How Much Do Clothes Cost in Bolivia? A Complete Guide

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Clothing expenses in Bolivia, all the details and numbers
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Last Updated on February 14, 2025

In Bolivia, you’ll find three main categories of clothing: unbranded, branded, and tourist apparel. All of these are significantly less expensive than in many other countries. Even tourist clothing, which is often marked up for tourists, is generally cheaper than comparable items elsewhere. Most Bolivians tend to purchase unbranded clothing and imitations, which can be found for just a few dollars per item.

The cost of clothing in Bolivia is lower than in many other countries, regardless of whether it’s branded or unbranded. A T-shirt typically costs around $7, jeans $10, and shoes $30. A complete outfit of branded clothing is approximately $120, while an unbranded outfit is around $50. Tourist clothing is considerably more expensive, with a complete outfit usually costing around $200.

We are Bolivians who have lived in this country our entire lives, and we can provide you with detailed information about the actual cost of clothing here, whether it’s for everyday wear, for tourists, branded, or unbranded. In the following sections, we’ll cover everything you need to know, including tips on how to save money when purchasing both regular and tourist clothing in Bolivia.

The Real Cost of Clothing in Bolivia

Most clothing typically purchased in Bolivia is *either unbranded or imitations*, primarily locally made. Many items also come from China and neighboring countries. These clothes generally offer good quality but lack brand recognition. In many cases, they are imitations of well-known global brands like Nike or Adidas.

These types of unbranded clothes can be found at prices of $7 for pants, $4 for a T-shirt, $5 for a shirt, $20 for shoes, etc. You likely won’t be disappointed with the quality or functionality of these items. Therefore, a complete outfit of good-quality unbranded clothing in Bolivia will cost around $50, including everything like shoes, socks, and so on.

Lower- to middle-class Bolivians typically purchase only this type of clothing, *while Bolivians with higher incomes often buy branded and original clothing* from specialized clothing stores (expats living here also tend to do this). Branded and original clothing is priced around $18 for pants, $10 for a T-shirt, $12 for a shirt, $45 for shoes, etc. A complete outfit of branded clothing costs around $120.

Type of CostAvg. Spending in Bolivia (1 person)
Apparel & Clothes (per month)$22
1 Outfit (normal clothes – unbranded)$50
1 Outfit (normal clothes – branded)$120
1 Outfit (tourist clothes)$200
T-Shirt$3.57
Jeans$7.14
Casual Shoes$14.29
Jacket$8.57
Dress$6.43
General cost of clothing and apparel in Bolivia.

In the case of tourist clothing, such as ponchos, “aguayos” (traditional woven cloths), “luchus” (Andean hats), “avarcas” (sandals), etc., these items tend to be very inexpensive *when purchased outside of tourist areas*. However, in tourist locations, native clothing is significantly overpriced, and a complete outfit of this type will cost around $200, whereas in other, non-tourist locations, the same combination would cost only about $70.

When purchasing clothing in Bolivia, it’s important to distinguish between unbranded, branded, and tourist clothing, with a complete outfit costing approximately $50, $120, and $200, respectively.

Price List for Clothing and Apparel in Bolivia

Below, you can find detailed prices for various types of clothing in Bolivia, categorized as unbranded, branded, or tourist apparel.

A) Everyday Clothing

First, let’s discuss everyday clothing. Both branded and unbranded options are relatively inexpensive in Bolivia compared to other countries. Unbranded clothing is primarily manufactured domestically and also imported from China. Branded clothing, despite being from well-known brands like Nike or Adidas, is also more affordable.

The prices listed below are only for good-quality branded and unbranded clothing found in large open-air markets in major Bolivian cities. Lower-quality or second-hand clothing sold in informal markets in poorer neighborhoods is not included below.

Type of ClothingAvg. Cost (Unbranded / Avg. Quality)Avg. Cost (Branded / High Quality)
T-Shirt$3.57$10.00
Shirt$5.00$11.43
Jeans$7.14$17.14
Casual Shoes$14.29$42.86
Running Shoes$17.14$50.00
Business Shoes$21.43$64.29
Sweater$10.00$21.43
Dress$6.43$25.71
Jacket$8.57$31.43
Casual Pants$5.71$17.14
Skirts$6.43$12.86
Socks$2.14$5.00
Belt$2.86$6.43
Complete Outfit$35.71$114.29
Suit$42.86$100.00
Wallet$2.86$11.43
Sunglasses$3.57$8.57
Umbrella$2.14$6.43
Backpack$8.57$25.71
Costs of common branded and unbranded clothing in Bolivia.

B) Tourist Clothing

Below are the prices for tourist clothing. Although the quality is generally consistent, if you purchase these items from tourist-oriented locations and stores, they will be significantly overpriced. However, if you buy them elsewhere, such as in regular clothing stores (as many people in Bolivia still wear this type of traditional clothing), the prices will be closer to those of everyday clothing.

Type of Tourist ClothingAvg. Cost (Tourist Locations and Stores)Avg. Cost (Elsewhere)
Poncho$45$20
Aguayo$50$10
Luchu$12$4
Avarcas$17$6
Pollera$70$22
Sombrero de Chola$50$10
Chuspa$35$12
Cost of ethnic and tourist clothing in Bolivia.

“Polleras,” “Aguayos,” and “Sombreros de Chola” are still widely worn by many residents in the western region of Bolivia (La Paz, Oruro, etc.), and at least 200,000 people wear them daily. Therefore, you can find them for sale almost everywhere beyond tourist locations. The remaining items on this list will be more difficult to find, but they will be readily available in tourist stores.

