Country topic
Cost of living in Colombia
The World Bank's price level index for Colombia was 37.82 in 2025, where the United States is 100: prices overall are about 0.38 of US prices at market exchange rates. That is a national average for the whole economy, not a rent or grocery bill for any city or lifestyle. [Cost of living C1] The Superintendencia Financiera's representative market rate on 15 October 2026 was COP 3,197.65 per US dollar, so each million pesos is about US$313. At the European Central Bank's rates of the same day it is about CA$444, A$453 and NZ$558. The rate moves daily, so the figures in dollars below are only a guide. [C2] [C3]
What we found
The research, with its sources.
Research information, not advice. Rules change, so check the source before you act on one.
- The World Bank's price level index for Colombia was 37.82 in 2025, where the United States is 100: prices overall are about 0.38 of US prices at market exchange rates. That is a national average for the whole economy, not a rent or grocery bill for any city or lifestyle. [Cost of living C1]
- The Superintendencia Financiera's representative market rate on 15 October 2026 was COP 3,197.65 per US dollar, so each million pesos is about US$313. At the European Central Bank's rates of the same day it is about CA$444, A$453 and NZ$558. The rate moves daily, so the figures in dollars below are only a guide. [C2] [C3]
- Four one-bedroom adverts opened in Medellín on 15 October 2026 asked COP 2,455,000 to COP 4,750,000 a month (about US$770 to US$1,490). A 35 m² flat in Laureles asks COP 2,455,000 unfurnished (COP 3,155,000 furnished); a 42 m² studio with a separate bedroom in Belén asks COP 3,000,000; a furnished 63 m² flat in El Poblado asks COP 3,850,000 and a 68 m² one in El Poblado COP 4,750,000. These are single asking rents, not an average or a quote, and availability is unconfirmed. [C4] [C5] [C6] [C7] [C2]
- Rent is not the whole housing cost. The Laureles advert adds COP 350,000 a month in building administration, asks for a 12-month minimum and says water, gas, electricity, internet and TV are not included. The El Poblado adverts do not say whether administration or utilities are included, and none of the adverts states a deposit. Ask what is covered, the minimum term and the upfront amount in writing before comparing flats. [C5] [C4] [C7]
- One advert in Chico Norte, Bogotá, a street from the Parque de la 93, asks COP 3,300,000 a month for a 48 m² one-bedroom plus COP 300,000 administration (COP 3,600,000 in all). One in La Boquilla, Cartagena, for a 78 m² one-bedroom with air conditioning, a pool and a gym asks COP 4,500,000 plus COP 500,000 administration (COP 5,000,000 in all). Each is a single advert, so neither says what a typical rent is in that city. [C8] [C9]
- Our research found no dated, sourced price for utilities, internet, groceries, cafés and leisure, local transport, private health insurance or incidentals in Colombia, so those costs are unknown here, not zero. Without them no monthly total can be given. Personal tax and social contributions are also not included. [C4] [C5] [C6] [C7]
- The WHO's service coverage index for Colombia is 82 out of 100 (2023). The remote-worker visa needs a health policy valid in Colombia for your whole stay, and we found no price for one, so that cost is unknown. The Government of Canada says good health care is available in major cities but limited elsewhere, and that private clinics usually require advance payment in cash or by card. Medicare usually does not cover health care outside the US. [C10] [C11] [C12] [C13]
- The 2026 minimum wage is COP 1,750,905 a month (Decree 0159 of 2026), and a press report says it stands while nullity claims are pending before the Council of State. Visa income tests are multiples of it, so they change every year. Visa fees are set in US dollars: US$194 for visitor-group visas, US$260 for migrant visas and US$239 for resident visas, not including stamp tax, whose amount is unknown. [C14] [C15] [C16]
The Fernshore Index
How the Index grades the cost of living.
Each grade is against a published measure, with its source and the date we checked it. It is research information, not advice. Where we have no figure, the row says Unknown.
Cost of living
84 of 100Strong
Price level 0.378 of United States prices (2025).
Source: Price level index (GDP), Colombia. Checked 15 October 2026.
The country
More on Colombia.
Topics
More about Colombia.
Questions about Cost of living in Colombia.
How do prices in Colombia compare with US prices?
