Cost of Living Comparison Between Bogota and San Juan de Pasto Cost of Living Comparison Between Bogota and San Juan de Pasto

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,323 per month in Bogota vs $1,305 in San Juan de Pasto, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,177 per month in Bogota vs $2,098 in San Juan de Pasto, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,031 per month in Bogota vs $2,891 in San Juan de Pasto, rent included.

Bogota costs about 1% more than San Juan de Pasto, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Bogota and San Juan de Pasto are more affordable than the global median – Bogota 3% lower, San Juan de Pasto 5% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Bogota
San Juan de Pasto
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.11 COP 25.8K
$7.15 COP 22.7K
13.43%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$41.15 COP 130.7K
$37.98 COP 120.6K
8.35%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.17 COP 32.3K
$11.12 COP 35.3K
-8.54%
Cappuccino
$2.68 COP 8,496
$2.51 COP 7,953
6.77%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.38 COP 4,371
$1.33 COP 4,212
3.76%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.91 COP 2,882
$0.85 COP 2,704
7.06%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.88 COP 5,967
$2.69 COP 8,540
-30.11%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.95 COP 12.5K
$3.33 COP 10.6K
18.62%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Bogota
San Juan de Pasto
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.67 COP 5,313
$1.53 COP 4,858
9.15%
White Bread (500g)
$2.49 COP 7,907
$2.44 COP 7,744
2.05%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.70 COP 5,381
$1.66 COP 5,256
2.41%
Eggs
$3.74 COP 11.9K
$3.32 COP 10.5K
12.65%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.33 COP 26.4K
$9.33 COP 29.6K
-10.72%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.53 COP 23.9K
$10.45 COP 33.2K
-27.94%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.67 COP 33.9K
$13.66 COP 43.4K
-21.89%
Apples (1kg)
$3.46 COP 11.0K
$3.56 COP 11.3K
-2.81%
Banana (1kg)
$1.78 COP 5,642
$1.28 COP 4,048
39.06%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.98 COP 6,292
$2.21 COP 7,022
-10.41%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.86 COP 5,901
$2.14 COP 6,802
-13.08%
Potato (1kg)
$1.46 COP 4,633
$1.38 COP 4,390
5.80%
Onion (1kg)
$1.46 COP 4,636
$1.53 COP 4,844
-4.58%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.35 COP 4,277
$1.37 COP 4,334
-1.46%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.18 COP 3,738
$1.31 COP 4,157
-9.92%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.58 COP 14.5K
$3.66 COP 11.6K
25.14%
Wine (Bottle)
$13.02 COP 41.3K
$13.22 COP 42.0K
-1.51%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.50 COP 4,757
$1.26 COP 3,987
19.05%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.89 COP 9,168
$3.08 COP 9,786
-6.17%
🚌 Getting Around
Bogota
San Juan de Pasto
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.12 COP 3,567
$1.10 COP 3,504
1.82%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$51.0 COP 162.0K
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.47 COP 7,840
$1.74 COP 5,532
41.95%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.49 COP 7,915
$2.48 COP 7,861
0.40%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$9.93 COP 31.5K
$9.29 COP 29.5K
6.89%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.34 COP 4,242
$1.27 COP 4,033
5.51%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.8K COP 72.5M
$25.5K COP 81.1M
-10.61%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$37.0K COP 117.6M
$35.5K COP 112.6M
4.41%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Bogota
San Juan de Pasto
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$127 COP 401.8K
$129 COP 409.0K
-1.75%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$16.68 COP 53.0K
$14.14 COP 44.9K
17.96%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$31.16 COP 98.9K
$29.87 COP 94.8K
4.32%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Bogota
San Juan de Pasto
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$35.33 COP 112.2K
$36.86 COP 117.0K
-4.15%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$15.51 COP 49.2K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$8.26 COP 26.2K
$6.18 COP 19.6K
33.66%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Bogota
San Juan de Pasto
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$481 COP 1.5M
$569 COP 1.8M
-15.46%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$6,640 COP 21.1M
$5,789 COP 18.4M
14.71%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Bogota
San Juan de Pasto
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$81.0 COP 257.2K
$96.1 COP 305.2K
-15.74%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$50.3 COP 159.6K
$59.3 COP 188.4K
-15.30%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$141 COP 447.3K
$148 COP 471.3K
-5.11%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$115 COP 364.8K
$108 COP 341.5K
6.83%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Bogota
San Juan de Pasto
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$720 COP 2.3M
$670 COP 2.1M
7.42%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$432 COP 1.4M
$464 COP 1.5M
-6.90%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,330 COP 4.2M
$1,073 COP 3.4M
24.00%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$993 COP 3.2M
$1,032 COP 3.3M
-3.82%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,940 COP 9.3M
$1,958 COP 6.2M
50.15%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,287 COP 7.3M
$1,854 COP 5.9M
23.34%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Bogota
San Juan de Pasto
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$802 COP 2.5M
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
12.81
11.58
10.62%

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

Last update for Bogota: September 15, 2026

Last update for San Juan de Pasto: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $720 in Bogota versus $670 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.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $41.00 in Bogota versus $38.00 in San Juan de Pasto. Groceries tell a different story – $269 in Bogota vs $293 in San Juan de Pasto – so Bogota 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 San Juan de Pasto: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is San Juan de Pasto cheaper than Bogota?
Yes – Bogota is pricier by about 1%, and the gap shows up most in Getting Around. 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 $1,985 per month in Bogota and $1,957 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.
Is eating out cheaper in Bogota or in San Juan de Pasto?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $41.00 in Bogota and $38.00 in San Juan de Pasto. 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 San Juan de Pasto?
Interestingly, groceries are about 9% 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 San Juan de Pasto?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in San Juan de Pasto, where all-in costs run around $1,305, than in Bogota at $1,323. In San Juan de Pasto it covers expenses comfortably, while in Bogota it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
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.

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