For one person, living is cheaper in Bolivia: $520 a month against $2,734 in the United States, rent and utilities included – about $26,600 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.
How much you'll spend in Bolivia and in the United States
Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Bolivia and in the United States actually costs, broken down by who's living it.
A single person spends $520 per month in Bolivia vs $2,734 in the United States, rent included.
Bolivia $520
United States $2,734
A couple spends around $808 per month in Bolivia vs $3,985 in the United States, rent included.
Bolivia $808
United States $3,985
A family of three spends $1,096 per month in Bolivia vs $5,235 in the United States, rent included.
Bolivia $1,096
United States $5,235
📏
The regional cost range is wider in the United States ($979–$5,160) than in Bolivia ($14–$646), so city choice matters more there.
🌍
The cost of living in Bolivia is roughly 81% lower than in the United States on average.
📊
Bolivia sits 62% below the global median, while the United States is 101% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
No currencies found
🍽 Eating Out
Bolivia
United States
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.72BOB 20.74
$20.03$20.03
-91.41%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$13.55BOB 164
$80.0$80.0
-83.07%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$4.29BOB 51.8
$11.80$11.80
-63.64%
Cappuccino
$1.70BOB 20.53
$5.55$5.55
-69.37%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.60BOB 7.19
$2.66$2.66
-77.44%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.49BOB 5.95
$2.17$2.17
-77.42%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.21BOB 14.56
$6.12$6.12
-80.23%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.02BOB 24.32
$7.94$7.94
-74.56%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Bolivia
United States
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.65BOB 7.81
$1.04$1.04
-37.50%
White Bread(500g)
$0.85BOB 10.22
$3.59$3.59
-76.32%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.96BOB 11.61
$4.52$4.52
-78.76%
Eggs
$1.17BOB 14.18
$4.28$4.28
-72.66%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$3.19BOB 38.51
$13.22$13.22
-75.87%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$2.57BOB 30.98
$12.60$12.60
-79.60%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$4.48BOB 54.1
$17.60$17.60
-74.55%
Apples(1kg)
$1.66BOB 20.04
$5.30$5.30
-68.68%
Banana(1kg)
$0.68BOB 8.16
$1.69$1.69
-59.76%
Oranges(1kg)
$0.71BOB 8.55
$4.44$4.44
-84.01%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.78BOB 9.45
$4.77$4.77
-83.65%
Potato(1kg)
$0.66BOB 7.91
$2.97$2.97
-77.78%
Onion(1kg)
$0.59BOB 7.15
$3.15$3.15
-81.27%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.51BOB 6.21
$2.20$2.20
-76.82%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.69BOB 8.34
$2.35$2.35
-70.64%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$1.80BOB 21.74
$10.98$10.98
-83.61%
Wine(Bottle)
$3.72BOB 44.89
$15.05$15.05
-75.28%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.16BOB 14.04
$2.06$2.06
-43.69%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.63BOB 19.66
$3.79$3.79
-56.99%
🚌 Getting Around
Bolivia
United States
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.24BOB 2.89
$1.94$1.94
-87.63%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$16.63BOB 201
$59.4$59.4
-72.00%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.31BOB 15.79
$3.58$3.58
-63.41%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.80BOB 9.66
$1.88$1.88
-57.45%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$6.55BOB 79.0
$29.84$29.84
-78.05%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.54BOB 6.49
$1.02$1.02
-47.06%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$12.8KBOB 153.9K
$28.8K$28.8K
-55.65%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$14.6KBOB 175.9K
$26.2K$26.2K
-44.38%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Bolivia
United States
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$28.64BOB 346
$218$218
-86.86%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$17.09BOB 206
$62.5$62.5
-72.64%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$20.71BOB 250
$74.5$74.5
-72.18%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Bolivia
United States
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$18.68BOB 225
$41.86$41.86
