Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Sao Luis and Bogota

For one person, living is cheaper in Sao Luis: $834 a month against $1,310 in Bogota, rent and utilities included – about $5,700 less a year. Rent and utilities account for about half of the difference.

Sao Luis
🇧🇷 Brazil
$834
/mo nomad
Bogota
🇨🇴 Colombia
$1,310
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Sao Luis and in Bogota

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Sao Luis and in Bogota actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $834 per month in Sao Luis vs $1,310 in Bogota, rent included.

  • Sao Luis $834
  • Bogota $1,310

A couple spends around $1,310 per month in Sao Luis vs $2,073 in Bogota, rent included.

  • Sao Luis $1,310
  • Bogota $2,073

A family of three spends $1,786 per month in Sao Luis vs $2,836 in Bogota, rent included.

  • Sao Luis $1,786
  • Bogota $2,836

Sao Luis is about 36% cheaper than Bogota, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both Sao Luis and Bogota are more affordable than the global median – Sao Luis 38% lower, Bogota 2% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Sao Luis
Bogota
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.60 R$32.93
$7.62 COP 24.3K
-13.39%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$39.74 R$198
$40.93 COP 130.4K
-2.91%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$6.82 R$34.03
$9.96 COP 31.7K
-31.53%
Cappuccino
$2.15 R$10.71
$2.46 COP 7,851
-12.60%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.27 R$6.33
$1.36 COP 4,348
-6.62%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.73 R$3.65
$0.82 COP 2,603
-10.98%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.96 R$9.77
$2.01 COP 6,405
-2.49%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.44 R$12.16
$3.85 COP 12.3K
-36.62%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Sao Luis
Bogota
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.11 R$5.52
$1.62 COP 5,160
-31.48%
White Bread (500g)
$1.93 R$9.64
$2.46 COP 7,828
-21.54%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.11 R$5.54
$1.65 COP 5,256
-32.73%
Eggs
$2.27 R$11.31
$3.45 COP 11.0K
-34.20%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.14 R$50.6
$7.69 COP 24.5K
31.86%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.28 R$21.36
$7.02 COP 22.4K
-39.03%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$7.64 R$38.12
$9.72 COP 31.0K
-21.40%
Apples (1kg)
$2.11 R$10.55
$3.47 COP 11.1K
-39.19%
Banana (1kg)
$1.39 R$6.95
$1.78 COP 5,673
-21.91%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.22 R$6.09
$1.96 COP 6,240
-37.76%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.73 R$8.64
$1.75 COP 5,579
-1.14%
Potato (1kg)
$1.33 R$6.64
$1.40 COP 4,460
-5.00%
Onion (1kg)
$1.34 R$6.67
$1.39 COP 4,433
-3.60%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.90 R$4.47
$1.31 COP 4,188
-31.30%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.73 R$3.62
$1.16 COP 3,685
-37.07%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.44 R$12.17
$4.15 COP 13.2K
-41.20%
Wine (Bottle)
$8.21 R$41.00
$12.24 COP 39.0K
-32.92%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.27 R$6.36
$1.42 COP 4,528
-10.56%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.32 R$11.60
$2.83 COP 9,022
-18.02%
🚌 Getting Around
Sao Luis
Bogota
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.85 R$4.27
$1.06 COP 3,391
-19.81%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$38.52 R$192
$48.65 COP 155.0K
-20.82%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.03 R$5.12
$2.28 COP 7,259
-54.82%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.94 R$4.70
$2.31 COP 7,377
-59.31%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
-
$9.26 COP 29.5K
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.21 R$6.05
$1.26 COP 4,000
-3.97%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.2K R$120.6K
$23.4K COP 74.5M
3.38%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$30.4K R$151.5K
$35.3K COP 112.5M
-14.01%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Sao Luis
Bogota
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$97.5 R$487
$121 COP 385.4K
-19.41%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$18.02 R$90.0
$15.63 COP 49.8K
15.29%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$21.42 R$107
$29.00 COP 92.4K
-26.14%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Sao Luis
Bogota
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$20.11 R$100
$32.55 COP 103.7K
-38.22%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$15.27 R$76.2
$15.14 COP 48.2K
0.86%
Cinema Ticket
$6.84 R$34.14
$7.55 COP 24.0K
-9.40%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Sao Luis
Bogota
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$183 R$915
$465 COP 1.5M
-60.55%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$2,911 R$14.5K
$8,119 COP 25.9M
-64.15%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Sao Luis
Bogota
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$64.7 R$323
$82.5 COP 262.8K
-21.53%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$54.6 R$273
$46.69 COP 148.8K
16.92%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$75.1 R$375
$142 COP 452.7K
-47.12%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$59.0 R$294
$104 COP 331.7K
-43.37%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Sao Luis
Bogota
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$363 R$1,812
$781 COP 2.5M
-53.54%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$187 R$935
$440 COP 1.4M
-57.42%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$580 R$2,893
$1,258 COP 4.0M
-53.92%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$330 R$1,648
$974 COP 3.1M
-66.10%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,575 R$7,864
$2,755 COP 8.8M
-42.81%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$721 R$3,598
$2,239 COP 7.1M
-67.81%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Sao Luis
Bogota
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$386 R$1,929
$795 COP 2.5M
-51.41%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
0
12.81
-

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

Last update for Sao Luis: October 3, 2026

Last update for Bogota: October 3, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Groceries & Markets
Sao Luis
$197
Bogota
$256 29.9% $59
Accommodation & Living
Sao Luis
$187
Bogota
$440 135% $253
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Sao Luis
$137
Bogota
$166 20.9% $29
Eating Out
Sao Luis
$122
Bogota
$147 20.8% $25
Clothing & Footwear
Sao Luis
$114
Bogota
$169 48.1% $55
Getting Around
Sao Luis
$48
Bogota
$67 40% $19
Sport & Entertainment
Sao Luis
$34
Bogota
$48 41% $14

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $363 in Sao Luis versus $781 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 106% 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 $40.00 in Sao Luis versus $41.00 in Bogota. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $197 vs $256 – making Sao Luis the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇧🇷 Sao Luis
🇨🇴 Bogota
🕒 Local time
11:12 11:12 AM
09:12 9:12 AM
2 h behind Sao Luis
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
1,037,775
8,181,047 Capital
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

COP, USD, EUR to BRL – Brazilian Real Converter

Brazilian Real exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 USD = 4.99 BRL (1 BRL = 0.2 USD). 1 EUR = 5.59 BRL (1 BRL = 0.179 EUR).

Colombian Peso exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 USD = 3,187 COP (10,000 COP = 3.14 USD). 1 EUR = 3,571 COP (10,000 COP = 2.8 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Sao Luis Bogota 3,400 km ≈ 4 h 45 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Sao Luis
  • Bogota

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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
Sao Luis vs Bogota: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Bogota cheaper than Sao Luis?
Yes – Bogota is pricier by about 57%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in groceries.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,251 per month in Sao Luis and $1,966 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 Sao Luis, 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 Sao Luis and in Bogota?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $834 in Sao Luis and $1,310 in Bogota. That's a gap of about 57%.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
Public transport costs about 26% less in Sao Luis. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Is $2,000 a realistic budget for living in Sao Luis or in Bogota?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Sao Luis, where all-in costs run around $834, than in Bogota at $1,310. In Sao Luis it covers expenses comfortably, while in Bogota it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Sao Luis or Bogota more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Sao Luis – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Sao Luis. 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.

Sao Luis vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities

Show times on the 12-hour clock, temperatures in °F and distances in miles?