Cost of Living Comparison Between Ocho Rios and Cartagena Cost of Living Comparison Between Ocho Rios and Cartagena

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,101 per month in Ocho Rios vs $1,295 in Cartagena, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,587 per month in Ocho Rios vs $2,130 in Cartagena, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,074 per month in Ocho Rios vs $2,966 in Cartagena, rent included.

Ocho Rios is about 15% cheaper than Cartagena, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Ocho Rios and Cartagena are more affordable than the global median – Ocho Rios 20% lower, Cartagena 5% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$9.37 JMD 1,470

$4.95 COP 15.5K

89.29%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$63.9 JMD 10.0K

$135 COP 422.2K

-52.75%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.92 JMD 1,086

$10.19 COP 31.8K

-32.09%

Cappuccino

$3.12 JMD 489

$3.61 COP 11.3K

-13.57%

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

$1.19 JMD 187

$1.88 COP 5,879

-36.70%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.74 JMD 116

$1.82 COP 5,670

-59.34%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.23 JMD 350

$2.06 COP 6,425

8.25%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.26 JMD 511

$4.87 COP 15.2K

-33.06%

Milk (1 liter)

$4.01 JMD 630

$1.97 COP 6,144

103.55%

White Bread (500g)

$2.71 JMD 424

$2.99 COP 9,317

-9.36%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.57 JMD 247

$1.51 COP 4,703

3.97%

Eggs

$3.52 JMD 553

$5.21 COP 16.2K

-32.44%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.55 JMD 1,812

$13.62 COP 42.5K

-15.20%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.45 JMD 1,012

$17.97 COP 56.1K

-64.11%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.31 JMD 1,618

Apples (1kg)

$6.17 JMD 968

Banana (1kg)

$3.10 JMD 487

Oranges (1kg)

$6.25 JMD 980

Tomato (1kg)

$2.58 JMD 405

Potato (1kg)

$3.19 JMD 501

Onion (1kg)

$2.58 JMD 405

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.91 JMD 456

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.41 JMD 222

$2.07 COP 6,464

-31.88%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$8.71 JMD 1,366

Wine (Bottle)

$9.79 JMD 1,536

$14.76 COP 46.1K

-33.67%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.80 JMD 439

$1.40 COP 4,362

100.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.93 JMD 617

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.96 JMD 151

$1.29 COP 4,018

-25.58%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$59.4 COP 185.2K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.24 JMD 194

$4.85 COP 15.1K

-74.43%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.21 JMD 504

$3.84 COP 12.0K

-16.41%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.17 JMD 968

$9.83 COP 30.7K

-37.23%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.34 JMD 210

$1.38 COP 4,300

-2.90%

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

$44.8K JMD 7.0M

$23.9K COP 74.6M

87.23%

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

$32.8K JMD 5.2M

$34.8K COP 108.7M

-5.75%

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

$176 JMD 27.6K

$80.9 COP 252.4K

117.06%

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

$20.09 JMD 3,152

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$52.6 JMD 8,248

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$90.5 COP 282.5K

Cinema Ticket

$11.47 JMD 1,800

$8.48 COP 26.5K

35.26%

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

$358 JMD 56.2K

$651 COP 2.0M

-45.02%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,314 JMD 1.3M

$5,929 COP 18.5M

40.24%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$23.65 JMD 3,711

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$31.36 JMD 4,919

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$79.7 JMD 12.5K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$103 JMD 16.1K

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$377 JMD 59.1K

$1,087 COP 3.4M

-65.35%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$192 JMD 30.1K

$581 COP 1.8M

-67.02%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,355 COP 7.3M

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$978 COP 3.1M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$968 COP 3.0M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$480 COP 1.5M

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

9.45

-37.00%

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

Last update for Ocho Rios: September 13, 2026

Last update for Cartagena: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $377 in Ocho Rios versus $1,087 in Cartagena. 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 $64.0 in Ocho Rios versus $135 in Cartagena. Groceries tell a different story – $358 in Ocho Rios vs $268 in Cartagena – so Cartagena 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

Ocho Rios vs Cartagena: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Cartagena costs about 18% more than Ocho Rios, with the gap driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,651 per month in Ocho Rios and $1,942 in Cartagena. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

A mid-range dinner for two costs $64.0 in Ocho Rios and $135 in Cartagena. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 33% cheaper in Cartagena – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Ocho Rios, where all-in costs run around $1,101, than in Cartagena at $1,295. In Ocho Rios it covers expenses comfortably, while in Cartagena it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Ocho Rios costs $1,101 versus $1,295 in Cartagena. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

If budget matters most, go with Ocho Rios. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Cartagena makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.