Where to live in Bogotá: areas and neighbourhoods to buy or rent

Bogotá is the country's largest city and its biggest property market. It sits at about 2,600 metres, is cool all year, and is organised into twenty districts (localidades). Choosing where to live here is, above all, choosing how much time you want to spend in traffic.

The areas at a glance

• Chapinero. Chapinero Alto, Quinta Camacho, Rosales, El Nogal and Chicó. Restaurants, offices and universities close by. Mostly apartments, from studios to high-value homes on the hillside.
• Usaquén. Santa Bárbara, Santa Ana, Cedritos and the old village of Usaquén. Residential and family-oriented, with parks, schools and shopping centres.
• Suba. Colina Campestre, Niza and San José de Bavaria. Gated complexes and houses, with more space for the money than the north-east.
• Teusaquillo and Salitre. La Soledad, Park Way and Galerías have traditional houses and buildings in the geographic centre. Ciudad Salitre is newer and planned, near the airport and El Dorado avenue.
• The centre and La Candelaria. The historic centre: universities, museums and government offices. Small apartments and colonial houses.
• West and south. Fontibón, Engativá, Kennedy and Bosa hold the most affordable supply and many social-interest housing projects.

The Sabana: living outside Bogotá

Many families look for a house with a garden in the neighbouring towns:

• North: Chía, Cajicá, Cota and Sopó. Complexes of houses, country-style schools and a slightly cooler climate.
• East: La Calera, in the mountains, with views and country houses.
• West: Mosquera, Funza and Madrid, with cheaper housing and industrial areas nearby.

The price you pay is the daily commute. Do the journey at rush hour before deciding.

What to weigh up

• The commute. Living near work or school is worth more than a few extra square metres. Check how close you are to TransMilenio and to cycle routes. The first metro line is under construction.
• Driving restrictions (pico y placa) limit the days you can use your car.
• The estrato. It changes your utility bills and shows in the price per square metre. We explain it in What is estrato.
• The building fee. In buildings with many shared amenities it can be a large part of the monthly cost.
• Cold and light. An apartment that gets sun is warmer and drier. Visit in daylight.
• Noise. Restaurant and bar districts are lively at night. Go back on a Friday.

Buy or rent?

If you have just arrived, renting for a year in the area you like is the best way to know whether you want to buy there. Rental rules are in How to rent a home in Colombia, and the buying process in How to buy property in Colombia.

Searching in Bogotá

See properties in Bogotá, for sale or for rent, or type what you want: "two-bedroom apartment in Chapinero". For the Sabana, try Chía.

Frequently asked questions

Which is the best area to live in Bogotá?

The one close to your daily life. For people working in the north, Usaquén and Chapinero; for frequent travellers, Salitre; for families who want a house, Suba or the Sabana.

Are there furnished apartments?

Yes, mostly in Chapinero and Usaquén. You can type "furnished" in the search.

Is Bogotá a department?

Bogotá is a Capital District: it isn't part of Cundinamarca, although its neighbouring towns are.