Most people who move to Bogotá think they only have two choices:

Bogotá (the capital chaos)
or Chía (the busy suburb with the big malls and constant movement).

But there’s a third option that almost nobody considers until they visit—and once they do, it changes the whole conversation.

Cajicá.

Just 20 minutes farther north than Chía, Cajicá is one of those places that feels like someone quietly designed a more livable version of life: cleaner air, calmer streets, mountain views, bike paths, gated communities that actually feel peaceful… and a cost of living that’s still noticeably more reasonable than Bogotá and often a little cheaper than Chía.

It’s the town people underestimate until they’re standing there thinking:

“Wait… why are we not talking about this more?”

So let’s do what we always do in this newsletter: no sugarcoating, no fantasy numbers, no “you can live like a king for $12/month” nonsense.

Let’s break down the real cost of living in Cajicá—housing, groceries, restaurants, healthcare, transportation, utilities, and what your monthly budget looks like depending on how you actually live.

Cajicá sits in the Sabana de Bogotá, the chain of towns and suburbs north of the capital—places like Chía, Sopó, Tocancipá, and Zipaquirá.

It’s close enough that Bogotá is still “right there” when you need it… but far enough that your daily life doesn’t feel like you’re trapped inside a city designed by traffic engineers who hate joy.

Some quick orientation:

The vibe difference is immediate.

If Chía is the busy suburb where everyone is always “going somewhere,” Cajicá is the suburb where you can finally breathe. Families love it. Remote workers love it. People who want access to Bogotá without Bogotá stress really love it.

This is the part people don’t put on spreadsheets, but it matters.

Cajicá has:

It’s also widely known as one of the safer, calmer towns in the Sabana. You see people walking dogs at night. Families out in parks. Kids playing outside. It doesn’t feel like “party suburb.” It feels like “livable suburb.”

And the weather is classic Sabana: crisp, cool, sweater weather most days. Cloudy. Light rain sometimes. No heat, no humidity, no AC lifestyle.

That last part matters more than people realize—because it keeps your day-to-day costs and stress level stable.

Housing is usually the make-or-break category. Cajicá is one of those places where you can choose your lane:

Cajicá has everything from “entry-level family home” to “high-end gated living.”

Examples from the transcript:

For a Bogotá suburb with security, views, and modern construction, those numbers are what make Americans and Canadians do the blinking thing.

Examples:

Apartments:

The key takeaway: Cajicá is still slightly cheaper than Chía—especially on rentals—while delivering a similar (or calmer) quality of life.

If you want modern housing without paying Bogotá north-side pricing, Cajicá is one of the best plays in the entire region.

Cajicá follows the same pricing pattern as the Bogotá metro area—so it’s not as cheap as smaller Colombian cities, but it’s still dramatically cheaper than North America or most of Europe.

Sample grocery prices from the transcript:

Protein (roughly “$3 per pound” range in the transcript):

And you’ve got all the usual chains up there:
D1, Ara, Olímpica, Éxito, Jumbo, Carulla, Makro (and others).

Matt-style rule of thumb:

If you cook at home, your food budget is one of the easiest parts of living in Cajicá.

This is one of the biggest surprises in Cajicá: the food scene is legit.

You can spend:

Examples from the transcript:

The takeaway: Cajicá lets you eat really well without Bogotá’s crowds, noise, or logistical friction. It’s one of those lifestyle perks that sneaks up on you—because you don’t realize how exhausting “big city dining” can be until you’re not doing it anymore.

Cajicá’s cool climate keeps utility bills stable. You’re not running AC. You’re not running heaters nonstop.

Approx monthly utilities from the transcript:

House

Apartment

Internet + phone:

This is one of the “quiet wins” of the Sabana lifestyle: your bills don’t randomly spike because you’re fighting heat or cold.

Getting around Cajicá is simple and affordable.

From the transcript:

Driving notes:

The bottom line: Cajicá gives you the benefits of Bogotá access without forcing you to live inside Bogotá’s daily friction.

This is one of the strongest arguments for living in Cajicá (and the Sabana in general).

If you have residency/visa status, you may be able to enroll in EPS, Colombia’s public system.

From the transcript:

Cajicá has clinics for everyday needs, but the bigger advantage is proximity:

So you get the clean-air suburb lifestyle and you’re still close to elite medical care.

Cajicá’s reputation is built on calm, family-friendly living:

Normal Colombia precautions still apply (don’t leave your phone on a table like you’re in a Scandinavian IKEA café), but in general, Cajicá is one of the places where people feel comfortable walking around without being in constant “city alert mode.”

Let’s put it all together, like Matt does—because “nice vibes” don’t pay your rent.

Assumes modest apartment, cooking often, some eating out:

Nicer place, eating out regularly, more Ubers/weekends:

Premium gated living, frequent dining out, comfort-first:

No matter the tier, the theme stays the same:

Cajicá offers one of the best combinations of peace, safety, cool weather, and quality of life anywhere near Bogotá—while still staying noticeably cheaper than living inside the capital.

Cajicá quietly wins people over—especially if you’re:

A lot of people move there thinking it’s temporary… and then the rhythm of the place works, and they stay.