BestInCali
Budget Planning

COST OF LIVING

Realistic monthly budgets for visitors, digital nomads, and long-stayers, plus tools to plan your spend.

Compare budget scenarios, check everyday prices, and use our calculator to estimate your monthly costs in Cali.

Overview

Affordable Living

Cali is 60-70% cheaper than major US/European cities, making it ideal for digital nomads and expats.

Budget-Friendly

Live comfortably on $800-1,500/month including rent, or go budget mode for under $800.

Quality of Life

Access to coworking, great food scene, vibrant culture, and modern amenities at a fraction of the cost.

What a Month Costs

Budget Nomad / Student

"Mostly cooking at home, weekly salsa, coworking 3 days/week"

Rent
Room in shared apartment
1.200.000
$300
Coworking
3 days/week
300.000
$75
Groceries
Cook most meals
600.000
$150
Eating Out
2-3 times/week
400.000
$100
Nightlife
Weekly outing
200.000
$50
Transport
MIO + occasional taxi
150.000
$38
Miscellaneous
Laundry, phone, extras
250.000
$63
Total/Month
3.100.000
≈ $776 USD

Comfortable Remote Worker

"Mix of eating out and cooking, full coworking, active social life"

Rent
Studio in Granada
2.500.000
$625
Coworking
Full membership
500.000
$125
Groceries
Balance home/eat out
500.000
$125
Eating Out
4-5 times/week
800.000
$200
Nightlife
2-3 times/week
500.000
$125
Transport
Uber/DiDi regularly
300.000
$75
Miscellaneous
Services + extras
400.000
$100
Total/Month
5.500.000
≈ $1375 USD

High-End Expat / Short-Stay

"Dining out most days, premium accommodations, full flexibility"

Rent
1-2BR in Ciudad Jardín
4.000.000
$1000
Coworking
Premium membership
600.000
$150
Groceries
Imported items
400.000
$100
Eating Out
Daily, nice restaurants
1.500.000
$375
Nightlife
Clubs, cocktails
800.000
$200
Transport
Uber everywhere
500.000
$125
Miscellaneous
Services, cleaning, luxury
700.000
$175
Total/Month
8.500.000
≈ $2125 USD
See real housing examples
Understand nomad budgets in context
Money safety & ATMs

What Changes Costs Up or Down

External Factors

  • FX Rate Swings: COP vs USD/EUR/GBP can shift 5-15% year-over-year
  • Seasonality: Feria de Cali (late Dec) and peak travel months see price spikes

Personal Factors

  • Spanish Level: Better Spanish = better deals and fewer tourist markups
  • Safety Choices: More taxis vs walking/MIO, safer neighborhoods, coworking backup
  • Social Frequency: Nightlife and dining out habits make the biggest monthly swings

What Things Cost Day-to-Day

Food & Drink

Local lunch (menú del día)
15,000 - 30,000 COP
$4-8
Café coffee
3,000 - 8,000 COP
$0.75-2
Beer at bar
5,000 - 12,000 COP
$1.25-3
Cocktail
15,000 - 35,000 COP
$4-9
Supermarket basics (week)
120,000 - 180,000 COP
$30-45
Nice dinner (2 people)
100,000 - 200,000 COP
$25-50

Transport

MIO bus fare (2025)
3,200 COP
$0.80
MIO card (one-time)
6,000 COP
$1.50
Taxi (5km)
10,000 - 15,000 COP
$2.50-4
Uber (Granada → Peñón)
8,000 - 12,000 COP
$2-3
Airport transfer
25,000 - 40,000 COP
$6-10
Bottled water (500ml)
2,000 - 5,000 COP
$0.50-1.25

Services

Laundry (per load)
8,000 - 15,000 COP
$2-4
Basic haircut
15,000 - 40,000 COP
$4-10
Coworking day pass
30,000 - 50,000 COP
$8-13
Gym membership (month)
80,000 - 200,000 COP
$20-50
Cleaning (per visit)
30,000 - 60,000 COP
$8-15

