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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $951 per month in Bogota vs $1,062 in Cartagena, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,507 per month in Bogota vs $1,608 in Cartagena, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,063 per month in Bogota vs $2,153 in Cartagena, rent included.

Bogota is about 10% cheaper than Cartagena, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Bogota and Cartagena are more affordable than the global median – Bogota 29% lower, Cartagena 21% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.88 COP 17.6K

$6.17 COP 22.3K

-20.91%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$31.93 COP 115.3K

$47.58 COP 171.8K

-32.89%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.57 COP 27.3K

$9.85 COP 35.5K

-23.15%

Cappuccino

$1.88 COP 6,783

$1.65 COP 5,948

13.94%

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

$0.96 COP 3,466

$0.81 COP 2,914

18.52%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.62 COP 2,237

$0.67 COP 2,407

-7.46%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.18 COP 4,272

$1.30 COP 4,682

-9.23%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.16 COP 7,810

$2.95 COP 10.6K

-26.78%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.23 COP 4,453

$1.14 COP 4,124

7.89%

White Bread (500g)

$1.41 COP 5,091

$1.86 COP 6,715

-24.19%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.19 COP 4,300

$1.33 COP 4,784

-10.53%

Eggs

$2.05 COP 7,405

$2.11 COP 7,605

-2.84%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.71 COP 17.0K

$7.07 COP 25.5K

-33.38%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.19 COP 18.7K

$5.91 COP 21.3K

-12.18%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.53 COP 27.2K

$8.13 COP 29.4K

-7.38%

Apples (1kg)

$3.01 COP 10.9K

$3.20 COP 11.6K

-5.94%

Banana (1kg)

$1.09 COP 3,950

$1.96 COP 7,059

-44.39%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.36 COP 4,905

$1.50 COP 5,424

-9.33%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.29 COP 4,647

$1.58 COP 5,689

-18.35%

Potato (1kg)

$1.17 COP 4,236

$1.55 COP 5,588

-24.52%

Onion (1kg)

$1.12 COP 4,029

$1.08 COP 3,892

3.70%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.77 COP 2,782

$1.00 COP 3,619

-23.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.80 COP 2,886

$0.59 COP 2,144

35.59%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.77 COP 10.0K

$2.36 COP 8,503

17.37%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.16 COP 43.9K

$18.52 COP 66.8K

-34.34%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.11 COP 4,017

$0.93 COP 3,367

19.35%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.88 COP 6,775

$1.03 COP 3,709

82.52%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.76 COP 2,751

$1.05 COP 3,805

-27.62%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.13 COP 148.5K

$28.08 COP 101.4K

46.47%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.49 COP 5,371

$2.38 COP 8,602

-37.39%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.53 COP 5,539

$2.37 COP 8,556

-35.44%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.89 COP 21.3K

$4.93 COP 17.8K

19.47%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.98 COP 3,554

$1.03 COP 3,709

-4.85%

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

$15.6K COP 56.2M

$20.9K COP 75.4M

-25.38%

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

$25.5K COP 92.1M

$23.6K COP 85.3M

7.99%

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

$81.3 COP 293.6K

$142 COP 514.1K

-42.90%

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

$10.97 COP 39.6K

$10.96 COP 39.6K

0.09%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$25.52 COP 92.1K

$25.17 COP 90.9K

1.39%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$23.62 COP 85.3K

$35.27 COP 127.3K

-33.03%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$11.01 COP 39.7K

$8.84 COP 31.9K

24.55%

Cinema Ticket

$4.98 COP 18.0K

$2.94 COP 10.6K

69.39%

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

$293 COP 1.1M

$142 COP 512.4K

106.72%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,586 COP 31.0M

$5,910 COP 21.3M

45.29%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$60.1 COP 217.0K

$48.13 COP 173.8K

24.87%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$42.69 COP 154.1K

$39.46 COP 142.5K

8.19%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$105 COP 378.6K

$123 COP 445.3K

-14.98%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$85.1 COP 307.1K

$115 COP 413.6K

-25.75%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$447 COP 1.6M

$741 COP 2.7M

-39.66%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$327 COP 1.2M

$330 COP 1.2M

-1.10%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$829 COP 3.0M

$1,308 COP 4.7M

-36.64%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$646 COP 2.3M

$479 COP 1.7M

34.83%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,235 COP 8.1M

$3,077 COP 11.1M

-27.37%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,472 COP 5.3M

$1,977 COP 7.1M

-25.53%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$542 COP 2.0M

$420 COP 1.5M

28.88%

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: April 28, 2026

Last update for Cartagena: April 25, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $447 in Bogota versus $741 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 29% 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 $48.00 in Cartagena. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $188 vs $222 – 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 12%, 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 $1,427 per month in Bogota and $1,593 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 $951 in Bogota and $1,062 in Cartagena. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 46% 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 $951, than in Cartagena at $1,062. 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.