Cost of living: Cartagena vs. Philadelphia
Thinking of moving to the US? Compare the cost of living in any city with your hometown.
Compare cities
Pick your hometown and the US city you're comparing it with.
)
)
)
)
At a glance
It's walkable with SEPTA transit, so a car is optional for many. Sending money home? Ria makes it fast and secure.
Life in Philadelphia
Philadelphia is where the Declaration of Independence was adopted in 1776, and Independence Hall still stands among its dozens of national landmarks. Set along the Delaware and Schuylkill rivers, the city now runs largely on universities, hospitals, and biotech research. North Philadelphia neighborhoods such as Fairhill are home to one of the largest Puerto Rican communities in the United States.
)
)
)
)
)
)
The birthplace of American independence.
Monthly breakdown
What everyday life costs in each city, side by side.
| Total |  | |
|---|---|---|
| Housing | $700 | $1,280 |
| Healthcare | $60 | $364 |
| Groceries | $110 | $427 |
| Utilities | $130 | $316 |
| Transit | $35 | $116 |
| Other | $70 | $511 |
Estimated monthly costs for one adult: typical rent across the metro area, USDA's moderate-cost food plan and U.S. government spending data — a typical budget, not a minimum.
Sources, updated September 2026: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (Regional Price Parities, 2024); U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (Consumer Expenditure Surveys, 2024; Consumer Price Index); U.S. Department of Agriculture (Food Plans, July 2026); Federal Communications Commission (Urban Rate Survey, 2026); U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (Fair Market Rents, FY2026); U.S. Energy Information Administration (weekly retail gasoline prices); official fare pages of each city's transit agency; Latin America: crowdsourced cost-of-living platforms, used for reference.
Cartagena figures are collected from online sources.
Cost of living by US city
15 cities, ranked by monthly cost for one person
Money where you need it
Sending money doesn’t have to be complicated. With Ria Money Transfer, you get a reliable partner offering multiple payment methods, transparent fees, robust security, and versatile receiving options. Download the Ria app to make your first transfer!
Frequently asked questions
Is Philadelphia more expensive than Cartagena?
For one adult, Philadelphia is 2.7× more expensive than Cartagena: about $3,014 a month, compared with about $1,105 in Cartagena.
What is the monthly cost difference between Cartagena and Philadelphia?
About $1,909 a month for one adult: $3,014 in Philadelphia versus $1,105 in Cartagena. Change the number of adults above to see your household's figures.
Which costs change the most between Cartagena and Philadelphia?
Other shows the biggest jump: it costs 7.3× as much in Philadelphia as in Cartagena.
How does rent compare between Cartagena and Philadelphia?
A one-bedroom apartment rents for about $1,280 a month in Philadelphia and about $700 in Cartagena. Rents exclude utilities.
Can a minimum-wage job cover the costs in Philadelphia?
A full-time minimum-wage job in Philadelphia ($7.25 an hour) pays about $1,257 a month before taxes. Typical costs for one adult there are about $3,014 a month. Add your income above to see what would be left each month.
How is the cost of living measured?
We add up typical monthly costs for one adult in six categories: housing, healthcare, groceries, utilities, transit and other everyday spending. U.S. figures are calculated from government data (Bureau of Labor Statistics, Bureau of Economic Analysis, HUD and the Energy Information Administration) plus transit agencies' published fares. Latin American figures come from crowdsourced cost-of-living platforms, and their healthcare costs are a modeled estimate. Minimum wages are each city's local rate where it has one, otherwise the state rate published by the U.S. Department of Labor. Both cities' figures were last updated in 2026.
Related articles
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
Immigrant stories
Real journeys from our community, in their own words.
The World We Share: A Migrant Family’s Journey Across Colombia, U.S., and Spain | Ria Money Transfer
Ria Money Transfer
The World We Share: Meet Yajaira | Ria Money Transfer
Ria Money Transfer
The World We Share: Meet Gina | Ria Money Transfer
Ria Money Transfer