😐A single person spends $966 per month in Bogota vs $944 in Zacatecas, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $1,496 per month in Bogota vs $1,493 in Zacatecas, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $2,025 per month in Bogota vs $2,042 in Zacatecas, rent included.
😐Bogota costs about 2% more than Zacatecas, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both Bogota and Zacatecas are more affordable than the global median – Bogota28% lower, Zacatecas29% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Bogota
Zacatecas
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.97COP 16.2K
$6.02MX$106
-17.44%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$31.94COP 104.0K
$31.09MX$545
2.73%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.81COP 25.4K
$7.28MX$128
7.28%
Cappuccino
$1.81COP 5,896
$2.96MX$52.0
-38.85%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.00COP 3,261
$1.22MX$21.40
-18.03%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.68COP 2,220
$0.70MX$12.29
-2.86%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.17COP 3,825
$1.81MX$31.68
-35.36%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.24COP 7,306
$3.79MX$66.4
-40.90%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Bogota
Zacatecas
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.17COP 3,816
$1.39MX$24.39
-15.83%
White Bread(500g)
$1.48COP 4,811
$2.14MX$37.48
-30.84%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.19COP 3,863
$1.57MX$27.45
-24.20%
Eggs
$2.00COP 6,511
$2.20MX$38.59
-9.09%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$4.64COP 15.1K
$7.26MX$127
-36.09%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.11COP 16.6K
$5.89MX$103
-13.24%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$7.20COP 23.4K
$9.10MX$160
-20.88%
Apples(1kg)
$3.09COP 10.0K
$1.74MX$30.57
77.59%
Banana(1kg)
$1.09COP 3,555
$1.49MX$26.15
-26.85%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.36COP 4,423
$1.78MX$31.20
-23.60%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.28COP 4,177
$1.43MX$25.12
-10.49%
Potato(1kg)
$1.11COP 3,620
$1.80MX$31.64
-38.33%
Onion(1kg)
$1.14COP 3,698
$2.02MX$35.42
-43.56%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.73COP 2,369
$1.37MX$23.99
-46.72%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.83COP 2,707
$0.75MX$13.20
10.67%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.89COP 9,417
$4.17MX$73.1
-30.70%
Wine(Bottle)
$15.46COP 50.3K
$10.90MX$191
41.83%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.11COP 3,606
$1.63MX$28.53
-31.90%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.85COP 6,039
$3.11MX$54.5
-40.51%
🚌 Getting Around
Bogota
Zacatecas
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.76COP 2,486
$0.49MX$8.54
55.10%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$40.87COP 133.1K
$16.10MX$282
153.85%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.46COP 4,754
$2.08MX$36.46
-29.81%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.54COP 5,015
$0.94MX$16.48
63.83%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.98COP 19.5K
$11.50MX$202
-48.00%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.02COP 3,316
$1.30MX$22.87
-21.54%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$15.8KCOP 51.4M
$24.2KMX$425.1K
-34.90%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.5KCOP 83.1M
$23.9KMX$419.8K
6.65%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Bogota
Zacatecas
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$83.6COP 272.0K
$22.53MX$395
270.84%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.26COP 36.6K
$8.09MX$142
39.18%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$26.20COP 85.3K
$25.10MX$440
4.38%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Bogota
Zacatecas
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$23.99COP 78.1K
$23.52MX$413
2.00%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$10.93COP 35.6K
$7.80MX$137
40.13%
Cinema Ticket
$4.90COP 16.0K
$4.15MX$72.8
18.07%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Bogota
Zacatecas
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$291COP 946.5K
$191MX$3,348
52.31%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$8,502COP 27.7M
$3,190MX$56.0K
166.51%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Bogota
Zacatecas
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$60.4COP 196.6K
$43.23MX$758
39.67%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.70COP 139.0K
$42.35MX$743
0.83%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$102COP 333.6K
$87.9MX$1,542
16.57%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$83.4COP 271.5K
$42.12MX$739
97.96%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Bogota
Zacatecas
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$449COP 1.5M
$239MX$4,193
87.86%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$331COP 1.1M
$403MX$7,065
-17.74%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$829COP 2.7M
$366MX$6,419
126.63%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$643COP 2.1M
$768MX$13.5K
-16.36%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,725COP 8.9M
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,051COP 6.7M
$590MX$10.3K
247.58%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Bogota
Zacatecas
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$725COP 2.4M
$435MX$7,633
66.56%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
12.93
11.48
12.63%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Bogota: July 11, 2026
Last update for Zacatecas: July 14, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $449 in Bogota versus $239 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 67% 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 $31.00 in Zacatecas. Groceries tell a different story – $193 in Bogota vs $221 in Zacatecas – 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 Zacatecas: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Zacatecas cheaper than Bogota?
Yes – Bogota is pricier by about 2%, 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 $1,449 per month in Bogota and $1,415 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 $966 in Bogota and $944 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 154% 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 $944, than in Bogota at $966. 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.