Cost of living in Colombia

Summary of cost of living in Colombia

  • Family of four estimated monthly costs: COL$9,387,760
  • Single person estimated monthly costs: COL$4,461,690
  • Colombia is the 3rd cheapest country in Latin America (12 out of 14)
  • Cost of living in Colombia is cheaper than in 89% of countries in the World (54 out of 61)
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Food
Basic lunchtime menu (including a drink) in the business district COL$33,779
Combo meal in fast food restaurant (big mac meal or similar) COL$27,819
500 gr (1 lb.) of boneless chicken breast COL$11,191
1 liter (1 qt.) of whole fat milk COL$4,924
12 eggs, large COL$10,365
1 kg (2 lb.) of tomatoes COL$4,501
500 gr (16 oz.) of local cheese COL$13,884
1 kg (2 lb.) of apples COL$10,017
1 kg (2 lb.) of potatoes COL$4,710
0.5 l (16 oz) domestic beer in the supermarket COL$4,179
1 bottle of red table wine, good quality COL$53,163
2 liters of coca-cola COL$7,136
Bread for 2 people for 1 day COL$3,613
Housing
Monthly rent for 85 m2 (900 sqft) furnished accommodation in expensive area COL$3,559,010
Monthly rent for 85 m2 (900 sqft) furnished accommodation in normal area COL$2,084,320
Utilities 1 month (heating, electricity, gas ...) for 2 people in 85m2 flat COL$351,576
Monthly rent for a 45 m2 (480 sqft) furnished studio in expensive area COL$1,996,390
Monthly rent for a 45 m2 (480 sqft) furnished studio in normal area COL$1,440,500
Utilities 1 month (heating, electricity, gas ...) for 1 person in 45 m2 (480 sqft) studio COL$233,653
Internet 8 mbps (1 month) COL$69,721
40” flat screen tv COL$1,384,870
Microwave 800/900 watt (bosch, panasonic, lg, sharp, or equivalent brands) COL$415,109
Laundry detergent (3 l. ~ 100 oz.) COL$24,613
Hourly rate for cleaning help COL$16,273
Clothes
1 pair of jeans (levis 501 or similar) COL$232,008
1 summer dress in a high street store (zara, h&m or similar retailers) COL$134,909
1 pair of sport shoes (nike, adidas, or equivalent brands) COL$384,606
1 pair of men’s leather business shoes COL$302,864
Transportation
Volkswagen golf 1.4 tsi 150 cv (or equivalent), with no extras, new COL$74,633,500
1 liter (1/4 gallon) of gas COL$4,142
Monthly ticket public transport COL$154,644
Personal Care
Cold medicine for 6 days (tylenol, frenadol, coldrex, or equivalent brands) COL$22,191
1 box of antibiotics (12 doses) COL$26,059
Short visit to private doctor (15 minutes) COL$112,618
1 box of 32 tampons (tampax, ob, ...) COL$25,781
Deodorant, roll-on (50ml ~ 1.5 oz.) COL$14,567
Hair shampoo 2-in-1 (400 ml ~ 12 oz.) COL$18,171
4 rolls of toilet paper COL$8,000
Tube of toothpaste COL$7,421
Standard men's haircut in expat area of the city COL$32,831
Entertainment
Basic dinner out for two in neighborhood pub COL$64,459
2 tickets to the movies COL$31,400
2 tickets to the theater (best available seats) COL$144,659
Dinner for two at an italian restaurant in the expat area including appetisers, main course, wine and dessert COL$143,439
1 cocktail drink in downtown club COL$37,094
Cappuccino in expat area of the city COL$10,467
1 beer in neighbourhood pub (500ml or 1pt.) COL$6,218
Ipad wi-fi 128gb COL$2,503,600
1 min. of prepaid mobile tariff (no discounts or plans) COL$266
1 month of gym membership in business district COL$143,121
1 package of marlboro cigarettes COL$9,848

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 76
2nd Bogotá 71
3rd Cartagena, Colombia 71
4th Barranquilla 65
5th Pereira 62
6th Bucaramanga 59
7th Cúcuta 55

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 Bogotá costs COL$100,000 (1 day ago)
  • 1 kg of rice in Medellín costs COL$4,570 (1 day ago)
  • Bread for 2 people for 1 day (250 g) in Medellín costs COL$4,500 (1 day ago)
  • 2 liters of coca-cola in Medellín costs COL$8,300 (1 day ago)
  • 1 bottle of red table wine, good quality in Medellín costs COL$75,400 (1 day ago)
  • 250 ml domestic beer in the supermarket in Medellín costs COL$6,300 (1 day ago)
  • 1 kg of potatoes in Medellín costs COL$4,000 (1 day ago)
  • 1 kg of apples in Medellín costs COL$16,220 (1 day ago)
  • 250 g of local cheese in Medellín costs COL$14,800 (1 day ago)
  • 1 kg of tomatoes in Medellín costs COL$5,640 (1 day ago)

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