Mas o menos, cuanto vale vivir en Colombia al mes...?

paisaenusa says on Aug 30, 2004, 10:40:

how much.. well me friend, depends.....
a good idea will be arround $500usd, or the good living$1000usd
that will cover an aparment, transportation, food, going out,
and others biils.

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litost says on Aug 30, 2004, 10:45:

$1'000.000 COP should get you by reasonably well... $1'200.000 to be on the safe side... around $1'500.000 you'll live like an upper class colombian... anything over $2'000.000 you will live like a King.

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paisaenusa says on Aug 30, 2004, 10:47:

1 millon thats to tide...

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elmodefoque says on Aug 30, 2004, 11:12:

hey litos, is that 1,500,000 pesos a MONTH to be upper middle in colombia. is that like 600 us .

I'll get there, when I get there!

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Mr. Hollywood says on Aug 30, 2004, 12:13:

Reality check You can live in Colombia on $1,500,000.00 but you won't be living "like an upper class Colombian." Rent alone for an upper class Colombian is more than that.

To help Kiwi, some expenses (in pesos) you might regularly incurr would be like this:

Dinner at an average Colombian restaurant: $10,000 to $15,000
Dinner at a fancy (foreign) restaurant: $25,000-$50,000
Domestic beer in a bar: $3,000-$4,000
15 minute cab ride: $2,500
Cable and broadband internet at home: $200,000
Cell phone per month: $100,000
Movies: $9,000
Pair of Levi's 501s: $125,000
Airplane ticket from one major city to another inside Colombia: $300,000

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elmodefoque says on Aug 30, 2004, 12:19:

hollywood, that's more realistic. thanks for clearing things up.

I'll get there, when I get there!

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utopiacowboy says on Aug 30, 2004, 12:29:

You're right, Mr. Hollywood. My wife's income was about $2M pesos a month and although she lived well by Colombian standards, she certainly did not live like a king. Or in her case, a queen, although she definitely thinks of herself as one.

Disclaimer: any comment I make is inane and is not to be taken seriously, and is so patently ridiculous that no one should take it seriously, even as an insult.

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Desideria (Moderator) says on Aug 30, 2004, 12:34:

if you take away the cost of renting a house or an apartment, 1,500 000 should be plenty, depending of your lifestyle and the city you'll live. Let's keep in mind that Bogotá is considerably more expensive than Cali, Pereira or Bucaramanga, for example. Medellin I don't know.

"When shall we three meet again? In thunder, lightning, or in rain?"(First Witch in Macbeth)

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kiwi says on Aug 30, 2004, 14:14:

barato y caro Gracias guys, seems that for some things COL is muy barato (10,000 for a meal, that's a cup of coffee here in Londres).
But other stuff like broadband internet is caro (we pay £28/mth, in COL that nearly doubles). But I suppose I'm not going there for the internet.
But I like the sound of beer prices ;-) tengo sed...
I think I'll budget on $1.5M /mth. Should let me eat lechona y san cocho to my heart's content.
I heard of a Colombian guy living in Pereira on 200K pesos /mth without rent. He's a student who likes to party with the chicas. And he has a car.
It's gonna take me awhile to get my head around these pesos after using £'s so long.

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Mr. Hollywood says on Aug 30, 2004, 14:54:

problem with the beer prices The problem with the cheap price of beer in Colombia is that the domestic beer here sucks. Basically, Colombia is at the place where the USA was 20 years ago before the explosion of microbreweries. You have your choice of watery bad beer in one kind of bottle or watery bad beer in another kind of bottle. In a blind taste test you'd be hard pressed to tell any of them (Aguila, Costeña, Club Colombia) apart. My Colombian friends tell me the Bavaria beer company is to blame, since it holds a virtual monopoly on brewing here. The only saving grace is the occassional brew pub.

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ShazCas says on Aug 30, 2004, 15:15:

More prices These are Bogota prices:

My flat cost $450,000 per month, it was very large and had two bedrooms.
Cable TV with cablecentro - $35,000 per month

Dial-up internet - about $30,000 per month, obviously depending on how much you use it.

Tip - you'll save a lot on your bills if you ive in a house that has a Historical or Arqueological certificate or status, mine was German Bauhaus and was "Estrato 1" - the electricity only cost $30,000 per month, and the water $20,000.

I would only pay $1,000 or $1,500 for a Colombian beer in an ordinary bar, unless I was going to somewhere a bit posh.

You can get a really nice lunch for $3,500 in many many places, but eating out at night is more expensive.

