How Much Does It Cost to Live In Bogota?
Numerous calculations are made before choosing the ideal place for relocating, as it is very important to know in advance whether you can afford living there.
The answer to the question how much it costs to live in Bogota highly depends on who you are, what your habits are and whether you are a savvy person ready to cut some unnecessary expenses so as to put some money aside.
Living in Bogota would be more expensive than in some smaller cities in Colombia, but you will enjoy the advantages of the capital.
RESTAURANTS
To achieve the modest lifestyle which will allow you eating out once or twice a month with the whole family, you will have to earn above the average wage.
Inexpensive restaurants are available all over the city, but the quality of dishes cannot be compared to that in more luxurious ones.
| Average Restaurant Prices | |
|---|---|
| Meal (Inexpensive Restaurant) | $3.80 |
| Domestic Beer (0.5 Liter) | $0.95 |
| Water (0.33 Liter) | $0.64 |
MARKETS
Food is necessary for either of those citizens who like eating out and those who prepare it at home and it takes the most of monthly budget.
In general, domestic groceries are affordable and if bought in the large supermarkets, the savings on it will be even greater.
| Average Market Prices | |
|---|---|
| Milk (1 Liter) | $3.36 |
| Loaf Bread (500g) | $0.82 |
| Eggs (12) | $1.57 |
TRANSPORTATION
If you consider paying more for the rent so as to be closer to your work and save some money on commuting, it does not have to be the case.
Actually, transportation here is inexpensive and you can commute whole month for $35.
Gasoline is also reasonably priced.
| Average Transport Prices | |
|---|---|
| One Way Ticket | $0.75 |
| Monthly Pass | $34.99 |
| Gasoline | $2.91 |
UTILITIES (MONTHLY)
It is easy to figure out that people with the lower salaries in Bogota would consider utilities prices high, while those who have higher wages would take it as inexpensive.
All in all, they are expenses that have to paid monthly, and around 8% of the budget is given for this.
| Average Utilities Prices | |
|---|---|
| Basic (Water, Electricity, Garbage, Heating, Cooling) | $82.81 |
| 1 min. of Prepaid Mobile Tariff Local | $0.06 |
| Internet (Unlimited Data, Cable/ADSL) | $32.94 |
SPORTS & LEISURE
To give insights into some of the means of entertainment of Bogota, which is important part of young people’s lives, it is worth noting that the cinema ticket prices are more than affordable.
The similar situation is with fitness clubs and tennis court rents that are not too expensive as in some other cities.
| Average Leisure Prices | |
|---|---|
| Fitness Club, Monthly Fee for 1 Adult | $32.79 |
| Tennis Court Rent (1 Hour) | $8.93 |
| Cinema, 1 Seat, International Release | $3.80 |
CLOTHING & SHOES
Not surprisingly, clothing items are more expensive in the capital cities than in some smaller ones.
Bogota has equal apparel prices that can be found in European countries and people who like shopping for clothes would not be much satisfied with the designer clothes prices.
| Average Clothing Prices | |
|---|---|
| 1 Pair of Jeans (Levis 501 Or Comparable) | $55.37 |
| 1 Summer Dress in a Chain Store (Zara, etc...) | $35.60 |
| 1 Pair of Adidas Walking Shoes (Mid-Range) | $80.02 |
RENT PER MONTH
Being that Bogota is the capital city it is expected that the rents are higher.
In relation to the other places in Colombia, they do not differ a lot.
The prices are higher around $100 per month.
If you choose living out of the city center, your savings will be greater.
| Average Rent Prices | |
|---|---|
| Apartment (1 bedroom) in City Center | $390.47 |
| Apartment (1 bedroom) Outside of Center | $282.75 |
| Apartment (3 bedrooms) in City Center | $717.43 |
How Does the Average Person Spend Their Money in Bogota?
The actual spendings of people differ a lot from person to person.
If you like living closer to the city center, having meals at expensive restaurants and go to the movies frequently, your expenses will be much higher than of those people who do not visit he gym, drink a cappuccino from time to time in local cafes and cook at home.
Transportation is not too expensive, but is obligatory to be able to get to work, so pretty much of the budget goes for it.
Average Costs Breakdown
Bogota: Average Salary, Minimum Wage & Mortgages
Bogota does not boast high salaries, and the standard of living of its citizens is not so high, compared to other more developed cities, but for foreigners who settle there and earn their salaries at home, Bogota would be ideal destination.
If you will look for a job here, make sure to earn above the average salary to be able to cover all the expenses, as the rent will take the most of the budget.
Buying a house here is an option, for saving some money on the rent, but the mortgage interest rates are not affordable at all.
Bogotá Safety Overview
READ THE FULL REPORT: Bogotá Safety Review
| OVERALL RISK | MEDIUM |
|---|---|
| TRANSPORT & TAXIS RISK | HIGH |
| PICKPOCKETS RISK | HIGH |
| NATURAL DISASTERS RISK | LOW |
| MUGGING RISK | HIGH |
| TERRORISM RISK | MEDIUM |
| SCAMS RISK | HIGH |
| WOMEN TRAVELERS RISK | MEDIUM |
| TAP WATER RISK | LOW |
Cost of Living by City in Colombia
| City | Cost of Living Index |
|---|---|
 Barranquilla |
34.04 |
| Cali |
30.48 |
| Medellin |
33.82 |
It really depends on what and where you buy stuff because if you are a foreigner or tourist, they will charge you a bit more as per my experience.
Some utilities and essentials can be very expensive but if you have a job that pays well, then you’ll never have to worry about the cost of living overall.
What I love about Bogota is the food, or it depends on what food you love. I really enjoyed eating out than cooking when I lived there for a year.