Last update: Oct 2026 Colombia 777.1K

Cost of Living in Cucuta

For one person, living costs in Cucuta are estimated at $1,335 a month, including rent and utilities, which take just under half of the total. Other living expenses average about $23 a day.

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Cucuta

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Cucuta actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Living costs for one person come to about $1,335 monthly including rent, or $712 excluding housing.

$1,335 /mo

Estimated monthly costs for a couple: $2,003 with rent, or $1,233 without housing.

$2,003 /mo

Monthly costs for a family of three come to about $2,670 including rent, or $1,753 for daily expenses alone.

$2,670 /mo
Currency
Do you live in Cucuta? Add cost details
🍽 Eating Out
Cost
Range
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.44 COP 23.6K
$4.99 COP 15.8K
$12.41 COP 39.3K
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$48.54 COP 153.9K
$35.96 COP 114.0K
$97.1 COP 307.9K
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.16 COP 29.1K
$9.16 COP 29.1K
$10.69 COP 33.9K
Cappuccino
$2.91 COP 9,235
$1.43 COP 4,527
$5.36 COP 17.0K
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.43 COP 4,544
$1.19 COP 3,776
$1.98 COP 6,281
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.08 COP 3,420
$0.90 COP 2,838
$2.87 COP 9,097
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.09 COP 9,785
$1.54 COP 4,877
$4.62 COP 14.7K
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.70 COP 11.7K
$3.09 COP 9,793
$6.79 COP 21.5K
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Cost
Range
Milk (1 liter)
$1.61 COP 5,112
$1.03 COP 3,269
$2.23 COP 7,059
White Bread (500g)
$2.47 COP 7,844
$1.15 COP 3,648
$3.19 COP 10.1K
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.54 COP 4,893
$0.78 COP 2,476
$2.91 COP 9,227
Eggs
$2.99 COP 9,488
$1.67 COP 5,296
$4.62 COP 14.7K
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.00 COP 28.5K
$4.60 COP 14.6K
$19.81 COP 62.8K
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.58 COP 27.2K
$5.21 COP 16.5K
$13.93 COP 44.2K
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.41 COP 36.2K
$7.65 COP 24.2K
$13.36 COP 42.3K
Apples (1kg)
$3.54 COP 11.2K
$2.52 COP 7,981
$4.25 COP 13.5K
Banana (1kg)
$1.60 COP 5,061
$1.12 COP 3,536
$3.42 COP 10.9K
Oranges (1kg)
$2.07 COP 6,574
$0.91 COP 2,899
$4.99 COP 15.8K
Tomato (1kg)
$1.94 COP 6,139
$0.76 COP 2,395
$3.00 COP 9,512
Potato (1kg)
$1.28 COP 4,071
$0.55 COP 1,757
$2.75 COP 8,729
Onion (1kg)
$1.31 COP 4,149
$0.56 COP 1,778
$1.48 COP 4,685
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.10 COP 3,497
$0.70 COP 2,231
$1.34 COP 4,251
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.02 COP 3,221
$0.55 COP 1,734
$1.61 COP 5,093
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.35 COP 13.8K
$3.87 COP 12.3K
$6.34 COP 20.1K
Wine (Bottle)
$14.74 COP 46.7K
$8.86 COP 28.1K
$23.03 COP 73.0K
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.65 COP 5,217
$1.17 COP 3,696
$2.17 COP 6,884
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.29 COP 7,271
$1.50 COP 4,767
$4.64 COP 14.7K
🚌 Getting Around
Cost
Range
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.19 COP 3,783
$1.07 COP 3,408
$1.19 COP 3,783
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.52 COP 4,830
$1.52 COP 4,830
$2.51 COP 7,957
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.09 COP 6,624
$1.83 COP 5,796
$2.36 COP 7,484
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$9.90 COP 31.4K
$8.85 COP 28.1K
$10.86 COP 34.4K
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.28 COP 4,055
$1.28 COP 4,055
$1.29 COP 4,086
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.7K COP 90.9M
$23.3K COP 73.8M
$31.5K COP 99.9M
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$40.2K COP 127.6M
$38.8K COP 123.1M
$40.4K COP 128.1M
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Cost
Range
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$126 COP 397.9K
$95.2 COP 302.0K
$190 COP 604.0K
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.88 COP 44.0K
$9.48 COP 30.1K
$17.99 COP 57.0K
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.14 COP 92.4K
$24.26 COP 76.9K
$40.20 COP 127.5K
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Cost
Range
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$33.45 COP 106.1K
$19.24 COP 61.0K
$33.45 COP 106.1K
Cinema Ticket
$6.95 COP 22.0K
$5.09 COP 16.1K
$10.18 COP 32.3K
🧸 Childcare & Education
Cost
Range
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$647 COP 2.1M
$323 COP 1.0M
$712 COP 2.3M
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$6,396 COP 20.3M
$3,991 COP 12.7M
$9,600 COP 30.4M
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Cost
Range
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$86.4 COP 273.8K
$47.72 COP 151.3K
$105 COP 332.9K
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$49.97 COP 158.4K
$42.45 COP 134.6K
$56.6 COP 179.4K
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$154 COP 489.8K
$124 COP 393.1K
$213 COP 674.0K
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$102 COP 323.2K
$78.0 COP 247.2K
$124 COP 394.1K
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Cost
Range
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$643 COP 2.0M
$464 COP 1.5M
$643 COP 2.0M
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$497 COP 1.6M
$331 COP 1.1M
$663 COP 2.1M
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,017 COP 3.2M
$630 COP 2.0M
$1,090 COP 3.5M
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$792 COP 2.5M
$555 COP 1.8M
$888 COP 2.8M
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,980 COP 6.3M
$1,372 COP 4.4M
$2,017 COP 6.4M
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,498 COP 4.7M
$577 COP 1.8M
$1,498 COP 4.7M
💵 Salaries & Financials
Cost
Range
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$565 COP 1.8M
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.58
10
15

