For one person, living is cheaper in Colombia: $1,326 a month against $2,478 in the United Kingdom, rent and utilities included – about $13,800 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.
How much you'll spend in Colombia and in the United Kingdom
Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Colombia and in the United Kingdom actually costs, broken down by who's living it.
A single person spends $1,326 per month in Colombia vs $2,478 in the United Kingdom, rent included.
Colombia $1,326
United Kingdom $2,478
A couple spends around $2,051 per month in Colombia vs $3,608 in the United Kingdom, rent included.
Colombia $2,051
United Kingdom $3,608
A family of three spends $2,777 per month in Colombia vs $4,739 in the United Kingdom, rent included.
Colombia $2,777
United Kingdom $4,739
📏
The regional cost range is wider in the United Kingdom ($1,143–$4,049) than in Colombia ($799–$1,625), so city choice matters more there.
🌍
The cost of living in Colombia is roughly 47% lower than in the United Kingdom on average.
📊
Colombia sits 2% below the global median, while the United Kingdom is 83% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
No currencies found
🍽 Eating Out
Colombia
United Kingdom
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.41COP 23.5K
$21.61£16.21
-65.71%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.52COP 147.5K
$87.7£65.8
-46.94%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.20COP 29.2K
$10.82£8.12
-14.97%
Cappuccino
$2.75COP 8,718
$4.77£3.58
-42.35%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.50COP 4,748
$2.64£1.98
-43.18%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.10COP 3,487
$1.88£1.41
-41.49%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.56COP 8,117
$6.59£4.94
-61.15%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.79COP 12.0K
$6.56£4.92
-42.23%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Colombia
United Kingdom
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.58COP 5,001
$1.64£1.23
-3.66%
White Bread(500g)
$2.22COP 7,028
$1.65£1.23
34.55%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.64COP 5,201
$2.23£1.68
-26.46%
Eggs
$2.95COP 9,342
$4.06£3.05
-27.34%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.00COP 25.4K
$9.64£7.23
-17.01%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.09COP 28.8K
$9.14£6.86
-0.55%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.47COP 36.4K
$14.77£11.08
-22.34%
Apples(1kg)
$3.71COP 11.8K
$2.92£2.19
27.05%
Banana(1kg)
$1.40COP 4,436
$1.65£1.24
-15.15%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.71COP 5,417
$2.80£2.10
-38.93%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.99COP 6,312
$3.32£2.49
-40.06%
Potato(1kg)
$1.50COP 4,747
$1.81£1.36
-17.13%
Onion(1kg)
$1.50COP 4,746
$1.56£1.17
-3.85%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.13COP 3,588
$1.24£0.93
-8.87%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.06COP 3,365
$1.66£1.25
-36.14%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.33COP 13.7K
$23.79£17.85
-81.80%
Wine(Bottle)
$13.13COP 41.6K
$10.46£7.85
25.53%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.51COP 4,782
$2.94£2.21
-48.64%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.36COP 7,472
$3.39£2.54
-30.38%
🚌 Getting Around
Colombia
United Kingdom
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.13COP 3,572
$3.51£2.63
-67.81%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$61.9COP 196.3K
$104£78.3
-40.64%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.12COP 6,708
$5.42£4.06
-60.89%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.13COP 6,760
$2.40£1.80
-11.25%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$8.49COP 26.9K
$27.06£20.30
-68.63%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.31COP 4,149
$1.96£1.47
-33.16%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.0KCOP 111.0M
$38.7K£29.0K
-9.55%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.4KCOP 109.2M
$41.2K£30.9K
-16.47%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Colombia
United Kingdom
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$127COP 403.4K
$323£242
-60.62%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.77COP 43.7K
$18.55£13.92
-25.77%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.32COP 93.0K
$42.14£31.61
-30.42%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Colombia
United Kingdom
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$36.19COP 114.8K
$46.76£35.08
-22.60%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$15.74COP 49.9K
$17.95£13.47
-12.31%
Cinema Ticket
$6.34COP 20.1K
$13.85£10.39
-54.22%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Colombia
United Kingdom
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$590COP 1.9M
$1,725£1,294
-65.78%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$9,440COP 29.9M
$22.6K£16.9K
-58.21%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Colombia
United Kingdom
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$78.5COP 248.7K
$92.8£69.6
-15.44%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$51.1COP 162.0K
$46.58£34.94
9.68%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$134COP 424.1K
$102£76.5
31.17%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$105COP 334.3K
$102£76.6
3.33%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Colombia
United Kingdom
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$693COP 2.2M
$1,348£1,011
-48.55%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$443COP 1.4M
$1,098£824
-59.61%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,277COP 4.0M
$2,160£1,620
-40.88%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$807COP 2.6M
$1,745£1,309
-53.75%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,281COP 7.2M
$5,578£4,184
-59.11%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,476COP 4.7M
$4,418£3,315
-66.61%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Colombia
United Kingdom
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$619COP 2.0M
$3,358£2,519
-81.58%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
12.81
5.32
140.79%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Colombia: October 17, 2026
Last update for the United Kingdom: October 20, 2026
Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Share of the monthly basket for a family of three, rent included.
