Cost of Living Comparison Between Bogota and Cartagena Cost of Living Comparison Between Bogota and Cartagena

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $948 per month in Bogota vs $1,070 in Cartagena, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,474 per month in Bogota vs $1,619 in Cartagena, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,000 per month in Bogota vs $2,168 in Cartagena, rent included.

Bogota is about 11% cheaper than Cartagena, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Bogota and Cartagena are more affordable than the global median – Bogota 29% lower, Cartagena 20% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.80 COP 16.7K

$5.89 COP 20.5K

-18.51%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$31.72 COP 110.7K

$46.71 COP 163.0K

-32.09%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.59 COP 26.5K

$9.43 COP 32.9K

-19.51%

Cappuccino

$1.85 COP 6,463

$1.62 COP 5,658

14.20%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.99 COP 3,461

$0.82 COP 2,855

20.73%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.62 COP 2,172

$0.66 COP 2,309

-6.06%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.18 COP 4,122

$1.25 COP 4,347

-5.60%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.15 COP 7,500

$2.88 COP 10.1K

-25.35%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.17 COP 4,068

$1.15 COP 4,020

1.74%

White Bread (500g)

$1.46 COP 5,090

$1.92 COP 6,695

-23.96%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.17 COP 4,098

$1.38 COP 4,818

-15.22%

Eggs

$2.05 COP 7,144

$2.10 COP 7,317

-2.38%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.77 COP 16.6K

$6.73 COP 23.5K

-29.12%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.99 COP 17.4K

$6.13 COP 21.4K

-18.60%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.46 COP 26.0K

$7.82 COP 27.3K

-4.60%

Apples (1kg)

$3.12 COP 10.9K

$3.22 COP 11.2K

-3.11%

Banana (1kg)

$1.12 COP 3,911

$1.93 COP 6,729

-41.97%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.31 COP 4,558

$1.44 COP 5,011

-9.03%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.26 COP 4,397

$1.65 COP 5,757

-23.64%

Potato (1kg)

$1.11 COP 3,865

$1.54 COP 5,378

-27.92%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 COP 4,095

$1.06 COP 3,716

10.38%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.72 COP 2,497

$1.00 COP 3,489

-28.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.83 COP 2,914

$0.64 COP 2,224

29.69%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.79 COP 9,720

$2.28 COP 7,973

22.37%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.02 COP 41.9K

$18.45 COP 64.4K

-34.85%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.16 COP 4,051

$0.94 COP 3,272

23.40%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.91 COP 6,676

$0.97 COP 3,392

96.91%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.71 COP 2,465

$1.03 COP 3,583

-31.07%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$40.85 COP 142.6K

$28.09 COP 98.0K

45.43%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.48 COP 5,158

$2.46 COP 8,570

-39.84%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.54 COP 5,362

$2.44 COP 8,521

-36.89%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.91 COP 20.6K

$4.73 COP 16.5K

24.95%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.98 COP 3,411

$1.02 COP 3,552

-3.92%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$15.5K COP 54.0M

$21.4K COP 74.8M

-27.77%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$25.5K COP 89.1M

$23.6K COP 82.3M

8.20%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$83.4 COP 290.9K

$139 COP 486.8K

-40.24%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$10.87 COP 37.9K

$10.98 COP 38.3K

-1.00%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$26.33 COP 91.9K

$25.01 COP 87.3K

5.28%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$23.34 COP 81.5K

$34.52 COP 120.5K

-32.39%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$10.89 COP 38.0K

$8.50 COP 29.7K

28.12%

Cinema Ticket

$4.87 COP 17.0K

$2.85 COP 9,936

70.88%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$301 COP 1.1M

$139 COP 485.5K

116.67%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,329 COP 29.1M

$5,857 COP 20.4M

42.20%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$60.3 COP 210.4K

$47.52 COP 165.9K

26.83%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$42.43 COP 148.1K

$38.12 COP 133.0K

11.31%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$105 COP 366.1K

$126 COP 440.8K

-16.95%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$83.6 COP 291.9K

$114 COP 396.4K

-26.37%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$448 COP 1.6M

$725 COP 2.5M

-38.23%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$325 COP 1.1M

$334 COP 1.2M

-2.86%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$817 COP 2.9M

$1,271 COP 4.4M

-35.69%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$644 COP 2.2M

$466 COP 1.6M

38.31%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,380 COP 8.3M

$3,075 COP 10.7M

-22.63%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,913 COP 6.7M

$842 COP 2.9M

127.10%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$663 COP 2.3M

$410 COP 1.4M

61.71%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

12.93

-13.80%

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

Last update for Bogota: June 8, 2026

Last update for Cartagena: June 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $448 in Bogota versus $725 in Cartagena. 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 62% higher in Bogota, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $32.00 in Bogota versus $47.00 in Cartagena. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $187 vs $223 – making Bogota the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 Cartagena: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Cartagena is pricier by about 13%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,422 per month in Bogota and $1,605 in Cartagena. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $948 in Bogota and $1,070 in Cartagena. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 45% less in Bogota. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Bogota, where all-in costs run around $948, than in Cartagena at $1,070. In Bogota it covers expenses comfortably, while in Cartagena it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

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.

If budget matters most, go with Bogota. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Cartagena makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.