Cost of living in Colombia
Summary of cost of living in Colombia
- Family of four estimated monthly costs: $1,892 (COL$6,544,224)
- Single person estimated monthly costs: $881 (COL$3,046,851)
- Colombia is the 2nd cheapest country in Latin America (14 out of 15)
- Cost of living in Colombia is cheaper than in 87% of countries in the World (65 out of 75)
| Food | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| COP | USD | ||
| Basic lunchtime menu (including a drink) in the business district | COL$22,138 | ($6) | |
| Combo meal in fast food restaurant (big mac meal or similar) | COL$17,239 | ($4.98) | |
| 500 gr (1 lb.) of boneless chicken breast | COL$7,284 | ($2.11) | |
| 1 liter (1 qt.) of whole fat milk | COL$2,723 | ($0.79) | |
| 12 eggs, large | COL$5,450 | ($1.58) | |
| 1 kg (2 lb.) of tomatoes | COL$2,764 | ($0.80) | |
| 500 gr (16 oz.) of local cheese | COL$7,861 | ($2.27) | |
| 1 kg (2 lb.) of apples | COL$5,378 | ($1.55) | |
| 1 kg (2 lb.) of potatoes | COL$2,124 | ($0.61) | |
| 0.5 l (16 oz) domestic beer in the supermarket | COL$2,961 | ($0.86) | |
| 1 bottle of red table wine, good quality | COL$40,381 | ($12) | |
| 2 liters of coca-cola | COL$4,256 | ($1.23) | |
| Bread for 2 people for 1 day | COL$2,184 | ($0.63) | |
| Housing | |||
| COP | USD | ||
| Monthly rent for 85 m2 (900 sqft) furnished accommodation in expensive area | COL$2,544,290 | ($736) | |
| Monthly rent for 85 m2 (900 sqft) furnished accommodation in normal area | COL$1,219,720 | ($353) | |
| Utilities 1 month (heating, electricity, gas ...) for 2 people in 85m2 flat | COL$223,080 | ($64) | |
| Monthly rent for a 45 m2 (480 sqft) furnished studio in expensive area | COL$1,515,210 | ($438) | |
| Monthly rent for a 45 m2 (480 sqft) furnished studio in normal area | COL$827,339 | ($239) | |
| Utilities 1 month (heating, electricity, gas ...) for 1 person in 45 m2 (480 sqft) studio | COL$156,810 | ($45) | |
| Internet 8 mbps (1 month) | COL$71,603 | ($21) | |
| 40” flat screen tv | COL$1,194,910 | ($345) | |
| Microwave 800/900 watt (bosch, panasonic, lg, sharp, or equivalent brands) | COL$349,760 | ($101) | |
| Laundry detergent (3 l. ~ 100 oz.) | COL$19,339 | ($5.59) | |
| Hourly rate for cleaning help | COL$10,204 | ($2.95) | |
| Clothes | |||
| COP | USD | ||
| 1 pair of jeans (levis 501 or similar) | COL$159,394 | ($46) | |
| 1 summer dress in a high street store (zara, h&m or similar retailers) | COL$104,048 | ($30) | |
| 1 pair of sport shoes (nike, adidas, or equivalent brands) | COL$246,178 | ($71) | |
| 1 pair of men’s leather business shoes | COL$210,845 | ($61) | |
| Transportation | |||
| COP | USD | ||
| Volkswagen golf 1.4 tsi 150 cv (or equivalent), with no extras, new | COL$61,981,700 | ($17,919) | |
| 1 liter (1/4 gallon) of gas | COL$2,412 | ($0.70) | |
| Monthly ticket public transport | COL$127,848 | ($37) | |
| Personal Care | |||
| COP | USD | ||
| Cold medicine for 6 days (tylenol, frenadol, coldrex, or equivalent brands) | COL$15,899 | ($4.60) | |
| 1 box of antibiotics (12 doses) | COL$13,693 | ($3.96) | |
| Short visit to private doctor (15 minutes) | COL$80,336 | ($23) | |
| 1 box of 32 tampons (tampax, ob, ...) | COL$18,245 | ($5.27) | |
| Deodorant, roll-on (50ml ~ 1.5 oz.) | COL$12,071 | ($3.49) | |
| Hair shampoo 2-in-1 (400 ml ~ 12 oz.) | COL$15,312 | ($4.43) | |
| 4 rolls of toilet paper | COL$6,321 | ($1.83) | |
| Tube of toothpaste | COL$4,656 | ($1.35) | |
