Cost Of Living For a Student in Bucaramanga 2024

Average monthly spending for students in Bucaramanga

How much money does a student need in a month to survive in Bucaramanga?

Students in Bucaramanga spend around 4.3M COP per month on average. Depending on the lifestyle, a student can survive with a monthly budget as low as 650,000 COP or as high as 29M COP. Location is a very important factor and has a huge influence on expenditure and budget.

How do students spend their money in Bucaramanga?

We asked thousands of students about their spending habits and expenditure break down.

Housing and accomodation expenditure for students

Students in Bucaramanga typically spend from 13% to 24% of their total monthly expenditure on housing with 18% being the average. The average monthly spend on housing is 1M COP with expenditure ranging from 160,000 COP to 6.9M COP. This cost mainly goes for rent but it also includes other accommodation-related expenses.

Electricity, utilities, energy, water, internet, and mobile expenditure for students

Utility expenditure like electricity, water, and gas in Bucaramanga ranges from 5% to 11% of total expenses with 7% being the average for most students. The average monthly cost of utilities is 170,000 COP with 26,000 COP and 1.1M COP being the upper and lower limits for a student of four.

Transport, fuel, and commute expenditure for students

Fuel consumption and cost of transport depend heavily on whether a student resides near school and work, but roughly speaking a student would expect to spend from 46,000 COP to 2M COP in a month on commuting with 300,000 COP being the norm for most students. This means that money spent on transport constitutes about 4% of total spending on average but can go as low as 4% or as high as 10%.

Food, groceries, and basic shopping expenditure for students

The average outlay on groceries and basic houshold items for a typical student in a month in Bucaramanga is 860,000 COP. The cost of groceries can range between 130,000 COP to 5.7M COP. Students spend on average about 23% on food and groceries with upper and lower bounds of 17% and 27% respectively.

Healthcare and medical services expenditure for students

Students in Bucaramanga allocate 6% to 12% of their total monthly expenditure to healthcare including health insurance and out-of-pocket medical expenses. The average spending on medical services and clinic visits is around 9%. The range of medical expenses range from 39,000 COP to 1.7M COP with 260,000 COP being the norm for most students.

Leisure and shopping expenditure for students

This category mostly contains discretionary or non-essential expenses but also some non-discretionary spending like furniture for example. The monthly expenses range from 33,000 COP to 1.4M COP with 210,000 COP being the average. Speaking of percentages, that equates to 2% to 6% of total expenses with an average of 2% for most students.

Education and schooling expenditure for students

Spending on education can vary drastically between different students. On average, education constitutes 18% of the monthly expenditure of students with 11% and 23% being the lower and upper bounds respectively. The average reported education cost is 820,000 COP per month with 120,000 COP being the minimum spent amount and 5.4M COP being the maximum.

A typical and healthy budgeting structure

The 50/30/20 rule

Spending among different people can vary significantly based on factors such as their income, lifestyle, location, and personal preferences. A commonly used guideline for budgeting is the 50/30/20 rule, which suggests allocating your income into three main categories in the following percentages.

• 50% for needs and financial obligations

  This category includes essential expenses like housing, utilities, groceries, transportation, and healthcare.

• 30% for wants and discretionary spending

  This category covers discretionary spending on non-essential items, such as dining out, entertainment, travel, and other lifestyle choices.

• 20% for savings and emergency fund

  This is the percentage that must be allocated to savings, emergency funds, and retirement accounts.

About financial planning, money management, and household budgeting

Affordable living in Bucaramanga

Income and cost of living compatibility

We asked students one simple question and recorded their answers.

Is it affordable or economical to live in Bucaramanga?

Around 61% of surveyed students think that living in Bucaramanga is affordable with proper budgeting while 39% reported that it is just too expensive and not affordable even with frugality and thriftness.

Low-cost alternatives in Bucaramanga

People are always looking for ways to cut down expenses and reduce expenditures. The hallmark of any affordable place is the availability of discount stores, bargain deals, smart or secondhand shopping, refurbished items, and couponing. We asked students how easily cost-cutting is and the answers were distributed as follows:

Plenty of low-cost options58%

Few low-cost options43%

Based on the survey, 58% of the students living in Bucaramanga have no problem finding low-cost alternatives to support a frugal lifestyle while 43% think that thriftness is difficult due to scarcity in discount markets and secondhand outlets.

Emergency Funds For Students

An emergency fund is a financial safety net comprised of easily accessible savings set aside to cover unexpected expenses or financial emergencies, typically amounting to three to six months' worth of living expenses. We asked students of Bucaramanga whether they have an emergency fund and the answers were as follows.

Yes61%

No39%

Based on the survey, 39% of the students living in Bucaramanga said that they don't have an emergency fund while 61% said that they do.

Financial Literacy in Colombia

Financial literacy is the knowledge of concepts and principles related to personal finance that allow individuals to make informed decisions regarding their money such as budgeting, saving, investing, borrowing, managing debt, financial risk management, and planning.

