😐A single person spends $951 per month in Bogota vs $773 in San Juan de Pasto, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $1,474 per month in Bogota vs $1,085 in San Juan de Pasto, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $1,998 per month in Bogota vs $1,398 in San Juan de Pasto, rent included.
😐Bogota costs about 23% more than San Juan de Pasto, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both Bogota and San Juan de Pasto are more affordable than the global median – Bogota29% lower, San Juan de Pasto42% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Bogota
San Juan de Pasto
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.77COP 15.0K
$2.82COP 8,868
69.15%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$31.58COP 99.4K
$11.90COP 37.5K
165.38%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.83COP 24.7K
$6.55COP 20.6K
19.54%
Cappuccino
$1.88COP 5,934
$1.66COP 5,234
13.25%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.97COP 3,039
$0.68COP 2,142
42.65%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.63COP 1,984
$0.45COP 1,419
40.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.18COP 3,715
$1.18COP 3,727
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.22COP 6,995
$2.35COP 7,412
-5.53%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Bogota
San Juan de Pasto
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.19COP 3,741
$1.06COP 3,352
12.26%
White Bread(500g)
$1.48COP 4,668
$1.29COP 4,077
14.73%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.15COP 3,607
$1.13COP 3,571
1.77%
Eggs
$1.97COP 6,187
$1.90COP 5,989
3.68%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$4.79COP 15.1K
$5.84COP 18.4K
-17.98%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.24COP 16.5K
$4.26COP 13.4K
23.00%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$7.15COP 22.5K
$7.53COP 23.7K
-5.05%
Apples(1kg)
$3.09COP 9,715
$1.55COP 4,896
99.35%
Banana(1kg)
$1.12COP 3,535
$1.07COP 3,377
4.67%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.37COP 4,313
$1.37COP 4,310
-
Tomato(1kg)
$1.30COP 4,080
$0.90COP 2,846
44.44%
Potato(1kg)
$1.17COP 3,680
$1.16COP 3,643
0.86%
Onion(1kg)
$1.12COP 3,534
$1.14COP 3,581
-1.75%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.78COP 2,455
$0.80COP 2,518
-2.50%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.78COP 2,463
$0.69COP 2,167
13.04%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.78COP 8,754
$2.32COP 7,316
19.83%
Wine(Bottle)
$14.07COP 44.3K
$15.73COP 49.5K
-10.55%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.16COP 3,663
$1.08COP 3,414
7.41%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.87COP 5,903
$1.74COP 5,464
7.47%
🚌 Getting Around
Bogota
San Juan de Pasto
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.72COP 2,252
$0.57COP 1,798
26.32%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$41.10COP 129.4K
$30.63COP 96.4K
34.18%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.48COP 4,650
$1.50COP 4,737
-1.33%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.56COP 4,912
$1.51COP 4,766
3.31%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$6.20COP 19.5K
$6.02COP 19.0K
2.99%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.99COP 3,107
$0.91COP 2,865
8.79%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$15.9KCOP 50.0M
$17.6KCOP 55.4M
-9.82%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.4KCOP 80.0M
$25.9KCOP 81.6M
-2.06%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Bogota
San Juan de Pasto
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$83.0COP 261.3K
$62.6COP 197.2K
32.53%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.09COP 34.9K
$7.08COP 22.3K
56.64%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$26.46COP 83.3K
$23.03COP 72.5K
14.89%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Bogota
San Juan de Pasto
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$23.66COP 74.5K
$22.08COP 69.5K
7.16%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$11.12COP 35.0K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.95COP 15.6K
$3.98COP 12.5K
24.37%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Bogota
San Juan de Pasto
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$299COP 942.4K
$238COP 749.3K
25.76%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$8,519COP 26.8M
$5,867COP 18.5M
45.21%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Bogota
San Juan de Pasto
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$59.6COP 187.8K
$59.9COP 188.6K
-0.42%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.89COP 135.0K
$32.18COP 101.3K
33.28%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$104COP 327.4K
$83.7COP 263.5K
24.25%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$83.9COP 264.1K
$52.4COP 164.9K
60.20%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Bogota
San Juan de Pasto
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$458COP 1.4M
$301COP 948.2K
52.00%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$323COP 1.0M
$237COP 744.7K
36.50%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$824COP 2.6M
$380COP 1.2M
116.90%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$638COP 2.0M
$329COP 1.0M
93.88%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,717COP 8.6M
$1,913COP 6.0M
42.01%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,128COP 6.7M
$1,277COP 4.0M
66.68%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Bogota
San Juan de Pasto
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$754COP 2.4M
$504COP 1.6M
49.52%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
12.93
13.18
-1.90%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Bogota: July 26, 2026
Last update for San Juan de Pasto: July 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $458 in Bogota versus $301 in San Juan de Pasto. 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 50% 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 $32.00 in Bogota versus $12.00 in San Juan de Pasto. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $191 vs $179 – making San Juan de Pasto 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 San Juan de Pasto: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is San Juan de Pasto cheaper than Bogota?
Yes – Bogota is pricier by about 23%, and the gap shows up most in Clothing & Footwear. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,427 per month in Bogota and $1,159 in San Juan de Pasto. 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 San Juan de Pasto, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
What are total monthly expenses in Bogota and in San Juan de Pasto?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $951 in Bogota and $773 in San Juan de Pasto. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
Public transport costs about 34% less in San Juan de Pasto. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Is $800 enough for either Bogota or San Juan de Pasto?
$800 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $951 in Bogota and $773 in San Juan de Pasto, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.
Is Bogota or San Juan de Pasto more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward San Juan de Pasto – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Bogota or San Juan de Pasto?
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.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with San Juan de Pasto. 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.