Cost of living in Colombia

Summary of cost of living in Colombia

  • Family of four estimated monthly costs: COL$9,311,291
  • Single person estimated monthly costs: COL$4,444,481
  • Colombia is the 3rd cheapest country in Latin America (12 out of 14)
  • Cost of living in Colombia is cheaper than in 90% of countries in the World (56 out of 62)
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Food
Basic lunchtime menu (including a drink) in the business district COL$33,340
Combo meal in fast food restaurant (big mac meal or similar) COL$27,558
500 gr (1 lb.) of boneless chicken breast COL$11,421
1 liter (1 qt.) of whole fat milk COL$4,766
12 eggs, large COL$10,140
1 kg (2 lb.) of tomatoes COL$4,487
500 gr (16 oz.) of local cheese COL$13,526
1 kg (2 lb.) of apples COL$9,588
1 kg (2 lb.) of potatoes COL$4,365
0.5 l (16 oz) domestic beer in the supermarket COL$3,919
1 bottle of red table wine, good quality COL$46,946
2 liters of coca-cola COL$7,071
Bread for 2 people for 1 day COL$3,623
Housing
Monthly rent for 85 m2 (900 sqft) furnished accommodation in expensive area COL$3,630,590
Monthly rent for 85 m2 (900 sqft) furnished accommodation in normal area COL$2,012,930
Utilities 1 month (heating, electricity, gas ...) for 2 people in 85m2 flat COL$338,027
Monthly rent for a 45 m2 (480 sqft) furnished studio in expensive area COL$1,961,990
Monthly rent for a 45 m2 (480 sqft) furnished studio in normal area COL$1,409,460
Utilities 1 month (heating, electricity, gas ...) for 1 person in 45 m2 (480 sqft) studio COL$234,073
Internet 8 mbps (1 month) COL$69,884
40” flat screen tv COL$1,310,990
Microwave 800/900 watt (bosch, panasonic, lg, sharp, or equivalent brands) COL$412,276
Laundry detergent (3 l. ~ 100 oz.) COL$22,711
Hourly rate for cleaning help COL$15,548
Clothes
1 pair of jeans (levis 501 or similar) COL$225,861
1 summer dress in a high street store (zara, h&m or similar retailers) COL$134,437
1 pair of sport shoes (nike, adidas, or equivalent brands) COL$358,556
1 pair of men’s leather business shoes COL$299,192
Transportation
Volkswagen golf 1.4 tsi 150 cv (or equivalent), with no extras, new COL$74,420,600
1 liter (1/4 gallon) of gas COL$4,122
Monthly ticket public transport COL$151,284
Personal Care
Cold medicine for 6 days (tylenol, frenadol, coldrex, or equivalent brands) COL$22,381
1 box of antibiotics (12 doses) COL$24,951
Short visit to private doctor (15 minutes) COL$117,864
1 box of 32 tampons (tampax, ob, ...) COL$24,230
Deodorant, roll-on (50ml ~ 1.5 oz.) COL$15,907
Hair shampoo 2-in-1 (400 ml ~ 12 oz.) COL$18,016
4 rolls of toilet paper COL$8,478
Tube of toothpaste COL$6,406
Standard men's haircut in expat area of the city COL$33,706
Entertainment
Basic dinner out for two in neighborhood pub COL$56,496
2 tickets to the movies COL$30,607
2 tickets to the theater (best available seats) COL$153,174
Dinner for two at an italian restaurant in the expat area including appetisers, main course, wine and dessert COL$136,252
1 cocktail drink in downtown club COL$35,004
Cappuccino in expat area of the city COL$10,184
1 beer in neighbourhood pub (500ml or 1pt.) COL$5,924
Ipad wi-fi 128gb COL$2,517,670
1 min. of prepaid mobile tariff (no discounts or plans) COL$272
1 month of gym membership in business district COL$143,888
1 package of marlboro cigarettes COL$12,591

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 72
2nd Cartagena, Colombia 67
3rd Bogotá 66
4th Santiago de Cali 63
5th Barranquilla 61
6th Pereira 59
7th Cúcuta 52

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.

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Prices recently added

  • Internet connection 300 mbps, 1 month in Bucaramanga costs COL$90,000 (about 17 hours ago)
  • 40′ flat screen tv in Bucaramanga costs COL$1,600,000 (about 17 hours ago)
  • Internet 8 mbps, 1 month in Bucaramanga costs COL$70,000 (about 17 hours ago)
  • Monthly rent - 45 m2 furnished studio in normal area in Bucaramanga costs COL$19,000,000 (about 17 hours ago)
  • Monthly rent - 45 m2 furnished studio in expensive area in Bucaramanga costs COL$2,200,000 (about 17 hours ago)
  • Furnished accommodation in normal area, monthly rent - 85 m2 in Bucaramanga costs COL$2,300,000 (about 17 hours ago)
  • Monthly rent - 85 m2 furnished accommodation in expensive area in Bucaramanga costs COL$2,700,000 (about 17 hours ago)
  • Nice dinner at an italian restaurant, dinner for two in Medellín costs COL$200,000 (about 19 hours ago)
  • 1 pack of marlboro cigarettes in Bogotá costs COL$10,000 (2 days ago)
  • 1 kg of rice in Bogotá costs COL$4,900 (2 days ago)

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