Cost of living in Colombia

Summary of cost of living in Colombia

  • Family of four estimated monthly costs: COL$8,933,187
  • Single person estimated monthly costs: COL$4,194,204
  • Colombia is the 2nd cheapest country in Latin America (15 out of 16)
  • Cost of living in Colombia is cheaper than in 89% of countries in the World (59 out of 66)
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Food
Basic lunchtime menu (including a drink) in the business district COL$35,926
Combo meal in fast food restaurant (big mac meal or similar) COL$26,648
500 gr (1 lb.) of boneless chicken breast COL$10,705
1 liter (1 qt.) of whole fat milk COL$4,545
12 eggs, large COL$9,776
1 kg (2 lb.) of tomatoes COL$4,171
500 gr (16 oz.) of local cheese COL$12,479
1 kg (2 lb.) of apples COL$9,405
1 kg (2 lb.) of potatoes COL$3,552
0.5 l (16 oz) domestic beer in the supermarket COL$4,084
1 bottle of red table wine, good quality COL$47,778
2 liters of coca-cola COL$6,561
Bread for 2 people for 1 day COL$3,694
Housing
Monthly rent for 85 m2 (900 sqft) furnished accommodation in expensive area COL$3,431,470
Monthly rent for 85 m2 (900 sqft) furnished accommodation in normal area COL$1,816,540
Utilities 1 month (heating, electricity, gas ...) for 2 people in 85m2 flat COL$334,934
Monthly rent for a 45 m2 (480 sqft) furnished studio in expensive area COL$1,939,220
Monthly rent for a 45 m2 (480 sqft) furnished studio in normal area COL$1,047,990
Utilities 1 month (heating, electricity, gas ...) for 1 person in 45 m2 (480 sqft) studio COL$234,976
Internet 8 mbps (1 month) COL$74,151
40” flat screen tv COL$1,386,040
Microwave 800/900 watt (bosch, panasonic, lg, sharp, or equivalent brands) COL$444,453
Laundry detergent (3 l. ~ 100 oz.) COL$21,857
Hourly rate for cleaning help COL$14,400
Clothes
1 pair of jeans (levis 501 or similar) COL$205,158
1 summer dress in a high street store (zara, h&m or similar retailers) COL$139,363
1 pair of sport shoes (nike, adidas, or equivalent brands) COL$358,761
1 pair of men’s leather business shoes COL$301,004
Transportation
Volkswagen golf 1.4 tsi 150 cv (or equivalent), with no extras, new COL$73,975,400
1 liter (1/4 gallon) of gas COL$4,009
Monthly ticket public transport COL$147,580
Personal Care
Cold medicine for 6 days (tylenol, frenadol, coldrex, or equivalent brands) COL$21,178
1 box of antibiotics (12 doses) COL$27,786
Short visit to private doctor (15 minutes) COL$120,452
1 box of 32 tampons (tampax, ob, ...) COL$24,902
Deodorant, roll-on (50ml ~ 1.5 oz.) COL$14,232
Hair shampoo 2-in-1 (400 ml ~ 12 oz.) COL$19,846
4 rolls of toilet paper COL$8,145
Tube of toothpaste COL$6,086
Standard men's haircut in expat area of the city COL$32,498
Entertainment
Basic dinner out for two in neighborhood pub COL$51,543
2 tickets to the movies COL$30,038
2 tickets to the theater (best available seats) COL$134,433
Dinner for two at an italian restaurant in the expat area including appetisers, main course, wine and dessert COL$125,396
1 cocktail drink in downtown club COL$33,247
Cappuccino in expat area of the city COL$10,735
1 beer in neighbourhood pub (500ml or 1pt.) COL$5,952
Ipad wi-fi 128gb COL$2,545,900
1 min. of prepaid mobile tariff (no discounts or plans) COL$203
1 month of gym membership in business district COL$112,857
1 package of marlboro cigarettes COL$9,009

Moving to Colombia with your children?

International Schools in Colombia

Map of Cost of Living in Colombia

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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 Medellín 73
2nd Bogotá 71
3rd Santiago de Cali 61

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?

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Prices recently added

  • 500 ml beer in neighbourhood pub in Bogotá costs COL$5,000 (about 18 hours ago)
  • Cappuccino in expat area of the city in Bogotá costs COL$15,000 (about 18 hours ago)
  • Cocktail drink in downtown club in Bogotá costs COL$40,000 (about 18 hours ago)
  • Nice dinner at an italian restaurant, dinner for two in Bogotá costs COL$150,000 (about 18 hours ago)
  • 2 tickets to the movies in Bogotá costs COL$30,000 (about 18 hours ago)
  • Basic dinner out in neighborhood pub, dinner for two in Bogotá costs COL$70,000 (about 18 hours ago)
  • One-way ticket in public transport in Bogotá costs COL$2,950 (about 18 hours ago)
  • Taxi, initial meter charge, weekday at noon in Bogotá costs COL$3,500 (about 18 hours ago)
  • 1 us gal of gasoline in Bogotá costs COL$4,227 (about 18 hours ago)
  • Volkswagen golf 1.4 tsi 150 cv (or equivalent), with no extras, new in Bogotá costs COL$50,000,000 (about 18 hours ago)

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