Cost of Living Comparison Between Cartago and Bucaramanga Cost of Living Comparison Between Cartago and Bucaramanga

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,277 per month in Cartago vs $1,270 in Bucaramanga, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,012 per month in Cartago vs $1,928 in Bucaramanga, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,747 per month in Cartago vs $2,586 in Bucaramanga, rent included.

Cartago costs about 1% more than Bucaramanga, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Cartago and Bucaramanga are more affordable than the global median – Cartago 7% lower, Bucaramanga 7% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.52 COP 23.9K

$5.58 COP 17.7K

34.77%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$39.19 COP 124.4K

$31.82 COP 101.0K

23.16%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.40 COP 26.7K

$9.55 COP 30.3K

-12.04%

Cappuccino

$1.59 COP 5,049

$2.17 COP 6,894

-26.73%

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

$1.31 COP 4,172

$1.43 COP 4,545

-8.39%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.90 COP 2,847

$1.09 COP 3,466

-17.43%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.18 COP 10.1K

$1.66 COP 5,277

91.57%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.85 COP 12.2K

$2.56 COP 8,113

50.39%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.67 COP 5,290

$1.53 COP 4,868

9.15%

White Bread (500g)

$1.98 COP 6,280

$1.49 COP 4,735

32.89%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.53 COP 4,862

$3.26 COP 10.4K

-53.07%

Eggs

$2.96 COP 9,396

$3.16 COP 10.0K

-6.33%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.57 COP 20.8K

$8.25 COP 26.2K

-20.36%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.17 COP 22.8K

$14.72 COP 46.7K

-51.29%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.58 COP 33.6K

$17.71 COP 56.2K

-40.26%

Apples (1kg)

$3.66 COP 11.6K

$3.65 COP 11.6K

0.27%

Banana (1kg)

$1.41 COP 4,486

$1.43 COP 4,546

-1.40%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.78 COP 5,647

$2.16 COP 6,846

-17.59%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.75 COP 5,563

$2.90 COP 9,205

-39.66%

Potato (1kg)

$1.47 COP 4,653

$1.40 COP 4,446

5.00%

Onion (1kg)

$1.61 COP 5,098

$1.75 COP 5,549

-8.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.16 COP 3,686

$0.93 COP 2,947

24.73%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.03 COP 3,286

$1.00 COP 3,161

3.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.78 COP 12.0K

$4.28 COP 13.6K

-11.68%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.28 COP 42.2K

$12.88 COP 40.9K

3.11%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.48 COP 4,685

$1.39 COP 4,416

6.47%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.58 COP 8,207

$1.65 COP 5,241

56.36%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.06 COP 3,371

$1.13 COP 3,589

-6.19%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$76.3 COP 242.3K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.87 COP 2,775

$2.85 COP 9,050

-69.47%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.19 COP 6,940

$1.98 COP 6,284

10.61%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$9.84 COP 31.3K

$8.02 COP 25.5K

22.69%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.35 COP 4,288

$1.38 COP 4,386

-2.17%

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

$29.6K COP 93.9M

$27.7K COP 88.0M

6.71%

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

$36.1K COP 114.5M

$34.3K COP 109.0M

5.01%

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

$117 COP 371.6K

$180 COP 571.9K

-35.03%

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

$13.25 COP 42.1K

$10.63 COP 33.7K

24.65%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$31.12 COP 98.8K

$26.12 COP 82.9K

19.14%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.56 COP 131.9K

$39.27 COP 124.7K

5.83%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$32.17 COP 102.1K

Cinema Ticket

$8.41 COP 26.7K

$6.64 COP 21.1K

26.66%

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

$549 COP 1.7M

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,925 COP 22.0M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$82.1 COP 260.7K

$54.0 COP 171.3K

52.22%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$56.3 COP 178.6K

$57.8 COP 183.6K

-2.71%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$127 COP 403.1K

$122 COP 386.1K

4.42%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$113 COP 358.0K

$98.5 COP 312.7K

14.49%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$609 COP 1.9M

$475 COP 1.5M

28.25%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$490 COP 1.6M

$345 COP 1.1M

41.93%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,158 COP 3.7M

$966 COP 3.1M

19.86%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$993 COP 3.2M

$560 COP 1.8M

77.41%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,255 COP 7.2M

$1,127 COP 3.6M

99.99%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,779 COP 5.6M

$1,636 COP 5.2M

8.75%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$588 COP 1.9M

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.58

12.4

-6.61%

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

Last update for Cartago: September 12, 2026

Last update for Bucaramanga: September 15, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $609 in Cartago versus $475 in Bucaramanga. 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 $39.00 in Cartago versus $32.00 in Bucaramanga. Groceries tell a different story – $248 in Cartago vs $317 in Bucaramanga – so Cartago 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

Cartago vs Bucaramanga: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Cartago costs about 1% more than Bucaramanga, with the gap driven mainly by Getting Around. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,916 per month in Cartago and $1,905 in Bucaramanga. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,277 in Cartago and $1,270 in Bucaramanga. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Interestingly, groceries are about 28% cheaper in Cartago – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Bucaramanga, where all-in costs run around $1,270, than in Cartago at $1,277. In Bucaramanga it covers expenses comfortably, while in Cartago it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Bucaramanga costs $1,270 versus $1,277 in Cartago. 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 Bucaramanga. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Cartago makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.