Cost of living in Colombia
Summary of cost of living in Colombia
- Family of four estimated monthly costs: COL$7,895,136
- Single person estimated monthly costs: COL$3,594,975
- Colombia is the cheapest country in Latin America (17 out of 17)
- Colombia is the 4th cheapest country in the World (68 out of 71)
Food | |||
---|---|---|---|
Basic lunchtime menu (including a drink) in the business district | COL$30,194 | ||
Combo meal in fast food restaurant (big mac meal or similar) | COL$23,418 | ||
500 gr (1 lb.) of boneless chicken breast | COL$10,320 | ||
1 liter (1 qt.) of whole fat milk | COL$4,023 | ||
12 eggs, large | COL$8,886 | ||
1 kg (2 lb.) of tomatoes | COL$4,272 | ||
500 gr (16 oz.) of local cheese | COL$11,012 | ||
1 kg (2 lb.) of apples | COL$7,494 | ||
1 kg (2 lb.) of potatoes | COL$3,798 | ||
0.5 l (16 oz) domestic beer in the supermarket | COL$3,607 | ||
1 bottle of red table wine, good quality | COL$46,860 | ||
2 liters of coca-cola | COL$5,597 | ||
Bread for 2 people for 1 day | COL$2,897 | ||
Housing | |||
Monthly rent for 85 m2 (900 sqft) furnished accommodation in expensive area | COL$2,780,770 | ||
Monthly rent for 85 m2 (900 sqft) furnished accommodation in normal area | COL$1,559,770 | ||
Utilities 1 month (heating, electricity, gas ...) for 2 people in 85m2 flat | COL$270,505 | ||
Monthly rent for a 45 m2 (480 sqft) furnished studio in expensive area | COL$1,742,460 | ||
Monthly rent for a 45 m2 (480 sqft) furnished studio in normal area | COL$1,065,080 | ||
Utilities 1 month (heating, electricity, gas ...) for 1 person in 45 m2 (480 sqft) studio | COL$182,055 | ||
Internet 8 mbps (1 month) | COL$72,695 | ||
40” flat screen tv | COL$1,470,520 | ||
Microwave 800/900 watt (bosch, panasonic, lg, sharp, or equivalent brands) | COL$434,670 | ||
Laundry detergent (3 l. ~ 100 oz.) | COL$21,526 | ||
Hourly rate for cleaning help | COL$13,341 | ||
Clothes | |||
1 pair of jeans (levis 501 or similar) | COL$195,080 | ||
1 summer dress in a high street store (zara, h&m or similar retailers) | COL$126,319 | ||
1 pair of sport shoes (nike, adidas, or equivalent brands) | COL$322,034 | ||
1 pair of men’s leather business shoes | COL$230,227 | ||
Transportation | |||
Volkswagen golf 1.4 tsi 150 cv (or equivalent), with no extras, new | COL$67,720,600 | ||
1 liter (1/4 gallon) of gas | COL$3,476 | ||
Monthly ticket public transport | COL$134,966 | ||
Personal Care | |||
Cold medicine for 6 days (tylenol, frenadol, coldrex, or equivalent brands) | COL$17,571 | ||
1 box of antibiotics (12 doses) | COL$22,113 | ||
Short visit to private doctor (15 minutes) | COL$98,931 | ||
1 box of 32 tampons (tampax, ob, ...) | COL$19,457 | ||
Deodorant, roll-on (50ml ~ 1.5 oz.) | COL$12,402 | ||
Hair shampoo 2-in-1 (400 ml ~ 12 oz.) | COL$16,672 | ||
4 rolls of toilet paper | COL$7,152 | ||
Tube of toothpaste | COL$5,808 | ||
Standard men's haircut in expat area of the city | COL$26,475 | ||
Entertainment | |||
Basic dinner out for two in neighborhood pub | COL$41,248 | ||
2 tickets to the movies | COL$28,458 | ||
2 tickets to the theater (best available seats) | COL$121,749 | ||
Dinner for two at an italian restaurant in the expat area including appetisers, main course, wine and dessert | COL$115,284 | ||
1 cocktail drink in downtown club | COL$29,703 | ||
Cappuccino in expat area of the city | COL$9,582 | ||
1 beer in neighbourhood pub (500ml or 1pt.) | COL$4,634 | ||
Ipad wi-fi 128gb | COL$2,641,590 | ||
1 min. of prepaid mobile tariff (no discounts or plans) | COL$218 | ||
1 month of gym membership in business district | COL$115,066 | ||
1 package of marlboro cigarettes | COL$8,070 |
Moving to Colombia with your children?
