Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Bogota and Bethesda, MD

For one person, living is cheaper in Bogota: $1,323 a month against $3,165 in Bethesda, MD, rent and utilities included – about $22,100 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Bogota
🇨🇴 Colombia
$1,323
/mo nomad
Bethesda, MD
🇺🇸 United States
$3,165
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Bogota and in Bethesda, MD

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Bogota and in Bethesda, MD actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $1,323 per month in Bogota vs $3,165 in Bethesda, MD, rent included.

  • Bogota $1,323
  • Bethesda, MD $3,165

A couple spends around $2,110 per month in Bogota vs $4,971 in Bethesda, MD, rent included.

  • Bogota $2,110
  • Bethesda, MD $4,971

A family of three spends $2,897 per month in Bogota vs $6,778 in Bethesda, MD, rent included.

  • Bogota $2,897
  • Bethesda, MD $6,778

Bogota is about 58% cheaper than Bethesda, MD, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Bogota sits 2% below the global median, while Bethesda, MD is 134% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Bogota
Bethesda, MD
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.65 COP 24.3K
$22.08 $22.08
-65.35%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$41.44 COP 131.4K
$98.9 $98.9
-58.10%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.38 COP 32.9K
$10.91 $10.91
-4.86%
Cappuccino
$2.53 COP 8,011
$5.38 $5.38
-52.97%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.35 COP 4,277
$3.04 $3.04
-55.59%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.87 COP 2,752
$2.48 $2.48
-64.92%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.06 COP 6,542
$7.08 $7.08
-70.90%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.98 COP 12.6K
$9.12 $9.12
-56.36%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Bogota
Bethesda, MD
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.65 COP 5,240
$1.16 $1.16
42.24%
White Bread (500g)
$2.40 COP 7,618
$4.14 $4.14
-42.03%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.69 COP 5,345
$3.90 $3.90
-56.67%
Eggs
$3.54 COP 11.2K
$4.67 $4.67
-24.20%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.89 COP 25.0K
$16.60 $16.60
-52.47%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.30 COP 23.1K
$15.51 $15.51
-52.93%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.87 COP 31.3K
$22.46 $22.46
-56.06%
Apples (1kg)
$3.58 COP 11.4K
$5.45 $5.45
-34.31%
Banana (1kg)
$1.84 COP 5,822
$1.36 $1.36
35.29%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.90 COP 6,012
$4.05 $4.05
-53.09%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.74 COP 5,517
$4.26 $4.26
-59.15%
Potato (1kg)
$1.41 COP 4,484
$2.22 $2.22
-36.49%
Onion (1kg)
$1.37 COP 4,332
$2.65 $2.65
-48.30%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.30 COP 4,131
$2.39 $2.39
-45.61%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.15 COP 3,643
$2.53 $2.53
-54.55%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.32 COP 13.7K
$10.53 $10.53
-58.97%
Wine (Bottle)
$12.76 COP 40.5K
$18.01 $18.01
-29.15%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.43 COP 4,542
$1.71 $1.71
-16.37%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.83 COP 8,986
$2.83 $2.83
-
🚌 Getting Around
Bogota
Bethesda, MD
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.08 COP 3,434
$3.06 $3.06
-64.71%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$50.8 COP 161.1K
$101 $101
-49.85%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.38 COP 7,550
$4.11 $4.11
-42.09%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.34 COP 7,411
$1.21 $1.21
93.39%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$9.20 COP 29.2K
$24.70 $24.70
-62.75%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.33 COP 4,213
$0.93 $0.93
43.01%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$23.5K COP 74.4M
$23.1K $23.1K
1.54%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$35.6K COP 113.0M
$24.2K $24.2K
47.18%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Bogota
Bethesda, MD
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$125 COP 397.8K
$163 $163
-23.11%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$16.29 COP 51.6K
$39.56 $39.56
-58.82%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.21 COP 95.8K
$62.6 $62.6
-51.76%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Bogota
Bethesda, MD
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$34.11 COP 108.2K
$104 $104
-67.30%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$15.37 COP 48.7K
$30.41 $30.41
-49.46%
Cinema Ticket
$7.84 COP 24.8K
$16.16 $16.16
-51.49%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Bogota
Bethesda, MD
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$501 COP 1.6M
$1,606 $1,606
-68.79%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$7,450 COP 23.6M
$35.8K $35.8K
-79.20%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Bogota
Bethesda, MD
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$82.8 COP 262.6K
$54.8 $54.8
51.13%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$47.40 COP 150.3K
$57.3 $57.3
-17.32%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$142 COP 449.4K
$102 $102
39.11%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$106 COP 337.4K
$149 $149
-28.54%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Bogota
Bethesda, MD
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$803 COP 2.5M
$2,340 $2,340
-65.68%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$452 COP 1.4M
$1,669 $1,669
-72.93%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,244 COP 3.9M
$4,118 $4,118
-69.80%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$974 COP 3.1M
$3,299 $3,299
-70.48%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,816 COP 8.9M
$5,862 $5,862
-51.96%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,354 COP 7.5M
$5,456 $5,456
-56.85%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Bogota
Bethesda, MD
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$813 COP 2.6M
$8,749 $8,749
-90.71%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
12.81
6.79
88.66%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Bogota: October 11, 2026

Last update for Bethesda, MD: October 12, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Bogota
$452
Bethesda, MD
$1.7K 269% $1.2K
Groceries & Markets
Bogota
$261
Bethesda, MD
$457 75.3% $196
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Bogota
$172
Bethesda, MD
$265 54.3% $93
Clothing & Footwear
Bogota
$170
Bethesda, MD
$163 4.1% $6.9
Eating Out
Bogota
$150
Bethesda, MD
$350 134% $200
Getting Around
Bogota
$69
Bethesda, MD
$124 78.8% $55
Sport & Entertainment
Bogota
$50
Bethesda, MD
$137 174% $87

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $803 in Bogota versus $2,340 in Bethesda, MD. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 977% higher in Bethesda, MD, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $41.00 in Bogota versus $99.0 in Bethesda, MD. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $261 vs $457 – making Bogota the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇨🇴 Bogota
🇺🇸 Bethesda, MD
🕒 Local time
16:30 4:30 PM
17:30 5:30 PM
1 h ahead of Bogota
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
8,181,047 Capital
60,858
Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to COP – Colombian Peso Converter

Colombian Peso exchange rates as of October 17, 2026: 1 USD = 3,171 COP (10,000 COP = 3.15 USD). 1 EUR = 3,565 COP (10,000 COP = 2.81 EUR).

United States Dollar exchange rates as of October 17, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.89 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Bogota Bethesda, MD 3,820 km ≈ 5 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Bogota
  • Bethesda, MD

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index
Bogota vs Bethesda, MD: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Bethesda, MD cheaper than Bogota?
Yes – Bethesda, MD is pricier by about 139%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in eating out.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,985 per month in Bogota and $4,747 in Bethesda, MD. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Bogota, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Is eating out cheaper in Bogota or in Bethesda, MD?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $41.00 in Bogota and $99.0 in Bethesda, MD. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
What are total monthly expenses in Bogota and in Bethesda, MD?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,323 in Bogota and $3,165 in Bethesda, MD. That's a gap of about 139%.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Bogota or in Bethesda, MD?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Bogota, where all-in costs run around $1,323, than in Bethesda, MD at $3,165. In Bogota it covers expenses comfortably, while in Bethesda, MD it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Bogota or Bethesda, MD more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Bogota – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Bogota. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Bethesda, MD makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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