Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Bogota and Sao Caetano do Sul

For one person, living is cheaper in Sao Caetano do Sul: $1,058 a month against $1,323 in Bogota, rent and utilities included – about $3,200 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Bogota
🇨🇴 Colombia
$1,323
/mo nomad
Sao Caetano do Sul
🇧🇷 Brazil
$1,058
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Bogota and in Sao Caetano do Sul

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 Sao Caetano do Sul actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $1,323 per month in Bogota vs $1,058 in Sao Caetano do Sul, rent included.

  • Bogota $1,323
  • Sao Caetano do Sul $1,058

A couple spends around $2,110 per month in Bogota vs $1,822 in Sao Caetano do Sul, rent included.

  • Bogota $2,110
  • Sao Caetano do Sul $1,822

A family of three spends $2,897 per month in Bogota vs $2,586 in Sao Caetano do Sul, rent included.

  • Bogota $2,897
  • Sao Caetano do Sul $2,586

Bogota costs about 25% more than Sao Caetano do Sul, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in transport.

Both Bogota and Sao Caetano do Sul are more affordable than the global median – Bogota 2% lower, Sao Caetano do Sul 22% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Bogota
Sao Caetano do Sul
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.65 COP 24.3K
$8.89 R$44.60
-13.95%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$41.44 COP 131.8K
$40.00 R$201
3.60%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.38 COP 33.0K
$8.77 R$44.01
18.36%
Cappuccino
$2.53 COP 8,037
$2.38 R$11.96
6.30%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.35 COP 4,290
$1.33 R$6.66
1.50%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.87 COP 2,760
$0.93 R$4.66
-6.45%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.06 COP 6,563
$2.36 R$11.82
-12.71%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.98 COP 12.6K
$4.00 R$20.06
-0.50%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Bogota
Sao Caetano do Sul
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.65 COP 5,257
$1.19 R$5.95
38.66%
White Bread (500g)
$2.40 COP 7,642
$2.05 R$10.30
17.07%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.69 COP 5,362
$1.44 R$7.23
17.36%
Eggs
$3.54 COP 11.2K
$2.48 R$12.43
42.74%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.89 COP 25.1K
$10.70 R$53.7
-26.26%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.30 COP 23.2K
$5.43 R$27.26
34.44%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.87 COP 31.4K
$10.91 R$54.8
-9.53%
Apples (1kg)
$3.58 COP 11.4K
$2.39 R$11.98
49.79%
Banana (1kg)
$1.84 COP 5,840
$1.72 R$8.65
6.98%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.90 COP 6,031
$1.55 R$7.76
22.58%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.74 COP 5,534
$2.08 R$10.43
-16.35%
Potato (1kg)
$1.41 COP 4,499
$1.40 R$7.02
0.71%
Onion (1kg)
$1.37 COP 4,345
$1.26 R$6.34
8.73%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.30 COP 4,144
$0.92 R$4.62
41.30%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.15 COP 3,654
$0.81 R$4.08
41.98%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.32 COP 13.7K
$2.49 R$12.49
73.49%
Wine (Bottle)
$12.76 COP 40.6K
$8.97 R$44.99
42.25%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.43 COP 4,557
$1.75 R$8.79
-18.29%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.83 COP 9,014
$2.58 R$12.92
9.69%
🚌 Getting Around
Bogota
Sao Caetano do Sul
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.08 COP 3,444
$0.68 R$3.43
58.82%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$50.8 COP 161.6K
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.38 COP 7,574
$1.32 R$6.64
80.30%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.34 COP 7,434
$1.02 R$5.13
129.41%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$9.20 COP 29.3K
$8.86 R$44.47
3.84%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.33 COP 4,226
$1.34 R$6.72
-0.75%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$23.5K COP 74.7M
$24.5K R$123.1K
-4.33%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$35.6K COP 113.4M
$32.6K R$163.4K
9.41%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Bogota
Sao Caetano do Sul
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$125 COP 399.0K
$103 R$517
21.84%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$16.29 COP 51.8K
$14.91 R$74.8
9.26%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.21 COP 96.1K
$22.99 R$115
31.40%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Bogota
Sao Caetano do Sul
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$34.11 COP 108.5K
$50.3 R$253
-32.24%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$15.37 COP 48.9K
$46.01 R$231
-66.59%
Cinema Ticket
$7.84 COP 24.9K
$10.14 R$50.9
-22.68%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Bogota
Sao Caetano do Sul
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$501 COP 1.6M
$437 R$2,192
14.75%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$7,450 COP 23.7M
$11.2K R$56.1K
-33.31%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Bogota
Sao Caetano do Sul
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$82.8 COP 263.4K
$65.3 R$328
26.81%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$47.40 COP 150.8K
$57.3 R$288
-17.28%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$142 COP 450.8K
$98.3 R$493
44.18%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$106 COP 338.5K
$93.2 R$467
14.21%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Bogota
Sao Caetano do Sul
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$803 COP 2.6M
$419 R$2,104
91.50%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$452 COP 1.4M
$311 R$1,559
45.38%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,244 COP 4.0M
$867 R$4,349
43.51%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$974 COP 3.1M
$868 R$4,353
12.27%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,816 COP 9.0M
$1,890 R$9,483
49.01%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,354 COP 7.5M
$1,435 R$7,201
64.05%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Bogota
Sao Caetano do Sul
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$813 COP 2.6M
$951 R$4,773
-14.59%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
12.81
10.81
18.50%