| Standard men's haircut in expat area of the city | COL$20,089 | ($5.81) | |
| Entertainment | |||
| COP | USD | ||
| Basic dinner out for two in neighborhood pub | COL$33,903 | ($10) | |
| 2 tickets to the movies | COL$23,601 | ($7) | |
| 2 tickets to the theater (best available seats) | COL$92,064 | ($27) | |
| Dinner for two at an italian restaurant in the expat area including appetisers, main course, wine and dessert | COL$97,727 | ($28) | |
| 1 cocktail drink in downtown club | COL$21,885 | ($6) | |
| Cappuccino in expat area of the city | COL$7,423 | ($2.15) | |
| 1 beer in neighbourhood pub (500ml or 1pt.) | COL$3,540 | ($1.02) | |
| Ipad wi-fi 128gb | COL$1,778,020 | ($514) | |
| 1 min. of prepaid mobile tariff (no discounts or plans) | COL$192 | ($0.06) | |
| 1 month of gym membership in business district | COL$121,424 | ($35) | |
| 1 package of marlboro cigarettes | COL$8,423 | ($2.44) | |
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 | 73 |
| 2nd | Medellín | 71 |
| 3rd | Barranquilla | 67 |
| 4th | Santiago de Cali | 65 |
| 5th | Bucaramanga | 64 |
| 6th | Manizales | 64 |
| 7th | Sogamoso | 59 |
| 8th | Villavicencio | 58 |
| 9th | Tunja | 53 |
| 10th | Cúcuta | 48 |
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 Barranquilla is 10% more expensive than in Santa Marta
- Cost of living in Bogotá is 38% more expensive than in Tunja
- Cost of living in Bogotá is 12% cheaper than in Mexico City
- Cost of living in Medellín is about the same as in Bogotá
- Cost of living in Bogotá is 62% cheaper than in Paris
- Cost of living in Bogotá is 22% more expensive than in Buenos Aires
- Cost of living in Medellín is 11% more expensive than in Cartagena
- Cost of living in Medellín is 40% more expensive than in Rosario
- Cost of living in Bogotá is 28% cheaper than in Santiago
- Cost of living in Bogotá is 48% cheaper than in Barcelona
- Cost of living in Medellín is 12% more expensive than in Santiago de Cali
- Cost of living in Pereira is 20% cheaper than in Bogotá
- Cost of living in Medellín is 20% more expensive than in Buenos Aires
- Cost of living in Bogotá is 38% cheaper than in San Juan
- Cost of living in Pereira is 26% more expensive than in Calabozo
- Cost of living in Bogotá is 222% more expensive than in Caracas
- Cost of living in Medellín is 14% more expensive than in Belém
- Cost of living in Medellín is 69% cheaper than in New York City
- Cost of living in Buenaventura is 5% more expensive than in Santiago de Cali
- Cost of living in Medellín is 51% cheaper than in Marseille
Compare other countries
Prices recently added
- One-way ticket in public transport in Bogotá costs COL$2,500 (about 14 hours ago)
- Internet connection 300 mbps, 1 month in Bogotá costs COL$20,000 (about 24 hours ago)
- Monthly rent - 85 m2 furnished accommodation in expensive area in Bogotá costs COL$800,000 (1 day ago)
- 4 rolls of toilet paper in Bucaramanga costs COL$5,000 (1 day ago)
- 1 box of 16 of tampons (tampax, ob, ...) in Bucaramanga costs COL$17,000 (1 day ago)
- 12 doses box of antibiotics in Bucaramanga costs COL$12,000 (1 day ago)
- 12 tablets box of cold medicine (tylenol, frenadol, coldrex, or equivalent brands) in Bucaramanga costs COL$36,000 (1 day ago)
- One-way ticket in public transport in Bucaramanga costs COL$2,600 (1 day ago)
- Taxi fare per distance, weekday at noon, per 1 km. in Bucaramanga costs COL$800 (1 day ago)
- Taxi, initial meter charge, weekday at noon in Bucaramanga costs COL$1,500 (1 day ago)