Retirement Lists

Cost of Living in Cartagena, Colombia

This is a photo of a Colombian monument identified by the ID
Photo by Sgonzalezb via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0

Cartagena costs

A coastal-city budget needs power, cooling, and the property's monthly charges

Cartagena Cómo Vamos reported a 27.8% housing deficit in 2024 and 7,998 housing sales. Neither figure provides a current neighborhood rent or a retiree budget. Current listings, leases, administration fees, taxes, insurance, and repair costs need direct checking.

Electricity may be a meaningful expense in a hot, humid city. Add air conditioning, backup power, water, security, transportation, healthcare, prescriptions, language support, and the cost of trips to family or specialist care.

Planning a monthly budget

Start with the monthly total, then look at the expenses that shape it.

How the total can change

A traveler style stay, a couple household, and long term rent answer different planning questions.

Typical 1BR Rent
$117/mo

Everyday expenses

Dining, transportation, taxes, and car needs can change how the monthly budget feels.

Published Residential Electricity Tariffs
CARIBEMAR Level-1 Jan 2023 full strata 1-6 schedule and subsidies
Groceries
$43/mo
Dining Out
$2/meal
Transportation
$37/mo
Property Taxes
Statutory framework: 0.1%–1.6%/yr of assessed value
National Consumer Price Inflation
5.1% (2025)

Cartagena in everyday life

Could Cartagena work for you?

What may work well

  • District housing and electricity data provide a starting point.
  • Transcaribe can serve some daily trips.
  • Many cultural and service destinations are within the urban district.

What to think about

  • No reliable current citywide rent median is in the packet.
  • Heat and electricity interruptions affect the budget.
  • Security, administration, flood, and transport costs vary by home.

Price a Cartagena household

  1. Get current local quotes

    Compare several neighborhoods for rent, sale price, administration, utilities, insurance, security, and repairs.

  2. Price cooling

    Include air conditioning, filters, electricity, backup power, water, ventilation, and equipment protection.

  3. Map transportation

    Add Transcaribe, taxis, walking, parking, family visits, airport, boat trips, and specialist travel.

  4. Keep care costs separate

    Ask about private or public access, insurance, prescriptions, specialists, language support, and out-of-pocket care.

Questions retirees ask

Is Cartagena inexpensive?

The selected evidence does not support a blanket label. Compare current neighborhood housing, cooling, utilities, security, transport, healthcare, and insurance.

Why does electricity matter so much?

Cartagena is hot and humid, so air conditioning may be important. The city report also records interruptions that make backup power and property service worth checking.

Can I use the 2024 housing sales total as a price?

No. It is a sales-volume measure, not a current sale price, rent, or affordability measure.

What should a condo buyer ask?

Ask about administration, elevator, security, generator, water, air conditioning, flood, maintenance, insurance, and interruption procedures.

Cartagena costs become clearer when current neighborhood quotes are joined to cooling, power, water, security, transportation, care, and the property's own monthly obligations.

Sources

The budget value gives a starting point for everyday spending. Housing, healthcare, safety, and climate can change what feels comfortable for a household.

Housing mix, exchange rates, healthcare needs, car ownership, and travel style can move a real monthly budget materially.

Not yet available for this place: Comfortable Living, Cost of Living for Couple, Minimum Needed, Need for a Car, Overall Feel.

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How this city research is made

Retirement Lists uses documented public sources and methods to research, review, and correct city information. Read our Editorial Policy.