Cost of Living Comparison Between Bogota and Cartago Cost of Living Comparison Between Bogota and Cartago

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $958 per month in Bogota vs $821 in Cartago, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,486 per month in Bogota vs $1,255 in Cartago, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,014 per month in Bogota vs $1,689 in Cartago, rent included.

Bogota costs about 17% more than Cartago, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Bogota and Cartago are more affordable than the global median – Bogota 28% lower, Cartago 39% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.89 COP 17.4K

$3.71 COP 13.3K

31.81%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$31.01 COP 110.7K

$28.89 COP 103.2K

7.34%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.69 COP 27.5K

$7.33 COP 26.2K

4.91%

Cappuccino

$1.79 COP 6,398

$1.57 COP 5,610

14.01%

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

$1.00 COP 3,566

$0.92 COP 3,289

8.70%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.63 COP 2,239

$0.59 COP 2,112

6.78%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.13 COP 4,032

$1.01 COP 3,622

11.88%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.13 COP 7,620

$2.59 COP 9,265

-17.76%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.22 COP 4,370

$1.23 COP 4,398

-0.81%

White Bread (500g)

$1.46 COP 5,215

$1.53 COP 5,454

-4.58%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.13 COP 4,023

$1.25 COP 4,452

-9.60%

Eggs

$1.97 COP 7,025

$2.46 COP 8,767

-19.92%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.70 COP 16.8K

$4.35 COP 15.5K

8.05%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.96 COP 17.7K

$5.48 COP 19.6K

-9.49%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.16 COP 25.6K

$7.55 COP 26.9K

-5.17%

Apples (1kg)

$3.11 COP 11.1K

$2.46 COP 8,802

26.42%

Banana (1kg)

$1.08 COP 3,855

$0.92 COP 3,300

17.39%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.35 COP 4,821

$1.14 COP 4,073

18.42%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.30 COP 4,655

$1.32 COP 4,714

-1.52%

Potato (1kg)

$1.16 COP 4,130

$0.87 COP 3,102

33.33%

Onion (1kg)

$1.14 COP 4,054

$1.11 COP 3,952

2.70%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.77 COP 2,760

$0.71 COP 2,542

8.45%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.84 COP 2,984

$0.70 COP 2,501

20.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.79 COP 9,963

$2.81 COP 10.0K

-0.71%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.46 COP 40.9K

$11.32 COP 40.4K

1.24%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.14 COP 4,085

$1.06 COP 3,781

7.55%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.94 COP 6,944

$1.95 COP 6,969

-0.51%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.70 COP 2,509

$0.69 COP 2,463

1.45%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$40.44 COP 144.4K

$29.69 COP 106.0K

36.21%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.48 COP 5,267

$1.52 COP 5,442

-2.63%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.51 COP 5,377

$1.89 COP 6,741

-20.11%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.07 COP 21.7K

$9.87 COP 35.2K

-38.50%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.02 COP 3,654

$0.94 COP 3,359

8.51%

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

$15.8K COP 56.3M

$21.8K COP 78.0M

-27.84%

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

$25.5K COP 91.1M

$30.0K COP 107.1M

-14.94%

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

$83.8 COP 299.2K

$80.6 COP 287.7K

4.00%

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

$11.08 COP 39.6K

$8.70 COP 31.1K

27.36%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$26.45 COP 94.5K

$24.15 COP 86.2K

9.52%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$23.95 COP 85.5K

$23.66 COP 84.5K

1.23%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$10.84 COP 38.7K

Cinema Ticket

$4.86 COP 17.3K

$4.91 COP 17.5K

-1.02%

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

$299 COP 1.1M

$224 COP 799.3K

33.47%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,398 COP 30.0M

$5,901 COP 21.1M

42.30%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$59.3 COP 211.8K

$63.6 COP 227.1K

-6.71%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$42.77 COP 152.8K

$44.20 COP 157.8K

-3.24%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$103 COP 366.8K

$77.4 COP 276.2K

32.80%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$84.0 COP 299.8K

$90.4 COP 322.8K

-7.13%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$453 COP 1.6M

$281 COP 1.0M

61.19%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$320 COP 1.1M

$238 COP 849.6K

34.38%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$837 COP 3.0M

$527 COP 1.9M

58.89%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$652 COP 2.3M

$424 COP 1.5M

53.90%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,233 COP 8.0M

$1,428 COP 5.1M

56.31%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,468 COP 5.2M

$1,172 COP 4.2M

25.29%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$648 COP 2.3M

$308 COP 1.1M

110.29%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

12.93

11.58

11.66%

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

Last update for Bogota: May 30, 2026

Last update for Cartago: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $453 in Bogota versus $281 in Cartago. 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 110% 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 $31.00 in Bogota versus $29.00 in Cartago. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $185 vs $182 – making Cartago 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 Cartago: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Bogota is pricier by about 17%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,437 per month in Bogota and $1,231 in Cartago. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Cartago, 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 $958 in Bogota and $821 in Cartago. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 36% less in Cartago. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Cartago, where all-in costs run around $821, than in Bogota at $958. In Cartago it covers expenses comfortably, while in Bogota it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Cartago – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Cartago. 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.