Different Income Levels and the Cost of Clothing in Bolivia

People with low incomes in Bolivia generally don’t purchase many clothes, and they almost always buy unbranded items found in open-air street markets or informal markets. They save a significant amount of money by *purchasing second-hand clothing whenever possible*. To save money, they can acquire a used outfit for only $20, but this carries the risk of unhealthy clothing, as it needs to be cleaned very thoroughly.

On the other hand, people with average incomes in Bolivia tend to buy only new clothes, *but most will be unbranded*. Occasionally, they purchase branded clothing, dresses, or suits for work or special events. The clothes they buy are of good quality because, as you may know, these types of clothes are often very good imitations of branded clothing, and in many cases, the same factories produce both.

Finally, high-income individuals and wealthy people in Bolivia typically purchase only branded clothing from Nike, Adidas, Totto, Gav Sport, etc., and other brands imported from the United States, Europe, and countries known for producing high-quality apparel. These individuals usually buy their clothes in boutiques, specialized clothing stores, malls, and sometimes in supermarkets. *They rarely shop in open-air or informal markets*.

Lower-Class BolivianMiddle-Class BolivianUpper-Class Bolivian
Avg. Apparel Expenses / Month$45$70$150
Avg. Apparel Expenses / Day$1.50$2.40$5
Clothing expenses by different income levels in Bolivia.

People with an average income in Bolivia can obtain a complete outfit for around $50, while high-income and wealthy individuals typically spend around $120 for a complete outfit. Expats and foreigners living in Bolivia also tend to purchase only branded clothing. Many malls and specialized stores are available near where expats and upper-class Bolivians reside.

Foreigners and the Cost of Clothing

In the case of tourists visiting Bolivia, if they wish to purchase branded clothing at malls and specialized stores, they’ll encounter prices similar to those for Bolivians.

However, if they want to buy unbranded clothing or imitations from open-air street markets or informal markets, *they need to be extremely cautious*, as it’s uncommon to see foreigners shopping there, and they can easily become targets for thieves and burglars. Furthermore, vendors in these locations will attempt to exploit their tourist status by charging them significantly more than locals. If you purchase items there as a tourist, you can expect to be overcharged by 20% to 100%.

Tourists coming to Bolivia typically don’t purchase everyday clothing; they’re more interested in buying cultural items like “aguayos” and “luchus.” These items are widely available in tourist locations, but they will be significantly overpriced, as mentioned earlier. Nevertheless, we don’t recommend purchasing these items elsewhere. You should only buy clothing from informal markets and open-air markets *with the assistance of a tourist guide or if you are very familiar with the local environment*.

Type of Apparel ExpenseAverage Cost (1 tourist)
Tourist Avg. Daily Expense$8
Tourist Avg. Monthly Expense$250
1 Outfit (normal clothes – unbranded) *$70
1 Outfit (normal clothes – branded) *$150
1 Outfit (tourist clothes)$200
Clothing expenses for a tourist visiting Bolivia.

*Clothing sellers often tend to overcharge foreigners for their products.

After spending some time in Bolivia, you’ll be able to acquire not only high-quality unbranded clothing at affordable prices, meeting all necessary standards and safety requirements, but also the right branded clothing. However, if you’re a tourist visiting for a few days, *it’s best to purchase only from tourist locations and clothing stores* or with the assistance of someone who knows how to obtain good apparel without being overcharged.

Comparing the Cost of Clothing in Bolivia to Other Countries

Clothing in our country is undoubtedly inexpensive, but it also has a wide price range, from second-hand clothes costing just pennies to branded clothing from well-known global brands that can cost hundreds of dollars. In general, however, you can obtain significantly more affordable clothing in Bolivia than in developed countries. The highest-quality branded clothing is *only 30% to 80%* of the cost you’d find in the developed world.

Furthermore, unbranded clothing or clothing imitations that maintain high manufacturing standards will cost only around 25% in Bolivia of what similar-quality clothing would cost in a developed country. A different story is when comparing these prices to India, where clothing is much cheaper than in Bolivia, *as much as half the price*.

As you can see in the table below, an average Bolivian spends around $22 per month on apparel, while an upper-middle-class or high-income Bolivian (whose standard of living is very close to that of a developed-country expat residing here) will spend around $50 per month. This is 1/3 of the average apparel expenses in the United States and 1/2 of what is spent in Canada, but almost the same as in the UK.

BoliviaUpper-Class BolivianUSACanadaUKIndia
Avg. Apparel Expenses / Month$22$50$156$97$48$8
Avg. Apparel Expenses / Day$0.70$1.67$5.20$3.23$1.60$0.27
Comparing clothing expenses in Bolivia to other countries.

Conclusions:

In this guide on clothing costs in Bolivia, you’ve learned that the majority of clothing commonly sold here is either unbranded or imitations of well-known global brands, and most Bolivians purchase these items because they want to maximize their savings.

You’ve also seen that high-income individuals, wealthy people, or expats living here tend to purchase primarily branded clothing, which can be found in specialized clothing stores and large malls or even supermarkets. You’ve realized that a branded outfit costs as much as 2x or 3x more than a similar unbranded outfit, with an unbranded outfit costing approximately $70 and a comparable branded one costing around $150.

Finally, you now know that tourist clothing here is significantly overpriced when purchased by tourists, as outside of tourist locations, it can be found for even less than regular clothing. However, in tourist locations, a tourist outfit will cost you around $200. We don’t recommend purchasing tourist clothing outside of these tourist locations unless you are very familiar with the local environment, to avoid being deceived by unethical sellers or targeted by thieves and robbers.

We hope this information has been helpful. If you’d like to learn more about the overall cost of living in Bolivia, including clothing, food, transportation, and other expenses, please visit our dedicated guide here: The cost of living in Bolivia: All you need to know.

CasasenBolivia.com, information on living, working, investing, and traveling in Bolivia.

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