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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,086 per month in Cartagena vs $951 in Bogota, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,604 per month in Cartagena vs $1,474 in Bogota, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,121 per month in Cartagena vs $1,998 in Bogota, rent included.

Cartagena costs about 14% more than Bogota, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Cartagena and Bogota are more affordable than the global median – Cartagena 18% lower, Bogota 29% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.93 COP 18.7K

$4.77 COP 15.0K

24.32%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$47.34 COP 149.1K

$31.58 COP 99.4K

49.91%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.95 COP 31.3K

$7.83 COP 24.7K

27.08%

Cappuccino

$1.57 COP 4,950

$1.88 COP 5,934

-16.49%

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

$0.82 COP 2,579

$0.97 COP 3,039

-15.46%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.68 COP 2,128

$0.63 COP 1,984

7.94%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.31 COP 4,111

$1.18 COP 3,715

11.02%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.89 COP 9,107

$2.22 COP 6,995

30.18%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.14 COP 3,590

$1.19 COP 3,741

-4.20%

White Bread (500g)

$1.83 COP 5,777

$1.48 COP 4,668

23.65%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.37 COP 4,324

$1.15 COP 3,607

19.13%

Eggs

$2.19 COP 6,910

$1.97 COP 6,187

11.17%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.81 COP 21.5K

$4.79 COP 15.1K

42.17%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.22 COP 19.6K

$5.24 COP 16.5K

18.70%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.77 COP 24.5K

$7.15 COP 22.5K

8.67%

Apples (1kg)

$3.26 COP 10.3K

$3.09 COP 9,715

5.50%

Banana (1kg)

$1.91 COP 6,014

$1.12 COP 3,535

70.54%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.45 COP 4,556

$1.37 COP 4,313

5.84%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.62 COP 5,101

$1.30 COP 4,080

24.62%

Potato (1kg)

$1.61 COP 5,074

$1.17 COP 3,680

37.61%

Onion (1kg)

$1.08 COP 3,400

$1.12 COP 3,534

-3.57%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.01 COP 3,177

$0.78 COP 2,455

29.49%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.59 COP 1,865

$0.78 COP 2,463

-24.36%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.35 COP 7,403

$2.78 COP 8,754

-15.47%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.80 COP 59.2K

$14.07 COP 44.3K

33.62%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.98 COP 3,083

$1.16 COP 3,663

-15.52%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.98 COP 3,081

$1.87 COP 5,903

-47.59%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.05 COP 3,311

$0.72 COP 2,252

45.83%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$28.98 COP 91.2K

$41.10 COP 129.4K

-29.49%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.46 COP 7,753

$1.48 COP 4,650

66.22%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.37 COP 7,461

$1.56 COP 4,912

51.92%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.86 COP 15.3K

$6.20 COP 19.5K

-21.61%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.02 COP 3,204

$0.99 COP 3,107

3.03%

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

$21.1K COP 66.5M

$15.9K COP 50.0M

33.01%

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

$24.0K COP 75.7M

$25.4K COP 80.0M

-5.31%

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

$143 COP 449.0K

$83.0 COP 261.3K

71.84%

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

$10.93 COP 34.4K

$11.09 COP 34.9K

-1.44%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$25.27 COP 79.6K

$26.46 COP 83.3K

-4.50%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$35.26 COP 111.0K

$23.66 COP 74.5K

49.03%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$8.60 COP 27.1K

$11.12 COP 35.0K

-22.66%

Cinema Ticket

$2.84 COP 8,948

$4.95 COP 15.6K

-42.63%

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

$144 COP 453.7K

$299 COP 942.4K

-51.85%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,062 COP 19.1M

$8,519 COP 26.8M

-28.85%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$47.97 COP 151.0K

$59.6 COP 187.8K

-19.57%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$38.50 COP 121.2K

$42.89 COP 135.0K

-10.24%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$125 COP 393.7K

$104 COP 327.4K

20.28%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$112 COP 351.2K

$83.9 COP 264.1K

33.00%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$720 COP 2.3M

$458 COP 1.4M

57.37%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$333 COP 1.0M

$323 COP 1.0M

3.17%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,292 COP 4.1M

$824 COP 2.6M

56.73%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$471 COP 1.5M

$638 COP 2.0M

-26.07%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,492 COP 11.0M

$2,717 COP 8.6M

28.52%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$935 COP 2.9M

$2,128 COP 6.7M

-56.07%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$467 COP 1.5M

$754 COP 2.4M

-38.01%

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: July 26, 2026

Last update for Bogota: July 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $720 in Cartagena versus $458 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 61% 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 $47.00 in Cartagena versus $32.00 in Bogota. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $223 vs $191 – 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 14%, 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 $1,629 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 $1,086 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 42% 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 $1,086. 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.