Cost of Living Comparison Between Tunja and Santa Tecla Cost of Living Comparison Between Tunja and Santa Tecla

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $711 in Tunja versus $1,388 in Santa Tecla.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,062 in Tunja versus $1,958 in Santa Tecla.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,413 in Tunja versus $2,528 in Santa Tecla.

Living in Tunja costs roughly 49% less than in Santa Tecla, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Tunja is 47% below, Santa Tecla is 3% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.68 COP 9,353

$8.12 $8.12

-67.00%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$14.38 COP 50.2K

$35.25 $35.25

-59.21%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.71 COP 23.4K

$7.14 $7.14

-6.02%

Cappuccino

$1.07 COP 3,731

$3.20 $3.20

-66.56%

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

$0.74 COP 2,588

$1.13 $1.13

-34.51%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.56 COP 1,937

$0.90 $0.90

-37.78%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.19 COP 4,151

$1.97 $1.97

-39.59%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.11 COP 7,356

$3.08 $3.08

-31.49%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.21 COP 4,239

$1.69 $1.69

-28.40%

White Bread (500g)

$1.06 COP 3,698

$1.97 $1.97

-46.19%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.20 COP 4,185

$1.49 $1.49

-19.46%

Eggs

$2.18 COP 7,595

$2.27 $2.27

-3.96%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.24 COP 14.8K

$6.97 $6.97

-39.17%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.67 COP 19.8K

$5.66 $5.66

0.18%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.24 COP 25.3K

$10.87 $10.87

-33.39%

Apples (1kg)

$2.48 COP 8,667

$3.11 $3.11

-20.26%

Banana (1kg)

$1.18 COP 4,124

$1.72 $1.72

-31.40%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.85 COP 2,959

$2.61 $2.61

-67.43%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.92 COP 3,219

$2.63 $2.63

-65.02%

Potato (1kg)

$1.19 COP 4,154

$2.24 $2.24

-46.88%

Onion (1kg)

$0.94 COP 3,292

$2.16 $2.16

-56.48%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.95 COP 3,312

$0.95 $0.95

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.74 COP 2,586

$1.07 $1.07

-30.84%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.66 COP 5,797

$3.97 $3.97

-58.19%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.41 COP 29.4K

$12.12 $12.12

-30.61%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.83 COP 2,889

$1.74 $1.74

-52.30%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.56 COP 5,447

$2.43 $2.43

-35.80%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.51 COP 1,768

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.66 COP 2,312

$5.51 $5.51

-88.02%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.55 COP 5,421

$3.04 $3.04

-49.01%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.95 COP 20.8K

$20.33 $20.33

-70.73%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.93 COP 3,230

$0.95 $0.95

-2.11%

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

$19.2K COP 66.9M

$25.2K $25.2K

-23.83%

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

$28.0K COP 97.6M

$28.3K $28.3K

-1.11%

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

$76.1 COP 265.7K

$103 $103

-26.36%

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

$8.86 COP 30.9K

$19.06 $19.06

-53.52%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.41 COP 71.2K

$41.36 $41.36

-50.65%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$16.80 COP 58.6K

$25.34 $25.34

-33.70%

Cinema Ticket

$3.81 COP 13.3K

$5.27 $5.27

-27.70%

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

$242 COP 844.3K

$145 $145

66.93%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,419 COP 8.4M

$5,935 $5,935

-59.24%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$63.7 COP 222.2K

$66.1 $66.1

-3.75%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$33.19 COP 115.8K

$42.68 $42.68

-22.24%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$83.8 COP 292.3K

$118 $118

-28.94%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$37.53 COP 131.0K

$107 $107

-64.86%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$286 COP 998.0K

$803 $803

-64.41%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$230 COP 801.8K

$592 $592

-61.19%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$521 COP 1.8M

$1,177 $1,177

-55.72%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$421 COP 1.5M

$888 $888

-52.64%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$408 $408

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

15.25

8.58

77.74%

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

Last update for Tunja: June 8, 2026

Last update for Santa Tecla: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $286 in Tunja and $803 in Santa Tecla. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $14.00 in Tunja vs $35.00 in Santa Tecla for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $169 vs $248 per month, with Tunja 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

Tunja vs Santa Tecla: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Tunja wins on cost – living expenses run 95% lower than in Santa Tecla. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Tunja the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

You'd need roughly $1,066 in Tunja and $2,082 in Santa Tecla 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: $286 in Tunja versus $803 in Santa Tecla. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 47% higher in Santa Tecla. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $711 per month in Tunja versus $1,388 in Santa Tecla – a 95% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $711 in Tunja versus $1,388 in Santa Tecla, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Tunja but tight or insufficient in Santa Tecla. The gap between the two cities makes Tunja the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Safety-wise, Tunja and Santa Tecla 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 Tunja gentler on the wallet – expenses run 95% less than in Santa Tecla. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.