Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Bogota and Quetzaltenango

For one person, living is cheaper in Quetzaltenango: $1,148 a month against $1,323 in Bogota, rent and utilities included – about $2,100 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Bogota
🇨🇴 Colombia
$1,323
/mo nomad
Quetzaltenango
🇬🇹 Guatemala
$1,148
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Bogota and in Quetzaltenango

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Bogota and in Quetzaltenango actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $1,323 per month in Bogota vs $1,148 in Quetzaltenango, rent included.

  • Bogota $1,323
  • Quetzaltenango $1,148

A couple spends around $2,110 per month in Bogota vs $1,444 in Quetzaltenango, rent included.

  • Bogota $2,110
  • Quetzaltenango $1,444

A family of three spends $2,897 per month in Bogota vs $1,741 in Quetzaltenango, rent included.

  • Bogota $2,897
  • Quetzaltenango $1,741

Bogota costs about 15% more than Quetzaltenango, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in transport.

Both Bogota and Quetzaltenango are more affordable than the global median – Bogota 2% lower, Quetzaltenango 15% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Bogota
Quetzaltenango
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.65 COP 24.3K
$6.78 Q 51.9
12.83%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$41.44 COP 131.4K
$49.64 Q 380
-16.52%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.38 COP 32.9K
$7.66 Q 58.6
35.51%
Cappuccino
$2.53 COP 8,011
$3.26 Q 24.91
-22.39%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.35 COP 4,277
$1.15 Q 8.77
17.39%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.87 COP 2,752
$0.91 Q 6.97
-4.40%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.06 COP 6,542
$3.35 Q 25.60
-38.51%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.98 COP 12.6K
$4.66 Q 35.65
-14.59%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Bogota
Quetzaltenango
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.65 COP 5,240
$2.01 Q 15.36
-17.91%
White Bread (500g)
$2.40 COP 7,618
$2.66 Q 20.33
-9.77%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.69 COP 5,345
$2.13 Q 16.30
-20.66%
Eggs
$3.54 COP 11.2K
$2.51 Q 19.16
41.04%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.89 COP 25.0K
$6.44 Q 49.23
22.52%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.30 COP 23.1K
$7.96 Q 60.9
-8.29%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.87 COP 31.3K
$12.86 Q 98.3
-23.25%
Apples (1kg)
$3.58 COP 11.4K
$2.86 Q 21.90
25.17%
Banana (1kg)
$1.84 COP 5,822
$1.70 Q 13.02
8.24%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.90 COP 6,012
$2.92 Q 22.30
-34.93%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.74 COP 5,517
$1.64 Q 12.55
6.10%
Potato (1kg)
$1.41 COP 4,484
$1.55 Q 11.81
-9.03%
Onion (1kg)
$1.37 COP 4,332
$2.19 Q 16.71
-37.44%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.30 COP 4,131
$0.69 Q 5.31
88.41%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.15 COP 3,643
$1.19 Q 9.10
-3.36%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.32 COP 13.7K
$3.35 Q 25.64
28.96%
Wine (Bottle)
$12.76 COP 40.5K
$8.09 Q 61.9
57.73%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.43 COP 4,542
$1.72 Q 13.18
-16.86%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.83 COP 8,986
$2.71 Q 20.70
4.43%
🚌 Getting Around
Bogota
Quetzaltenango
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.08 COP 3,434
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$50.8 COP 161.1K
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.38 COP 7,550
$5.15 Q 39.38
-53.79%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.34 COP 7,411
$1.73 Q 13.22
35.26%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$9.20 COP 29.2K
$10.56 Q 80.8
-12.88%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.33 COP 4,213
$1.38 Q 10.57
-3.62%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$23.5K COP 74.4M
$27.5K Q 210.6K
-14.76%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$35.6K COP 113.0M
$25.3K Q 193.3K
41.01%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Bogota
Quetzaltenango
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$125 COP 397.8K
$72.7 Q 556
72.46%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$16.29 COP 51.6K
$13.06 Q 99.9
24.73%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.21 COP 95.8K
$46.29 Q 354
-34.74%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Bogota
Quetzaltenango
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$34.11 COP 108.2K
$32.89 Q 251
3.71%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$15.37 COP 48.7K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$7.84 COP 24.8K
$6.35 Q 48.54
23.46%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Bogota
Quetzaltenango
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$501 COP 1.6M
$342 Q 2,611
46.79%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$7,450 COP 23.6M
$6,757 Q 51.7K
10.27%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Bogota
Quetzaltenango
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$82.8 COP 262.6K
$50.0 Q 382
65.57%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$47.40 COP 150.3K
$46.61 Q 356
1.69%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$142 COP 449.4K
$110 Q 844
28.43%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$106 COP 337.4K
$112 Q 857
-5.04%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Bogota
Quetzaltenango
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$803 COP 2.5M
$397 Q 3,037
102.19%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$452 COP 1.4M
$398 Q 3,046
13.39%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,244 COP 3.9M
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$974 COP 3.1M
-
-
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,816 COP 8.9M
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,354 COP 7.5M
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Bogota
Quetzaltenango
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$813 COP 2.6M
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
12.81
11.62
10.24%

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

Last update for Bogota: October 11, 2026

Last update for Quetzaltenango: October 11, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Bogota
$452
Quetzaltenango
$398 11.8% $53
Groceries & Markets
Bogota
$261
Quetzaltenango
$264 1.1% $2.9
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Bogota
$172
Quetzaltenango
$132 23.2% $40
Clothing & Footwear
Bogota
$170
Quetzaltenango
$144 15.7% $27
Eating Out
Bogota
$150
Quetzaltenango
$151 0.6% $0.8
Getting Around
Bogota
$69
Quetzaltenango
$14 * 80.1% $55
Sport & Entertainment
Bogota
$50
Quetzaltenango
$46 8.4% $4.2

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $803 in Bogota versus $397 in Quetzaltenango. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $41.00 in Bogota versus $50.0 in Quetzaltenango. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $261 vs $264 – making Bogota the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇨🇴 Bogota
🇬🇹 Quetzaltenango
🕒 Local time
05:20 5:20 AM
04:20 4:20 AM
1 h behind Bogota
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
8,181,047 Capital
500,000
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

GTQ, USD, EUR to COP – Colombian Peso Converter

Colombian Peso exchange rates as of October 18, 2026: 1 USD = 3,171 COP (10,000 COP = 3.15 USD). 1 EUR = 3,565 COP (10,000 COP = 2.81 EUR).

Guatemalan Quetzal exchange rates as of October 18, 2026: 1 USD = 7.65 GTQ (1 GTQ = 0.131 USD). 1 EUR = 8.6 GTQ (1 GTQ = 0.116 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Bogota Quetzaltenango 2,220 km ≈ 3 h 15 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Bogota
  • Quetzaltenango

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 Quetzaltenango: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Quetzaltenango cheaper than Bogota?
Yes – Bogota is pricier by about 15%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in transport.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,985 per month in Bogota and $1,722 in Quetzaltenango. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Quetzaltenango, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Is eating out cheaper in Bogota or in Quetzaltenango?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $41.00 in Bogota and $50.0 in Quetzaltenango. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
How do food prices compare in Bogota and in Quetzaltenango?
Interestingly, groceries are about 1% cheaper in Bogota – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.
Is $1,000 a realistic budget for living in Bogota or in Quetzaltenango?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Quetzaltenango, where all-in costs run around $1,148, than in Bogota at $1,323. In Quetzaltenango it covers expenses comfortably, while in Bogota it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Bogota or Quetzaltenango more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Quetzaltenango – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Quetzaltenango. 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.

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