Cost of Living Comparison Between San Juan de Pasto and Bogota Cost of Living Comparison Between San Juan de Pasto and Bogota

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $767 per month in San Juan de Pasto vs $951 in Bogota, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,088 per month in San Juan de Pasto vs $1,507 in Bogota, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,409 per month in San Juan de Pasto vs $2,063 in Bogota, rent included.

San Juan de Pasto is about 19% cheaper than Bogota, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both San Juan de Pasto and Bogota are more affordable than the global median – San Juan de Pasto 43% lower, Bogota 29% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
San Juan de Pasto
Bogota
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.85 COP 10.4K
$4.88 COP 17.8K
-41.60%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$12.07 COP 43.9K
$31.93 COP 116.1K
-62.20%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$6.45 COP 23.5K
$7.57 COP 27.5K
-14.80%
Cappuccino
$1.74 COP 6,313
$1.88 COP 6,833
-7.45%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.70 COP 2,540
$0.96 COP 3,492
-27.08%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.49 COP 1,781
$0.62 COP 2,253
-20.97%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.19 COP 4,319
$1.18 COP 4,304
0.85%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.48 COP 9,015
$2.16 COP 7,868
14.81%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
San Juan de Pasto
Bogota
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.05 COP 3,831
$1.23 COP 4,486
-14.63%
White Bread (500g)
$1.28 COP 4,647
$1.41 COP 5,129
-9.22%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.13 COP 4,128
$1.19 COP 4,332
-5.04%
Eggs
$1.91 COP 6,938
$2.05 COP 7,460
-6.83%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$5.86 COP 21.3K
$4.71 COP 17.1K
24.42%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.23 COP 15.4K
$5.19 COP 18.9K
-18.50%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$7.24 COP 26.3K
$7.53 COP 27.4K
-3.85%
Apples (1kg)
$1.60 COP 5,803
$3.01 COP 10.9K
-46.84%
Banana (1kg)
$1.07 COP 3,896
$1.09 COP 3,979
-1.83%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.34 COP 4,878
$1.36 COP 4,942
-1.47%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.90 COP 3,280
$1.29 COP 4,681
-30.23%
Potato (1kg)
$1.11 COP 4,033
$1.17 COP 4,268
-5.13%
Onion (1kg)
$1.14 COP 4,142
$1.12 COP 4,059
1.79%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.80 COP 2,911
$0.77 COP 2,802
3.90%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.69 COP 2,502
$0.80 COP 2,908
-13.75%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.34 COP 8,513
$2.77 COP 10.1K
-15.52%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.05 COP 51.1K
$12.16 COP 44.2K
15.54%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.09 COP 3,978
$1.11 COP 4,047
-1.80%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.72 COP 6,249
$1.88 COP 6,826
-8.51%
🚌 Getting Around
San Juan de Pasto
Bogota
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.58 COP 2,124
$0.76 COP 2,772
-23.68%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$29.52 COP 107.3K
$41.13 COP 149.6K
-28.23%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.48 COP 5,369
$1.49 COP 5,412
-0.67%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.44 COP 5,243
$1.53 COP 5,580
-5.88%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$6.18 COP 22.5K
$5.89 COP 21.4K
4.92%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.94 COP 3,431
$0.98 COP 3,580
-4.08%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.2K COP 66.2M
$15.6K COP 56.7M
16.83%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.9K COP 94.3M
$25.5K COP 92.8M
1.66%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
San Juan de Pasto
Bogota
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$61.5 COP 223.5K
$81.3 COP 295.8K
-24.42%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$7.08 COP 25.8K
$10.97 COP 39.9K
-35.46%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$22.99 COP 83.6K
$25.52 COP 92.8K
-9.91%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
San Juan de Pasto
Bogota
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$21.56 COP 78.4K
$23.62 COP 85.9K
-8.72%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$11.01 COP 40.0K
-
Cinema Ticket
$3.92 COP 14.3K
$4.98 COP 18.1K
-21.29%
🧸 Childcare & Education
San Juan de Pasto
Bogota
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$242 COP 880.4K
$293 COP 1.1M
-17.51%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$6,014 COP 21.9M
$8,586 COP 31.2M
-29.96%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
San Juan de Pasto
Bogota
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$59.9 COP 217.7K
$60.1 COP 218.6K
-0.38%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$33.28 COP 121.0K
$42.69 COP 155.3K
-22.04%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$83.1 COP 302.4K
$105 COP 381.4K
-20.71%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$53.2 COP 193.6K
$85.1 COP 309.4K
-37.43%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
San Juan de Pasto
Bogota
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$307 COP 1.1M
$447 COP 1.6M
-31.42%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$242 COP 878.7K
$327 COP 1.2M
-26.03%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$375 COP 1.4M
$829 COP 3.0M
-54.80%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$327 COP 1.2M
$646 COP 2.3M
-49.30%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,723 COP 6.3M
$2,235 COP 8.1M
-22.88%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,301 COP 4.7M
$1,472 COP 5.4M
-11.60%
💵 Salaries & Financials
San Juan de Pasto
Bogota
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$450 COP 1.6M
$542 COP 2.0M
-16.85%
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 San Juan de Pasto: April 28, 2026

Last update for Bogota: April 28, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $307 in San Juan de Pasto versus $447 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 20% 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 $12.00 in San Juan de Pasto versus $32.00 in Bogota. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $174 vs $188 – making San Juan de Pasto 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
San Juan de Pasto vs Bogota: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Bogota cheaper than San Juan de Pasto?
Yes – Bogota is pricier by about 24%, and the gap shows up most in Clothing & Footwear. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,151 per month in San Juan de Pasto and $1,427 in Bogota. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in San Juan de Pasto, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
What are total monthly expenses in San Juan de Pasto vs Bogota?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $767 in San Juan de Pasto and $951 in Bogota. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
Public transport costs about 39% less in San Juan de Pasto. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Is $800 enough for either San Juan de Pasto or Bogota?
$800 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $767 in San Juan de Pasto and $951 in Bogota, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.
Is San Juan de Pasto or Bogota more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward San Juan de Pasto – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, San Juan de Pasto or Bogota?
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.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with San Juan de Pasto. 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.

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