Financial Leteracy58%

We asked student guardians and parents in Bucaramanga whether they acquired any adequate personal financial training in their lives. Approximately 42% of the people who participated in the survey said that they are not well informed about the topics of budgeting, saving, etc., and just manage things based on their own experience, while 58% said that they know about the general principles of personal finance from sources other than their own experience.

Difficulty in Budgeting and Financial Planning

We wanted to understand whether students of Colombia have problems or difficulties in managing their expenditures and savings so we asked people one simple question: do you struggle with your personal finances? 33% of the participants reported that they indeed struggle in creating budgets and in organizing their finances while 67% said that they have everything under control.

Struggles with finance33%

Easily manages finances67%

Housing costs, accommodation, and housing affordability in Bucaramanga

Rent Cost in Bucaramanga

Monthly Rent Prices

Studio apartment monthly rent cost

730,000 COP

1.1M COP

2.9M COP

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$190

$280

$740

1-bedroom apartment monthly rent cost

1.1M COP

1.8M COP

4.4M COP

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$280

$440

$1,100

2-bedroom apartment monthly rent cost

1.5M COP

2.2M COP

5.9M COP

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$370

$560

$1,500

3-bedroom apartment monthly rent cost

1.8M COP

2.9M COP

8M COP

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$440

$740

$2,000

Furnished apartment monthly rent cost

3.5M COP

8.8M COP

18M COP

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$890

$2,200

$4,400

Townhouse monthly rent cost

2.9M COP

4.4M COP

13M COP

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$740

$1,100

$3,200

House monthly rent cost

3.5M COP

8.8M COP

18M COP

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$890

$2,200

$4,400

Villa monthly rent cost

4.4M COP

11M COP

18M COP

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$1,100

$2,800

$4,400

The monthly rental cost of a studio apartment in Bucaramanga ranges between 730,000 COP and 2.9M COP, meanwhile the cost of monthly rental of a one-bedroom apartment can be anywhere from 1.1M COP to 4.4M COP. Two-bedroom rentals rate ranges between 1.5M COP and 5.9M COP per month. The monthly rental for a three-bedroom apartment ranges from 1.8M COP to 8M COP. The average rent of a townhouse in Bucaramanga is around 4.4M COP while house rental costs can be as high as 8.8M COP per month. Finally, if you want to rent a villa, expect to pay anywhere from 4.4M COP to 18M COP per month.

Apartment and house prices in Bucaramanga

Cost of buying a property

Studio apartment price

150M COP

220M COP

440M COP

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$37,000

$56,000

$110,000

1-bedroom apartment price

180M COP

290M COP

1,100M COP

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$44,000

$74,000

$280,000

2-bedroom apartment price

290M COP

880M COP

1,800M COP

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$74,000

$220,000

$440,000

3-bedroom apartment price

980M COP

1,500M COP

4,400M COP

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$250,000

$370,000

$1.1M

Townhouse price

1,300M COP

2,900M COP

11,000M COP

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$320,000

$740,000

$2.8M

House price

1,500M COP

8,800M COP

13,000M COP

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$370,000

$2.2M

$3.2M

Villa price

1,800M COP

9,800M COP

15,000M COP

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$440,000

$2.5M

$3.7M

The average price of a studio apartment in Bucaramanga can range from 150M COP to 440M COP depending on location. One bedroom cost can be anywhere from 180M COP to 1,100M COP. A villa can cost you 9,800M COP on average with prices ranging from 1,800M COP to 15,000M COP.

House / apartment prices to income ratio

Property prices in Bucaramanga can be x92 to x192 multiples of the monthly income depending on the property and the income of the person. On average, property prices are approximately x92 multiples of the average monthly salary in Bucaramanga.

Rent to income ratio

The average rent-to-income ratio in Bucaramanga is around 28%. This means that people pay 28% of their income for rent. Those figures can range from 19% to 38% depending on the salary, location, and type of property.

Housing affordability index

The housing affordability index measures how affordable accommodation is in a particular place. This can measured in multiple ways, the most common being housing expenditure to total expenditure ratio and the rent to income ratio. The housing expenditure ratio is a figure reported by individuals on the percentage they allocate for housing. Rent to income ratio is calculated by dividing the average monthly rent by the average income. Because these values are both percentages, we can find their average and get the best of the two worlds.

Property Taxes

Real estate owners pay property taxes to local tax authorities, which are determined by the assessed value of their property. Typically, these taxes are paid once a year. Property tax funds contribute to community development, financing infrastructure improvements, public services, and local education initiatives.

Home Maintenance Costs

Home maintenance costs encompass various expenses associated with the upkeep and repair of a residence. These expenditures include regular tasks such as lawn care, pest control, and HVAC system servicing, as well as occasional repairs and renovations like fixing leaks, painting, or replacing appliances.

Urban vs. rural living costs

Urban living typically entails higher housing and transportation costs due to demand and limited space, while rural areas generally offer lower housing expenses but may have higher prices for goods and services. The differnce in rental rates between urban areas and rural areas can be as high as 300% in some cases.

