Cost of Living Comparison Between Popayan and Bogota Cost of Living Comparison Between Popayan and Bogota

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $805 per month in Popayan vs $958 in Bogota, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,223 per month in Popayan vs $1,486 in Bogota, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,640 per month in Popayan vs $2,014 in Bogota, rent included.

Popayan is about 16% cheaper than Bogota, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Popayan and Bogota are more affordable than the global median – Popayan 40% lower, Bogota 28% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.98 COP 14.2K

$4.89 COP 17.4K

-18.61%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$24.01 COP 85.7K

$31.01 COP 110.7K

-22.57%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.18 COP 25.6K

$7.69 COP 27.5K

-6.63%

Cappuccino

$1.51 COP 5,406

$1.79 COP 6,398

-15.64%

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

$0.86 COP 3,073

$1.00 COP 3,566

-14.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.58 COP 2,069

$0.63 COP 2,239

-7.94%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.15 COP 4,101

$1.13 COP 4,032

1.77%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.12 COP 7,573

$2.13 COP 7,620

-0.47%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.05 COP 3,757

$1.22 COP 4,370

-13.93%

White Bread (500g)

$1.25 COP 4,447

$1.46 COP 5,215

-14.38%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.18 COP 4,199

$1.13 COP 4,023

4.42%

Eggs

$2.21 COP 7,887

$1.97 COP 7,025

12.18%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.54 COP 16.2K

$4.70 COP 16.8K

-3.40%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.18 COP 18.5K

$4.96 COP 17.7K

4.44%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.14 COP 25.5K

$7.16 COP 25.6K

-0.28%

Apples (1kg)

$2.43 COP 8,678

$3.11 COP 11.1K

-21.86%

Banana (1kg)

$1.07 COP 3,818

$1.08 COP 3,855

-0.93%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.36 COP 4,843

$1.35 COP 4,821

0.74%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.85 COP 3,022

$1.30 COP 4,655

-34.62%

Potato (1kg)

$1.11 COP 3,980

$1.16 COP 4,130

-4.31%

Onion (1kg)

$1.12 COP 4,009

$1.14 COP 4,054

-1.75%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.88 COP 3,149

$0.77 COP 2,760

14.29%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.64 COP 2,279

$0.84 COP 2,984

-23.81%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.31 COP 8,264

$2.79 COP 9,963

-17.20%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.38 COP 37.1K

$11.46 COP 40.9K

-9.42%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.13 COP 4,046

$1.14 COP 4,085

-0.88%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.80 COP 6,437

$1.94 COP 6,944

-7.22%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.69 COP 2,461

$0.70 COP 2,509

-1.43%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$29.66 COP 105.9K

$40.44 COP 144.4K

-26.66%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.46 COP 5,214

$1.48 COP 5,267

-1.35%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.71 COP 6,104

$1.51 COP 5,377

13.25%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.15 COP 21.9K

$6.07 COP 21.7K

1.32%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.99 COP 3,543

$1.02 COP 3,654

-2.94%

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

$17.9K COP 63.9M

$15.8K COP 56.3M

13.51%

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

$25.5K COP 91.2M

$25.5K COP 91.1M

0.11%

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

$83.5 COP 298.2K

$83.8 COP 299.2K

-0.35%

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

$8.86 COP 31.6K

$11.08 COP 39.6K

-20.04%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$22.84 COP 81.6K

$26.45 COP 94.5K

-13.65%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$23.53 COP 84.0K

$23.95 COP 85.5K

-1.75%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$10.84 COP 38.7K

Cinema Ticket

$3.93 COP 14.0K

$4.86 COP 17.3K

-19.14%

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

$241 COP 861.1K

$299 COP 1.1M

-19.28%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,042 COP 21.6M

$8,398 COP 30.0M

-28.06%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.4 COP 208.4K

$59.3 COP 211.8K

-1.64%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$32.94 COP 117.6K

$42.77 COP 152.8K

-22.98%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$82.9 COP 296.0K

$103 COP 366.8K

-19.30%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$72.8 COP 259.8K

$84.0 COP 299.8K

-13.33%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$284 COP 1.0M

$453 COP 1.6M

-37.37%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$242 COP 863.9K

$320 COP 1.1M

-24.33%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$525 COP 1.9M

$837 COP 3.0M

-37.24%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$423 COP 1.5M

$652 COP 2.3M

-35.08%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,434 COP 5.1M

$2,233 COP 8.0M

-35.77%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,260 COP 4.5M

$1,468 COP 5.2M

-14.13%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$648 COP 2.3M

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.18

12.93

1.93%

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

Last update for Popayan: June 1, 2026

Last update for Bogota: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $284 in Popayan 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.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $24.00 in Popayan versus $31.00 in Bogota. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $172 vs $185 – making Popayan 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

Popayan vs Bogota: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Bogota is pricier by about 19%, and the gap shows up most in Clothing & Footwear. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,207 per month in Popayan 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 Popayan, 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 $805 in Popayan 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 Popayan. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Popayan, where all-in costs run around $805, than in Bogota at $958. In Popayan it covers expenses comfortably, while in Bogota it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Popayan – 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 Popayan. 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.