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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,066 per month in Cartagena vs $996 in Samsun, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,599 per month in Cartagena vs $1,500 in Samsun, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,132 per month in Cartagena vs $2,004 in Samsun, rent included.

Cartagena costs about 7% more than Samsun, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both Cartagena and Samsun are more affordable than the global median – Cartagena 20% lower, Samsun 25% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.16 COP 20.0K

$7.52 ₺354

-18.09%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$46.69 COP 151.8K

$25.50 ₺1,202

83.10%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.48 COP 30.8K

$8.68 ₺409

9.22%

Cappuccino

$1.66 COP 5,387

$2.82 ₺133

-41.13%

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

$0.87 COP 2,815

$1.29 ₺61.0

-32.56%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.71 COP 2,304

$0.24 ₺11.21

195.83%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.29 COP 4,204

$2.94 ₺139

-56.12%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.94 COP 9,556

$3.02 ₺142

-2.65%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.14 COP 3,711

$1.05 ₺49.72

8.57%

White Bread (500g)

$1.83 COP 5,942

$0.40 ₺18.75

357.50%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.34 COP 4,341

$3.88 ₺183

-65.46%

Eggs

$2.21 COP 7,185

$1.66 ₺78.0

33.13%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.83 COP 22.2K

$8.70 ₺410

-21.49%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.02 COP 19.6K

$10.17 ₺479

-40.81%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.71 COP 25.1K

$18.86 ₺889

-59.12%

Apples (1kg)

$3.21 COP 10.4K

$1.29 ₺60.9

148.84%

Banana (1kg)

$1.90 COP 6,173

$1.15 ₺54.4

65.22%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.51 COP 4,913

$0.88 ₺41.31

71.59%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.64 COP 5,336

$1.30 ₺61.2

26.15%

Potato (1kg)

$1.60 COP 5,195

$0.65 ₺30.53

146.15%

Onion (1kg)

$1.11 COP 3,606

$0.65 ₺30.82

70.77%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.01 COP 3,275

$0.78 ₺36.76

29.49%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.64 COP 2,075

$0.71 ₺33.67

-9.86%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.35 COP 7,627

$2.11 ₺99.6

11.37%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.01 COP 61.8K

$9.34 ₺440

103.53%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.99 COP 3,218

$2.04 ₺96.4

-51.47%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.97 COP 3,156

$2.46 ₺116

-60.57%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.07 COP 3,465

$0.59 ₺27.95

81.36%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$28.03 COP 91.1K

$9.63 ₺454

191.07%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.46 COP 7,992

$2.30 ₺108

6.96%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.44 COP 7,917

$0.64 ₺30.21

281.25%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.92 COP 16.0K

$4.44 ₺209

10.81%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.02 COP 3,309

$1.11 ₺52.4

-8.11%

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

$21.1K COP 68.6M

$43.7K ₺2.1M

-51.73%

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

$23.5K COP 76.3M

$48.6K ₺2.3M

-51.73%

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

$139 COP 451.3K

$49.85 ₺2,350

178.48%

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

$10.65 COP 34.6K

$10.88 ₺513

-2.11%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.92 COP 81.0K

$11.64 ₺549

114.09%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$35.59 COP 115.7K

$83.1 ₺3,915

-57.16%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$8.90 COP 29.0K

Cinema Ticket

$2.97 COP 9,666

$5.64 ₺266

-47.34%

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

$143 COP 464.2K

$501 ₺23.6K

-71.50%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,923 COP 19.3M

$3,757 ₺177.1K

57.67%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$47.79 COP 155.4K

$38.41 ₺1,810

24.42%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$39.11 COP 127.1K

$45.16 ₺2,129

-13.40%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$124 COP 403.4K

$88.1 ₺4,154

40.80%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$115 COP 374.0K

$44.77 ₺2,110

156.96%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$740 COP 2.4M

$499 ₺23.5K

48.33%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$332 COP 1.1M

$327 ₺15.4K

1.57%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,274 COP 4.1M

$729 ₺34.4K

74.75%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$477 COP 1.6M

$514 ₺24.2K

-7.17%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,358 COP 10.9M

$751 ₺35.4K

347.39%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$933 COP 3.0M

$430 ₺20.3K

117.07%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$450 COP 1.5M

$969 ₺45.7K

-53.58%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

43.33

-65.38%

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

Last update for Cartagena: July 11, 2026

Last update for Samsun: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $740 in Cartagena versus $499 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 115% 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 $47.00 in Cartagena versus $25.00 in Samsun. Groceries tell a different story – $223 in Cartagena vs $242 in Samsun – 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 Samsun: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Cartagena costs about 7% more than Samsun, with the gap driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,599 per month in Cartagena and $1,495 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 $143 per month in Cartagena and $501 in Samsun. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 9% 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 Samsun, where all-in costs run around $996, than in Cartagena at $1,066. 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 $996 versus $1,066 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.