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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,323 per month in Bogota vs $1,295 in Cartagena, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,177 per month in Bogota vs $2,130 in Cartagena, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,031 per month in Bogota vs $2,966 in Cartagena, rent included.

Bogota costs about 2% more than Cartagena, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Bogota and Cartagena are more affordable than the global median – Bogota 3% lower, Cartagena 5% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$8.11 COP 25.6K

$4.95 COP 15.6K

63.84%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$41.15 COP 129.8K

$135 COP 426.7K

-69.58%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.17 COP 32.1K

$10.19 COP 32.1K

-0.20%

Cappuccino

$2.68 COP 8,442

$3.61 COP 11.4K

-25.76%

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

$1.38 COP 4,343

$1.88 COP 5,943

-26.60%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.91 COP 2,863

$1.82 COP 5,731

-50.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.88 COP 5,929

$2.06 COP 6,495

-8.74%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.95 COP 12.4K

$4.87 COP 15.4K

-18.89%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.67 COP 5,279

$1.97 COP 6,211

-15.23%

White Bread (500g)

$2.49 COP 7,857

$2.99 COP 9,418

-16.72%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.70 COP 5,347

$1.51 COP 4,754

12.58%

Eggs

$3.74 COP 11.8K

$5.21 COP 16.4K

-28.21%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.33 COP 26.3K

$13.62 COP 43.0K

-38.84%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.53 COP 23.7K

$17.97 COP 56.7K

-58.10%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.67 COP 33.7K

Apples (1kg)

$3.46 COP 10.9K

Banana (1kg)

$1.78 COP 5,606

Oranges (1kg)

$1.98 COP 6,252

Tomato (1kg)

$1.86 COP 5,863

Potato (1kg)

$1.46 COP 4,603

Onion (1kg)

$1.46 COP 4,606

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.35 COP 4,250

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.18 COP 3,714

$2.07 COP 6,534

-43.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.58 COP 14.5K

Wine (Bottle)

$13.02 COP 41.1K

$14.76 COP 46.6K

-11.79%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.50 COP 4,727

$1.40 COP 4,409

7.14%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.89 COP 9,109

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.12 COP 3,545

$1.29 COP 4,062

-13.18%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$51.0 COP 161.0K

$59.4 COP 187.2K

-14.03%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.47 COP 7,789

$4.85 COP 15.3K

-49.07%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.49 COP 7,864

$3.84 COP 12.1K

-35.16%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$9.93 COP 31.3K

$9.83 COP 31.0K

1.02%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.34 COP 4,215

$1.38 COP 4,347

-2.90%

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

$22.8K COP 72.0M

$23.9K COP 75.5M

-4.57%

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

$37.0K COP 116.8M

$34.8K COP 109.9M

6.30%

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

$127 COP 399.2K

$80.9 COP 255.2K

56.43%

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

$16.68 COP 52.6K

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$31.16 COP 98.3K

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$35.33 COP 111.4K

$90.5 COP 285.6K

-60.98%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$15.51 COP 48.9K

Cinema Ticket

$8.26 COP 26.1K

$8.48 COP 26.7K

-2.59%

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

$481 COP 1.5M

$651 COP 2.1M

-26.14%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,640 COP 20.9M

$5,929 COP 18.7M

12.00%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$81.0 COP 255.5K

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$50.3 COP 158.5K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$141 COP 444.4K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$115 COP 362.4K

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$720 COP 2.3M

$1,087 COP 3.4M

-33.74%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$432 COP 1.4M

$581 COP 1.8M

-25.58%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,330 COP 4.2M

$2,355 COP 7.4M

-43.52%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$993 COP 3.1M

$978 COP 3.1M

1.56%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,940 COP 9.3M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,287 COP 7.2M

$968 COP 3.1M

136.21%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$802 COP 2.5M

$480 COP 1.5M

66.89%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

12.81

-14.60%

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

Last update for Bogota: September 15, 2026

Last update for Cartagena: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $720 in Bogota versus $1,087 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 67% higher in Bogota, 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 $135 in Cartagena. Groceries tell a different story – $269 in Bogota vs $268 in Cartagena – so Cartagena wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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 – Bogota is pricier by about 2%, and the gap shows up most in Clothing & Footwear. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,985 per month in Bogota and $1,942 in Cartagena. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Cartagena, 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 $1,323 in Bogota and $1,295 in Cartagena. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 16% less in Cartagena. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Cartagena, where all-in costs run around $1,295, than in Bogota at $1,323. In Cartagena it covers expenses comfortably, while in Bogota it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Cartagena – 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 Cartagena. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Bogota makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.