Colombia
Cost of Living in Cali
Monthly Total
$1,220
$21,350
Housing (1BR Mid-range)
$575
Daily Spend (ex. rent)
$22
Based on a typical expat lifestyle: 1BR furnished apartment, mix of cooking/eating out, rideshare transportation, moderate entertainment. Last updated: 1/13/2026.
Monthly Cost Breakdown
Housing (Rent)
1BR furnished apartment in mid-range neighborhood
$575
$10,063
Utilities
Electric, water, gas, and internet
$97
$1,698
Groceries
Groceries from supermarkets
$119
$2,083
Dining Out
Mix of casual restaurants, ~12 meals/month
$48
$840
Transportation
Rideshare (Uber/Didi), ~30 rides/month
$90
$1,575
Lifestyle & Entertainment
Entertainment, occasional cleaning service
$185
$3,238
Healthcare
Basic private health insurance
$70
$1,225
Phone & Subscriptions
Phone plan and streaming subscriptions
$36
$630
Monthly Total
$1,220
$21,350
Recommended PartnerDon't skip health insurance
Cost estimates are great for budgeting, but real coverage protects you when something goes wrong.
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Living in Cali
Cali is 15-25% cheaper than Medellín/Bogotá. Granada, San Antonio, and El Peñón are safest expat neighborhoods. Salsa lessons very affordable ($5-10/class). Use Uber/DiDi exclusively for safety. Great value for Spanish immersion.
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