Cost of Living Comparison Between Tarija and Cochabamba Cost of Living Comparison Between Tarija and Cochabamba

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $747 in Tarija versus $764 in Cochabamba.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $985 in Tarija versus $1,184 in Cochabamba.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,224 in Tarija versus $1,605 in Cochabamba.

Living in Tarija costs roughly 2% less than in Cochabamba, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Tarija 44% lower, Cochabamba 43% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.59 BOB 38.25

$2.97 BOB 31.59

20.88%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$14.28 BOB 152

$17.57 BOB 187

-18.73%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.31 BOB 67.2

$7.12 BOB 75.9

-11.38%

Cappuccino

$2.48 BOB 26.39

$2.57 BOB 27.35

-3.50%

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

$1.48 BOB 15.78

$0.68 BOB 7.21

117.65%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.00 BOB 10.64

$0.62 BOB 6.60

61.29%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.56 BOB 16.57

$1.79 BOB 19.03

-12.85%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.24 BOB 23.90

$3.27 BOB 34.86

-31.50%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.77 BOB 8.22

$1.08 BOB 11.55

-28.70%

White Bread (500g)

$1.43 BOB 15.22

$1.46 BOB 15.54

-2.05%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.18 BOB 12.52

$1.52 BOB 16.14

-22.37%

Eggs

$2.58 BOB 27.50

$1.74 BOB 18.53

48.28%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.83 BOB 51.4

$4.80 BOB 51.1

0.63%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.20 BOB 55.4

$3.47 BOB 36.93

49.86%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.34 BOB 67.5

$7.28 BOB 77.5

-12.91%

Apples (1kg)

$1.49 BOB 15.90

$2.47 BOB 26.28

-39.68%

Banana (1kg)

$1.28 BOB 13.59

$1.03 BOB 10.97

24.27%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.11 BOB 11.86

$1.88 BOB 20.00

-40.96%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.23 BOB 23.71

$1.64 BOB 17.42

35.98%

Potato (1kg)

$1.49 BOB 15.88

$1.76 BOB 18.75

-15.34%

Onion (1kg)

$1.43 BOB 15.27

$0.96 BOB 10.17

48.96%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.35 BOB 3.76

$1.20 BOB 12.77

-70.83%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.33 BOB 14.20

$1.00 BOB 10.65

33.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.84 BOB 30.23

$2.57 BOB 27.39

10.51%

Wine (Bottle)

$3.70 BOB 39.44

$8.42 BOB 89.6

-56.06%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.90 BOB 20.21

$2.24 BOB 23.82

-15.18%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.89 BOB 20.10

$3.69 BOB 39.35

-48.78%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.28 BOB 2.95

$0.30 BOB 3.20

-6.67%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$31.22 BOB 333

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.07 BOB 11.37

$1.48 BOB 15.76

-27.70%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.19 BOB 12.66

$1.48 BOB 15.81

-19.59%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.85 BOB 51.6

$7.37 BOB 78.5

-34.19%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.51 BOB 5.44

$0.54 BOB 5.73

-5.56%

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

$19.6K BOB 209.1K

$22.5K BOB 239.7K

-12.78%

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

$21.6K BOB 229.6K

$18.3K BOB 194.8K

17.87%

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

$51.2 BOB 545

$46.48 BOB 495

10.11%

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

$27.84 BOB 297

$22.52 BOB 240

23.62%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$42.31 BOB 451

$47.80 BOB 509

-11.49%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$35.41 BOB 377

$46.80 BOB 498

-24.34%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$4.43 BOB 47.21

$16.45 BOB 175

-73.07%

Cinema Ticket

$7.38 BOB 78.6

$4.98 BOB 53.1

48.19%

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

$60.8 BOB 648

$250 BOB 2,667

-75.70%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,327 BOB 14.1K

$4,418 BOB 47.1K

-69.98%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$25.34 BOB 270

$41.07 BOB 437

-38.30%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$29.21 BOB 311

$47.91 BOB 510

-39.03%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$39.55 BOB 421

$71.2 BOB 758

-44.44%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$21.81 BOB 232

$94.7 BOB 1,009

-76.97%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$320 BOB 3,409

$306 BOB 3,256

4.70%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$226 BOB 2,406

$191 BOB 2,039

17.98%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$514 BOB 5,477

$494 BOB 5,265

4.01%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$116 BOB 1,231

$371 BOB 3,946

-68.81%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,211 BOB 12.9K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$899 BOB 9,570

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$562 BOB 5,987

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.5

7.5

-26.67%

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

Last update for Tarija: July 13, 2026

Last update for Cochabamba: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $320 in Tarija and $306 in Cochabamba. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $14.00 in Tarija vs $18.00 in Cochabamba for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $173 vs $186 per month, with Tarija 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

Tarija vs Cochabamba: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Tarija and Cochabamba differ by about 2% in total monthly costs ($747 vs $764 including rent). Tarija is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

You'd need roughly $1,121 in Tarija and $1,145 in Cochabamba to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.

Rent for a central apartment: $320 in Tarija versus $306 in Cochabamba. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 7% higher in Cochabamba. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $747 per month in Tarija versus $764 in Cochabamba – a 2% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Either city works on $1,200 a month, though Tarija gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Safety-wise, Tarija and Cochabamba are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Tarija gentler on the wallet – expenses run 2% less than in Cochabamba. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.