A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Bogota vs. Cochabamba for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Bogota or Cochabamba?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

If you're trying to decide where to visit between Bogota or Cochabamba, this travel comparison, which includes costs, can help. The overall cost of travel is usually a consideration when deciding where to go next, and the cost comparison down below can help you decide based on the average prices from other travelers along with your own travel budget.

Where Should I go: Bogota or Cochabamba?

Bogota

Sprawling across a high altitude in the Columbian Andes region, Bogota is the capital city of Columbia. It is a mix of the old and new with century-old plazas and churches shadowed by towering skyscrapers, museums representing the history, art, and culture of the region, as well as a mix of distinct neighborhoods from quaint and historic to trendy and contemporary.

Cochabamba

With a population of about 630,000, Cochabamba is the fourth largest city in Bolivia. It's located about 240 kilometers from the capital city of La Paz and is surrounded by mountains, but sits within a valley.

The city is known for its gardens and has many sights to offer the visitor. Cochabamba offers a calming retreat that is a refreshing break from the hustle and bustle of many South American cities. It's a great location to learn Spanish and there are plenty of activities and cultural events that you can enjoy in and around town.

Cochabamba's climate is semi-arid. There is an extended dry season between May and October and the wet season is from November to March. The days are warm and the nights are cool.

For some great organized tour ideas, see Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Colombia, The Best Adventure Tours to Colombia, The Best 10-Day Tours in Bolivia, and The Best 2-Week Tours in Bolivia.


Which place is cheaper, Cochabamba or Bogota?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.

The average daily cost (per person) in Bogota is $53, while the average daily cost in Cochabamba is $63. These costs include accommodation (assuming double occupancy, so the traveler is sharing the room), food, transportation, and entertainment. While every person is different, these costs are an average of past travelers in each destination. What follows is a categorical breakdown of travel costs for Bogota and Cochabamba in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Bogota $26
    Cochabamba $25
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Bogota $52
    Cochabamba $50
Compare Hotels in Bogota and Cochabamba

Looking for a hotel in Bogota or Cochabamba? Prices vary by location, date, season, and the level of luxury. See below for options and compare which is best for your budget and travel style.

Hotels in Bogota


Hotels in Cochabamba


Kayak helps you find the best prices for hotels, flights, and rental cars for destinations around the world. Compare prices for multiple destinations when planning your next trip.


Our Analysis
We've analyzed the average and typical hotel prices based on guest reviews, star ratings, and hotel amenities here: Bogota Hotel Prices and Cochabamba Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Bogota $8.77
    Cochabamba $16
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Bogota

Some typical examples of transportation costs in Bogota are as follows:


  • Taxi from Airport
    $7.56
  • Taxi Ride
    $0.39
  • 2 Bus Passes
    $0.89

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Bogota

Also for Bogota, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:

  • Private Arrival or Departure Transfer: El Dorado Airport (One Way): $13
  • Transfer from El Dorado Airport to Hotels in Bogota (one way): $15
  • Transfer in private SUV from Bogota City - Bogota Airport (BOG): $18
  • Private Transfer El Dorado Airport to Hotels in Bogotá: $20
  • Downtown to Bogota Airport (BOG) Departure Private Transfer: $24
  • Private Transfer from Bogotá-El Dorado (BOG) Airport to Bogotá City: $33
  • Roundtrip Transfer Private Bogota Airport (BOG)-Bogota City: $36
  • Salt Cathedral Zipaquira • Premium Private Transfer: $39
  • Andres Carne de Res Chia • Premium Private Transfer: $39
  • Roundtrip Transfer Private Minivan Bogota City Airport (BOG) - Bogota City: $40
  • Bogota Airport BOG to Downtown Hotels Round Trip Private Transfer: $48
  • Private Bogota Airport drop-off Transfer: $59

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Cochabamba

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Cochabamba:

  • MiniVan or Bus Transfer from Cochabamba Airport CBB to Cochabamba: $28
  • Airport - Hotels transfer Service 24/7: $28

Is it cheaper to fly into Bogota or Cochabamba?

Prices for flights to both Cochabamba and Bogota change regularly based on dates and travel demand. We suggest you find the best prices for your next trip on Kayak, because you can compare the cost of flights across multiple airlines for your prefered dates.





Food
  • Food Meals for one day
    Bogota $14
    Cochabamba $22
Typical Food Prices in Bogota

For Bogota, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:


  • Breakfast
    $1.57
  • Hot Dog
    $0.92

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Bogota

For Bogota, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:

  • Peruvian cooking workshop: $26
  • Bogotá Bites: Guided Street Food Tour with Tastings: $45
  • Viejo Bogota Food Tour with 13+ Tastings: $49
  • Food Tour in La Candelaria Bogotá: $55
  • Bogota Food Tour • Private Car • Fruits Cacao Lunch Coffee Beer: $59
  • Bogotá Food Tour - La Candelaria: $61
  • Private Colombian Cooking Class and Market Tour In Bogota: $90
  • Dinner and party at Andres Carne de Res DC: $100

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Bogota $13
    Cochabamba $25
Typical Entertainment Prices in Bogota

Below are a few sample prices from actual travelers for Bogota's activities, tours, and tickets:


  • Beer
    $1.31

Tours and Activities in Bogota

For Bogota, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:

  • Self-Guided Audio Tour - El Dorado Expedition, Part II: $6.99
  • Tour of the Colombian Armed Conflict: war, drug trafficking and peace: $13
  • Graffiti Tour: a fascinating walk through a street art City: $13
  • Shared Tour of the Historic Candelaria in Bogotá: $13
  • Graffiti Tour in La Candelaria Bogotá: $13
  • Walking Tour in La Candelaria Bogotá: $14
  • Full Day Tour to the Colonial Town of Villa de Leyva: $15
  • Walking tour La Candelaria bogotá: $15
  • Cycling tour in Simon Bolivar Park and Virgilio Barco Library: $17
  • Historical Tour Bogotá: $18
  • Alternative tour of Bogotá: gastronomic and cultural: $18
  • Bike Tour through Bogotá: $19

Tours and Activities in Cochabamba

Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Cochabamba are as follows:

  • Parque Nacional Torotoro Tour 2 Días y 1 Noche : $228
  • Tigre & Delta River Cruise - half day tour from Buenos Aires: $72
  • Tour to Valle Alto (Tarata): $38

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Bogota $14
    Cochabamba $15

Sample the Local Flavors in Bogota

Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Bogota:

  • Thursday Bar Crawl in Bogotá: $25
  • Friday Night Bar Crawl in Bogotá : $25


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Bogota and Cochabamba, we can see that Cochabamba is more expensive. And not only is Bogota much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Bogota would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Bogota and be able to afford a more luxurious travel style by staying in nicer hotels, eating at more expensive restaurants, taking tours, and experiencing more activities. The same level of travel in Cochabamba would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Cochabamba than you might in Bogota.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Bogota Expensive? and Is Cochabamba Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Bogota or Cochabamba?

Bogota has a larger population, and is about 8 times larger than the population of Cochabamba. When comparing the sizes of Bogota and Cochabamba, keep in mind that a larger population does not always imply the destination has more attractions or better activities. So, always research the type of place that you want to visit along with the activities and attractions that interest you.