🏠Accommodation & Living
Colombia
$443 33.5%
United Kingdom
$1.1K 44.3% ↑ 148%$654
🛒Groceries & Markets
Colombia
$267 20.2%
United Kingdom
$305 12.3% ↑ 14.2%$38
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
Colombia
$170 12.9%
United Kingdom
$384 15.5% ↑ 125%$213
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
Colombia
$166 12.5%
United Kingdom
$155 6.2% ↓ 6.9%$11
🍽Eating Out
Colombia
$151 11.4%
United Kingdom
$327 13.2% ↑ 117%$176
🚌Getting Around
Colombia
$79 6%
United Kingdom
$136 5.5% ↑ 71.4%$57
🎉Sport & Entertainment
Colombia
$49 3.7%
United Kingdom
$74 3% ↑ 52.3%$26
🏠Accommodation & Living
Colombia
$807 29.1%
United Kingdom
$1.7K 36.8% ↑ 116%$938
🛒Groceries & Markets
Colombia
$614 22.1%
United Kingdom
$701 14.8% ↑ 14.2%$87
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
Colombia
$184 6.6%
United Kingdom
$402 8.5% ↑ 119%$218
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
Colombia
$369 13.3%
United Kingdom
$343 7.3% ↓ 6.9%$25
🍽Eating Out
Colombia
$529 19.1%
United Kingdom
$1.1K 23.3% ↑ 108%$573
🚌Getting Around
Colombia
$161 5.8%
United Kingdom
$279 5.9% ↑ 73.3%$118
🎉Sport & Entertainment
Colombia
$113 4.1%
United Kingdom
$167 3.5% ↑ 47%$53
Cost Breakdown
🏠Average rent: $646 in Colombia vs $1,265 in the United Kingdom. For reference, capital cities sit at $801 in Bogota and $2,852 in London.
💰Average salary: $640 in Colombia vs $3,250 in the United Kingdom. The income gap affects purchasing power and how far your budget stretches in each country.
Cost Highlights
⭐Rent is 96% higher in the United Kingdom.
⭐Dining out costs 89% more in the United Kingdom.
⭐Public transport is 450% more expensive in the United Kingdom.
⭐Salaries are 408% higher in the United Kingdom, and purchasing power comes out stronger in the United Kingdom.
Colombia→United Kingdom8,490 km≈ 11 h nonstop flight
From you
Colombia
United Kingdom
Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.
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
Colombia vs United Kingdom: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which country is cheaper: Colombia or the United Kingdom?
Colombia is the cheaper option – living costs run roughly 87% lower on average.
Is rent more expensive in Colombia or in the United Kingdom?
Housing costs more in the United Kingdom: a central one-bedroom averages $1,265 versus $646 in Colombia.
How do daily expenses compare in Colombia vs the United Kingdom?
Groceries, public transport, and eating out all cost less in Colombia, adding to the overall 87% price gap.
Can you live in both Colombia and the United Kingdom on $2,000 per month?
$2,000 buys a comfortable lifestyle in Colombia, but in the United Kingdom it only works with careful planning outside the capital. Same money, very different lives.
Which country is better for expats: Colombia or the United Kingdom?
Colombia is the budget-friendly choice for expats – lower housing and daily costs. But cost isn't everything: visa policies, language, healthcare quality, and job markets all weigh in too.