Cost of Living Comparison Between Cartago and Bogota Cost of Living Comparison Between Cartago and Bogota

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $836 per month in Cartago vs $966 in Bogota, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,266 per month in Cartago vs $1,496 in Bogota, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,696 per month in Cartago vs $2,025 in Bogota, rent included.

Cartago is about 13% cheaper than Bogota, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Cartago and Bogota are more affordable than the global median – Cartago 37% lower, Bogota 28% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.64 COP 11.8K

$4.97 COP 16.2K

-26.76%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$28.68 COP 93.2K

$31.94 COP 103.8K

-10.21%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.29 COP 23.7K

$7.81 COP 25.4K

-6.66%

Cappuccino

$1.59 COP 5,169

$1.81 COP 5,888

-12.15%

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

$0.87 COP 2,826

$1.00 COP 3,256

-13.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.57 COP 1,852

$0.68 COP 2,217

-16.18%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.00 COP 3,263

$1.17 COP 3,820

-14.53%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.51 COP 8,165

$2.24 COP 7,296

12.05%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.24 COP 4,018

$1.17 COP 3,811

5.98%

White Bread (500g)

$1.51 COP 4,915

$1.48 COP 4,804

2.03%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.27 COP 4,113

$1.19 COP 3,858

6.72%

Eggs

$2.52 COP 8,194

$2.00 COP 6,502

26.00%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.11 COP 13.4K

$4.64 COP 15.1K

-11.42%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.49 COP 17.8K

$5.11 COP 16.6K

7.44%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.76 COP 25.2K

$7.20 COP 23.4K

7.78%

Apples (1kg)

$2.43 COP 7,899

$3.09 COP 10.0K

-21.36%

Banana (1kg)

$0.91 COP 2,975

$1.09 COP 3,550

-16.51%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.19 COP 3,882

$1.36 COP 4,417

-12.50%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.27 COP 4,144

$1.28 COP 4,171

-0.78%

Potato (1kg)

$0.81 COP 2,627

$1.11 COP 3,615

-27.03%

Onion (1kg)

$1.06 COP 3,451

$1.14 COP 3,693

-7.02%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.70 COP 2,277

$0.73 COP 2,366

-4.11%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.69 COP 2,242

$0.83 COP 2,703

-16.87%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.85 COP 9,252

$2.89 COP 9,404

-1.38%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.59 COP 40.9K

$15.46 COP 50.3K

-18.56%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.12 COP 3,646

$1.11 COP 3,601

0.90%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.88 COP 6,125

$1.85 COP 6,031

1.62%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.68 COP 2,221

$0.76 COP 2,482

-10.53%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$29.88 COP 97.1K

$40.87 COP 132.9K

-26.89%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.54 COP 4,994

$1.46 COP 4,747

5.48%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.88 COP 6,123

$1.54 COP 5,008

22.08%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$9.65 COP 31.4K

$5.98 COP 19.4K

61.37%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.99 COP 3,219

$1.02 COP 3,312

-2.94%

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

$21.7K COP 70.6M

$15.8K COP 51.3M

37.61%

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

$30.4K COP 98.7M

$25.5K COP 83.0M

18.89%

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

$83.1 COP 270.2K

$83.6 COP 271.6K

-0.54%

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

$8.68 COP 28.2K

$11.26 COP 36.6K

-22.91%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.16 COP 78.6K

$26.20 COP 85.2K

-7.79%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$23.67 COP 76.9K

$23.99 COP 78.0K

-1.33%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$10.93 COP 35.5K

Cinema Ticket

$4.97 COP 16.1K

$4.90 COP 15.9K

1.43%

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

$225 COP 730.7K

$291 COP 945.2K

-22.70%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,871 COP 19.1M

$8,502 COP 27.6M

-30.94%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$63.2 COP 205.4K

$60.4 COP 196.3K

4.65%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.52 COP 144.7K

$42.70 COP 138.8K

4.26%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$75.6 COP 245.7K

$102 COP 333.2K

-26.25%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$91.1 COP 296.1K

$83.4 COP 271.1K

9.22%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$284 COP 922.7K

$449 COP 1.5M

-36.79%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$238 COP 774.4K

$331 COP 1.1M

-28.11%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$527 COP 1.7M

$829 COP 2.7M

-36.47%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$428 COP 1.4M

$643 COP 2.1M

-33.42%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,740 COP 5.7M

$2,725 COP 8.9M

-36.13%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,273 COP 4.1M

$2,051 COP 6.7M

-37.93%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$347 COP 1.1M

$725 COP 2.4M

-52.06%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.58

12.93

-10.44%

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

Last update for Cartago: July 14, 2026

Last update for Bogota: July 11, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $284 in Cartago versus $449 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 109% 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 $29.00 in Cartago versus $32.00 in Bogota. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $185 vs $193 – making Cartago 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

Cartago vs Bogota: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Bogota is pricier by about 16%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,254 per month in Cartago and $1,449 in Bogota. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Cartago, 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 $836 in Cartago and $966 in Bogota. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 37% less in Cartago. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Cartago, where all-in costs run around $836, than in Bogota at $966. In Cartago it covers expenses comfortably, while in Bogota it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

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

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Cartago. 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.