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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $958 per month in Bogota vs $938 in Zacatecas, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,486 per month in Bogota vs $1,518 in Zacatecas, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,014 per month in Bogota vs $2,098 in Zacatecas, rent included.

Bogota costs about 2% more than Zacatecas, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Bogota and Zacatecas are more affordable than the global median – Bogota 28% lower, Zacatecas 30% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Bogota
Zacatecas
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.89 COP 17.4K
$6.26 MX$108
-21.88%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$31.01 COP 110.7K
$31.34 MX$542
-1.05%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.69 COP 27.5K
$7.13 MX$123
7.85%
Cappuccino
$1.79 COP 6,398
$2.98 MX$51.5
-39.93%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.00 COP 3,566
$1.22 MX$21.06
-18.03%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.63 COP 2,239
$0.74 MX$12.78
-14.86%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.13 COP 4,032
$1.89 MX$32.64
-40.21%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.13 COP 7,620
$3.89 MX$67.3
-45.24%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Bogota
Zacatecas
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.22 COP 4,370
$1.34 MX$23.22
-8.96%
White Bread (500g)
$1.46 COP 5,215
$2.15 MX$37.22
-32.09%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.13 COP 4,023
$1.55 MX$26.73
-27.10%
Eggs
$1.97 COP 7,025
$2.19 MX$37.93
-10.05%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$4.70 COP 16.8K
$7.15 MX$124
-34.27%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.96 COP 17.7K
$5.73 MX$99.1
-13.44%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$7.16 COP 25.6K
$8.91 MX$154
-19.64%
Apples (1kg)
$3.11 COP 11.1K
$1.71 MX$29.55
81.87%
Banana (1kg)
$1.08 COP 3,855
$1.52 MX$26.23
-28.95%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.35 COP 4,821
$1.86 MX$32.12
-27.42%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.30 COP 4,655
$1.39 MX$24.04
-6.47%
Potato (1kg)
$1.16 COP 4,130
$1.74 MX$30.18
-33.33%
Onion (1kg)
$1.14 COP 4,054
$1.95 MX$33.80
-41.54%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.77 COP 2,760
$1.33 MX$22.93
-42.11%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.84 COP 2,984
$0.83 MX$14.32
1.20%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.79 COP 9,963
$4.20 MX$72.6
-33.57%
Wine (Bottle)
$11.46 COP 40.9K
$11.13 MX$193
2.96%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.14 COP 4,085
$1.64 MX$28.32
-30.49%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.94 COP 6,944
$3.30 MX$57.0
-41.21%
🚌 Getting Around
Bogota
Zacatecas
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.70 COP 2,509
$0.52 MX$9.05
34.62%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$40.44 COP 144.4K
$16.12 MX$279
150.87%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.48 COP 5,267
$2.06 MX$35.69
-28.16%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.51 COP 5,377
$0.94 MX$16.34
60.64%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$6.07 COP 21.7K
$11.49 MX$199
-47.17%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.02 COP 3,654
$1.29 MX$22.39
-20.93%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$15.8K COP 56.3M
$24.0K MX$415.7K
-34.45%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.5K COP 91.1M
$23.6K MX$409.0K
7.90%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Bogota
Zacatecas
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$83.8 COP 299.2K
$22.34 MX$386
275.11%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.08 COP 39.6K
$7.74 MX$134
43.15%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$26.45 COP 94.5K
$24.97 MX$432
5.93%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Bogota
Zacatecas
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$23.95 COP 85.5K
$23.61 MX$408
1.44%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$10.84 COP 38.7K
$8.08 MX$140
34.16%
Cinema Ticket
$4.86 COP 17.3K
$4.11 MX$71.1
18.25%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Bogota
Zacatecas
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$299 COP 1.1M
$191 MX$3,304
56.37%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$8,398 COP 30.0M
$3,154 MX$54.6K
166.27%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Bogota
Zacatecas
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$59.3 COP 211.8K
$43.97 MX$761
34.91%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.77 COP 152.8K
$42.04 MX$727
1.74%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$103 COP 366.8K
$86.9 MX$1,503
18.20%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$84.0 COP 299.8K
$42.14 MX$729
99.22%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Bogota
Zacatecas
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$453 COP 1.6M
$240 MX$4,151
88.64%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$320 COP 1.1M
$393 MX$6,796
-18.63%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$837 COP 3.0M
$364 MX$6,293
129.99%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$652 COP 2.3M
$770 MX$13.3K
-15.34%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,233 COP 8.0M
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,468 COP 5.2M
$603 MX$10.4K
143.48%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Bogota
Zacatecas
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$648 COP 2.3M
$910 MX$15.7K
-28.76%
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: May 30, 2026

Last update for Zacatecas: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $453 in Bogota versus $240 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 40% higher in Zacatecas, 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 $31.00 in Bogota versus $31.00 in Zacatecas. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $185 vs $220 – making Bogota 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 2%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. 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 $1,437 per month in Bogota and $1,408 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 vs Zacatecas?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $958 in Bogota and $938 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 151% less in Zacatecas. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Is $2,000 a realistic budget for Bogota or Zacatecas?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Zacatecas, where all-in costs run around $938, than in Bogota at $958. 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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