Leisure

Salsa class
15,000 - 30,000 COP
$4-8
Museum ticket
10,000 - 20,000 COP
$2.50-5
Cinema ticket
12,000 - 20,000 COP
$3-5
Nightclub entry
20,000 - 50,000 COP
$5-13
Coworking + coffee (day)
45,000 - 70,000 COP
$11-18

Housing & Utilities

Studio Apartment Prices

Granada
1,800,000 - 2,800,000 COP/month
$450-700
El Peñón
1,500,000 - 2,500,000 COP/month
$375-625
Ciudad Jardín
2,000,000 - 3,200,000 COP/month
$500-800

Typical Monthly Bills

Utilities (electricity, water, gas)
Usually included in rent
100,000 - 250,000 COP/month
$25-63
Internet (home fiber)
Required for remote work
80,000 - 150,000 COP/month
$20-38
Building admin fee
Sometimes separate from rent
50,000 - 200,000 COP/month
$13-50
Deposit (typically)
See Housing guide for contract details
1-2 months rent
Varies

See full Housing guide for contract details, deposits, fiador requirements, and move-in checklists.

Work & Internet Costs

Coworking Spaces

Standard coworking space
Day Pass:30,000 - 50,000 COP ($8-13)
Monthly:400,000 - 700,000 COP ($100-175)
Premium spaces (Pool, amenities)
Day Pass:50,000 - 80,000 COP ($13-20)
Monthly:600,000 - 1,000,000 COP ($150-250)

Home Internet

50-100 Mbps
80,000 - 120,000 COP/month
$20-30
Good for most work
200-300 Mbps
120,000 - 180,000 COP/month
$30-45
Great for video calls
500+ Mbps
180,000 - 250,000 COP/month
$45-63
Premium tier

Note: Occasional outages happen. Many nomads keep a coworking membership as backup.

See Digital Nomad Guide for full coworking recommendations, community info, and lifestyle tips.

Budget Calculator

Build Your Custom Budget

Adjust the inputs below to estimate your monthly costs in Cali

Housing

Work Setup

Food & Dining

All Home CookingEvery Meal Out

Nightlife & Social

HomebodyVery Social

Fitness & Activities

Display Currency

Reality Check

If you're safety-cautious (more taxis, safer areas, coworking backup), expect to be closer to the upper end of our ranges. Budget flexibility is key.

Your Estimated Monthly Budget

Housing + Bills2.590.000 COP
Coworking300.000 COP
Food (Groceries + Dining)1.521.000 COP
Nightlife140.000 COP
Transport343.500 COP
Services & Extras190.000 COP
Housing
Work
Food
Nightlife
Transport
Services
Total / Month
5.084.500 COP
≈ $1,271 USD

Disclaimer: All costs are rough estimates based on typical ranges. Actual prices vary by season, exchange rates, lifestyle, and negotiation. Use this as a planning guide, not an exact budget.

Quick COP Conversion Reference

Reference rates for mental math (approximate, rates fluctuate):

COPUSDEURGBP
1,000,000 COP~$250~€230~£195
2,000,000 COP~$500~€460~£390
3,000,000 COP~$750~€690~£585
5,000,000 COP~$1,250~€1,150~£975

Rates as of January 2025 • Check current rates before large transactions

Budget Questions?

Get personalized answers to your budget questions:

"Is 6M COP enough for 2 people in Granada?"

"What's a realistic 3-month budget with coworking + salsa?"

"How much extra should I budget if I mostly use taxis at night?"

"Compare costs: cooking at home vs eating out most days"

Ask Cali Compass About Your Budget

Related Guides

Digital Nomad Guide

Lifestyle, community, coworking

Housing Guide

Contracts, deposits, neighborhoods

Cali 101

Money safety, ATMs, currency exchange

Services

Service providers and pricing