Cost of Living Comparison Between La Paz and Cali Cost of Living Comparison Between La Paz and Cali

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $497 in La Paz versus $1,090 in Cali.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $752 in La Paz versus $1,649 in Cali.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,008 in La Paz versus $2,208 in Cali.

Living in La Paz costs roughly 54% less than in Cali, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: La Paz 64% lower, Cali 21% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.15 BOB 25.91

$7.70 COP 24.3K

-72.08%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$9.06 BOB 109

$38.08 COP 120.1K

-76.21%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.10 BOB 49.47

$8.61 COP 27.2K

-52.38%

Cappuccino

$1.70 BOB 20.52

$1.62 COP 5,111

4.94%

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

$0.73 BOB 8.83

$1.26 COP 3,973

-42.06%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.43 BOB 5.25

$0.87 COP 2,755

-50.57%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.24 BOB 15.02

$3.25 COP 10.2K

-61.85%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.29 BOB 27.68

$3.85 COP 12.1K

-40.52%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.75 BOB 9.11

$1.57 COP 4,969

-52.23%

White Bread (500g)

$0.87 BOB 10.55

$1.99 COP 6,282

-56.28%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.74 BOB 8.89

$1.51 COP 4,765

-50.99%

Eggs

$1.20 BOB 14.53

$2.83 COP 8,921

-57.60%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$3.59 BOB 43.36

$6.43 COP 20.3K

-44.17%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.50 BOB 42.23

$7.06 COP 22.3K

-50.42%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.53 BOB 54.7

$10.39 COP 32.8K

-56.40%

Apples (1kg)

$1.62 BOB 19.62

$3.49 COP 11.0K

-53.58%

Banana (1kg)

$0.50 BOB 6.00

$1.41 COP 4,456

-64.54%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.45 BOB 5.50

$1.76 COP 5,542

-74.43%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.76 BOB 9.19

$1.75 COP 5,522

-56.57%

Potato (1kg)

$0.56 BOB 6.72

$1.45 COP 4,584

-61.38%

Onion (1kg)

$0.51 BOB 6.18

$1.57 COP 4,949

-67.52%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.51 BOB 6.13

$1.15 COP 3,640

-55.65%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.71 BOB 8.57

$1.04 COP 3,272

-31.73%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.91 BOB 23.03

$3.70 COP 11.7K

-48.38%

Wine (Bottle)

$3.01 BOB 36.34

$13.26 COP 41.8K

-77.30%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.32 BOB 15.92

$1.45 COP 4,569

-8.97%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.61 BOB 19.50

$2.53 COP 7,990

-36.36%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.17 BOB 2.05

$1.08 COP 3,422

-84.26%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$16.97 BOB 205

$29.95 COP 94.5K

-43.34%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.04 BOB 12.51

$0.84 COP 2,662

23.81%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.82 BOB 9.93

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.57 BOB 104

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.43 BOB 5.19

$1.30 COP 4,114

-66.92%

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

$9,365 BOB 113.1K

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

$11.9K BOB 144.3K

$35.7K COP 112.6M

-66.51%

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

$23.00 BOB 278

$114 COP 358.3K

-79.74%

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

$14.05 BOB 170

$13.49 COP 42.6K

4.15%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.44 BOB 223

$31.05 COP 98.0K

-40.61%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$16.07 BOB 194

$28.87 COP 91.1K

-44.34%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$9.42 BOB 114

Cinema Ticket

$3.99 BOB 48.19

$8.43 COP 26.6K

-52.67%

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

$124 BOB 1,503

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,305 BOB 15.8K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$15.89 BOB 192

$80.3 COP 253.3K

-80.21%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.07 BOB 303

$54.4 COP 171.6K

-53.89%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$40.44 BOB 489

$124 COP 391.8K

-67.43%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$35.64 BOB 431

$109 COP 343.7K

-67.28%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$253 BOB 3,061

$641 COP 2.0M

-60.48%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$171 BOB 2,060

$299 COP 944.9K

-43.04%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$382 BOB 4,613

$1,577 COP 5.0M

-75.79%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$294 BOB 3,549

$493 COP 1.6M

-40.39%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,205 BOB 14.6K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$510 BOB 6,156

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$251 BOB 3,026

$591 COP 1.9M

-57.62%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

8.15

11.58

-29.62%

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

Last update for La Paz: August 31, 2026

Last update for Cali: September 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $253 in La Paz and $641 in Cali. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Cali pays 136% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $9.00 in La Paz vs $38.00 in Cali for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $112 vs $244 per month, with La Paz cheaper across the board.

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

La Paz vs Cali: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

La Paz is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Sport & Entertainment. The 119% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, salaries run 136% lower in Cali. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $253 in La Paz versus $641 in Cali. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Dining out is cheaper in La Paz – a meal for two runs $9.00 versus $38.00 in Cali. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

A monthly transit pass in La Paz runs roughly 76% less than in Cali. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $497 in La Paz versus $1,090 in Cali, a $2,000 budget is realistic in La Paz but tight or insufficient in Cali. The gap between the two cities makes La Paz the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

For families, La Paz is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Cali, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.

Expats usually find La Paz gentler on the wallet – expenses run 119% less than in Cali. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.