Cost of living in Santa Cruz, Bolivia: the real numbers for 2026
Updated October 19, 2026. Amounts in bolivianos (Bs), converted to US dollars at the official rate of 11.69 Bs to US$1 (Central Bank of Bolivia, October 17 to 19, 2026).
A single person lives in Santa Cruz de la Sierra on about US$630 a month, rent included, based on public averages for October 2026. Montreal costs about 3.5 times as much, and Paris about 4.3 times as much. Here is the breakdown, item by item, with the source and date of every figure.
First things first: the boliviano changed in 2026
From 2011 to June 2026, the dollar was officially worth 6.96 bolivianos. Since June 26, 2026, Bolivia has applied a flexible exchange rate system: the Central Bank publishes an official rate every day, which was 11.69 Bs to US$1 from October 17 to 19, 2026. The parallel market was at the same level, around 11.8 Bs.
In practice: an article or video that converts prices at 6.96 Bs gives outdated dollar amounts. To compare, rely on prices in bolivianos and the current rate.
Housing
Rent is the biggest item in the budget. Numbeo's averages cover the whole city; the Equipetrol neighborhood, the most popular with foreigners, is more expensive.
| Average monthly rent | Bolivianosand US dollars |
|---|---|
| 1 bedroom, downtown | 3,140 Bs≈ US$269 |
| 1 bedroom, outside downtown | 2,882 Bs≈ US$247 |
| 3 bedrooms, downtown | 10,711 Bs≈ US$916 |
| 3 bedrooms, outside downtown | 9,834 Bs≈ US$841 |
Source: Numbeo, Santa Cruz, updated October 5, 2026. For a one-bedroom downtown, reported rents range from 2,000 to 8,185 Bs.
In Equipetrol: on October 19, 2026, we surveyed 19 studios of 29 to 53 m² listed on InfoCasas, almost all furnished. They ranged from US$275 to US$642 per month, with a median of US$450, sometimes excluding building fees. Listings are posted in bolivianos or dollars: always check the original currency.
Our example: Mathieu rents a fully furnished 56 m² apartment in Equipetrol for US$500 per month, in a building with an outdoor pool, a heated indoor pool, a hot tub, a gym, a coworking space, two movie theaters, a karaoke room and a churrasquería. He shows it in this video tour (in French).
Thinking of buying instead? See our Real estate in Santa Cruz page.
Groceries and eating out
| Item | Average priceOctober 2026 |
|---|---|
| Meal at an inexpensive restaurant | 24 Bs≈ US$2.07 |
| Meal for two, mid-range restaurant | 200 Bs≈ US$17.11 |
| Cappuccino | 20.50 Bs≈ US$1.75 |
| Milk, 1 liter | 8.81 Bs≈ US$0.75 |
| Fresh white bread, 454 g (1 lb) | 10.28 Bs≈ US$0.88 |
| Rice, 1 kg | ≈ 12.30 Bs≈ US$1.05 |
| Eggs, one dozen | 12.81 Bs≈ US$1.10 |
| Chicken breast, 1 kg | ≈ 31.20 Bs≈ US$2.67 |
| Beef, 1 kg | ≈ 59.20 Bs≈ US$5.06 |
| Bananas, 1 kg | ≈ 7.80 Bs≈ US$0.66 |
| Tomatoes, 1 kg | ≈ 8.90 Bs≈ US$0.76 |
| Water, 1.5 liters | 7.86 Bs≈ US$0.67 |
Source: Numbeo, Santa Cruz, October 5, 2026. Per-kilo prices converted by us from the per-pound prices shown by Numbeo. The data comes from 28 contributors over 12 months: treat it as an order of magnitude, and prices reported before the 2026 increases may be lower than current prices.
Getting around
- Bus: 3 Bs per ride (≈ US$0.26); monthly pass 270 Bs (Numbeo, Oct. 5, 2026).
- Taxi: about 20 Bs base fare (≈ US$1.71); most rides in town are booked through ride-hailing apps.
- Regular gasoline at the regulated price: 6.96 Bs per liter (≈ US$0.60), price frozen at least until January 12, 2027 (DS 5652 of July 9, 2026). But it is often in short supply: in early October 2026, the press again reported shortages and lines in Santa Cruz.
- Imported gasoline: since September 11, 2026, private stations in Santa Cruz have been selling imported gasoline at market price, around 18 to 18.40 Bs per liter (≈ US$1.54 to 1.57), or about 2.6 times the regulated price. This price follows the international market and may change.
- Premium gasoline: 11 Bs per liter (DS 5516).
