Cost of Living Comparison Between Pasto and Cali Cost of Living Comparison Between Pasto and Cali

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $786 in Pasto versus $756 in Cali.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,214 in Pasto versus $1,227 in Cali.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,641 in Pasto versus $1,698 in Cali.

Living in Pasto is roughly 4% more expensive than in Cali, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Pasto 41% lower, Cali 43% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.88 COP 12.2K

$3.56 COP 11.2K

8.99%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$23.90 COP 75.2K

$28.88 COP 90.9K

-17.24%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.11 COP 22.4K

$7.42 COP 23.4K

-4.18%

Cappuccino

$1.51 COP 4,761

$1.64 COP 5,158

-7.93%

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

$0.86 COP 2,697

$0.88 COP 2,783

-2.27%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.62 COP 1,949

$0.60 COP 1,884

3.33%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.15 COP 3,631

$1.01 COP 3,194

13.86%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.14 COP 6,748

$2.47 COP 7,779

-13.36%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.11 COP 3,500

$1.23 COP 3,863

-9.76%

White Bread (500g)

$1.30 COP 4,106

$1.48 COP 4,668

-12.16%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.14 COP 3,591

$1.25 COP 3,940

-8.80%

Eggs

$2.22 COP 6,981

$2.47 COP 7,786

-10.12%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.39 COP 13.8K

$4.21 COP 13.3K

4.28%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.26 COP 16.5K

$5.45 COP 17.2K

-3.49%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.24 COP 22.8K

$7.77 COP 24.5K

-6.82%

Apples (1kg)

$2.55 COP 8,029

$2.46 COP 7,733

3.66%

Banana (1kg)

$1.05 COP 3,299

$0.93 COP 2,914

12.90%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.36 COP 4,270

$1.19 COP 3,749

14.29%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.06 COP 3,345

$1.27 COP 3,998

-16.54%

Potato (1kg)

$1.11 COP 3,487

$0.82 COP 2,579

35.37%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 COP 3,690

$1.09 COP 3,445

7.34%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.81 COP 2,542

$0.74 COP 2,331

9.46%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.69 COP 2,176

$0.65 COP 2,049

6.15%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.43 COP 7,646

$2.80 COP 8,828

-13.21%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.84 COP 31.0K

$13.13 COP 41.4K

-25.06%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.13 COP 3,568

$1.08 COP 3,385

4.63%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.80 COP 5,654

$1.86 COP 5,848

-3.23%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.72 COP 2,261

$0.67 COP 2,097

7.46%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$30.10 COP 94.8K

$19.94 COP 62.8K

50.95%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.47 COP 4,614

$1.61 COP 5,062

-8.70%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.70 COP 5,355

$1.95 COP 6,137

-12.82%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.02 COP 19.0K

$9.80 COP 30.9K

-38.57%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.99 COP 3,128

$0.95 COP 2,982

4.21%

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

$18.0K COP 56.7M

$21.5K COP 67.7M

-16.22%

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

$25.2K COP 79.2M

$30.2K COP 95.1M

-16.71%

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

$83.3 COP 262.2K

$82.2 COP 258.7K

1.34%

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

$9.12 COP 28.7K

$8.73 COP 27.5K

4.47%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$23.04 COP 72.5K

$24.65 COP 77.6K

-6.53%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$23.72 COP 74.7K

$20.05 COP 63.1K

18.30%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.40 COP 45.4K

Cinema Ticket

$3.89 COP 12.2K

$4.82 COP 15.2K

-19.29%

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

$241 COP 757.4K

$225 COP 708.9K

6.84%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,010 COP 18.9M

$5,871 COP 18.5M

2.36%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$57.8 COP 182.0K

$64.3 COP 202.5K

-10.14%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$33.04 COP 104.0K

$43.60 COP 137.3K

-24.22%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.9 COP 267.3K

$76.5 COP 240.9K

10.95%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$71.5 COP 225.0K

$89.0 COP 280.3K

-19.73%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$270 COP 849.9K

$235 COP 740.9K

14.71%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$236 COP 742.7K

$189 COP 595.4K

24.75%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$530 COP 1.7M

$614 COP 1.9M

-13.59%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$419 COP 1.3M

$408 COP 1.3M

2.79%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,417 COP 4.5M

$1,261 COP 4.0M

12.34%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,057 COP 3.3M

$1,020 COP 3.2M

3.58%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$567 COP 1.8M

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.06

11.58

12.78%

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

Last update for Pasto: July 26, 2026

Last update for Cali: July 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $270 in Pasto and $235 in Cali. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $24.00 in Pasto vs $29.00 in Cali for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $175 vs $185 per month, with Pasto 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

Pasto vs Cali: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Cali is cheaper overall, especially in Eating Out, Getting Around, Sport & Entertainment. The 4% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $1,180 in Pasto and $1,135 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.

Rent for a central apartment: $270 in Pasto versus $235 in Cali. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $241 in Pasto versus $225 in Cali. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Shoppers in Pasto pay roughly 6% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.

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 Pasto, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.

Safety-wise, Pasto 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 4% less than in Pasto. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.