-55.38%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$9.96BOB 120
$22.81$22.81
-56.33%
Cinema Ticket
$4.15BOB 50.1
$14.70$14.70
-71.77%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Bolivia
United States
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$102BOB 1,228
$1,489$1,489
-93.17%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$2,614BOB 31.5K
$25.3K$25.3K
-89.65%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Bolivia
United States
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$24.54BOB 296
$54.3$54.3
-54.84%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$27.21BOB 328
$42.71$42.71
-36.29%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$49.69BOB 600
$94.1$94.1
-47.19%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$52.1BOB 629
$114$114
-54.12%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Bolivia
United States
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$235BOB 2,838
$1,659$1,659
-85.83%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$165BOB 1,990
$1,348$1,348
-87.76%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$450BOB 5,434
$2,682$2,682
-83.22%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$318BOB 3,835
$2,169$2,169
-85.35%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,117BOB 13.5K
$3,283$3,283
-65.96%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$613BOB 7,396
$2,482$2,482
-75.31%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Bolivia
United States
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$281BOB 3,393
$4,296$4,296
-93.46%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
7.81
6.55
19.24%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Bolivia: October 26, 2026
Last update for the United States: October 25, 2026
Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Share of the monthly basket for a family of three, rent included.
🏠Accommodation & Living
Bolivia
$165 31.7%
United States
$1.3K 49.3% ↑ 717%$1.2K
🛒Groceries & Markets
Bolivia
$108 20.9%
United States
$415 15.2% ↑ 283%$307
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
Bolivia
$69 13.3%
United States
$137 5% ↑ 98.4%$68
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
Bolivia
$66 12.8%
United States
$355 13% ↑ 434%$288
🍽Eating Out
Bolivia
$61 11.8%
United States
$328 12% ↑ 434%$267
🎉Sport & Entertainment
Bolivia
$27 5.2%
United States
$71 2.6% ↑ 164%$44
🚌Getting Around
Bolivia
$23 4.4%
United States
$80 2.9% ↑ 250%$57
🏠Accommodation & Living
Bolivia
$318 29%
United States
$2.2K 41.4% ↑ 583%$1.9K
🛒Groceries & Markets
Bolivia
$246 22.4%
United States
$953 18.2% ↑ 288%$707
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
Bolivia
$154 14%
United States
$305 5.8% ↑ 98.4%$151
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
Bolivia
$84 7.6%
United States
$417 8% ↑ 400%$334
🍽Eating Out
Bolivia
$185 16.9%
United States
$1.1K 20.3% ↑ 474%$877
🎉Sport & Entertainment
Bolivia
$64 5.8%
United States
$165 3.2% ↑ 159%$101
🚌Getting Around
Bolivia
$46 4.2%
United States
$164 3.1% ↑ 255%$118
Cost Breakdown
🏠Average rent: $310 in Bolivia vs $1,620 in the United States. For reference, capital cities sit at $257 in La Paz and $2,768 in Washington, DC.
💰Average salary: $288 in Bolivia vs $4,549 in the United States. The income gap affects purchasing power and how far your budget stretches in each country.
Cost Highlights
⭐Rent is 423% higher in the United States.
⭐Dining out costs 582% more in the United States.
⭐Public transport is 320% more expensive in the United States.
⭐Salaries are about 16 times higher in the United States, and purchasing power comes out stronger in the United States.
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
Bolivia vs United States: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Bolivia more expensive than the United States?
Bolivia is the cheaper option – living costs run roughly 81% lower on average.
Which country has higher housing costs?
Housing costs more in the United States: a central one-bedroom averages $1,620 versus $310 in Bolivia.
Which country is cheaper for everyday spending?
Groceries, public transport, and eating out all cost less in Bolivia – part of why living there is about 81% cheaper overall.
Should I move to Bolivia or to the United States?
Bolivia is the budget-friendly choice for expats. But cost isn’t everything: visa policies, language, healthcare quality, and job markets all weigh in too.