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 $924 per month in Ocho Rios vs $1,086 in Cartagena, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,935 per month in Ocho Rios vs $1,604 in Cartagena, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,947 per month in Ocho Rios vs $2,121 in Cartagena, rent included.

Ocho Rios is about 15% cheaper than Cartagena, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Ocho Rios and Cartagena are more affordable than the global median – Ocho Rios 31% lower, Cartagena 18% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.58 JMD 1,192

$5.93 COP 18.7K

27.82%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$61.6 JMD 9,675

$47.34 COP 149.2K

30.02%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.39 JMD 1,004

$9.95 COP 31.4K

-35.78%

Cappuccino

$2.66 JMD 419

$1.57 COP 4,954

69.43%

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

$1.36 JMD 215

$0.82 COP 2,581

65.85%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.76 JMD 119

$0.68 COP 2,129

11.76%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.24 JMD 352

$1.31 COP 4,115

70.99%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.05 JMD 479

$2.89 COP 9,115

5.54%

Milk (1 liter)

$4.07 JMD 639

$1.14 COP 3,593

257.02%

White Bread (500g)

$2.69 JMD 423

$1.83 COP 5,782

46.99%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.61 JMD 253

$1.37 COP 4,328

17.52%

Eggs

$3.61 JMD 567

$2.19 COP 6,916

64.84%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.76 JMD 1,063

$6.81 COP 21.5K

-0.73%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.38 JMD 1,003

$6.22 COP 19.6K

2.57%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.81 JMD 1,227

$7.77 COP 24.5K

0.51%

Apples (1kg)

$5.91 JMD 929

$3.26 COP 10.3K

81.29%

Banana (1kg)

$3.04 JMD 477

$1.91 COP 6,019

59.16%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.34 JMD 682

$1.45 COP 4,559

199.31%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.24 JMD 352

$1.62 COP 5,105

38.27%

Potato (1kg)

$2.01 JMD 317

$1.61 COP 5,078

24.84%

Onion (1kg)

$1.95 JMD 307

$1.08 COP 3,403

80.56%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.08 JMD 327

$1.01 COP 3,180

105.94%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.13 JMD 177

$0.59 COP 1,867

91.53%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.00 JMD 1,414

$2.35 COP 7,409

282.98%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.55 JMD 1,501

$18.80 COP 59.3K

-49.20%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.37 JMD 373

$0.98 COP 3,086

141.84%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.97 JMD 467

$0.98 COP 3,084

203.06%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.53 JMD 240

$1.05 COP 3,314

45.71%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$28.98 COP 91.3K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.61 JMD 95.8

$2.46 COP 7,759

-75.20%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.96 JMD 151

$2.37 COP 7,467

-59.49%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.21 JMD 976

$4.86 COP 15.3K

27.78%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.24 JMD 195

$1.02 COP 3,207

21.57%

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

$42.3K JMD 6.7M

$21.1K COP 66.5M

100.53%

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

$33.3K JMD 5.2M

$24.0K COP 75.8M

38.55%

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

$105 JMD 16.6K

$143 COP 449.4K

-26.14%

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

$22.42 JMD 3,525

$10.93 COP 34.4K

105.12%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$39.49 JMD 6,207

$25.27 COP 79.6K

56.27%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$15.55 JMD 2,445

$35.26 COP 111.1K

-55.90%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.58 JMD 877

$8.60 COP 27.1K

-35.12%

Cinema Ticket

$11.20 JMD 1,760

$2.84 COP 8,956

294.37%

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

$222 JMD 34.9K

$144 COP 454.1K

54.00%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,516 JMD 395.5K

$6,062 COP 19.1M

-58.50%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$15.93 JMD 2,504

$47.97 COP 151.2K

-66.79%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$12.45 JMD 1,957

$38.50 COP 121.3K

-67.66%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$49.67 JMD 7,807

$125 COP 394.1K

-60.28%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$61.5 JMD 9,668

$112 COP 351.5K

-44.87%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$383 JMD 60.2K

$720 COP 2.3M

-46.87%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$185 JMD 29.1K

$333 COP 1.0M

-44.42%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,220 JMD 191.7K

$1,292 COP 4.1M

-5.57%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,207 JMD 189.8K

$471 COP 1.5M

156.11%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,492 COP 11.0M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$935 COP 2.9M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$467 COP 1.5M

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

-66.67%

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

Last update for Ocho Rios: July 27, 2026

Last update for Cartagena: July 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $383 in Ocho Rios versus $720 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 $62.0 in Ocho Rios versus $47.00 in Cartagena. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $309 vs $223 – making Cartagena the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,386 per month in Ocho Rios and $1,629 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 $62.0 in Ocho Rios and $47.00 in Cartagena. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 39% 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 $924, than in Cartagena at $1,086. 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 $924 versus $1,086 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.