Cost of Living Comparison Between El Alto and Tarija Cost of Living Comparison Between El Alto and Tarija

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $16.28 per month in El Alto vs $761 in Tarija, rent included.

A couple spends around $27.00 per month in El Alto vs $982 in Tarija, rent included.

A family of three spends $36.76 per month in El Alto vs $1,203 in Tarija, rent included.

El Alto is about 98% cheaper than Tarija, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both El Alto and Tarija are more affordable than the global median – El Alto 99% lower, Tarija 43% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.07 BOB 14.34

$3.66 BOB 25.30

-43.44%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$14.42 BOB 99.8

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.35 BOB 43.97

Cappuccino

$2.35 BOB 16.25

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

$1.43 BOB 9.92

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.05 BOB 7.25

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.65 BOB 11.39

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.23 BOB 15.40

Milk (1 liter)

$0.78 BOB 5.36

White Bread (500g)

$1.39 BOB 9.61

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.18 BOB 8.16

Eggs

$2.53 BOB 17.48

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.94 BOB 34.16

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.11 BOB 35.38

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.41 BOB 44.33

Apples (1kg)

$1.46 BOB 10.12

Banana (1kg)

$1.29 BOB 8.93

Oranges (1kg)

$1.12 BOB 7.73

Tomato (1kg)

$2.15 BOB 14.87

Potato (1kg)

$1.47 BOB 10.17

Onion (1kg)

$1.46 BOB 10.13

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.35 BOB 2.42

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.27 BOB 8.82

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.82 BOB 19.50

Wine (Bottle)

$3.59 BOB 24.83

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.84 BOB 12.72

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.96 BOB 13.60

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.30 BOB 2.08

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$30.84 BOB 213

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.06 BOB 7.34

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.14 BOB 7.88

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.71 BOB 32.57

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.51 BOB 3.53

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

$19.5K BOB 134.8K

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

$21.3K BOB 147.1K

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

$51.8 BOB 358

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

$27.23 BOB 188

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$42.33 BOB 293

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$35.26 BOB 244

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$4.27 BOB 29.53

Cinema Ticket

$7.18 BOB 49.70

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

$61.2 BOB 423

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,309 BOB 9,056

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$25.03 BOB 173

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$28.87 BOB 200

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$39.75 BOB 275

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$22.01 BOB 152

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$331 BOB 2,291

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$228 BOB 1,577

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$517 BOB 3,576

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$115 BOB 793

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$497 BOB 3,437

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$506 BOB 3,504

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$326 BOB 2,255

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.5

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

Last update for El Alto: April 27, 2026

Last update for Tarija: April 28, 2026

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

El Alto vs Tarija: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $16.28 in El Alto, $761 in Tarija – roughly 4576% apart. Tarija costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $24.42 per month in El Alto and $1,142 in Tarija. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

$1,200 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $16.28 in El Alto and $761 in Tarija, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

Families tend to lean toward El Alto – 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 El Alto. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Tarija makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.