Colombia
A stunning walled colonial city on Colombia's Caribbean coast, with colorful balconied streets, vibrant nightlife, and nearby tropical islands.
#105 of 250
5% above average
Monthly cost, one adult
$ 1 519
Based on NYC = 100 index
Cartagena is the 105. most expensive of the 250 cities we track — a month here comes to $ 1 519 for one adult.
Cheaper here than almost anywhere else is entertainment, 37% below the median: fitness club (monthly) $ 25, tennis court rent (1 hour) $ 13. You also get off lightly on restaurants, transportation.
Percentages compare this city against the median of all tracked cities, category by category.
49 prices on this page come from live scrapers (13 sources, observed October 7, 2026 to October 13, 2026). They are free to reuse under CC BY 4.0: credit CostCompass and link this page.
CostCompass (2026). Cost of living in Cartagena, Colombia. Data as of 2026-10-14. https://costcompass.net/living/cities/cartagena. Licensed under CC BY 4.0.
| Item | Price (USD) | Observations | Last observed | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1BR Apartment (City Center) | 811.42 / month | 1 | 2026-10-13 | Finca Raíz |
| 1BR Apartment (Outside Center) | 1,063.75 / month | 1 | 2026-10-13 | Finca Raíz |
| 3BR Apartment (City Center) | 1,407.90 / month | 1 | 2026-10-13 | Finca Raíz |
| 3BR Apartment (Outside Center) | 1,642.55 / month | 1 | 2026-10-13 | Finca Raíz |
| Chicken Breast (1kg) | 5.91 / item | 1 | 2026-10-13 | Latin American supermarkets (VTEX) |
| Pork (1kg) | 9.35 / item | 1 | 2026-10-13 | Latin American supermarkets (VTEX) |
| Beef (1kg) | 15.96 / item | 1 | 2026-10-13 | Latin American supermarkets (VTEX) |
| Fish Fillet (1kg) | 10.63 / item | 1 | 2026-10-13 | Latin American supermarkets (VTEX) |
| Deli Meat / Ham (1kg) | 15.50 / item | 1 | 2026-10-13 | Latin American supermarkets (VTEX) |
| Milk (1 liter) | 1.49 / item | 1 | 2026-10-13 | Latin American supermarkets (VTEX) |
| Yogurt (150g) | 1.40 / item | 1 | 2026-10-13 | Latin American supermarkets (VTEX) |
| Cheese (1kg) | 11.31 / item | 1 | 2026-10-13 | Latin American supermarkets (VTEX) |
| Butter (200g) | 2.79 / item | 1 | 2026-10-13 | Latin American supermarkets (VTEX) |
| Eggs (12) | 3.08 / item | 1 | 2026-10-13 | Latin American supermarkets (VTEX) |
| Bread (500g) | 1.87 / item | 1 | 2026-10-13 | Latin American supermarkets (VTEX) |
| Pasta (500g) | 0.92 / item | 1 | 2026-10-13 | Latin American supermarkets (VTEX) |
| Rice (1kg) | 1.29 / item | 1 | 2026-10-13 | Latin American supermarkets (VTEX) |
| Oats (500g) | 1.36 / item | 1 | 2026-10-13 | Latin American supermarkets (VTEX) |
| Potatoes (1kg) | 1.43 / item | 1 | 2026-10-13 | Latin American supermarkets (VTEX) |
| Tomatoes (1kg) | 2.51 / item | 1 | 2026-10-13 | Latin American supermarkets (VTEX) |
| Bell Peppers (1kg) | 1.96 / item | 1 | 2026-10-13 | Latin American supermarkets (VTEX) |
| Carrots (1kg) | 0.60 / item | 1 | 2026-10-13 | Latin American supermarkets (VTEX) |
| Onions (1kg) | 1.08 / item | 1 | 2026-10-13 | Latin American supermarkets (VTEX) |
| Garlic (1kg) | 4.47 / item | 1 | 2026-10-07 | Latin American supermarkets (VTEX) |
| Lettuce (1 head) | 0.77 / item | 1 | 2026-10-13 | Latin American supermarkets (VTEX) |
| Apples (1kg) | 2.54 / item | 1 | 2026-10-13 | Latin American supermarkets (VTEX) |
| Banana (1kg) | 0.69 / item | 1 | 2026-10-13 | Latin American supermarkets (VTEX) |
| Oranges (1kg) | 1.10 / item | 1 | 2026-10-13 | Latin American supermarkets (VTEX) |
| Lentils (1kg) | 1.36 / item | 1 | 2026-10-13 | Latin American supermarkets (VTEX) |
| Canned Tomatoes (400g) | 2.97 / item | 1 | 2026-10-13 | Latin American supermarkets (VTEX) |
| Sunflower Oil (1L) | 5.15 / item | 1 | 2026-10-13 | Latin American supermarkets (VTEX) |
| Flour (1kg) | 1.28 / item | 1 | 2026-10-13 | Latin American supermarkets (VTEX) |
| Sugar (1kg) | 1.34 / item | 1 | 2026-10-13 | Latin American supermarkets (VTEX) |
| Coffee (250g) | 4.22 / item | 1 | 2026-10-13 | Latin American supermarkets (VTEX) |
| Water (1.5 liter) | 0.82 / item | 1 | 2026-10-13 | Latin American supermarkets (VTEX) |
| Orange Juice (1L) | 2.85 / item | 1 | 2026-10-13 | Latin American supermarkets (VTEX) |
| Domestic Beer (0.5L) | 6.84 / item | 1 | 2026-10-13 | Pub & Bar Drinks Menus |
| Gasoline (1 liter) | 1.32 / liter | 1 | 2026-10-13 | National fuel price sources |
| Basic Utilities (85m2 Apt) | 82.80 / month | 1 | 2026-10-13 | Official Electricity Tariffs |
| Mobile Plan (10GB+) | 16.86 / month | 1 | 2026-10-13 | Latam Telecom Operators |
| Internet (60 Mbps+) | 26.56 / month | 1 | 2026-10-13 | Latam Telecom Operators |
| Fitness Club (Monthly) | 24.88 / month | 2 | 2026-10-13 | Americas Entertainment Chains, Gym Chains |
| Doctor Visit (15 min) | 25.03 / visit | 1 | 2026-10-13 | Private Clinics & Telehealth |
| Cold Medicine (6 days) | 4.55 / item | 2 | 2026-10-13 | Online Pharmacies (API), Global Local Pharmacies |
| Antibiotics (12 doses) | 2.82 / item | 1 | 2026-10-13 | Global Local Pharmacies |
| Jeans (Levis or Similar) | 77.90 / item | 1 | 2026-10-13 | Americas Local Fashion Stores |
| Summer Dress (Chain Store) | 87.29 / item | 1 | 2026-10-13 | Americas Local Fashion Stores |
| Running Shoes (Nike, Adidas) | 43.77 / pair | 1 | 2026-10-13 | Americas Local Fashion Stores |
| Business Shoes (Leather) | 63.90 / pair | 2 | 2026-10-13 | Local Shoe Stores (world), Americas Local Fashion Stores |
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Monthly average costs by category
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per month
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per month
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per month
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per month
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per month
$ 50
per month
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per month
$ 37
per month