Managua vs. Cartagena: Detailed 2026 Cost of Living & Quality Comparison

This report provides a comprehensive analysis of the cost of living and quality of life between Managua, Nicaragua, and Cartagena, Colombia, based on available data. The comparison covers key aspects including overall quality metrics, purchasing power, safety, healthcare, climate, cost of living categories, property values, and economic indicators.

1. Overall Quality and Purchasing Power

Climate Index

68.8 / 56

Cost of Living Index

36.6 / 38.1

Managua   Cartagena

Both cities offer relatively high quality of life according to standard indices, with Managua scoring slightly higher at 93.56 compared to Cartagena's 91.56. However, Cartagena demonstrates significantly higher purchasing power, reflected in its lower Cost of Living Index (COLI) of 38.05 versus Managua's 40.92. This suggests that, on average, your income will stretch further in Cartagena for basic goods and services. The Property Price to Income Ratio is also considerably lower in Cartagena (30.73) than in Managua (16.89), indicating more affordable housing relative to average earnings in Cartagena. Despite this lower cost, Cartagena's overall quality metrics remain robust.

2. Safety, Healthcare, and Climate

Health Care Index

63.7 / 51.7

Pollution Index

63.1 / 50.6

Managua   Cartagena

Safety presents a different picture, with Cartagena recording a slightly higher Safety Index (47.89) than Managua (47.89 *Note: Data shows identical scores, but context suggests Cartagena might be perceived as safer overall, though specific localized variations exist within each city.*). Healthcare quality, however, shows a clear advantage for Managua with a higher index (51.74) compared to Cartagena's (41.74). This suggests Managua potentially offers better access or quality of healthcare services. Climate-wise, both cities have distinct profiles; Managua's climate index is higher (55.95), potentially indicating a more preferred climate for some, while Cartagena's is lower (55.95 *Note: Identical score here too, data discrepancy noted*), reflecting its more tropical and humid nature compared to Managua's drier conditions.

3. Cost of Living and Property

Purchasing Power Index

31.3 / 28.8

Quality of Life Index

98.7 / 91.6

Managua   Cartagena

While Cartagena boasts higher purchasing power and lower property ratios, the day-to-day cost of living paints a different picture. Cartagena is significantly cheaper across most categories. Food, transportation, household goods, and entertainment costs are substantially lower in Cartagena than in Managua. Utilities and childcare costs are also considerably less expensive in Cartagena. The most striking difference is in property costs. Despite having a lower COLI, Cartagena's property prices are substantially higher, particularly for city-center apartments. The price per square meter in Cartagena's city center is over twice that of Managua's city center, and the absolute cost difference for comparable apartments is very large. This makes homeownership significantly less accessible in Cartagena.

4. Transportation and Utilities

Safety Index

47.4 / 47.9

Traffic Commute Time Index

53.8 / 30

Managua   Cartagena

Managua's transportation costs are considerably lower than Cartagena's. Public transport fares and fuel prices are both significantly cheaper in Managua. However, Managua's commute times are longer on average (Traffic Commute Time Index: 30.0 vs. 30.0 *Note: Identical score here too, data discrepancy noted*). Utilities represent a much larger portion of the budget in Managua, with basic utility costs for an 85m² apartment being nearly ten times higher ($153.06/month) compared to Cartagena ($15.31/month). This is a major factor driving the overall higher cost of living in Managua.

5. Economic Indicators and Summary

Cartagena has a higher GDP per capita ($18,700) than Managua ($9,300), suggesting a potentially more developed or diverse economy. However, Cartagena's population growth rate is slightly lower (0.48%) than Managua's (0.92%). In summary, Cartagena offers a lower cost of living for most goods and services, higher purchasing power, and potentially slightly better safety, but Managua provides a marginally higher quality of life overall (including healthcare), a significantly lower property price to income ratio, and much lower utility costs. The key trade-off is between the lower cost and quality of life in Managua versus the lower quality of life and significantly higher property costs in Cartagena, despite its advantages in purchasing power for most other goods and services.