Which is cheaper, what exactly is cheaper, and how it feels on your money · Updated October 2026
Lima is easier to travel (3.0 vs 3.2). Biggest gap: safety — Bogotá 4 vs Lima 3. Closer to 1 is easier. Difficulty ranking ›
| Item | Bogotá | Lima | Cheaper |
|---|---|---|---|
| Local mealper person | COL$ 16,000$3.9 | S/ 20$5.41 | Bogotá −28% |
| Street food1 item | COL$ 7,000$1.71 | S/ 9$2.43 | Bogotá −30% |
| Restaurant dinnerper person | COL$ 55,000$13.4 | S/ 59$15.9 | Bogotá −16% |
| Coffeeone cup | COL$ 7,500$1.83 | S/ 12$3.24 | Bogotá −44% |
| Beerone bottle | COL$ 8,000$1.95 | S/ 10$2.7 | Bogotá −28% |
| Cocktail & wineone cup | COL$ 30,000$7.32 | S/ 26$7.03 | similar |
| Bottled water | COL$ 2,500$0.61 | S/ 2.2$0.59 | similar |
| Convenience store1 snack or drink | COL$ 3,500$0.85 | S/ 3.5$0.95 | Bogotá −10% |
| Taxi5 km in town | COL$ 14,000$3.41 | S/ 12$3.24 | Lima −5% |
| Tuk-tuk / moto taxishort hop | COL$ 8,500$2.07 | S/ 8$2.16 | similar |
| Transitone ride | COL$ 3,550$0.87 | S/ 3.2$0.86 | similar |
| Scooter rentalper day | COL$ 45,000$11 | S/ 50$13.5 | Bogotá −19% |
| Hotel night3-star | COL$ 220,000$53.7 | S/ 200$54.1 | similar |
| Studio rent (month) | COL$ 2,000,000$488 | S/ 1,750$473 | similar |
| Laundry | COL$ 7,000$1.71 | S/ 8$2.16 | Bogotá −21% |
| SIM card1 week data | COL$ 25,000$6.1 | S/ 30$8.11 | Bogotá −25% |
| Haircutcut | COL$ 22,000$5.37 | S/ 30$8.11 | Bogotá −34% |
| Massage1 hour | COL$ 80,000$19.5 | S/ 90$24.3 | Bogotá −20% |
| Half-day tourper person | COL$ 100,000$24.4 | S/ 100$27 | Bogotá −10% |
| Entry ticketTourist town | COL$ 30,000$7.32 | S/ 37$10 | Bogotá −27% |
Reference prices start as estimates from published price levels; items with 3+ traveler reports use the median of real reports. Hostels and local eateries cut both by 30%+.
Bogotá is 8% cheaper than Lima. Daily budget $93.7 vs $103; a month $1,685 vs $1,835.
Lima is easier: Lima 3.0/5 vs Bogotá 3.2/5 (average of rip-offs, language, transport, payments and safety).
With a short-term studio and living costs, Bogotá is about $1,685 and Lima about $1,835 per month.
They start as estimates informed by published price levels; any item with 3+ traveler reports switches to the median of real reports. Live reports are in the app.