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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,295 per month in Cartagena vs $1,323 in Bogota, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,130 per month in Cartagena vs $2,177 in Bogota, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,966 per month in Cartagena vs $3,031 in Bogota, rent included.

Cartagena is about 2% cheaper than Bogota, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Cartagena and Bogota are more affordable than the global median – Cartagena 5% lower, Bogota 3% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.95 COP 15.5K

$8.11 COP 25.3K

-38.96%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$135 COP 422.2K

$41.15 COP 128.4K

228.77%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.19 COP 31.8K

$10.17 COP 31.7K

0.20%

Cappuccino

$3.61 COP 11.3K

$2.68 COP 8,351

34.70%

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

$1.88 COP 5,879

$1.38 COP 4,296

36.23%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.82 COP 5,670

$0.91 COP 2,833

100.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.06 COP 6,425

$1.88 COP 5,865

9.57%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.87 COP 15.2K

$3.95 COP 12.3K

23.29%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.97 COP 6,144

$1.67 COP 5,222

17.96%

White Bread (500g)

$2.99 COP 9,317

$2.49 COP 7,772

20.08%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.51 COP 4,703

$1.70 COP 5,289

-11.18%

Eggs

$5.21 COP 16.2K

$3.74 COP 11.7K

39.30%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.62 COP 42.5K

$8.33 COP 26.0K

63.51%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$17.97 COP 56.1K

$7.53 COP 23.5K

138.65%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.67 COP 33.3K

Apples (1kg)

$3.46 COP 10.8K

Banana (1kg)

$1.78 COP 5,546

Oranges (1kg)

$1.98 COP 6,185

Tomato (1kg)

$1.86 COP 5,800

Potato (1kg)

$1.46 COP 4,554

Onion (1kg)

$1.46 COP 4,557

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.35 COP 4,204

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.07 COP 6,464

$1.18 COP 3,674

75.42%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.58 COP 14.3K

Wine (Bottle)

$14.76 COP 46.1K

$13.02 COP 40.6K

13.36%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.40 COP 4,362

$1.50 COP 4,676

-6.67%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.89 COP 9,011

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.29 COP 4,018

$1.12 COP 3,506

15.18%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$59.4 COP 185.2K

$51.0 COP 159.3K

16.32%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.85 COP 15.1K

$2.47 COP 7,706

96.36%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.84 COP 12.0K

$2.49 COP 7,779

54.22%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$9.83 COP 30.7K

$9.93 COP 31.0K

-1.01%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.38 COP 4,300

$1.34 COP 4,170

2.99%

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

$23.9K COP 74.6M

$22.8K COP 71.2M

4.79%

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

$34.8K COP 108.7M

$37.0K COP 115.6M

-5.93%

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

$80.9 COP 252.4K

$127 COP 394.9K

-36.07%

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

$16.68 COP 52.1K

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$31.16 COP 97.2K

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$90.5 COP 282.5K

$35.33 COP 110.2K

156.27%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$15.51 COP 48.4K

Cinema Ticket

$8.48 COP 26.5K

$8.26 COP 25.8K

2.66%

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

$651 COP 2.0M

$481 COP 1.5M

35.40%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,929 COP 18.5M

$6,640 COP 20.7M

-10.72%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$81.0 COP 252.8K

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$50.3 COP 156.8K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$141 COP 439.6K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$115 COP 358.5K

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,087 COP 3.4M

$720 COP 2.2M

50.93%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$581 COP 1.8M

$432 COP 1.3M

34.37%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,355 COP 7.3M

$1,330 COP 4.2M

77.05%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$978 COP 3.1M

$993 COP 3.1M

-1.54%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,940 COP 9.2M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$968 COP 3.0M

$2,287 COP 7.1M

-57.66%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$480 COP 1.5M

$802 COP 2.5M

-40.08%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

12.81

17.10%

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

Last update for Cartagena: September 14, 2026

Last update for Bogota: September 15, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,087 in Cartagena versus $720 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 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 $135 in Cartagena versus $41.00 in Bogota. Groceries tell a different story – $268 in Cartagena vs $269 in Bogota – so Cartagena 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

Cartagena vs Bogota: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

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.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,942 per month in Cartagena and $1,985 in Bogota. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Cartagena, 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 $1,295 in Cartagena and $1,323 in Bogota. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 16% less in Cartagena. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Cartagena, where all-in costs run around $1,295, than in Bogota at $1,323. In Cartagena it covers expenses comfortably, while in Bogota it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Cartagena – 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 Cartagena. 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.