International Schools in Colombia
Map of Cost of Living in Colombia

This map shows only the top cities in Colombia. We also have on this page a list of all the cities available in Expatistan:
List of all the cities available in Expatistan
The color of each marker corresponds with the cost of living in the city red markers show more expensive cities green ones show cheaper cities
Moving the mouse on top of a city will show its name and the Cost of Living Index of that city.
What is the Cost of Living Index? To calculate each city's Price Index value, we start by assigning a value of 100 to a
central reference city (that happens to be Prague).
Once the reference point has been established, the Price Index value of every other city in the
database is calculated by comparing their cost of living to the cost of living in Prague.
Therefore, if a city has a Price Index of 134, that means that living there is 34% more expensive than living in Prague.
Cost of Living Ranking in Colombia
(top cities by data quality)
Ranking | City | Price Index * |
---|---|---|
1st | Bogotá | 57 |
2nd | Santiago de Cali | 53 |
3rd | Villavicencio | 42 |
Price Index:
To calculate each city's Price Index value, we start by assigning a value of 100 to a central reference city (that happens to be Prague). Once the reference point has been established, the Price Index value of every other city in the database is calculated by comparing their cost of living to the cost of living in Prague.Therefore, if a city has a Price Index of 134, that means that living there is 34% more expensive than living in Prague.
Are you moving to Colombia? Do you know how much money you will need there to maintain your current standard of living?
Find out what is the real equivalent in Colombia of your current salary and improve your chances of a happy relocation.
Get a salary calculation for:
List of all cities available in Colombia
Recent Comparisons
- Cost of living in Medellín is 9% more expensive than in Bogotá
- Cost of living in Bogotá is 33% cheaper than in Mexico City
- Cost of living in Bogotá is 50% cheaper than in Panama City
- Cost of living in Bogotá is 27% cheaper than in Lima
- Cost of living in Medellín is 20% more expensive than in Santiago de Cali
- Cost of living in Bogotá is 19% more expensive than in Buenos Aires
- Cost of living in Cartagena is about the same as in Medellín
- Cost of living in Santa Marta is 7% more expensive than in Cartagena
- Cost of living in Santiago de Cali is 8% cheaper than in Bogotá
- Cost of living in Medellín is 21% more expensive than in Córdoba
- Cost of living in Bogotá is 49% cheaper than in San Jose, Costa Rica
- Cost of living in Medellín is 45% cheaper than in Panama City
Compare other countries
Prices recently added
- Monthly rent - 85 m2 furnished accommodation in expensive area in Bogotá costs COL$5,000,000 (about 14 hours ago)
- 1 month of gym membership in business district in Santiago de Cali costs COL$75,000 (about 18 hours ago)
- Internet connection 300 mbps, 1 month in Bogotá costs COL$86,900 (about 23 hours ago)
- Bread for 2 people for 1 day (250 g) in Bogotá costs COL$3,000 (about 24 hours ago)
- 1 pack of marlboro cigarettes in Barranquilla costs COL$10,000 (1 day ago)
- 1 month of gym membership in business district in Barranquilla costs COL$120,000 (1 day ago)
- 1 min. of prepaid mobile tariff (no discounts or plans) in Barranquilla costs COL$100 (1 day ago)
- Ipad wi-fi 128gb in Barranquilla costs COL$1,300,000 (1 day ago)
- 500 ml beer in neighbourhood pub in Barranquilla costs COL$8,900 (1 day ago)
- Cappuccino in expat area of the city in Barranquilla costs COL$8,000 (1 day ago)