Cost of Living Comparison Between Samsun and Cartagena Cost of Living Comparison Between Samsun and Cartagena

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $996 per month in Samsun vs $1,066 in Cartagena, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,500 per month in Samsun vs $1,599 in Cartagena, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,004 per month in Samsun vs $2,132 in Cartagena, rent included.

Samsun is about 7% cheaper than Cartagena, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both Samsun and Cartagena are more affordable than the global median – Samsun 25% lower, Cartagena 20% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.52 ₺354

$6.16 COP 20.0K

22.08%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$25.50 ₺1,202

$46.69 COP 151.8K

-45.38%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.68 ₺409

$9.48 COP 30.8K

-8.44%

Cappuccino

$2.82 ₺133

$1.66 COP 5,387

69.88%

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

$1.29 ₺61.0

$0.87 COP 2,815

48.28%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.24 ₺11.21

$0.71 COP 2,304

-66.20%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.94 ₺139

$1.29 COP 4,204

127.91%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.02 ₺142

$2.94 COP 9,556

2.72%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.05 ₺49.72

$1.14 COP 3,711

-7.89%

White Bread (500g)

$0.40 ₺18.75

$1.83 COP 5,942

-78.14%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.88 ₺183

$1.34 COP 4,341

189.55%

Eggs

$1.66 ₺78.0

$2.21 COP 7,185

-24.89%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.70 ₺410

$6.83 COP 22.2K

27.38%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.17 ₺479

$6.02 COP 19.6K

68.94%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$18.86 ₺889

$7.71 COP 25.1K

144.62%

Apples (1kg)

$1.29 ₺60.9

$3.21 COP 10.4K

-59.81%

Banana (1kg)

$1.15 ₺54.4

$1.90 COP 6,173

-39.47%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.88 ₺41.31

$1.51 COP 4,913

-41.72%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.30 ₺61.2

$1.64 COP 5,336

-20.73%

Potato (1kg)

$0.65 ₺30.53

$1.60 COP 5,195

-59.38%

Onion (1kg)

$0.65 ₺30.82

$1.11 COP 3,606

-41.44%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.78 ₺36.76

$1.01 COP 3,275

-22.77%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.71 ₺33.67

$0.64 COP 2,075

10.94%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.11 ₺99.6

$2.35 COP 7,627

-10.21%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.34 ₺440

$19.01 COP 61.8K

-50.87%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.04 ₺96.4

$0.99 COP 3,218

106.06%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.46 ₺116

$0.97 COP 3,156

153.61%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.59 ₺27.95

$1.07 COP 3,465

-44.86%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$9.63 ₺454

$28.03 COP 91.1K

-65.64%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.30 ₺108

$2.46 COP 7,992

-6.50%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.64 ₺30.21

$2.44 COP 7,917

-73.77%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.44 ₺209

$4.92 COP 16.0K

-9.76%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.11 ₺52.4

$1.02 COP 3,309

8.82%

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

$43.7K ₺2.1M

$21.1K COP 68.6M

107.16%

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

$48.6K ₺2.3M

$23.5K COP 76.3M

107.19%

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

$49.85 ₺2,350

$139 COP 451.3K

-64.09%

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

$10.88 ₺513

$10.65 COP 34.6K

2.16%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$11.64 ₺549

$24.92 COP 81.0K

-53.29%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$83.1 ₺3,915

$35.59 COP 115.7K

133.41%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$8.90 COP 29.0K

Cinema Ticket

$5.64 ₺266

$2.97 COP 9,666

89.90%

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

$501 ₺23.6K

$143 COP 464.2K

250.93%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,757 ₺177.1K

$5,923 COP 19.3M

-36.58%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$38.41 ₺1,810

$47.79 COP 155.4K

-19.63%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$45.16 ₺2,129

$39.11 COP 127.1K

15.47%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$88.1 ₺4,154

$124 COP 403.4K

-28.98%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$44.77 ₺2,110

$115 COP 374.0K

-61.08%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$499 ₺23.5K

$740 COP 2.4M

-32.58%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$327 ₺15.4K

$332 COP 1.1M

-1.54%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$729 ₺34.4K

$1,274 COP 4.1M

-42.78%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$514 ₺24.2K

$477 COP 1.6M

7.72%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$751 ₺35.4K

$3,358 COP 10.9M

-77.65%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$430 ₺20.3K

$933 COP 3.0M

-53.93%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$969 ₺45.7K

$450 COP 1.5M

115.44%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

43.33

188.87%

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

Last update for Samsun: July 13, 2026

Last update for Cartagena: July 11, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $499 in Samsun versus $740 in Cartagena. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 115% higher in Samsun, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $25.00 in Samsun versus $47.00 in Cartagena. Groceries tell a different story – $242 in Samsun vs $223 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

Samsun vs Cartagena: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Cartagena costs about 7% more than Samsun, with the gap driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,495 per month in Samsun and $1,599 in Cartagena. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Kindergarten costs $501 per month in Samsun and $143 in Cartagena. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 9% 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 Samsun, where all-in costs run around $996, than in Cartagena at $1,066. In Samsun it covers expenses comfortably, while in Cartagena it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Samsun costs $996 versus $1,066 in Cartagena. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Samsun. 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.