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

Last update: October 11, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Cucuta $1,335
Accommodation & Living
$497
Groceries & Markets
$274
Clothing & Footwear
$177
Monthly Utilities & Internet
$169
Eating Out
$155
Sport & Entertainment
$47
Getting Around
$17 *

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

Expect to pay about $643 for a central one-bedroom, or $497 outside the center. At 114% of the average salary ($565), housing is the biggest financial pressure.

Average take-home pay sits at $565, while typical expenses reach $1,335. The gap means tight budgeting for locals, though expats with foreign income can live comfortably.

Expect to spend about $274 monthly on groceries. Dining out at a mid-range restaurant costs roughly $49.00 for two.

Cost Highlights

Preschool or kindergarten, full day, private, 1 child is more expensive than 95% of cities in South America

1-bedroom apartment, outside city center is more expensive than 94% of cities in South America

Overall monthly cost (including rent) is more expensive than 93% of cities in South America

Good to know
🕒 Local time
15:08 3:08 PM
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
777,106
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to COP – Colombian Peso Converter

Colombian Peso exchange rates as of October 19, 2026: 1 USD = 3,171 COP (10,000 COP = 3.15 USD). 1 EUR = 3,565 COP (10,000 COP = 2.81 EUR).

On the map
From you
  • Cucuta

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

Cucuta Median Internet Speeds (Updated April 2026)

