Last Updated on February 14, 2025
In Bolivia, you’ll find a wide range of rental prices, catering to different income levels. For instance, a lower-income Bolivian can find a one-bedroom apartment for just $120 per month, but it will likely lack many of the features and amenities found in a developed country. If you desire a similar level of comfort as you’d expect in a developed country, you’ll need to consider the best real estate units available in Bolivia.
Renting top-quality real estate units in Bolivia is significantly more affordable than in developed countries. For $350 per month, you can secure a high-quality one-bedroom apartment, and for $600 per month, a high-quality three-bedroom apartment. Airbnb rentals are typically 30% to 50% more expensive than traditional rentals in Bolivia.
We are Bolivian real estate experts (website) who have lived in Bolivia our entire lives. We can provide you with comprehensive details about the actual costs of renting real estate in Bolivia, including both Airbnb and traditional rentals. We’ll also offer tips on how to save money when renting here.
The Real Cost of Renting in Bolivia
When coming to Bolivia, whether to live or visit for a short period (days or weeks), you’ll find two primary options for renting a house:
- Using Airbnb.
- Renting through traditional methods.
The first option is primarily for tourists, *but it’s also very suitable for individuals relocating to the country*. The second option is almost exclusively for expats planning to live here long-term, for several months or even years.
However, the most important thing to understand is that regardless of whether you rent through Airbnb or through traditional methods, you’ll encounter nearly identical pricing for both options. Unlike in developed countries, where Airbnb can be significantly more expensive than traditional rentals, in Bolivia, Airbnb can be almost as affordable.
You’ll find that renting a house for days, weeks, or months through Airbnb will be only 20% to 50% more expensive than renting through traditional means, involving a realtor and a formal lease agreement. For example, when renting a two-bedroom apartment in Bolivia, the price will typically be around $450 per month, and with Airbnb, it will be around $600 per month.
| Type of Cost | Avg. Spending in Bolivia/Month |
| Renting (1 person) | $150 |
| Airbnb 2-Bedroom Unit | $600 |
| Traditional 2-Bedroom Unit | $450 |
| Airbnb Single-Family House | $1,800 |
| Traditional Single-Family House | $1,400 |
| Utilities | $50 |
| Rental Tax | $0 |
| Administrative Fees | $40 |
Regarding standalone houses, the price difference is even smaller ($1,400 for traditional renting versus $1,800 for Airbnb renting). Also, remember that Airbnb provides fully furnished homes with all utilities, amenities, security, and support, allowing you to move in immediately.
Therefore, when renting a house in Bolivia, *consider using Airbnb in most cases*. We only recommend traditional renting if you plan to live in the house long-term, for at least six months, as in this scenario, traditional renting will be more cost-effective.
Price List for Renting Different Homes in Bolivia
Next, we’ll present the detailed real estate rental prices in Bolivia, for both Airbnb and traditional rentals. As you can see, Airbnb rentals typically have a 30% to 50% premium over traditional rentals. The following chart shows average prices for different apartments and units.
It’s important to note that the apartments used as examples in the following chart for traditional rentals *represent high-quality units that you’d expect to find in desirable neighborhoods and zones of Bolivia*.
| Type of Home or Apartment | Avg. Cost (per month) |
| Airbnb | |
| 1-Bedroom Airbnb Unit | $450 |
| 2-Bedroom Airbnb Unit | $600 |
| 3-Bedroom Airbnb Unit | $900 |
| Single-Family Airbnb House | $1,800 |
| Modest 2-Bedroom Airbnb Unit | $350 |
| Expensive 3-Bedroom Airbnb Unit | $1,800 |
| Expensive Single-Family Airbnb House | $3,500 |
| Traditional Real Estate | |
| 1-Bedroom Apartment | $250 |
| 2-Bedroom Apartment | $450 |
| 3-Bedroom Apartment | $600 |
| Single-Family House | $1,400 |
| Modest 2-Bedroom Apartment | $250 |
| Luxury 3-Bedroom Apartment | $1,200 |
| Luxury Single-Family House | $2,500 |
Lower-quality apartments located in undesirable or unsafe neighborhoods will be significantly cheaper (a one-bedroom unit in those areas can cost as little as $100, and a three-bedroom unit for $250 per month). However, we strongly advise against living in these apartments, as you’ll encounter numerous problems, inefficiencies, and threats to your safety. Furthermore, no expats or foreigners typically reside in those areas, knowing the dangers they present.
Therefore, in the chart above, *we’re comparing high-quality units available for rent in Bolivia with Airbnb rentals* (which, by the way, almost exclusively offer high-quality properties in our country).
As you can see, renting a one-bedroom apartment through traditional methods in Bolivia, located *in a desirable neighborhood*, can cost as little as $250 per month, while the same apartment, fully furnished and ready to occupy, can cost around $450 per month through Airbnb. A three-bedroom apartment with traditional renting will cost about $600 per month, but with Airbnb, this same unit will be around $900 per month.
Therefore, in most cases, you should consider renting an apartment or house solely through Airbnb, as you’ll encounter nearly the same prices as a standard apartment or house. If you’re planning to live here long-term, perhaps for more than a year, then traditional renting will be your most cost-effective option.
Different Income Levels and the Cost of Rent
As we mentioned earlier, individuals with low incomes in Bolivia typically rent apartments in less desirable, unsafe, and lower-income neighborhoods. Therefore, they’ll rent, on average, a one-bedroom unit for just $120 per month, and the total rental expenses will be around $150. *However, this type of unit would be unsuitable for someone from a developed country*.
