Cost of Living Comparison Between Bogota and Zacatecas Cost of Living Comparison Between Bogota and Zacatecas

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,353 per month in Bogota vs $806 in Zacatecas, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,173 per month in Bogota vs $1,275 in Zacatecas, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,993 per month in Bogota vs $1,744 in Zacatecas, rent included.

Bogota costs about 68% more than Zacatecas, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Bogota and Zacatecas are more affordable than the global median – Bogota 2% lower, Zacatecas 42% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Bogota
Zacatecas
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.82 COP 24.1K
$6.90 MX$117
13.33%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$42.11 COP 129.6K
$34.73 MX$589
21.25%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.12 COP 31.1K
$7.83 MX$133
29.25%
Cappuccino
$2.54 COP 7,808
$3.23 MX$54.8
-21.36%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.29 COP 3,973
$1.38 MX$23.34
-6.52%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.85 COP 2,616
$0.78 MX$13.28
8.97%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.94 COP 5,966
$2.12 MX$35.97
-8.49%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.88 COP 11.9K
$4.55 MX$77.2
-14.73%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Bogota
Zacatecas
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.57 COP 4,842
$1.55 MX$26.27
1.29%
White Bread (500g)
$2.48 COP 7,625
$2.31 MX$39.19
7.36%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.72 COP 5,287
$1.73 MX$29.34
-0.58%
Eggs
$3.75 COP 11.6K
$2.39 MX$40.62
56.90%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.91 COP 24.4K
$7.91 MX$134
-
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.47 COP 23.0K
$6.38 MX$108
17.08%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.52 COP 32.4K
$10.37 MX$176
1.45%
Apples (1kg)
$3.56 COP 10.9K
$1.97 MX$33.35
80.71%
Banana (1kg)
$1.75 COP 5,387
$1.77 MX$30.01
-1.13%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.05 COP 6,303
$2.21 MX$37.55
-7.24%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.78 COP 5,470
$1.54 MX$26.15
15.58%
Potato (1kg)
$1.47 COP 4,515
$2.09 MX$35.46
-29.67%
Onion (1kg)
$1.38 COP 4,254
$1.90 MX$32.22
-27.37%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.32 COP 4,059
$1.54 MX$26.15
-14.29%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.18 COP 3,631
$0.92 MX$15.56
28.26%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.55 COP 14.0K
$4.76 MX$80.8
-4.41%
Wine (Bottle)
$12.63 COP 38.9K
$11.57 MX$196
9.16%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.42 COP 4,355
$1.81 MX$30.69
-21.55%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.82 COP 8,683
$3.53 MX$60.0
-20.11%
🚌 Getting Around
Bogota
Zacatecas
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.10 COP 3,377
$0.53 MX$9.03
107.55%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$50.3 COP 154.9K
$17.84 MX$303
182.17%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.43 COP 7,472
$2.42 MX$41.11
0.41%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.49 COP 7,662
$1.19 MX$20.22
109.24%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$9.59 COP 29.5K
$12.89 MX$219
-25.60%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.31 COP 4,035
$1.59 MX$27.01
-17.61%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.9K COP 67.5M
$23.3K MX$395.6K
-5.99%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$35.3K COP 108.7M
$25.7K MX$435.4K
37.67%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Bogota
Zacatecas
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$124 COP 380.7K
$24.89 MX$422
396.95%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$16.20 COP 49.9K
$9.09 MX$154
78.22%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.76 COP 94.7K
$27.23 MX$462
12.96%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Bogota
Zacatecas
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$34.15 COP 105.1K
$26.38 MX$448
29.45%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$15.04 COP 46.3K
$8.77 MX$149
71.49%
Cinema Ticket
$8.05 COP 24.8K
$4.56 MX$77.3
76.54%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Bogota
Zacatecas
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$470 COP 1.4M
$278 MX$4,720
68.97%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$6,466 COP 19.9M
$3,489 MX$59.2K
85.32%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Bogota
Zacatecas
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$82.3 COP 253.1K
$48.51 MX$823
69.57%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$50.1 COP 154.2K
$45.71 MX$775
9.65%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$140 COP 431.6K
$97.1 MX$1,647
44.48%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$114 COP 351.1K
$46.93 MX$796
143.11%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Bogota
Zacatecas
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$714 COP 2.2M
$261 MX$4,435
173.26%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$438 COP 1.3M
$176 MX$2,979
149.18%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,336 COP 4.1M
$414 MX$7,020
222.95%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$990 COP 3.0M
$264 MX$4,486
274.49%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,928 COP 9.0M
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,275 COP 7.0M
$617 MX$10.5K
268.48%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Bogota
Zacatecas
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$791 COP 2.4M
$452 MX$7,667
74.91%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
12.81
10.8
18.61%

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

Last update for Bogota: September 5, 2026

Last update for Zacatecas: September 5, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $714 in Bogota versus $261 in Zacatecas. 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 75% 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 $42.00 in Bogota versus $35.00 in Zacatecas. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $265 vs $245 – making Zacatecas 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 Zacatecas: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Zacatecas cheaper than Bogota?
Yes – Bogota is pricier by about 68%, 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 $2,030 per month in Bogota and $1,208 in Zacatecas. 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 Zacatecas, 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 Zacatecas?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,353 in Bogota and $806 in Zacatecas. 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 182% less in Zacatecas. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Is $2,000 a realistic budget for living in Bogota or in Zacatecas?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Zacatecas, where all-in costs run around $806, than in Bogota at $1,353. In Zacatecas it covers expenses comfortably, while in Bogota it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Bogota or Zacatecas more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Zacatecas – 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 Zacatecas?
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 Zacatecas. 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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