A litre of milk - $1,200

an egg - $200

a bus ride - $900

a litre of rum - $10,000

Monthly food bill for one person in an average supermarket (not Carulla - too expensive!) - $300,000

If I think of more I'll let you know!

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Mr. Hollywood says on Aug 30, 2004, 15:54:

Wow! Strata 1 utilities are really cheap. My strata 6 electricity and water is about 10 times yours. Even factoring in that I have a family with a big fridge and a washer/dryer, that's a significant difference.

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Hunter says on Aug 30, 2004, 15:55:

Costs Rent is more like 500,000 pesos a month or less and that would be in a higher Strata in Medellin, you could probably find a nice room in somebodys apt, for about 350,000 pesos, food not included.

Coffee 500 pesos, the better the restaurant the more it costs.

Beer 1,000 pesos plus, the better the bar the more it costs.

Rum 15,000 pesos a bottle plus, the better the bar the more it costs.

Colombian meal 3,000 pesos plus, an example today I have been to my local restaurant three times, two times to eat and once just for a coffee, total cost for drinks and food for the day was 7,000 pesos I eat enough food for me for the day.

ShazCas prices are very accurate if money is short.

Hunter

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litost says on Aug 30, 2004, 16:02:

OK, maybe my numbers were slightly on the downside but consider that I'm talking from a young single student/just graduated COLOMBIAN perspective...

You have to realize that most foreigners who go visit or live in Colombia tend to live and spend on a very different level than your average colombiano. I have friends who are like me recently graduated from a good university, usually starting positions in companies or public offices, those who make less are around $1'000.000 and still manage to live in a good area, party every weekend, eat out occasionally, etc. Sure, this isn't enough to travel or buy yourself fancy clothes or the latest gadgets, but you can definately live on it (especially out of Bogota). Notice the poster asked about an "an average, middle-of-the-road lifestyle" and the "Colombian way". I stick by my numbers.

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litost says on Aug 30, 2004, 16:07:

BTW Kiwi, when will you be in Pereira? I'm from a town 20 minutes away and will be there around december and january.

There's tons of stuff to do in the area!

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sebasenbogotá says on Aug 30, 2004, 16:17:

CAble In Bogota cablenet offers a plan that is like 100.000 pesos for cable and dsl internet 64kb. I am not sure if it is just for University students though, but it is not 200.000unless you want 256 kb. And about a meal you can buy a "corrientazo for around 4.000 that is a complete meal in a not really fancy place.


Suerte !

Sebas

Suerte ! Sebas

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Gator says on Aug 30, 2004, 19:00:

Both Hunter and ShazCas are giving good advice. Live like a gringo and starve-Live like a Colombian and grow fat.

I could never make it on that budget but then in the peso position I am lucky.

Seriously, it is as expensive as you want to make it-everytime I see Libbys canned Fruit Cocktail in the store I shake may head-especially with all the great fresh fruit available.

"Credidi pretio parvo emere et magno vendere tibi in animo fuisse!" .

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kiwi says on Aug 31, 2004, 00:02:

Pereira Some very helpful posts here guys, gracias!
Seems that everyday stuff like eating, drinking, buses, taxi are quite affordable (compared to living in Londres where it's HIGH).
And techy stuff like mobiles, internet, phone calls r more exp.
I imagine I'll use internet cafes (cost at 3k per hr?), may get a mobile but we'll see. Since I work in IT I'm keen to get away from technology for awhile (not my iPod however!)
Litost, I'll be visiting Pereira in Dec, which pueblo r u in?
They say the cafe zona has some fantastic places to see...?

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litost says on Aug 31, 2004, 05:30:

I will be in Santa Rosa de Cabal, where my family is from and I lived several years. It's famous for its hot springs, mountain setting, chorizos and beautiful women. You should come by and visit, I can show you around and introduce you to some friends. I can also give you some advice on things to do in the zona cafetera, or maybe even come along... will you be staying with the colombian friend you mention, what does he do in Pereira?

See come pics of Santa Rosa, Pereira and other places in the area in my picture gallery, my email is robmurillo77 at yahoo.com

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Lorenzo de Australia says on Aug 31, 2004, 08:37:

12 months? To Kiwi,

just wondering how you get 12months? did you get some sort of visa? or have a passport?

or gonna fly out after the visa finishes and go again???

I'm intersted!!!