You’ll find that these apartments may lack even basic utilities in some cases. They’ll also be inefficient, outdated, located in remote areas, or in unsafe neighborhoods where crime is prevalent. These real estate units are inexpensive for a reason, and in most cases, it’s because they lack desirable features and amenities or are situated in undesirable, low-income, or dangerous locations.
In contrast, middle-class individuals in Bolivia tend to rent better apartments and homes. They can obtain a decent one-bedroom unit in an average neighborhood for about $200, and their total expenses will be around $250. This unit will have all the basic utilities, it won’t be too remote, and it will be relatively safe to live in. However, this apartment won’t offer all the comforts you might expect in a developed country.
We believe that if you want to experience a similar level of comfort and functionality as in a developed country, you should emulate the rental choices of upper-middle-class Bolivians. *These individuals will spend around $350 for a one-bedroom apartment, and their total rental expenses will be approximately $500 per month*. Note that this cost is very close to the price of a one-bedroom Airbnb.
| Lower-Class Bolivian | Middle-Class Bolivian | Upper-Middle-Class Bolivian | |
| Avg. 1-Bedroom Apartment / Month | $120 | $200 | $350 |
| Avg. Total Rental Expenses / Month | $150 | $250 | $500 |
| Avg. Total Rental Expenses / Day | $5 | $8 | $17 |
As you can see, most people in Bolivia rent apartments and houses that are below the quality you’d expect in a rental unit in a developed country. Therefore, if you want to achieve a similar level of comfort and standard of living, you should behave like an upper-middle-class Bolivian, and this individual will spend around $500 per month on rental costs.
Foreigners and the Cost of Rent
In the chart below, you can see the details of how much it will cost you to rent either a one-bedroom unit or a single-family house in Bolivia, *depending on the location of the real estate unit*. We believe this location is very important for you because we assume you’d prefer to live near other expats or in the commercial areas and downtowns of Bolivia’s major cities.
Therefore, you can see how much it will cost you to rent a house in those locations, where you’ll find a home with a quality nearly equivalent to what you’d expect in your home country.
| Type of Rental Expense | Average Cost Per Month |
| 1-Bedroom Unit (City Downtown) | $300 |
| 1-Bedroom Unit (Expat Area) | $350 |
| 1-Bedroom Unit (City Downtown – *One Day*) | $12 |
| Single-Family House (City Downtown) | $1,500 |
| Single-Family House (City Expat Area) | $1,800 |
| Single-Family House (City Downtown – *One Day*) | $60 |
As you can see, it’s easy to find quite affordable, yet very comfortable and even luxurious, apartments within buildings in any major Bolivian city. These units, with one, two, or three bedrooms, can be found *for just a few hundred dollars per month*, regardless of whether they’re available through Airbnb or traditional renting.
However, standalone houses for a single family are more expensive and can be as costly as renting a house in a developed country. *Keep in mind that the example units in the chart above are located in Bolivia’s best neighborhoods and areas*.
If you’re coming for a matter of days or weeks as a tourist instead of planning to live here, we also have a dedicated guide on the cost of accommodation in Bolivia, available here: How much does accommodation cost in Bolivia? All the details to know.
Comparing the Cost of Rentals in Bolivia Versus Other Countries
Comparing Bolivia to developed countries, you’ll find that renting an apartment or house here is significantly less expensive:
- For traditional renting, the costs are only 25% to 40% of what you’d spend in developed countries (*remember that these units represent the best available real estate in Bolivia*).
- For Airbnb renting, the costs are only 20% to 35% of what you’d spend on Airbnb in developed countries (*keep in mind that Airbnb in Bolivia generally offers high-quality real estate units*).
| Real Estate Type/Monthly | Bolivia | Upper-Class Bolivian | USA | Canada | UK | India |
| Avg. Airbnb 1-Bedroom Unit | $350 | – | $2,400 | $1,400 | $1,800 | $400 |
| Avg. Traditional 1-Bedroom Unit | $200 | $350 | $1,100 | $1,500 | $800 | $150 |
| Avg. Airbnb Single-Family House | $1,600 | – | $6,000 | $2,400 | $2,700 | $700 |
| Avg. Single-Family House | $700 | $1,500 | $1,350 | $2,500 | $1,300 | $350 |
However, the costs become closer when you consider full, standalone houses. In this case, you’ll find that *the best homes available for rent in Bolivia’s most exclusive neighborhoods will cost around $1,500/month and will* offer a similar quality to an average home in the US. Therefore, if you’re relocating to Bolivia, you should initially consider renting an apartment rather than a house to save significantly on housing expenses.
Conclusions:
In this guide on renting a house in Bolivia, you’ve learned that for just a few hundred dollars per month, you can secure either a one-bedroom, two-bedroom, three-bedroom apartment, or even a full standalone house in the best locations and neighborhoods of our country.
You’ve also realized that renting through Airbnb will result in a premium of between 20% and 50% over traditional rentals, and that this platform offers high-quality rental units in Bolivia. Additionally, you now know that you can find much cheaper rentals, similar to those used by lower- and middle-class Bolivians, but you’ll risk your safety, comfort, and functionality with these lower-quality real estate units.
Therefore, you now understand that renting like an upper-middle-class Bolivian, spending around $350 for a one-bedroom apartment, $600 for a three-bedroom apartment, or $1,500 for a full standalone house in Bolivia, will provide you with almost the same comfort and functionality that you’d expect in a developed country. You’ve also realized that renting apartments will allow you to save more money than renting full standalone houses in our country.
We hope this information has been helpful. If you’d like to gain a comprehensive understanding of the actual cost of living in Bolivia, including 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.
