Living in Cartagena, Colombia as an American or Expat

By Trevor Hogarth · Last updated October 25, 2026

Cartagena is the city many Americans and Canadians picture when they think of moving to Colombia: colonial streets, Caribbean breezes, sunsets over the walls. Living here is very different from visiting, though. It’s Colombia’s most tourist-focused city, and that shapes prices, neighbourhoods and daily life.

This guide is about what living in Cartagena is like as an expat or retiree. For the full budget, see my cost of living in Cartagena breakdown. A comfortable expat lifestyle there usually costs 1,500 to 2,500 USD a month, making it one of the most expensive cities in Colombia. If you’re coming from North America, my story about moving from Canada to Colombia covers how my own move went.

Where expats live in Cartagena

Walled City (Centro Histórico): Beautiful and walkable, but expensive, noisy and full of tourists, especially at night and in high season. Older buildings mean more maintenance and humidity issues.
Getsemaní: Just outside the walls, with street art and nightlife. Lively and characterful, and loud.
Bocagrande and Castillogrande: High-rises along the beach peninsula. Popular with retirees for sea views, walkability, supermarkets and clinics. Castillogrande is quieter.
Manga: A residential island with old mansions and newer buildings, close to the old city. Often better value and more local.
Crespo: Residential, close to the airport and the beach, with easy access to the old city.
Zona Norte (La Boquilla, Cielo Mar, Serena del Mar): Newer beachfront developments north of the airport. Quieter and more modern, but you’ll need a car or taxis to get anywhere.

Short-term rentals push up rents in the tourist areas. I explain how in my guide to Cartagena short-term rental rules and the market. If you want value, look at Manga and Crespo first.

Retiring in Cartagena: the pension visa

Many retirees in Cartagena live on Colombia’s pension visa (a migrant “M” visa). In 2026, it requires a guaranteed lifetime pension of at least three times the Colombian minimum wage: 5,252,715 pesos a month, about 1,680 USD at September 2026 exchange rates. You’ll also need, among other things:

An apostilled pension certificate
Health insurance valid in Colombia for the whole visa term
A criminal background check from your home country, apostilled, issued within the last six months

The minimum wage rose 23% in 2026, so the pension requirement in dollars went up too. Check the current requirements with Cancillería or an immigration lawyer before you apply.

Healthcare in Cartagena

Cartagena has good private clinics, many concentrated in Bocagrande, and a growing medical tourism sector. Private health insurance costs around 120 USD a month for many expats, more as you get older. For complex specialist care, some residents still fly to Bogotá or Medellín, which have the country’s largest hospitals.

What daily life in Cartagena is really like

The heat

Cartagena is hot and humid all year, with highs around 31–32 °C. You’ll live with air conditioning, and electricity bills are a real part of the budget. The breezy months from December to March are the most comfortable.

Tourist prices

Restaurants, taxis and rentals in tourist areas often charge more than elsewhere in Colombia. Learning Spanish and shopping where locals shop makes a big difference.

The local economy

Cartagena has a lot of visible inequality. Its unemployment rate (13.2% in April–June 2026, according to DANE) is one of the highest among Colombia’s big cities, and average local incomes are among the lowest. That’s worth knowing whether you’re planning to work locally or just want to understand the city you’re moving to.

Community

Cartagena has one of Colombia’s largest communities of American, Canadian and European retirees, which makes the move easier, especially if your Spanish is limited.

Is Cartagena safe for expats?

The tourist and residential areas where most expats live are generally manageable with normal precautions. The main risks are pickpocketing, scams and overcharging in tourist zones, plus the drugging and dating-app robberies that the US State Department warns about across Colombia (which it rates Level 3, “Reconsider Travel”). The State Department also advises caution with small tourist boats between Cartagena and the nearby islands.

Flights

Rafael Núñez International Airport (CTG) is close to the city, with direct flights to several US cities, making Cartagena one of the easiest places in Colombia to fly home from.

Pros and cons of living in Cartagena

Pros

Beautiful, historic, and on the Caribbean
Large English-speaking expat and retiree community
Good private clinics and direct flights to the US
Warm all year

Cons

One of Colombia’s most expensive cities, with tourist pricing
Very hot and humid, with high electricity bills
Noise and crowds in the tourist areas
Large local inequality and high unemployment

Cheaper alternatives on the coast

If you love the Caribbean but not Cartagena prices, look at Barranquilla (more local, cheaper, strong healthcare) or Santa Marta (beaches and mountains, but with water-supply problems).

Frequently asked questions

How much do I need to live in Cartagena?

A comfortable expat lifestyle is typically 1,500 to 2,500 USD a month. See the full Cartagena cost of living breakdown.

Where do retirees live in Cartagena?

Bocagrande and Castillogrande are the most popular with retirees for their walkability, beach access and nearby clinics. Manga and Crespo are quieter and often better value.

Is Cartagena good for retirees?

Yes, if you can handle the heat and the cost. It has a large retiree community, good clinics and direct flights to the US.

Related guides

About the author

Trevor Hogarth — I’m a Canadian who moved to Colombia in 2020. I’ve lived in Medellín, Antioquia, and Ibagué, Tolima, and the costs on this site come from real life here, not guesses. Read my story: moving from Canada to Colombia →