What Is the Cost of Living in Cali ?

Cali, the Valle del Cauca Department capital, is the city with the maximum population in southwestern Colombia. However, the city has preserved its old spirit in its culture and architecture. This city is known as the city of medicine or the city of Salsa.

The spectacular beauty of Cali attracts people from every corner of the globe. Nevertheless, it is very important to know the cost of living in Cali, Colombia, before relocating to this city.

What Is the Average Cost of Living in Cali?

Before moving to a new city, it is crucial to know the monthly expense to plan out the budget accordingly. This will help you manage your spending and lead a comfortable life in the new city. The average cost of living in Cali for a family of four is approximately Col$ 6,600, and that of a bachelor is Col$ 2,800 per month.

What Are the Top Expenses of Living in Cali?

There are several areas of expense that impact the monthly expenses for living in Cali. These include –

1. Accommodation

The neighbourhoods in Cali are divided into estrados, and the monthly rent for the housing varies from region to region within the city. In general, the monthly rents are quite affordable, and anyone who earns an average salary can afford a decent living space in Cali. The table below shows the approximate rent per month of different types of living space in Cali –

Classification of Accommodation	Location	Rent Per Month
1 Bedroom Apartment	Centre of Cali	Col$ 8,08,000
1 Bedroom Apartment	Outside the Centre of Cali	Col$ 6,00,000
3 Bedroom Apartment	Centre of Cali	Col$ 15,00,000
3 Bedroom Apartment	Outside the Centre of Cali	Col$ 12,50,000
Apartment	Centre of Cali	Col$ 34,00,000
Apartment	Outside the Centre of Cali	Col$ 31,00,000

2. Groceries

There are several local markets in Cali that offer grocery items and food products at very nominal prices. However, the monthly expense on groceries increases if an individual shops for imported products from huge supermarkets.

Grocery Items	Approximate Price
Milk (regular) (1 litre)	Col$ 3,000
Fresh Bread (500g)	Col$ 3,500
Rice (white) (1kg)	Col$ 3,000
Eggs (regular) (1 dozen)	Col$ 6,000
Local Cheese (1kg)	Col$ 13,000
Chicken 1 kg (boneless)	Col$ 15,000
Apples (1kg)	Col$ 7,000
Banana (1kg)	Col$ 2,500
Oranges (1kg)	Col$ 3,000
Tomato (1kg)	Col$ 4,000
Potato (1kg)	Col$ 4,000
Onion (1kg)	Col$ 3,000
Lettuce (1 head)	Col$ 2,500

3. Transportation

Cali has terrific traffic jams throughout the day. Therefore, the best way to avoid this issue is to use public transportation as the primary mode of commuting. Moreover, the public transportation system in Cali is quite affordable.

Fuel Cost/Transportation Service	Approximate Cost
One-way ticket (public transport)	Col$ 2,300
Monthly pass (public transport)	Col$ 1,25,000
Taxi 1 km normal tariff	Col$ 5,500
Price of diesel (as of 13th June 2022)	Col$ 2445.76 per litre
Price of gasoline (as of 13th June 2022)	Col$ 2480.89 per litre

(1)(2)

4. Utilities

Just like the monthly rents of living space, the cost of basic utilities also varied from region to region within the city. The table below provides the approximate cost of various utilities in Cali –

Utilities	Approximate Cost
Electricity, cooling, heating, water, garbage	Col$ 2,40,000
Local prepaid mobile tariff (1 min)	Col$ 140
Unlimited internet package	Col$ 92,000

5. Entertainment

Individuals, who love to spend their leisure time playing certain sports, will be glad to know that the cost of sporting in Cali is quite affordable. Furthermore, there are several bars and luxury restaurants in the city where you can relax and enjoy yourself.

Area of Expense	Approximate Cost
1 month gym membership	Col$ 74,000
1 hour rent for a tennis court	Col$ 24,000
1 seat at a cinema hall	Col$ 15,000
Meal in an affordable restaurant (1 person)	Col$ 10,000
Three-course meal in a mid-range restaurant	Col$ 60,000
McMeal at McDonald's	Col$ 18,000

6. Childcare and Schooling

While evaluating the cost of living in Cali for a family, it is essential to know the tuition fees for children's schooling.

Schools and Childcare	Approximate Cost
Preschool, private, full-day for 1 child (monthly)	Col$ 7,00,000
International primary school for 1 child (yearly)	Col$ 1,90,00,000

Some of the best universities in Cali, Colombia include –

ISEAD Business School
Grenoble Ecole de Management
Anderson University South Carolina
EAN University
Access Masters
Universidad Cooperativa De Colombia
Universidad Juan N Corpas
University of Antioquia

How Expensive Is Cali Compared to Other Top Cities?

Cali is considered the fourth cheapest city in Latin America. Furthermore, the cost of living in this city is cheaper than 93% of cities in the world. Consumer prices are 72.31% lower in Cali than in New York.

To summarise, the cost of living in Cali, Colombia is relatively lower than most of the cities in the world. Someone who is moving to Cali as a bachelor will be able to lead a decent and comfortable life with an average salary. However, expect the costs to go up by 30% to 40% if you move to this city with your family.

Frequently Asked Questions

✓ Is Cali a cheap city to live in?

The cost of living in Cali is considered less than 93% of the cities in the whole world.

✓ Is Cali more expensive than Mexico?

No, Cali is 21.2% less expensive than Mexico. (3)