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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $821 per month in Cartago vs $958 in Bogota, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,255 per month in Cartago vs $1,486 in Bogota, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,689 per month in Cartago vs $2,014 in Bogota, rent included.

Cartago is about 14% cheaper than Bogota, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Cartago and Bogota are more affordable than the global median – Cartago 39% lower, Bogota 28% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.71 COP 13.3K

$4.89 COP 17.4K

-24.13%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$28.89 COP 103.2K

$31.01 COP 110.7K

-6.84%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.33 COP 26.2K

$7.69 COP 27.5K

-4.68%

Cappuccino

$1.57 COP 5,610

$1.79 COP 6,398

-12.29%

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

$0.92 COP 3,289

$1.00 COP 3,566

-8.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.59 COP 2,112

$0.63 COP 2,239

-6.35%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.01 COP 3,622

$1.13 COP 4,032

-10.62%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.59 COP 9,265

$2.13 COP 7,620

21.60%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.23 COP 4,398

$1.22 COP 4,370

0.82%

White Bread (500g)

$1.53 COP 5,454

$1.46 COP 5,215

4.79%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.25 COP 4,452

$1.13 COP 4,023

10.62%

Eggs

$2.46 COP 8,767

$1.97 COP 7,025

24.87%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.35 COP 15.5K

$4.70 COP 16.8K

-7.45%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.48 COP 19.6K

$4.96 COP 17.7K

10.48%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.55 COP 26.9K

$7.16 COP 25.6K

5.45%

Apples (1kg)

$2.46 COP 8,802

$3.11 COP 11.1K

-20.90%

Banana (1kg)

$0.92 COP 3,300

$1.08 COP 3,855

-14.81%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.14 COP 4,073

$1.35 COP 4,821

-15.56%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.32 COP 4,714

$1.30 COP 4,655

1.54%

Potato (1kg)

$0.87 COP 3,102

$1.16 COP 4,130

-25.00%

Onion (1kg)

$1.11 COP 3,952

$1.14 COP 4,054

-2.63%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.71 COP 2,542

$0.77 COP 2,760

-7.79%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.70 COP 2,501

$0.84 COP 2,984

-16.67%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.81 COP 10.0K

$2.79 COP 9,963

0.72%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.32 COP 40.4K

$11.46 COP 40.9K

-1.22%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.06 COP 3,781

$1.14 COP 4,085

-7.02%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.95 COP 6,969

$1.94 COP 6,944

0.52%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.69 COP 2,463

$0.70 COP 2,509

-1.43%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$29.69 COP 106.0K

$40.44 COP 144.4K

-26.58%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.52 COP 5,442

$1.48 COP 5,267

2.70%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.89 COP 6,741

$1.51 COP 5,377

25.17%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$9.87 COP 35.2K

$6.07 COP 21.7K

62.60%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.94 COP 3,359

$1.02 COP 3,654

-7.84%

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

$21.8K COP 78.0M

$15.8K COP 56.3M

38.58%

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

$30.0K COP 107.1M

$25.5K COP 91.1M

17.56%

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

$80.6 COP 287.7K

$83.8 COP 299.2K

-3.84%

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

$8.70 COP 31.1K

$11.08 COP 39.6K

-21.48%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.15 COP 86.2K

$26.45 COP 94.5K

-8.70%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$23.66 COP 84.5K

$23.95 COP 85.5K

-1.21%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$10.84 COP 38.7K

Cinema Ticket

$4.91 COP 17.5K

$4.86 COP 17.3K

1.03%

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

$224 COP 799.3K

$299 COP 1.1M

-25.08%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,901 COP 21.1M

$8,398 COP 30.0M

-29.73%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$63.6 COP 227.1K

$59.3 COP 211.8K

7.20%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.20 COP 157.8K

$42.77 COP 152.8K

3.34%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$77.4 COP 276.2K

$103 COP 366.8K

-24.70%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$90.4 COP 322.8K

$84.0 COP 299.8K

7.68%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$281 COP 1.0M

$453 COP 1.6M

-37.96%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$238 COP 849.6K

$320 COP 1.1M

-25.59%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$527 COP 1.9M

$837 COP 3.0M

-37.06%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$424 COP 1.5M

$652 COP 2.3M

-35.02%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,428 COP 5.1M

$2,233 COP 8.0M

-36.03%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,172 COP 4.2M

$1,468 COP 5.2M

-20.19%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$308 COP 1.1M

$648 COP 2.3M

-52.45%

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: May 31, 2026

Last update for Bogota: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $281 in Cartago versus $453 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 110% 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 $31.00 in Bogota. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $182 vs $185 – 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 17%, 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 $1,231 per month in Cartago and $1,437 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 $821 in Cartago and $958 in Bogota. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 36% 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 $821, than in Bogota at $958. 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.