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

Last update for Bogota: October 11, 2026

Last update for Sao Caetano do Sul: October 10, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Bogota
$452
Sao Caetano do Sul
$311 31.2% $141
Groceries & Markets
Bogota
$261
Sao Caetano do Sul
$231 11.4% $30
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Bogota
$172
Sao Caetano do Sul
$141 18.1% $31
Clothing & Footwear
Bogota
$170
Sao Caetano do Sul
$141 17% $29
Eating Out
Bogota
$150
Sao Caetano do Sul
$155 3.4% $5
Getting Around
Bogota
$69
Sao Caetano do Sul
$9.2 * 86.7% $60
Sport & Entertainment
Bogota
$50
Sao Caetano do Sul
$71 41.8% $21

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 $419 in Sao Caetano do Sul. 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 17% higher in Sao Caetano do Sul, 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 $41.00 in Bogota versus $40.00 in Sao Caetano do Sul. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $261 vs $231 – making Sao Caetano do Sul the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇨🇴 Bogota
🇧🇷 Sao Caetano do Sul
🕒 Local time
16:03 4:03 PM
18:03 6:03 PM
2 h ahead of Bogota
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
8,181,047 Capital
165,655
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

BRL, USD, EUR to COP – Colombian Peso Converter

Colombian Peso exchange rates as of October 14, 2026: 1 USD = 3,181 COP (10,000 COP = 3.14 USD). 1 EUR = 3,561 COP (10,000 COP = 2.81 EUR).

Brazilian Real exchange rates as of October 14, 2026: 1 USD = 5.02 BRL (1 BRL = 0.199 USD). 1 EUR = 5.62 BRL (1 BRL = 0.178 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Bogota Sao Caetano do Sul 4,340 km ≈ 6 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Bogota
  • Sao Caetano do Sul

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 Sao Caetano do Sul: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Sao Caetano do Sul cheaper than Bogota?
Yes – Bogota is pricier by about 25%, 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 $1,588 in Sao Caetano do Sul. 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 Sao Caetano do Sul, 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 Sao Caetano do Sul?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $41.00 in Bogota and $40.00 in Sao Caetano do Sul. 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 Sao Caetano do Sul?
Groceries cost about 13% more in Bogota, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Is $1,000 a realistic budget for living in Bogota or in Sao Caetano do Sul?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Sao Caetano do Sul, where all-in costs run around $1,058, than in Bogota at $1,323. In Sao Caetano do Sul it covers expenses comfortably, while in Bogota it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Bogota or Sao Caetano do Sul more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Sao Caetano do Sul – 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 Sao Caetano do Sul. 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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