Cheers
Lorenzo


****** ******
"...don't let life get in the way of living..."
Lorenzo 2004

Also, if you want to email me directly... as I'm not always that good with forums... email me at lorrytrippin2 at yahoo.com

****** ******

****** ****** "...don't let life get in the way of living..." Lorenzo 2004 Also, if you want to email me directly... as I'm not always that good with forums... email me at lorrytrippin2@yahoo.com ****** ******

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kiwi says on Aug 31, 2004, 08:54:

con gusto! Gracias for the invitation Litost. My gf knows the pueblo & says the chorizo is muy rico! Your pics r great!
Will drop u a email to yr Yahoo.

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ShazCas says on Aug 31, 2004, 09:35:

Canned fruit I know Gator, isn't it crazy?! What nutcase would buy tinned fruit in Colombia!!

I had a much, much larger budget than the one Kiwi is talking about, but the fact that I lived in a beautiful old building that was strata 1 and shared my flat and the costs with my partner meant that I was able to save half of my wage every month without even trying!

I would personally be happier on $2 million than $1.5, but a single person can easily live on $1.5 and have fun, even in Bogota. Seriously, I wouldn't go higher than Strata 3 through, wich is perfectly fine, and sharing with someone would be really good. As Hunter says, you're looking at $350,000 a month, or even $250,000 if you really look.

Money wasn't short for me, I just don't have expensive tastes. And if you buy a lot of fresh fruit and veg and cook, it's very cheap. The rum price was a carton in your local shop, not in a bar. It just depends where you shop, live and go out, as you really can pay anything for anything in Colombia, as Gator says.

Example: if you buy a beer in a little shop, you'll get it for $700. If you buy it in a posh 24 club in Bogota, you'll pay $6,000. It's the same with things as simple as eggs, milk, bread - they can as much as double depending on the neighbourhood you're buying them in.

Mushrooms and apples are expensive too, by the way. And frozen food. You'll get fantastic fresh steak, chicken and fish incredibly cheap though, so your diet will be really healthy! If you go to the local Sunday market for your fresh goods, it's much cheaper than the supermarket, and more fun too. In Bogota, it's called Paloquemado, and is on on a Sunday morning. I used to go all the time, and really miss it.

If you use a good backpacker guide, like Footprints or Lonely Planet, you'll be able to find good places to stay anywhere for $5,000 - $10,000.

Enjoy your trip Kiwi, I'm really jealous!

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kiwi says on Aug 31, 2004, 10:56:

staying for 12 mths Well Lorenzo, I don't actually have a concrete foolproof plan of staying 12+ mths other than to organise a student visa (studying español)once I get there. My gf called her Tia in Cali who then called a couple of Colegios & they said get the guy to come in for an chat so we can see his level & enrol him. She said he's in Londres. So they said I can't enrol online. So, once I've enrolled in such a place & start studying, I will get a student visa. If it means having to pop out of the country then I'll visit Quito. Or maybe a visa run at Leticia?! Anyone done it?

Initially when I arrive from Miami on a one-way ticket (will buy another one way BOG-Miami & refund it later, thanks Mr Hollywood for that tip). I still may visit the consulate here for more advice but they are next to hopeless - this list is much more informative!

Suppose I could always start a business & get a visa that way:
Kiwi's Komplete Komputer Kare Kali Ltd. ;]

ShazCas, yeah I love fresh fruit so am looking forward to trying fruit whose names I've never heard of once I get there! Sometimes in a market we come across a exotic looking fruit from COL, my gf goes nuts, starts putting em in a bag, i check the pricetag & have a heart attack, £1 each or something crazy like that. I'll be making the most of it while I'm there.

Have got the SA on a shoestring bk, seemed to have the biggest section on COL of all that I saw. Many Complete Guides to SA of course don't even mention COL, but that is changing I think.

Did anyone write the internet cafe hourly costs?

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Mr. Hollywood says on Aug 31, 2004, 11:42:

Banda ancha I could never figure out why people here would pay cablenet for a 64K connection, either, Tinto. And it's amazing to me that they get away calling that "broadband".

My $200,000 cable bill includes the "fast" 256K broadband and all the premium movie channels, so you could definately probably cut that in half with basic channels and the slow connection.

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litost says on Aug 31, 2004, 15:58:

Internet cafes go from around $2,000 COP to $3,000 an hour last I was there, about a year and a half ago....

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Lorenzo de Australia says on Aug 31, 2004, 19:25:

nice Work! Good work Kiwi!!!

I am extremely jealous.. it's always so tempting to go to colombia...

but at the moment my colombiana is playing funny buggers... and doesn't really say what she means... so it's tough to commit going back.

