Last Updated on February 14, 2025
In Bolivia, the cost of land varies widely. You can find urban land lots on the outskirts of cities for just a few thousand dollars, if you’re fortunate. You can also find average-sized lots in typical neighborhoods within major cities for tens of thousands of dollars. However, in the most exclusive zones, land is incredibly expensive and only affordable for wealthy Bolivians. Rural land also has a broad price range, but it’s not available for purchase by foreigners.
Urban land prices in Bolivia vary significantly depending on location. A 4,000 sq ft lot on the city outskirts costs approximately $10,000, the same size lot in an average neighborhood costs around $120,000, and in an exclusive zone, it could cost around $320,000. Rural land costs approximately $1,000/acre, but foreigners are prohibited from purchasing it.
In this article, we’ll discuss the costs associated with purchasing different types of land for sale in our country. We’re Bolivian real estate experts (you can visit our Bolivian real estate website). We have all the information you need to understand the costs of this type of property. With that said, let’s dive into the details.
The Two Types of Land in Bolivia
Depending on location, there are two types of land lots in Bolivia, which significantly impact both price *and availability*:
- Urban land lots (within cities and urban areas).
- Rural land (within rural areas of Bolivia).
| Type of Land | Avg. Size | Avg. Price | Price Range |
| Urban Land (Outskirts) | 4,000 sq ft | $10,000 | $4,000 to $30,000 |
| Common Urban Land | 4,000 sq ft | $120,000 | $50,000 to $200,000 |
| Exclusive/Commercial Urban Land | 4,000 sq ft | $320,000 | $200,000 to $500,000 |
| Rural Land (General) | 123.5 – 12,355 acres | $1,000 per acre | $20 – $5,000 per acre |
A) Urban Land
An urban land lot is a property without any structures located *within a designated urban area, town, or city in Bolivia*. These lots are situated within cities or urbanized zones. By law, urban land lots cannot exceed approximately 100,764 sq ft (10,000 m²) in size.
Regardless of whether you’re Bolivian or a foreigner, *there are no limitations or restrictions on purchasing* urban land *in Bolivia*. The required paperwork is essentially the same as for Bolivian citizens.
B) Rural Land
A rural land lot is a property without any structures located *outside designated urban areas in Bolivia, in rural regions*. These are large tracts of land situated outside of cities. By law, rural land must have a minimum size of 123.5 acres and a maximum size of 12,355 acres.
Unfortunately, under Bolivian law, *foreigners are prohibited from purchasing any type of* rural land. The only two ways to acquire rural land are:
- Through a Bolivian company that you own, in some capacity, but the land must be used for productive purposes; otherwise, the government can reclaim it.
- By becoming a Bolivian citizen. We’ll discuss this option in more detail in a later section.
The Cost of Urban Land in Bolivia
Here, we’ll focus *on the cost of urban land*, which is available for purchase by any foreigner. The price of urban land *varies significantly based on location*, as detailed below:
- Urban land on the outskirts of Bolivian cities.
- Urban land in average zones and neighborhoods.
- Urban land in the most commercial and exclusive zones.
1) Urban Land on the Outskirts of Urban Areas
Bolivia’s population is growing rapidly, and cities are expanding at a high rate. As a result, many rural lands on the outskirts of urban areas are being converted into urban land lots, and almost all of them are being offered for sale. *These newly designated urban lands, on the fringes of cities, are by far the least expensive to purchase.*
The Cost of This Type of Land
You can purchase 4,000 sq ft of urban land on the outskirts of Bolivian cities and urban areas for approximately $10,000, and in some cases, for as little as $4,000. The price for this type of land generally ranges *from $4,000 to $30,000*.
The price also depends heavily on the specific city and neighborhood. For example, on the outskirts of Santa Cruz, you might find a 4,000 sq ft lot for just $4,000. However, in high-priced developments like Urubo “2” (distinct from Urubo), also located on the city’s outskirts, a 4,000 sq ft parcel of land would cost no less than $20,000.
In most cases, however, if you purchase a land lot within a marginal neighborhood on the outskirts of a major Bolivian city, it will cost around $10,000.
2) Urban Land in Average Zones and Neighborhoods
If you purchase urban land within a typical neighborhood of a standard Bolivian city – not located on the city’s outskirts, but also not in the most residential or commercial areas – *the cost of this land will be moderate*.
The Cost of This Type of Land
You can purchase a typical 4,000 sq ft urban land lot located in an average neighborhood of a Bolivian city for around $120,000. However, this price has a wide range, typically falling between $50,000 and $200,000.
This range is heavily influenced by the land’s location; the closer it is to the city center, the higher the price. Additionally, *in cities with limited space*, such as La Paz, the average price for a typical 4,000 sq ft lot will often exceed $150,000.
In contrast, if the lot is located in an average neighborhood of a city with more ample space (e.g., Santa Cruz), it will generally cost between $50,000 and $150,000.
