Cost of Living Comparison Between Duitama and Cali Cost of Living Comparison Between Duitama and Cali

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,287 in Duitama versus $1,090 in Cali.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,041 in Duitama versus $1,649 in Cali.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,796 in Duitama versus $2,208 in Cali.

Living in Duitama is roughly 18% more expensive than in Cali, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities sit below the global median: Duitama 6% lower, Cali 21% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Duitama
Cali
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.78 COP 24.5K
$7.70 COP 24.2K
1.04%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$40.93 COP 128.9K
$38.08 COP 119.9K
7.48%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.82 COP 30.9K
$8.61 COP 27.1K
14.05%
Cappuccino
$2.66 COP 8,385
$1.62 COP 5,101
64.20%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.28 COP 4,046
$1.26 COP 3,965
1.59%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.90 COP 2,826
$0.87 COP 2,749
3.45%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.93 COP 6,069
$3.25 COP 10.2K
-40.62%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.90 COP 12.3K
$3.85 COP 12.1K
1.30%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Duitama
Cali
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.67 COP 5,251
$1.57 COP 4,959
6.37%
White Bread (500g)
$2.38 COP 7,486
$1.99 COP 6,269
19.60%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.62 COP 5,104
$1.51 COP 4,756
7.28%
Eggs
$3.59 COP 11.3K
$2.83 COP 8,904
26.86%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.06 COP 22.2K
$6.43 COP 20.3K
9.80%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.52 COP 23.7K
$7.06 COP 22.2K
6.52%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.64 COP 33.5K
$10.39 COP 32.7K
2.41%
Apples (1kg)
$3.35 COP 10.5K
$3.49 COP 11.0K
-4.01%
Banana (1kg)
$1.73 COP 5,440
$1.41 COP 4,448
22.70%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.92 COP 6,047
$1.76 COP 5,531
9.09%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.74 COP 5,487
$1.75 COP 5,511
-0.57%
Potato (1kg)
$1.46 COP 4,600
$1.45 COP 4,575
0.69%
Onion (1kg)
$1.35 COP 4,249
$1.57 COP 4,939
-14.01%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.30 COP 4,104
$1.15 COP 3,632
13.04%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.08 COP 3,415
$1.04 COP 3,265
3.85%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.36 COP 13.7K
$3.70 COP 11.7K
17.84%
Wine (Bottle)
$12.48 COP 39.3K
$13.26 COP 41.8K
-5.88%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.42 COP 4,482
$1.45 COP 4,560
-2.07%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.98 COP 9,383
$2.53 COP 7,974
17.79%
🚌 Getting Around
Duitama
Cali
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.06 COP 3,325
$1.08 COP 3,415
-1.85%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$29.95 COP 94.3K
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.42 COP 7,618
$0.84 COP 2,657
188.10%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.44 COP 7,697
-
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$9.34 COP 29.4K
-
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.29 COP 4,072
$1.30 COP 4,106
-0.77%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.4K COP 70.4M
-
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$35.9K COP 113.0M
$35.7K COP 112.4M
0.55%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Duitama
Cali
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$125 COP 392.9K
$114 COP 357.6K
9.88%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$16.48 COP 51.9K
$13.49 COP 42.5K
22.16%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$31.37 COP 98.8K
$31.05 COP 97.8K
1.03%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Duitama
Cali
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$40.50 COP 127.6K
$28.87 COP 90.9K
40.28%
Cinema Ticket
$8.01 COP 25.2K
$8.43 COP 26.5K
-4.98%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Duitama
Cali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$468 COP 1.5M
-
-
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$6,626 COP 20.9M
-
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Duitama
Cali
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$79.2 COP 249.3K
$80.3 COP 252.8K
-1.39%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$50.3 COP 158.5K
$54.4 COP 171.2K
-7.43%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$141 COP 443.5K
$124 COP 391.0K
13.43%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$113 COP 357.3K
$109 COP 343.0K
4.18%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Duitama
Cali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$734 COP 2.3M
$641 COP 2.0M
14.41%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$542 COP 1.7M
$299 COP 943.0K
81.04%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,172 COP 3.7M
$1,577 COP 5.0M
-25.71%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$965 COP 3.0M
$493 COP 1.6M
95.69%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,941 COP 6.1M
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,615 COP 5.1M
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Duitama
Cali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$591 COP 1.9M
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
12.81
11.58
10.62%

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

Last update for Duitama: August 31, 2026

Last update for Cali: September 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $734 in Duitama and $641 in Cali. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $41.00 in Duitama vs $38.00 in Cali for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $259 vs $244 per month, with Cali 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
Duitama vs Cali: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Cali cheaper than Duitama?
Cali is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 18% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $1,931 in Duitama 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.
What is the rent difference between Duitama and Cali?
Rent for a central apartment: $734 in Duitama versus $641 in Cali. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do food prices compare in Duitama and in Cali?
Supermarket bills run roughly 6% higher in Duitama. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Is eating out cheaper in Duitama or in Cali?
Dining out is cheaper in Cali – a meal for two runs $38.00 versus $41.00 in Duitama. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Duitama or in Cali?
At $1,090 in Cali versus $1,287 in Duitama, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Cali but tight or insufficient in Duitama. The gap between the two cities makes Cali the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Duitama or Cali more family-friendly?
For families, Cali is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Duitama, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Duitama or Cali?
Safety-wise, Duitama 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.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Cali gentler on the wallet – expenses run 18% less than in Duitama. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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