But don't worry, in terms of money, i'd say it's as cheap as most south east asian nations...

Have a great time!

****** ******
"...don't let life get in the way of living..."
Lorenzo 2004

Also, if you want to email me directly... as I'm not always that good with forums... email me at lorrytrippin2 at yahoo.com

****** ******

****** ****** "...don't let life get in the way of living..." Lorenzo 2004 Also, if you want to email me directly... as I'm not always that good with forums... email me at lorrytrippin2@yahoo.com ****** ******

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Christinalkc says on Aug 31, 2004, 20:13:

student visa kiwi,

i'll be going to bogota to study spanish sometime this month and like you, I will have to go there and sit for a placement test before deciding which level I should go into. there are some things i suggest that you should get ready with for student visa application before boarding your plane.
1. 3pcs 2"X 2" passport pics
2. Certificate of Good Conduct (police clearance cert)within the last 6 months, translated into Spanish. Must be notarized and certified with an Apostille from the Secretary of the State where it was issued.
3. Proof of Financial Solvency.
4. other documents will be provided by the institute

Suerte,
Christina (christinalkc at yahoo.com.au)

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kiwi says on Sep 1, 2004, 04:07:

gracias y buena suerte Christina! Christina,
U need a police cert?! Wonder how I get that, will find out.
Cheers for the list of stuff.
Did they give u an idea of the visa cost, I heard $30US for 1 yr?
What is yr level in Spanish BTW? Great language huh!
Been learning 2 ys myself, getting there slowly.
Why did u choose COL to go & study just out of interest?

Hey Lorenzo - which part of Oz r u from mate? Yr Colombiana is Paisa by any chance (like mine)? ;-) When u heading back?

Litost, seems internet cafes r good value! I suppose they r few & far between in the Santa Rosa de Cabal area?

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Lorenzo de Australia says on Sep 1, 2004, 08:54:

West Coast yeah, i'm from the west side, way out west, where the cows do come home...

and correct again.. una paisa.. don't know it any other way...

i tells ya.. i could be there next month! but really need to sort more crap out first... xmas likely... but all depends on this one paisa... i know heaps out there.. sheet, even the girls here are good.. but once under the spell.. dang hard to look around.
i know youz understand... and the others that say.. mate look at all the ladies around.. .yep i hears ya too...

but dunno.. if you can setup a decent export business, i'll come work for ya!!!! hows that?

later.

****** ******
"...don't let life get in the way of living..."
Lorenzo 2004

Also, if you want to email me directly... as I'm not always that good with forums... email me at lorrytrippin2 at yahoo.com

****** ******

****** ****** "...don't let life get in the way of living..." Lorenzo 2004 Also, if you want to email me directly... as I'm not always that good with forums... email me at lorrytrippin2@yahoo.com ****** ******

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sebasenbogotá says on Sep 1, 2004, 17:01:

The reason for 64kb Well guys the simple reason for the 64kb is that you will be connected all time without paying for the phone line, the 128kb one costs 20.000 pesos more which in one year is about 240.000 pesos more, some people just prefer saving that money, and may not need or be able to afford higher speeds.

And by the way my 56kb connection rarely gets up to 44kb

And I will be in Pereira as well in December. maybe we could get in touch.

Suerte !

Sebas

Suerte ! Sebas

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Christinalkc says on Sep 1, 2004, 21:38:

De nada, Kiwi Well, what i suggest is go to the Colombian Consulate in your country and enquire about procedures in getting a student visa and the sort of documents required. They will help you in providing the relevant information in obtaining them. So no worries! From what I have found out, the visa costs around $40-$45

I'll be taking the Beginner's course but then it depends on my test results. If they find me qualified to do the Intermediate level, they will put me in straight away but I doubt it :( My Spanish is almost non existent!

The reason I am goin to Colombia is because I have heard so much about that country and I used to stay with Colombians when I was studyin in Melbourne, Australia. I was pretty much impressed with the language and thought it would be an advantage for me to learn it and I figured out the best way to do it is to go to a country that speaks the language. Apart from that, Colombia is cheaper in terms of living expenses and such compared to other Spanish speaking countries.

Well, at the moment, I am preparing and acquiring all the information that I need before I fly off there, so if you have anything you need to do, please feel free to ask ok?

Take care,
Christina (christinalkc at yahoo.com.au)

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neansa says on Sep 4, 2004, 04:27:

prices in Colombia. How about transportation prices, for example inter city buses, car rental, gas prices, also. is the gasoline in Col. measured in american gallons, or imperial gallons

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