2.0M

-42.23%

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

$35.0K COP 107.8M

$40.9K ₺2.0M

-14.38%

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

$79.9 COP 245.9K

$89.8 ₺4,358

-10.97%

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

$11.76 ₺571

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$12.48 ₺606

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$90.7 COP 279.0K

$30.91 ₺1,501

193.30%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.25 ₺303

Cinema Ticket

$8.28 COP 25.5K

$4.07 ₺198

103.44%

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

$646 COP 2.0M

$254 ₺12.3K

154.39%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,928 COP 18.2M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$28.40 ₺1,379

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$30.58 ₺1,485

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$73.3 ₺3,557

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$48.34 ₺2,347

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,058 COP 3.3M

$362 ₺17.6K

192.42%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$586 COP 1.8M

$259 ₺12.6K

126.28%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,336 COP 7.2M

$779 ₺37.8K

199.91%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$978 COP 3.0M

$616 ₺29.9K

58.91%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,009 ₺49.0K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$945 COP 2.9M

$659 ₺32.0K

43.47%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$476 COP 1.5M

$962 ₺46.7K

-50.55%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

-69.39%

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

Last update for Cartagena: September 7, 2026

Last update for Samsun: September 5, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,058 in Cartagena versus $362 in Samsun. 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 102% higher in Samsun, 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 $137 in Cartagena versus $63.0 in Samsun. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $263 vs $260 – making Samsun 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 Samsun: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Cartagena costs about 36% more than Samsun, 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 $1,888 per month in Cartagena and $1,393 in Samsun. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Kindergarten costs $646 per month in Cartagena and $254 in Samsun. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 1% more in Cartagena, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Samsun, where all-in costs run around $928, than in Cartagena at $1,259. In Samsun it covers expenses comfortably, while in Cartagena it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Samsun costs $928 versus $1,259 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 Samsun. 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.