Mobile

Download
Mbps
Upload
Mbps
Latency
ms

Fixed Broadband

Download
Mbps
Upload
Mbps
Latency
ms
The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index
City tags:
Cost of Living in Cucuta - Frequently Asked Questions
How does Cucuta stack up on affordability, and who tends to get the best value here?
Compared with larger coastal cities and the capital, Cucuta generally offers a friendlier price tag for everyday living. This makes it appealing to travelers, expats, and digital nomads who want a solid base without overspending. You can find comfortable apartments at reasonable rents, steady access to fresh produce, and affordable local transport, all within a walkable center or a short ride away. It’s not the cheapest in every category, but the overall balance leans toward value, especially if you focus on practical housing and daily errands. Cost of Living in Cucuta, Colombia remains encouraging for thoughtful budgeting. Tip: Start with a modest housing plan and test routines before expanding your budget.
What does daily life look like in Cucuta, including housing search, food options, transport, and coworking?
Daily life in Cucuta blends practicality and perks. For housing, start with short-term stays to scope neighborhoods, then negotiate leases with patience and clear terms. Food options range from lively mercados to casual eateries and fresh bakery counters, so you can cook at home or enjoy inexpensive meals out. Transport is affordable and flexible: buses, shared taxis, and occasional moto-taxis cover most routes, while rideshares can fill gaps late at night. Co-working spaces and cafes with reliable wifi support remote work, errands are simple in the city center. Cucuta, Colombia living cost varies by district, so explore before committing. Tip: Start with a short-term stay to test neighborhoods, then ask locals about safety, access to amenities, and the best markets to frequent.
What’s the quality of life like and how should you budget to stay comfortable year-round?
Quality of life in the city comes from a balanced pace, easy access to services, and the option to tailor your days around weather and work. A practical budgeting framework is to separate needs from wants, allocate for housing, food, transport, and occasional trips, and leave a buffer for contingencies. Save by shopping at local markets, cooking at home, and choosing low-cost transit options; you can also blend social life with low-cost activities like outdoor strolls and community events. Seasonal shifts influence outdoor plans and travel, so build flexible routines and consider proximity to amenities when choosing a neighborhood. Tip: List your essentials, test a two-week routine in a few areas, and adjust your budget as you learn which costs matter most.
How expensive is daily life in Cucuta?
Everyday life in Cucuta is moderately priced at about $1,335 per month, rent included. Groceries and transport stay reasonable, though dining out and entertainment can feel a bit pricier than in budget destinations.
How much of a salary does housing take in Cucuta?
With 114% of the average paycheck going to rent, Cucuta is on the expensive side for housing. Many locals cope by sharing apartments, moving to outer neighborhoods, or downsizing to keep things manageable.
How much should you earn to live well in Cucuta?
Earning $2,003 monthly in Cucuta means you're living well – a one-bedroom, regular groceries, transport, and some entertainment without stress. That's the threshold where most residents feel genuinely comfortable rather than just getting by.
How much should I budget for housing in Cucuta?
Where you live in Cucuta makes all the difference. Central one-bedrooms cost about $643; commute-friendly outer districts come in around $497. Overall, the market runs from $497 to $643 depending on size, location, and apartment condition.
How much should I budget for food per month in Cucuta?
Expect to spend around $274 per month on groceries in Cucuta. Neither cheap nor expensive by global standards – everyday items are fairly priced, though imported or specialty products cost more.
What does fitness cost in Cucuta?
A regular gym membership in Cucuta costs around $33.45 monthly. It's a reasonable expense that fits into most budgets, and you generally get decent facilities for the price.
Is $1,500 a month enough for Cucuta?
Living on $1,500 in Cucuta means careful planning, since monthly costs average $1,335. It works with a cheap apartment and disciplined spending, but expect trade-offs on where you live, how often you eat out, and entertainment.
Is Cucuta a good place to retire?
Retirement in Cucuta is comfortable for most – total costs run about $1,335 monthly. Healthcare, daily amenities, and social infrastructure are all in place, and most retirees find it a practical, enjoyable place to settle.
Is it possible to save on a local salary in Cucuta?
Monthly expenses in Cucuta run around $1,335, so putting money aside takes more than $2,003 in income. Keeping housing costs low and avoiding lifestyle creep are the keys to building a decent savings rate here.
How budget-friendly is Cucuta for travelers?
Budget travel in Cucuta works but takes effort. Hostels, street food, and local restaurants keep daily costs reasonable. All-in monthly expenses run about $1,335 for residents – backpackers can do less with some planning.

Cucuta vs other spots: cost of living compared

Nearby cities

Similar cities

Show times on the 12-hour clock, temperatures in °F and distances in miles?