3) Urban Land in the Most Exclusive and Commercial Zones
If you’re looking to purchase land in Bolivia’s most residential/commercial areas and neighborhoods (e.g., Equipetrol in Santa Cruz, Calacoto in La Paz, or Cala Cala in Cochabamba), you’ll encounter significantly higher prices, regardless of the specific location within the neighborhood.
The Cost of This Type of Land
You can purchase a 4,000 sq ft urban land lot located in an exclusive or highly commercial neighborhood of a Bolivian city for approximately $320,000. This price typically ranges from $200,000 to $500,000 for a lot of this size.
Furthermore, these high prices are not limited to exclusive neighborhoods; they also apply to:
- All land lots located in the central areas of Bolivia’s major cities.
- All land lots located in highly commercial zones, where numerous markets of various types are present.
An advantage of some of these lots is their location in Bolivia’s most exclusive urban zones. In these areas, you’ll experience a lifestyle comparable to that of a developed country, and many foreigners choose to reside there. Most of Bolivia’s wealthiest individuals also live in these neighborhoods.
Rural Land and Its General Cost in Bolivia
The average price for one acre of rural land in Bolivia in recent years has been around $1,000/acre. However, this price varies significantly. In the least desirable rural areas with limited productivity potential, little development, and similar conditions, one acre of rural land can cost as little as $20/acre. Conversely, in the best rural areas with high productivity potential, one acre can cost up to $5,000/acre.
Depending on the rural location, one acre of rural land can range from $20 to $5,000, with an average sale price of $1,000/acre.
As previously mentioned, foreigners are restricted from purchasing rural land in Bolivia. We provide more details on this in the following section.
Foreigners Cannot Own Rural Land in Bolivia
Unfortunately, foreigners are prohibited by law from purchasing rural land in Bolivia. This regulation has been implemented for sovereignty purposes, according to the Bolivian government.
Relevant Regulations
The Agrarian Reform Law states in its Article 46 (II) (Translated: Link) *that* Bolivian owners of rural land are prohibited from selling or renting any type of rural property in Bolivia to foreign individuals or entities. However, this Article includes some flexibility, allowing for “shared-risk contracts” between Bolivian and foreign entities to conduct agricultural activities on rural land.
Additionally, keep in mind that foreigners from neighboring countries (e.g., a Chilean citizen on the Bolivia-Chile border) cannot own any type of property, *regardless of whether it’s urban or rural*, within Bolivia’s 31-mile-wide frontier zone (Article No. 262 of Bolivia’s State Constitution, Translated: Link).
However, regulations don’t address operating on rural land *through a Bolivian company (a Bolivian legal entity)*, which you could own through sole proprietorship, partnership, or shares. Nevertheless, you wouldn’t be able to use the land for purposes other than your company’s production activities.
We have a detailed guide on whether and how foreigners can own rural land in Bolivia, available here: Can foreigners buy rural land in Bolivia? All the facts and regulations.
If You Become a Bolivian Citizen, Then You Can Own Rural Land
There’s a way to circumvent the restriction on foreigners buying rural land in Bolivia: becoming a Bolivian citizen.
This is a somewhat complex process, and to achieve this status, you must first meet *one* of the following requirements:
- Having a Bolivian parent.
- Marrying a Bolivian citizen.
- Applying for Bolivian citizenship after residing permanently in Bolivia for three years.
By becoming a Bolivian citizen, *you’ll be permitted to purchase as much rural property as you desire* and use it in any way you choose. However, obtaining citizenship has numerous pros and cons that you need to consider. Additionally, the paperwork can be complex without proper legal assistance.
We have a comprehensive guide on obtaining Bolivian citizenship, including all the details, costs, steps, and risks, available here: link
Conclusions:
In this guide, you’ve gained a clearer understanding of the costs associated with purchasing urban or rural land in Bolivia.
You now know that newly designated urban land lots on the outskirts of cities, often resulting from urban expansion, cost around $10,000, though you can find them for as little as $5,000 or even $3,000 in some cases. There are also land lots in some marginal, yet high-priced, neighborhoods that can reach $20,000 or even $30,000.
You also understand that most land lots within major Bolivian cities will cost around $120,000, except in cities with limited space for growth, like La Paz, where land is more expensive. Additionally, 4,000 sq ft parcels of land in exclusive or commercial neighborhoods can cost up to $500,000, and these are the areas where most wealthy Bolivians and foreigners reside.
You’ve also learned that foreign individuals or entities are prohibited by law from purchasing rural land in Bolivia. The only ways to acquire rural land are by becoming a Bolivian citizen or by establishing a Bolivian company. Furthermore, one acre of rural land in Bolivia typically costs around $1,000, but the price can range from $20 to $5,000, depending on the location.
We hope this information has been helpful. If you’d like to learn all the details about whether it’s possible to buy rural land in Bolivia and the potential workarounds, please visit our dedicated guide: Can a foreigner buy land in Bolivia? All the details and regulations.
CasasenBolivia.com, information on living, working, investing, and traveling in Bolivia.
