Cost of Living Comparison Between Cartagena and Bogota Cost of Living Comparison Between Cartagena and Bogota

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,062 per month in Cartagena vs $951 in Bogota, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,608 per month in Cartagena vs $1,507 in Bogota, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,153 per month in Cartagena vs $2,063 in Bogota, rent included.

Cartagena costs about 12% more than Bogota, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Cartagena and Bogota are more affordable than the global median – Cartagena 21% lower, Bogota 29% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.17 COP 22.3K

$4.88 COP 17.6K

26.43%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$47.58 COP 171.8K

$31.93 COP 115.3K

49.01%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.85 COP 35.5K

$7.57 COP 27.3K

30.12%

Cappuccino

$1.65 COP 5,948

$1.88 COP 6,783

-12.23%

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

$0.81 COP 2,914

$0.96 COP 3,466

-15.62%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.67 COP 2,407

$0.62 COP 2,237

8.06%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.30 COP 4,682

$1.18 COP 4,272

10.17%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.95 COP 10.6K

$2.16 COP 7,810

36.57%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.14 COP 4,124

$1.23 COP 4,453

-7.32%

White Bread (500g)

$1.86 COP 6,715

$1.41 COP 5,091

31.91%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.33 COP 4,784

$1.19 COP 4,300

11.76%

Eggs

$2.11 COP 7,605

$2.05 COP 7,405

2.93%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.07 COP 25.5K

$4.71 COP 17.0K

50.11%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.91 COP 21.3K

$5.19 COP 18.7K

13.87%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.13 COP 29.4K

$7.53 COP 27.2K

7.97%

Apples (1kg)

$3.20 COP 11.6K

$3.01 COP 10.9K

6.31%

Banana (1kg)

$1.96 COP 7,059

$1.09 COP 3,950

79.82%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.50 COP 5,424

$1.36 COP 4,905

10.29%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.58 COP 5,689

$1.29 COP 4,647

22.48%

Potato (1kg)

$1.55 COP 5,588

$1.17 COP 4,236

32.48%

Onion (1kg)

$1.08 COP 3,892

$1.12 COP 4,029

-3.57%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.00 COP 3,619

$0.77 COP 2,782

29.87%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.59 COP 2,144

$0.80 COP 2,886

-26.25%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.36 COP 8,503

$2.77 COP 10.0K

-14.80%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.52 COP 66.8K

$12.16 COP 43.9K

52.30%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.93 COP 3,367

$1.11 COP 4,017

-16.22%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.03 COP 3,709

$1.88 COP 6,775

-45.21%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.05 COP 3,805

$0.76 COP 2,751

38.16%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$28.08 COP 101.4K

$41.13 COP 148.5K

-31.73%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.38 COP 8,602

$1.49 COP 5,371

59.73%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.37 COP 8,556

$1.53 COP 5,539

54.90%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.93 COP 17.8K

$5.89 COP 21.3K

-16.30%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.03 COP 3,709

$0.98 COP 3,554

5.10%

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

$20.9K COP 75.4M

$15.6K COP 56.2M

34.01%

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

$23.6K COP 85.3M

$25.5K COP 92.1M

-7.40%

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

$142 COP 514.1K

$81.3 COP 293.6K

75.12%

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

$10.96 COP 39.6K

$10.97 COP 39.6K

-0.09%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$25.17 COP 90.9K

$25.52 COP 92.1K

-1.37%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$35.27 COP 127.3K

$23.62 COP 85.3K

49.32%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$8.84 COP 31.9K

$11.01 COP 39.7K

-19.71%

Cinema Ticket

$2.94 COP 10.6K

$4.98 COP 18.0K

-40.96%

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

$142 COP 512.4K

$293 COP 1.1M

-51.63%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,910 COP 21.3M

$8,586 COP 31.0M

-31.17%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$48.13 COP 173.8K

$60.1 COP 217.0K

-19.92%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$39.46 COP 142.5K

$42.69 COP 154.1K

-7.57%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$123 COP 445.3K

$105 COP 378.6K

17.62%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$115 COP 413.6K

$85.1 COP 307.1K

34.68%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$741 COP 2.7M

$447 COP 1.6M

65.71%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$330 COP 1.2M

$327 COP 1.2M

1.11%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,308 COP 4.7M

$829 COP 3.0M

57.82%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$479 COP 1.7M

$646 COP 2.3M

-25.83%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,077 COP 11.1M

$2,235 COP 8.1M

37.69%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,977 COP 7.1M

$1,472 COP 5.3M

34.29%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$420 COP 1.5M

$542 COP 2.0M

-22.41%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

12.93

16.01%

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

Last update for Cartagena: April 25, 2026

Last update for Bogota: April 28, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $741 in Cartagena versus $447 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 29% higher in Bogota, 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 $48.00 in Cartagena versus $32.00 in Bogota. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $222 vs $188 – 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

Cartagena vs Bogota: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Cartagena is pricier by about 12%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,593 per month in Cartagena and $1,427 in Bogota. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,062 in Cartagena and $951 in Bogota. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 46% less in Bogota. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Bogota, where all-in costs run around $951, than in Cartagena at $1,062. In Bogota it covers expenses comfortably, while in Cartagena it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Bogota – 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 Bogota. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Cartagena makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.