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: $836 in Cartago versus $747 in Cali.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,266 in Cartago versus $1,229 in Cali.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,696 in Cartago versus $1,710 in Cali.

Living in Cartago is roughly 12% more expensive than in Cali, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities sit below the global median: Cartago 37% lower, Cali 44% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.64 COP 11.8K

$3.65 COP 11.9K

-0.27%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$28.68 COP 93.2K

$29.20 COP 94.9K

-1.78%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.29 COP 23.7K

$7.41 COP 24.1K

-1.62%

Cappuccino

$1.59 COP 5,169

$1.58 COP 5,130

0.63%

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

$0.87 COP 2,826

$0.95 COP 3,095

-8.42%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.57 COP 1,852

$0.60 COP 1,940

-5.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.00 COP 3,263

$1.01 COP 3,297

-0.99%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.51 COP 8,165

$2.61 COP 8,484

-3.83%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.24 COP 4,018

$1.24 COP 4,029

White Bread (500g)

$1.51 COP 4,915

$1.47 COP 4,770

2.72%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.27 COP 4,113

$1.25 COP 4,076

1.60%

Eggs

$2.52 COP 8,194

$2.48 COP 8,065

1.61%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.11 COP 13.4K

$4.33 COP 14.1K

-5.08%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.49 COP 17.8K

$5.36 COP 17.4K

2.43%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.76 COP 25.2K

$7.49 COP 24.4K

3.60%

Apples (1kg)

$2.43 COP 7,899

$2.49 COP 8,108

-2.41%

Banana (1kg)

$0.91 COP 2,975

$0.92 COP 2,986

-1.09%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.19 COP 3,882

$1.15 COP 3,749

3.48%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.27 COP 4,144

$1.31 COP 4,260

-3.05%

Potato (1kg)

$0.81 COP 2,627

$0.89 COP 2,881

-8.99%

Onion (1kg)

$1.06 COP 3,451

$1.11 COP 3,593

-4.50%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.70 COP 2,277

$0.75 COP 2,427

-6.67%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.69 COP 2,242

$0.68 COP 2,211

1.47%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.85 COP 9,252

$2.91 COP 9,454

-2.06%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.59 COP 40.9K

$12.88 COP 41.9K

-2.25%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.12 COP 3,646

$1.07 COP 3,478

4.67%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.88 COP 6,125

$1.86 COP 6,040

1.08%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.68 COP 2,221

$0.73 COP 2,386

-6.85%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$29.88 COP 97.1K

$20.17 COP 65.6K

48.14%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.54 COP 4,994

$1.55 COP 5,043

-0.65%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.88 COP 6,123

$1.90 COP 6,171

-1.05%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$9.65 COP 31.4K

$9.45 COP 30.7K

2.12%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.99 COP 3,219

$0.98 COP 3,190

1.02%

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

$21.7K COP 70.6M

$21.9K COP 71.3M

-1.00%

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

$30.4K COP 98.7M

$29.6K COP 96.2M

2.55%

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

$83.1 COP 270.2K

$83.3 COP 270.9K

-0.26%

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

$8.68 COP 28.2K

$8.94 COP 29.1K

-2.91%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.16 COP 78.6K

$24.55 COP 79.8K

-1.59%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$23.67 COP 76.9K

$19.79 COP 64.3K

19.61%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.72 COP 47.9K

Cinema Ticket

$4.97 COP 16.1K

$4.88 COP 15.9K

1.84%

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

$225 COP 730.7K

$222 COP 720.7K

1.38%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,871 COP 19.1M

-0.00%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$63.2 COP 205.4K

$64.0 COP 208.1K

-1.27%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.52 COP 144.7K

$43.51 COP 141.5K

2.32%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$75.6 COP 245.7K

$76.3 COP 248.1K

-0.96%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$91.1 COP 296.1K

$89.5 COP 291.1K

1.72%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$284 COP 922.7K

$241 COP 783.0K

17.84%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$238 COP 774.4K

$188 COP 611.5K

26.64%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$527 COP 1.7M

$615 COP 2.0M

-14.30%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$428 COP 1.4M

$398 COP 1.3M

7.41%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,740 COP 5.7M

$1,258 COP 4.1M

38.30%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,273 COP 4.1M

$990 COP 3.2M

28.56%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$347 COP 1.1M

$554 COP 1.8M

-37.28%

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: July 14, 2026

Last update for Cali: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $284 in Cartago and $241 in Cali. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Cali pays 59% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $29.00 in Cartago vs $29.00 in Cali. Groceries flip the comparison at $185 vs $184, with Cali cheaper for home cooking.

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 Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Getting Around, Sport & Entertainment. The 12% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, salaries run 59% lower in Cali. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $284 in Cartago versus $241 in Cali. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $225 in Cartago versus $222 in Cali. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Supermarket bills run roughly 0% higher in Cartago. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

Either city works on $1,000 a month, though Cali gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.

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 12% less than in Cartago. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.