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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,070 per month in Cartagena vs $948 in Bogota, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,619 per month in Cartagena vs $1,474 in Bogota, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,168 per month in Cartagena vs $2,000 in Bogota, rent included.

Cartagena costs about 13% more than Bogota, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Cartagena and Bogota are more affordable than the global median – Cartagena 20% lower, Bogota 29% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.89 COP 20.5K

$4.80 COP 16.7K

22.71%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$46.71 COP 163.0K

$31.72 COP 110.7K

47.26%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.43 COP 32.9K

$7.59 COP 26.5K

24.24%

Cappuccino

$1.62 COP 5,658

$1.85 COP 6,463

-12.43%

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

$0.82 COP 2,855

$0.99 COP 3,461

-17.17%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.66 COP 2,309

$0.62 COP 2,172

6.45%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.25 COP 4,347

$1.18 COP 4,122

5.93%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.88 COP 10.1K

$2.15 COP 7,500

33.95%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.15 COP 4,020

$1.17 COP 4,068

-1.71%

White Bread (500g)

$1.92 COP 6,695

$1.46 COP 5,090

31.51%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.38 COP 4,818

$1.17 COP 4,098

17.95%

Eggs

$2.10 COP 7,317

$2.05 COP 7,144

2.44%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.73 COP 23.5K

$4.77 COP 16.6K

41.09%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.13 COP 21.4K

$4.99 COP 17.4K

22.85%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.82 COP 27.3K

$7.46 COP 26.0K

4.83%

Apples (1kg)

$3.22 COP 11.2K

$3.12 COP 10.9K

3.21%

Banana (1kg)

$1.93 COP 6,729

$1.12 COP 3,911

72.32%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.44 COP 5,011

$1.31 COP 4,558

9.92%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.65 COP 5,757

$1.26 COP 4,397

30.95%

Potato (1kg)

$1.54 COP 5,378

$1.11 COP 3,865

38.74%

Onion (1kg)

$1.06 COP 3,716

$1.17 COP 4,095

-9.40%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.00 COP 3,489

$0.72 COP 2,497

38.89%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.64 COP 2,224

$0.83 COP 2,914

-22.89%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.28 COP 7,973

$2.79 COP 9,720

-18.28%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.45 COP 64.4K

$12.02 COP 41.9K

53.49%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.94 COP 3,272

$1.16 COP 4,051

-18.97%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.97 COP 3,392

$1.91 COP 6,676

-49.21%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.03 COP 3,583

$0.71 COP 2,465

45.07%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$28.09 COP 98.0K

$40.85 COP 142.6K

-31.24%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.46 COP 8,570

$1.48 COP 5,158

66.22%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.44 COP 8,521

$1.54 COP 5,362

58.44%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.73 COP 16.5K

$5.91 COP 20.6K

-19.97%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.02 COP 3,552

$0.98 COP 3,411

4.08%

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

$21.4K COP 74.8M

$15.5K COP 54.0M

38.45%

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

$23.6K COP 82.3M

$25.5K COP 89.1M

-7.58%

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

$139 COP 486.8K

$83.4 COP 290.9K

67.34%

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

$10.98 COP 38.3K

$10.87 COP 37.9K

1.01%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$25.01 COP 87.3K

$26.33 COP 91.9K

-5.01%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$34.52 COP 120.5K

$23.34 COP 81.5K

47.90%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$8.50 COP 29.7K

$10.89 COP 38.0K

-21.95%

Cinema Ticket

$2.85 COP 9,936

$4.87 COP 17.0K

-41.48%

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

$139 COP 485.5K

$301 COP 1.1M

-53.85%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,857 COP 20.4M

$8,329 COP 29.1M

-29.68%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$47.52 COP 165.9K

$60.3 COP 210.4K

-21.15%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$38.12 COP 133.0K

$42.43 COP 148.1K

-10.16%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$126 COP 440.8K

$105 COP 366.1K

20.40%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$114 COP 396.4K

$83.6 COP 291.9K

35.81%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$725 COP 2.5M

$448 COP 1.6M

61.90%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$334 COP 1.2M

$325 COP 1.1M

2.95%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,271 COP 4.4M

$817 COP 2.9M

55.51%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$466 COP 1.6M

$644 COP 2.2M

-27.70%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,075 COP 10.7M

$2,380 COP 8.3M

29.24%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$842 COP 2.9M

$1,913 COP 6.7M

-55.97%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$410 COP 1.4M

$663 COP 2.3M

-38.16%

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: June 8, 2026

Last update for Bogota: June 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $725 in Cartagena versus $448 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 62% 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 $187 – 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 13%, 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 $1,605 per month in Cartagena and $1,422 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 $1,070 in Cartagena and $948 in Bogota. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 45% 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 $948, than in Cartagena at $1,070. 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.