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 $1,086 in Cartagena, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,474 per month in Bogota vs $1,604 in Cartagena, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,998 per month in Bogota vs $2,121 in Cartagena, rent included.

Bogota is about 12% cheaper than Cartagena, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Bogota and Cartagena are more affordable than the global median – Bogota 29% lower, Cartagena 18% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.77 COP 15.0K

$5.93 COP 18.7K

-19.56%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$31.58 COP 99.4K

$47.34 COP 149.1K

-33.29%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.83 COP 24.7K

$9.95 COP 31.3K

-21.31%

Cappuccino

$1.88 COP 5,934

$1.57 COP 4,950

19.75%

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

$0.97 COP 3,039

$0.82 COP 2,579

18.29%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.63 COP 1,984

$0.68 COP 2,128

-7.35%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.18 COP 3,715

$1.31 COP 4,111

-9.92%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.22 COP 6,995

$2.89 COP 9,107

-23.18%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.19 COP 3,741

$1.14 COP 3,590

4.39%

White Bread (500g)

$1.48 COP 4,668

$1.83 COP 5,777

-19.13%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.15 COP 3,607

$1.37 COP 4,324

-16.06%

Eggs

$1.97 COP 6,187

$2.19 COP 6,910

-10.05%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.79 COP 15.1K

$6.81 COP 21.5K

-29.66%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.24 COP 16.5K

$6.22 COP 19.6K

-15.76%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.15 COP 22.5K

$7.77 COP 24.5K

-7.98%

Apples (1kg)

$3.09 COP 9,715

$3.26 COP 10.3K

-5.21%

Banana (1kg)

$1.12 COP 3,535

$1.91 COP 6,014

-41.36%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.37 COP 4,313

$1.45 COP 4,556

-5.52%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.30 COP 4,080

$1.62 COP 5,101

-19.75%

Potato (1kg)

$1.17 COP 3,680

$1.61 COP 5,074

-27.33%

Onion (1kg)

$1.12 COP 3,534

$1.08 COP 3,400

3.70%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.78 COP 2,455

$1.01 COP 3,177

-22.77%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.78 COP 2,463

$0.59 COP 1,865

32.20%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.78 COP 8,754

$2.35 COP 7,403

18.30%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.07 COP 44.3K

$18.80 COP 59.2K

-25.16%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.16 COP 3,663

$0.98 COP 3,083

18.37%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.87 COP 5,903

$0.98 COP 3,081

90.82%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.72 COP 2,252

$1.05 COP 3,311

-31.43%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.10 COP 129.4K

$28.98 COP 91.2K

41.82%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.48 COP 4,650

$2.46 COP 7,753

-39.84%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.56 COP 4,912

$2.37 COP 7,461

-34.18%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.20 COP 19.5K

$4.86 COP 15.3K

27.57%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.99 COP 3,107

$1.02 COP 3,204

-2.94%

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

$15.9K COP 50.0M

$21.1K COP 66.5M

-24.82%

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

$25.4K COP 80.0M

$24.0K COP 75.7M

5.61%

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

$83.0 COP 261.3K

$143 COP 449.0K

-41.81%

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

$11.09 COP 34.9K

$10.93 COP 34.4K

1.46%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$26.46 COP 83.3K

$25.27 COP 79.6K

4.71%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$23.66 COP 74.5K

$35.26 COP 111.0K

-32.90%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$11.12 COP 35.0K

$8.60 COP 27.1K

29.30%

Cinema Ticket

$4.95 COP 15.6K

$2.84 COP 8,948

74.30%

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

$299 COP 942.4K

$144 COP 453.7K

107.70%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,519 COP 26.8M

$6,062 COP 19.1M

40.54%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$59.6 COP 187.8K

$47.97 COP 151.0K

24.33%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$42.89 COP 135.0K

$38.50 COP 121.2K

11.40%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$104 COP 327.4K

$125 COP 393.7K

-16.86%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$83.9 COP 264.1K

$112 COP 351.2K

-24.81%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$458 COP 1.4M

$720 COP 2.3M

-36.46%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$323 COP 1.0M

$333 COP 1.0M

-3.07%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$824 COP 2.6M

$1,292 COP 4.1M

-36.20%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$638 COP 2.0M

$471 COP 1.5M

35.26%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,717 COP 8.6M

$3,492 COP 11.0M

-22.19%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,128 COP 6.7M

$935 COP 2.9M

127.64%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$754 COP 2.4M

$467 COP 1.5M

61.32%

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: July 26, 2026

Last update for Cartagena: July 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $458 in Bogota versus $720 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 61% 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: $191 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 14%, 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 $1,629 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 $1,086 in Cartagena. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 42% 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 $1,086. 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.