Cost of living in Colombia
The cost of living in Colombia runs at about 41% of US prices, and DANE's minimum food basket in Medellín was 240,728 pesos a person a month in 2025.
Official prices, where your money goes further, and a budget built from your own rent and insurance. Checked against official sources on Oct 7, 2026.
- Price level
- ~41% of the US Household consumption, 2025. World Bank. Checked Oct 7, 2026.
- Food basket, Bogotá
- COP 298,554/mo (about $90) Official, household of 1, 2025. DANE. Checked Oct 7, 2026.
- Food basket, Medellín
- COP 240,728/mo (about $70) Official, household of 1, 2025. DANE. Checked Oct 7, 2026.
- Per person
- $90/mo Food basket divided by household size
Build your Colombia budget
No official source tracks what expats pay in rent, and rent is the biggest line in any budget. So this starts from what is measured, the government's food basket, and adds your own numbers.
Get rent from current listings in the area you like and a written quote for health insurance at your age; the total then shows how far it sits above the $1,580 Pensionado minimum.
Your monthly budget
$0
The official food basket
DANE, Colombia's statistics office, sets an extreme poverty line every year for each city: the minimum monthly cost, per person, of a basket of food only. The figures are 2025 values.
| Area | 2025 |
|---|---|
| Bogotá | COP 298,554 (about $90) |
| Medellín (metropolitan area) | COP 240,728 (about $70) |
| Cali (metropolitan area) | COP 247,372 (about $70) |
DANE. Checked Oct 7, 2026.
Cost of living questions
How much do I need a month to live in Colombia?
It depends mostly on rent, which no official source tracks for expats. Start from the official food basket ($90 a person), add your rent and insurance quotes in the calculator above, and keep the $1,580 Pensionado minimum in mind as a floor, not a budget.
Is Colombia cheaper than the US?
On average, yes: the World Bank puts household prices in Colombia at about 41% of US levels (2025). Imported goods, cars and electronics can cost as much as at home or more.
Is it cheaper outside Bogotá?
Food is: the official food basket for Medellín costs COP 240,728 (about $70) against COP 298,554 (about $90) (2025).
Is Colombia cheap to retire in?
Prices run at about 41% of US levels on the World Bank's comparison. DANE's minimum food basket was 298,554 pesos a person a month in Bogotá in 2025.
How much does food cost in Medellín?
DANE's minimum food basket for the Medellín metropolitan area was 240,728 pesos a person a month in 2025, against 298,554 pesos in Bogotá and 247,372 pesos in Cali. That is the bare minimum for food, not a comfortable budget.
