🇨🇴 Colombia · A realistic 2026 budget for newcomers — rent, food, transport, and what a month actually costs.
Wondering how far your salary goes in Bogotá? Here’s what everyday life costs, in local prices — the numbers that matter when you’re deciding to move or negotiating a package.
Unfurnished 1-bed on a local 12-month lease, estrato 3–4COP 1.6–2.8M / month (US$400–700)
Utilities + fibre, one person (estrato 4)COP 300,000–500,000 / month (US$75–125)
Menú del día (set lunch)COP 15,000–25,000 (US$4–6)
TransMilenio / SITP single fareCOP 3,550 (US$0.85), flat across troncal and zonal
Good to know
Population
≈8 million in the Distrito Capital; ≈11 million across the Bogotá region
Altitude
2,640 m — high enough that altitude sickness is a normal first-week experience
Language
Spanish, in a formal highland accent that uses 'usted' far more than the coast or Medellín
Currency
Colombian peso (COP)
Time zone
COT (GMT−5), no daylight saving — so the offset to New York changes twice a year, not Bogotá's clock
Power plug
Types A and B, 110 V / 60 Hz — identical to the United States
Climate
Cool and cloudy year-round: about 19°C by day, 7–9°C at night, wetter in April–May and October–November. No heating in most buildings
Addresses
Calles run east–west, Carreras north–south; the mountains are always east
Some of this may be out of date. Spotted something inaccurate? Help us keep it right for the next newcomer.
A note on budgeting
Rent is usually the swing factor — location and whether bills are included move the number most. Build your estimate from the rent band above, add a monthly living figure, and keep a buffer for one-off setup costs (deposits, a residence permit, a local SIM, first-month transport). Globe Quest turns this into a personalized Bogotá checklist so nothing setup-related catches you off guard.
Plan your move to Bogotá
A free, AI-personalized plan — the language, culture, and setup steps timed to your move date.