Moving to Colombia
What does it cost to live in Colombia?
Compare a monthly basket for Medellin, Bogota, Cali, Cartagena and more. Then open real rents and jobs in the same city.
Monthly cost by city
Estimated monthly basket
$4.620.000 COP
≈ USD 1,155 · rent is 48% of the basket
Orientation only. Neighborhood, furnished units, and season change the rent line the most.
Turn this estimate into a real move
Browse current rents, jobs, and services in the same city — or post your own listing free.
What is in the basket?
- • Rent: Mid-range 1-bed in a commonly searched area, then scaled by housing size.
- • Daily costs: Food, transport, utilities, internet, healthcare, leisure.
- • Lifestyle presets: Budget, comfortable, couple, family, or digital nomad.
- • Income check: Optional USD/COP income shows leftover vs the basket.
Data reference: 2026-08-31. Sources: Rangos 2026 de arriendo y canasta orientativa (Colombia Move /mercado + guías de costo de vida). No es IPC oficial..
Questions
How accurate is this cost of living calculator?
It is an orientation basket for 2026, not official CPI. Rent is the line that moves most by neighborhood, furnishings, and season. Use it to compare cities, then check live listings on Colombia Move.
Which neighborhood do the rent figures represent?
A commonly searched, relatively safe mid-range area — not the cheapest outskirts and not the most expensive tourist strip. Medellin uses Laureles/Envigado, Bogota Chapinero/Teusaquillo, Cartagena Getsemani/Manga.
Can I live in Colombia on USD 1,500 a month?
In most cities outside Cartagena tourist zones, a comfortable single-person basket is often near or under that at a 4,000 TRM. Run the calculator with your city, housing size, and today’s TRM.
Does this include visa, flights, or furniture?
No. This is a recurring monthly basket. One-time moving costs, deposits (often 1–2 months), visas, and furniture are extra. Pair it with the rent-increase and housing-budget tools.
Marketplace activity