- Diesel: 17.95 Bs per liter (≈ US$1.54) since September 19, 2026 (DS 5716), nearly double the previous 9.80 Bs; price confirmed on October 7, 2026 (DS 5741).
Electricity, internet, phone
- Electricity, water, air conditioning and garbage for an 85 m² home: 419 Bs per month on average (≈ US$36), with wide variations depending on air conditioning use (250 to 815 Bs, Numbeo). Since DS 5750 of October 13, 2026, electricity rates are adjusted monthly: this amount may change.
- Fiber internet: 229 Bs per month for 100 Mbps with Tigo (≈ US$19.60, price list checked October 19, 2026).
- Mobile plan with 10 GB or more: 229 Bs per month on average (Numbeo).
- Gym membership: 231 Bs per month on average (Numbeo).
Healthcare
Healthcare prices are rarely published in Santa Cruz: the large private clinics do not post their rates. One published example: at Centro Médico Paraíso (Kolping Foundation), a consultation costs 85 Bs with a general practitioner (≈ US$7) and 90 Bs with a specialist (page updated August 17, 2026).
Bolivian insurers offer plans for older adults, for example "Salud Total Adulto Mayor" from Nacional Seguros (enrollment from age 60 to 79), but with no published premium. The right choice depends on your age, your health and your current coverage: compare before you leave.
Monthly budget: Santa Cruz, Montreal, Paris
For a single person, with a one-bedroom apartment downtown:
Swipe the table to the left to see Montreal and Paris.
| Item | Santa CruzBolivia | MontrealCanada | ParisFrance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spending excluding rent | 4,224 Bs≈ US$361 | C$1,314≈ US$931 | €1,043≈ US$1,172 |
| Rent, 1 bedroom downtown | 3,140 Bs≈ US$269 | C$1,775≈ US$1,257 | €1,387≈ US$1,558 |
| Total per month | ≈ US$630 | ≈ US$2,188 | ≈ US$2,730 |
Source: Numbeo, updated October 5, 2026 (Santa Cruz), October 15, 2026 (Montreal) and October 16, 2026 (Paris). US dollar conversions at the rates shown by Numbeo; totals calculated by us. Spending excluding rent is a Numbeo estimate, not a personalized retirement budget.
Three ways to live in Santa Cruz
The averages above cover the whole city. Here is what they look like by neighborhood and lifestyle, for a single person, rent included.
Swipe the table to the left to see the sources.
| Lifestyle | Per monthrent included | Where the figure comes from |
|---|---|---|
| City average | ≈ US$630 | Numbeo, October 2026 |
| Furnished studio in Equipetrol | ≈ US$810 to 860 | Rent of US$450 to 500 (listings from October 19, 2026) plus Numbeo's average spending |
| Mathieu's lifestyle, high-end | US$1,200 to 1,500 | His actual spending: furnished 56 m² apartment with pools (US$500), weekly housekeeper and at-home massage, private gym, supplements, eating out 3 to 4 times a week, transportation |
Even this high-end lifestyle stays below the average for a single person in Montreal (≈ US$2,188) or Paris (≈ US$2,730).
These averages do not replace your own budget: neighborhood, air conditioning, a car, health insurance and travel change the total a lot. And Santa Cruz is not your only option: your Bolivian residency is valid throughout the country, from Cochabamba to Tarija (see Where to live in Bolivia).
Planning your budget for life in Bolivia? Let's talk about it during a free 30-minute call: we look at your plans, the right residency path and what life really costs in the city you are interested in.
Sources
- Numbeo, cost of living: Santa Cruz (Oct. 5, 2026), Montreal (Oct. 15, 2026), Paris (Oct. 16, 2026).
- Official dollar rate: Central Bank of Bolivia, as reported by Red Uno (Oct. 19, 2026); flexible exchange rate system: Ferrere (June 30, 2026).
- Shortages and imported gasoline: Eju (Oct. 3, 2026); Opinión (Sept. 11, 2026); Bolivia Verifica (Oct. 4, 2026).
- Fuel prices: DS 5652, Unitel; DS 5516, Red Uno (Jan. 14, 2026); DS 5716, Correo del Sur (Sept. 19, 2026); DS 5741, El País (Oct. 7, 2026).
- Rents in Equipetrol: InfoCasas, survey of Oct. 19, 2026.
- Internet: Tigo, plans, checked Oct. 19, 2026.
- Healthcare: Centro Médico Paraíso (Aug. 17, 2026); Nacional Seguros.
These figures are public averages, provided for guidance as of the date shown. They are neither financial advice nor a promise of cost.