Cost of Living Comparison Between Cartago and Cali Cost of Living Comparison Between Cartago and Cali

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,232 in Cartago versus $1,090 in Cali.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,965 in Cartago versus $1,649 in Cali.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,699 in Cartago versus $2,208 in Cali.

Living in Cartago is roughly 13% more expensive than in Cali, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities sit below the global median: Cartago 10% lower, Cali 21% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.66 COP 24.1K

$7.70 COP 24.2K

-0.52%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$38.34 COP 120.5K

$38.08 COP 119.7K

0.68%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.62 COP 27.1K

$8.61 COP 27.1K

0.12%

Cappuccino

$1.61 COP 5,068

$1.62 COP 5,091

-0.62%

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

$1.30 COP 4,095

$1.26 COP 3,957

3.17%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.87 COP 2,724

$0.87 COP 2,744

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.12 COP 9,820

$3.25 COP 10.2K

-4.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.86 COP 12.1K

$3.85 COP 12.1K

0.26%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.63 COP 5,121

$1.57 COP 4,950

3.82%

White Bread (500g)

$2.00 COP 6,272

$1.99 COP 6,258

0.50%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.49 COP 4,689

$1.51 COP 4,747

-1.32%

Eggs

$2.89 COP 9,089

$2.83 COP 8,887

2.12%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.44 COP 20.3K

$6.43 COP 20.2K

0.16%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.93 COP 21.8K

$7.06 COP 22.2K

-1.84%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.09 COP 31.7K

$10.39 COP 32.7K

-2.89%

Apples (1kg)

$3.54 COP 11.1K

$3.49 COP 11.0K

1.43%

Banana (1kg)

$1.35 COP 4,248

$1.41 COP 4,439

-4.26%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.81 COP 5,703

$1.76 COP 5,520

2.84%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.66 COP 5,231

$1.75 COP 5,500

-5.14%

Potato (1kg)

$1.44 COP 4,514

$1.45 COP 4,566

-0.69%

Onion (1kg)

$1.58 COP 4,968

$1.57 COP 4,930

0.64%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.14 COP 3,586

$1.15 COP 3,625

-0.87%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.01 COP 3,186

$1.04 COP 3,259

-2.88%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.70 COP 11.6K

Wine (Bottle)

$12.96 COP 40.7K

$13.26 COP 41.7K

-2.26%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.51 COP 4,742

$1.45 COP 4,551

4.14%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.54 COP 7,999

$2.53 COP 7,959

0.40%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.19 COP 3,731

$1.08 COP 3,409

10.19%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$29.95 COP 94.1K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.86 COP 2,688

$0.84 COP 2,652

2.38%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.87 COP 5,876

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.03 COP 25.2K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.33 COP 4,191

$1.30 COP 4,098

2.31%

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

$23.6K COP 74.1M

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

$35.9K COP 112.8M

$35.7K COP 112.2M

0.56%

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

$113 COP 356.4K

$114 COP 356.9K

-0.13%

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

$13.29 COP 41.8K

$13.49 COP 42.4K

-1.48%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$31.50 COP 99.0K

$31.05 COP 97.6K

1.45%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$35.54 COP 111.7K

$28.87 COP 90.8K

23.10%

Cinema Ticket

$8.49 COP 26.7K

$8.43 COP 26.5K

0.71%

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

$658 COP 2.1M

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,616 COP 20.8M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$78.7 COP 247.3K

$80.3 COP 252.4K

-2.01%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$55.1 COP 173.3K

$54.4 COP 170.9K

1.42%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$126 COP 395.7K

$124 COP 390.3K

1.38%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$109 COP 343.5K

$109 COP 342.4K

0.34%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$646 COP 2.0M

$641 COP 2.0M

0.70%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$502 COP 1.6M

$299 COP 941.2K

67.56%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,123 COP 3.5M

$1,577 COP 5.0M

-28.78%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,010 COP 3.2M

$493 COP 1.5M

104.98%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,687 COP 5.3M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,900 COP 6.0M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$591 COP 1.9M

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.58

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

Last update for Cartago: September 1, 2026

Last update for Cali: September 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $646 in Cartago and $641 in Cali. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $38.00 in Cartago vs $38.00 in Cali for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $242 vs $244 per month, with Cartago 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

Cartago vs Cali: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Cali is cheaper overall, especially in Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 13% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $1,847 in Cartago and $1,636 in Cali to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.

Rent for a central apartment: $646 in Cartago versus $641 in Cali. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Shoppers in Cartago pay roughly 1% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.

Dining out is cheaper in Cali – a meal for two runs $38.00 versus $38.00 in Cartago. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $1,090 in Cali versus $1,232 in Cartago, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Cali but tight or insufficient in Cartago. 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 Cartago, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.

Safety-wise, Cartago and Cali are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Cali gentler on the wallet – expenses run 13% less than in Cartago. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.