Cost of Living Comparison Between Cali and Bogota Cost of Living Comparison Between Cali and Bogota

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,090 per month in Cali vs $1,312 in Bogota, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,649 per month in Cali vs $2,108 in Bogota, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,208 per month in Cali vs $2,904 in Bogota, rent included.

Cali is about 17% cheaper than Bogota, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Cali and Bogota are more affordable than the global median – Cali 21% lower, Bogota 5% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.70 COP 24.3K

$7.95 COP 25.1K

-3.14%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$38.08 COP 120.1K

$41.12 COP 129.7K

-7.39%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.61 COP 27.2K

$10.25 COP 32.3K

-16.00%

Cappuccino

$1.62 COP 5,111

$2.62 COP 8,278

-38.17%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.26 COP 3,973

$1.33 COP 4,200

-5.26%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.87 COP 2,755

$0.83 COP 2,633

4.82%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.25 COP 10.2K

$1.88 COP 5,924

72.87%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.85 COP 12.1K

$3.72 COP 11.7K

3.49%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.57 COP 4,969

$1.66 COP 5,237

-5.42%

White Bread (500g)

$1.99 COP 6,282

$2.49 COP 7,850

-20.08%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.51 COP 4,765

$1.63 COP 5,134

-7.36%

Eggs

$2.83 COP 8,921

$3.62 COP 11.4K

-21.82%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.43 COP 20.3K

$7.10 COP 22.4K

-9.44%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.06 COP 22.3K

$7.41 COP 23.4K

-4.72%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.39 COP 32.8K

$10.69 COP 33.7K

-2.81%

Apples (1kg)

$3.49 COP 11.0K

Banana (1kg)

$1.41 COP 4,456

$1.80 COP 5,694

-21.67%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.76 COP 5,542

$1.93 COP 6,092

-8.81%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.75 COP 5,522

$1.81 COP 5,718

-3.31%

Potato (1kg)

$1.45 COP 4,584

$1.44 COP 4,536

0.69%

Onion (1kg)

$1.57 COP 4,949

$1.39 COP 4,380

12.95%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.15 COP 3,640

$1.32 COP 4,172

-12.88%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.04 COP 3,272

$1.09 COP 3,437

-4.59%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.70 COP 11.7K

$4.31 COP 13.6K

-14.15%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.26 COP 41.8K

$12.47 COP 39.4K

6.34%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.45 COP 4,569

$1.42 COP 4,473

2.11%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.53 COP 7,990

$2.97 COP 9,381

-14.81%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.08 COP 3,422

$1.14 COP 3,607

-5.26%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$29.95 COP 94.5K

$51.3 COP 161.8K

-41.60%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.84 COP 2,662

$2.41 COP 7,600

-65.15%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.45 COP 7,737

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$9.37 COP 29.6K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.30 COP 4,114

$1.35 COP 4,260

-3.70%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$22.6K COP 71.4M

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$35.7K COP 112.6M

$36.1K COP 113.9M

-1.16%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$114 COP 358.3K

$124 COP 391.5K

-8.49%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$13.49 COP 42.6K

$16.18 COP 51.1K

-16.63%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$31.05 COP 98.0K

$31.23 COP 98.6K

-0.58%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$28.87 COP 91.1K

$35.21 COP 111.1K

-18.01%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$15.32 COP 48.3K

Cinema Ticket

$8.43 COP 26.6K

$7.84 COP 24.7K

7.53%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$478 COP 1.5M

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,417 COP 20.2M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$80.3 COP 253.3K

$80.7 COP 254.5K

-0.47%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$54.4 COP 171.6K

$49.43 COP 156.0K

9.99%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$124 COP 391.8K

$141 COP 445.7K

-12.09%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$109 COP 343.7K

$114 COP 360.9K

-4.77%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$641 COP 2.0M

$710 COP 2.2M

-9.64%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$299 COP 944.9K

$446 COP 1.4M

-32.92%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,577 COP 5.0M

$1,299 COP 4.1M

21.37%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$493 COP 1.6M

$997 COP 3.1M

-50.58%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,928 COP 9.2M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,202 COP 6.9M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$591 COP 1.9M

$788 COP 2.5M

-25.00%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.58

12.81

-9.60%

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

Last update for Cali: September 1, 2026

Last update for Bogota: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $641 in Cali versus $710 in Bogota. 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 33% 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 $38.00 in Cali versus $41.00 in Bogota. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $244 vs $261 – making Cali 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

Cali vs Bogota: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Bogota is pricier by about 20%, and the gap shows up most in Getting Around. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,636 per month in Cali and $1,968 in Bogota. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Cali, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Public transport costs about 71% less in Cali. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Groceries cost about 7% more in Bogota, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Cali, where all-in costs run around $1,090, than in Bogota at $1,312. In Cali it covers expenses comfortably, while in Bogota it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Cali – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

If budget matters most, go with Cali. 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.