The World Bank's price level index for Colombia was 37.82 in 2025, where the United States is 100: about 0.38 of US prices at market exchange rates. It is a national average, so it says little about rent in a particular city or what your own spending would be.
What rent do one-bedroom flats in Medellín ask?
Four adverts opened on 15 October 2026 asked COP 2,455,000 to COP 4,750,000 a month, about US$770 to US$1,490. They are single asking rents in Laureles, Belén and El Poblado, not an average, and availability is unconfirmed.
What costs come on top of rent in Colombia?
Building administration can be added: one Laureles advert adds COP 350,000 a month, asks for a 12-month minimum and does not include water, gas, electricity, internet or TV. Other adverts do not say what is included, so ask in writing before you compare.
What do rents ask in Bogotá and Cartagena?
One Chico Norte, Bogotá advert asks COP 3,300,000 plus COP 300,000 administration for a 48 m² one-bedroom. One La Boquilla, Cartagena advert asks COP 4,500,000 plus COP 500,000 for a 78 m² one-bedroom. Each is one advert, not a city average.
What do groceries, utilities, transport and health cover cost in Colombia?
Not known here. Our research found no dated, sourced price for any of them, so we give no figure and no monthly total. The remote-worker visa needs a health policy valid in Colombia, and its price is also unknown.
Sources
Where each figure comes from.
Every figure on this page links to the page we read, with the date we checked it.
- [CO C1] Price level index (GDP), Colombia, World Bank. Checked 15 October 2026. 2025: 37.82 (United States = 100; exact 37.8156), read from the World Bank API on 15 October 2026.
- [Cost of living C1] Price level index (GDP), Colombia, World Bank. Checked 15 October 2026.
- [C2] Representative market exchange rate (TRM), 15 October 2026, Superintendencia Financiera de Colombia (open data portal datos.gov.co). Checked 15 October 2026.
- [C3] Euro reference rates, 15 October 2026, European Central Bank. Checked 15 October 2026.
- [C4] Furnished one-bedroom flat, El Poblado (Carrera 29A, tower 1), 63 m², Fincaraíz (private property portal); advert by a letting agency. Checked 15 October 2026.
- [C5] One-bedroom flat, Laureles (Carrera 76), 35 m², 12-month minimum, Fincaraíz (private property portal); advert by a letting agency. Checked 15 October 2026.
- [C6] Studio apartment with separate bedroom, Belén (Guayabal sector), 42 m², Fincaraíz (private property portal); advert by a letting agency. Checked 15 October 2026.
- [C7] One-bedroom flat, El Poblado (Loma de los González), 68 m², Fincaraíz (private property portal); advert by a letting agency. Checked 15 October 2026.
- [C8] One-bedroom flat near the Parque de la 93, Chico Norte, Bogotá, 48 m², Fincaraíz (private property portal); advert by a letting agency. Checked 15 October 2026.
- [C9] One-bedroom flat, La Boquilla, Cartagena, 78 m², Fincaraíz (private property portal); advert by a letting agency. Checked 15 October 2026.
- [C10] UHC service coverage index (SDG 3.8.1), World Health Organization. Checked 15 October 2026.
- [C11] Resolution 5477 of 2022 (visas), compiled text with later amendments: articles 11 to 13, 18 to 21, 46, 56, 77, 101 and 118, Ministerio de Relaciones Exteriores, compilation on the Cancillería website. Checked 15 October 2026.
- [C12] Colombia travel advice and advisories, Government of Canada (travel.gc.ca). Checked 15 October 2026.
- [C13] Travel outside the U.S., Medicare.gov (Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services). Checked 15 October 2026.
- [C14] Decree 0159 of 2026: monthly minimum wage for 2026, article 1, Presidency of the Republic and Ministry of Labour (DAPRE publication). Checked 15 October 2026.
- [C15] Minimum wage for 2026 stays at COP 1,750,905 after clarification on Council of State cases (10 October 2026), Portafolio (Colombian business newspaper, not official). Checked 15 October 2026.
- [C16] Resolution 3969 of 2026 (consular and Foreign Ministry fees), article 4: visa fees, Ministerio de Relaciones Exteriores, compilation on the Cancillería website. Checked 15 October 2026.