Cost of Living · Americas
Cost of living in Cartagena
Colombia · Updated May 2026
Mid-tier monthly
$1,420
all categories below
Best for: Caribbean-Colombia nomads who want walled-city architecture and beach access.
Monthly breakdown
- Rent1-bedroom, central, decent neighborhood$700
- Groceriescooking ~50% of meals at home$220
- Dining out~12 meals out per month$220
- Transportmonthly transit pass or scooter$30
- Utilitieselectricity, water, 100Mbps internet$100
- Coworkingmonthly hot-desk membership$150
- Total$1,420
How Cartagena compares
Versus four reference nomad cities, mid-tier monthly totals.
- Lisbon+39%
$1,980/mo
- Berlin+79%
$2,540/mo
- Bangkok≈ same
$1,430/mo
- Mexico City+39%
$1,970/mo
Climate at a glance
Climate FinderJan
27°C
80% humidity · 0 mm/day rain
Apr
28°C
80% humidity · 1 mm/day rain
Jul
28°C
80% humidity · 4 mm/day rain
Oct
27°C
85% humidity · 8 mm/day rain
Field notes
More tourist-heavy than Medellín, with corresponding price pressure. Getsemaní and the Old City are the nomad anchors. Hot humid year-round; locals retreat indoors midday. Colombia's DNV applies the same as Medellín.
Useful while you’re in Cartagena
Travel insurance
Long-term, nomad-friendly cover that travels with you to Cartagena
Multi-currency banking
Avoid the 4% conversion fees foreign cards rack up in Colombia
eSIM data plan
Day-one connectivity in Colombia without local-SIM friction
Coworking & coliving
Day passes, monthly memberships, and verified workspaces in Cartagena
Flight deals
Cheapest routes in and out of Cartagena
Cities at a similar price point
Editorial estimates aggregated from public data (Numbeo, expat surveys, recent nomad reports). Prices vary by neighborhood and lifestyle — treat the totals as an order-of-magnitude comparison, not a budget.