Monthly costs and expenses of energy and basic utilities in Bucaramanga

Energy, electricity, water, gas, internet, and mobile cost in Bucaramanga

Utility Bill Cost / Electricity + Water + Gas / Student

26,000 COP

170,000 COP

1.1M COP

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$6.6

$44

$290

Internet and cable cost

43,000 COP

86,000 COP

110,000 COP

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$11

$22

$29

Mobile phone bill and charges

34,000 COP

57,000 COP

170,000 COP

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$8.7

$15

$44

The average monthly energy and water consumption of students is around 170,000 COP. The cost of internet and WiFi ranges from 43,000 COP to 110,000 COP with 86,000 COP being the average internet bill. Finally, the average monthly mobile charges is around 57,000 COP but can range between 34,000 COP and 170,000 COP depending on consumption. Mobile charges include both calling minutes as well as data packages.

Energy / Utility expense to income ratio

The average utility-to-income ratio in Bucaramanga is around 5.9%. This means that people pay 5.9% of their income for energy, water, internet, and mobile charges. Those figures can range from 2.9% to 9.8% depending on salary and location.

Food Prices, Dining Expenses, and Grocery Costs in Bucaramanga

Prices and cost of goods and services in Bucaramanga

Dining out, food, and beverages costs. Price variations for common food items.

Fast food combo meal price

8,600 COP

17,000 COP

29,000 COP

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$2.2

$4.4

$7.3

The average price of a regular combo meal at a fast food outlet or chain like McDonald's, Pizzahut, or KFC in Bucaramanga is approximatly 17,000 COP with meal cost ranging from 8,600 COP to 29,000 COP. The typical combo meal consists of a burger, french fries, and a drink.

Restaurant meal for one price

29,000 COP

43,000 COP

87,000 COP

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$7.3

$11

$22

If you are planning to have a nice meal at a mid-range restaurant, expect to pay anywhere between 29,000 COP and 87,000 COP with 43,000 COP being the average price of a plate for one person at a regular restaurant in Bucaramanga.

Fine dining meal for one price

58,000 COP

87,000 COP

350,000 COP

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$15

$22

$88

The price range of a meal at fine-dining restaurant is 58,000 COP to 350,000 COP with the average cost being 87,000 COP for one person. This is what you would expect to pay a top-tier diner in Bucaramanga.

Beverage prices, cappuccino, latte etc..

7,200 COP

11,000 COP

17,000 COP

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$1.8

$2.9

$4.4

The average price of a regular beverage like cappuccino or latte at Starbucks, Costa, or similar coffee shops and cafes in Bucaramanga is around 11,000 COP. Price ranges between 7,200 COP and 17,000 COP depending on the type of beverage, the size, and optional add-ons.

Grocery and market costs

Large bottle of milk price

5,700 COP

6,900 COP

8,600 COP

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$1.5

$1.7

$2.2

The average price of a large bottle of milk in Bucaramanga is 6,900 COP. The maximum what you would pay for milk is 8,600 COP and the minimum being 5,700 COP depending on the brand of milk and other properties.

12 eggs price

4,300 COP

5,700 COP

8,600 COP

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$1.1

$1.5

$2.2

A dozen eggs costs around 5,700 COP on average with 4,300 COP and 8,600 COP being the lower and upper limits respectively.

Fresh whole chicken price

9,800 COP

13,000 COP

18,000 COP

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$2.5

$3.2

$4.5

The price range of a fresh whole chicken in Bucaramanga is between 9,800 COP and 18,000 COP depending on the size of the chicken and whether it is oraganic or not. The average price is approximatly 13,000 COP.

Pack of beef price

11,000 COP

17,000 COP

34,000 COP

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$2.9

$4.4

$8.7

The price of a regular pack of beef or meat is around 17,000 COP. A pack of beef contains around 1Kg or 1lb depending on packing.

Medium bag of rice price

4,600 COP

6,300 COP

9,000 COP

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$1.2

$1.6

$2.3

A bag of rice in Bucaramanga costs around 6,300 COP on average with prices rangeing between 4,600 COP and 9,000 COP depending on the brand and quality.

Bag of tomatos price

1,700 COP

2,300 COP

4,300 COP

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$0.44

$0.58

$1.1

A bag of tomatoes costs anywhere from 1,700 COP to 4,300 COP. A bag of tomatoes denotes 1Kg or 1lb depending on location.

Bag of apples price

3,100 COP

4,000 COP

6,600 COP

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$0.78

$1

$1.7

A bag of apples costs 4,000 COP on average. A bag of apples denotes 1Kg or 1lb depending on location.

Grocery and food expenditure to income ratio

The average grocery-to-income ratio in Bucaramanga is around 26%. This means that students spend 26% of their income on grocery and basic household items. The expenditure can range from 19% to 32% depending on salary and location.

Expenditure on food and grocery for students