My friends in Bogota say 2.5mil pesos month, not good.

Mononoke28 says on Sep 11, 2008, 12:51:

I don't know about them but I'm preeeeeetty sure I can have a nice, comfy lifestyle with $1500 USD a month. I don't know what these ladies are doing with their money, especially if they live at home and have no expenses. So if they don't have any expenses and don't rent, what do they do with their money?

Diana

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rocinante says on Sep 11, 2008, 12:55:

I know bartenders in NYC that clear $1,000USD a night tax free. Of course they only work 4 nights a week. Rent is about $3,500 and other expenses add up big time - they live shift to shift or paychesk to paycheck or had to mouth.

But why compare NYC to Bogota? Makes no sense.

The bottom line is a more extravagant lifestlyle demands a higer salary in any city or village on the planet, yes?

How much is your rent? How much do you spend on food, and internet and cell phone and other stuff. Add it up and then you will know what you need to make. Yes?

Come back with your list of expenses and I will run them through the computer program that will almost magically tell you how much you need to earn a month in order to cover those expenses. I'm not joking.

I pay all my bills for 1 millone a month. Cable internet cell, health insuyrance electric/gas and Vonage.

"World economic indicators point to a democrat winning 2008. It will surely be Obama. Not that the US president actually runs the US." Feb 5, 2008

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Bill Turley (☼Travelguide writer) says on Sep 11, 2008, 12:59:

pilotguy says on Sep 11, 2008, 13:02:

Wow, you guys live cheap. I have not be able to do that. Different experiences for sure.
joe

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pavo says on Sep 11, 2008, 13:04:

Most of Colombia lives off minimum wage which is just under 500,000 pesos a month.

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jdixon150 says on Sep 11, 2008, 13:05:

One girl pointed out , her brother , an ex Colombain gov't worker, valet parks cars in New York , and clears $3000 USD a month
Yea and he pays New York Rent, New York Docters, New York Tax.What does thar have to do with Prices in Bogota?
If she wants Prada and Gucci its expensive everywere. I got divorced, lost half to the ex and now live twice as well on the other half in Colombia.

"Life is not a dress rehearsal" Rose Tremain..

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Gator says on Sep 11, 2008, 13:05:

Mil in Spanish equals a thousand-did you mean millón which is million? $1500USD is roughly the and a half times the monthly minimum wage. You ain't living on and estrato 4/5/6 on that but i is doable. Provided you live like a average working stiff Colombian

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

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Noelito40 says on Sep 11, 2008, 13:33:

There are so many of these "how long is a piece of string" cost of living posts on PBH that it would be an idea to create a FAQ on this or a consumer price table for various cities with normal expense requirements, etc...

We could be here all day arguing the pros and cons of could "we live on this, etc". Well as has been pointed out both here and in many other similar threads, lifestyle is subjective and there are so many factors to take into account that if you want to see how much it costs to live here you would have to set some ground rules and make some assumptions... (I'm not having a go at the OP, but I'm sure there are many PBHers and more lurkers on this site who dream of the thought of moving to Colombia, and have all sorts of fancy idea of what it will cost. Note I am referring here to living in Bogota, those of you living in smaller cities or towns will of course have different figures to me.

Anyway for my part, speaking as someone domiciled in Bogota for a year, married to a Colombiana, no kids, living in estrato 4, with a small car, cheap mortgage (300k monthly), not extravagant on the beer or fancy restaurants, or expensive clothes; have private health insurance, (and the only Colombiana I spend money on is my missus!!)...all this and we cannot get away with spending less than COP $4 million monthly (roughy USD $2000).

The bottom line for me is that Bogota is not cheap, and no I don't know how the many many Colombians on the minimum wage survive (and I mean survive rather than live!!!).

Another point as an aside is for those who want to retire to Colombia and who thus are trying to estimate how much they will need to live, a mistake I believe they make is that they look at the minimum wage in Colombia (say COP $500k monthly) and think that as their pensions in USD/Euros pays 3 or 4 times that, they can live a comfortable life in Colombia, WRONG!! Any couple considering retiring to this beautiful country (and don't get me wrong, I advise them to come) had better ensure that their pensionable income at at least equal to 10 minimum wages, if it's not then put the dream of retiring to Colomba aside for now and keep the reality of working and earning your dollars...

Noelito

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SUERTE GRINGO says on Sep 11, 2008, 14:20:

I wish someone living in Medellin could put together a budget based on their monthly expenses especially after learning the lay of the land some.

“If you're gonna eat your crackers in bed, you're gonna have to sleep with crumbs."

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PBHjon says on Sep 11, 2008, 14:39:

Noelito, I am curious. If you only pay 300k for the mortgage, and you don't have to pay for insurance, where are most of your expenses coming from? I am curious what the source of monthly expenditures of $1800 comes from if you arent going to nice restaurants frequently or buying expensive clothing.

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ds says on Sep 11, 2008, 15:06:

60% of the Colombians live from less than 2 USD per day. An young professional coming from university starts working for 6-700.000 Pesos a month. Present those ladies to me, I am interested!

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machin1967 says on Sep 11, 2008, 15:18:

I would think 2.5 millones is plenty.

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spy1983 says on Sep 11, 2008, 15:27:

1500 haha

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Gringo Spy says on Sep 11, 2008, 15:36:

Don't forget these girls are buying jeans at $120-150 USD a pop so it all adds up!

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Noelito40 says on Sep 11, 2008, 15:51:

I’m not usually the type who keeps a close eye on what I spend, but one of my new year’s resolutions this year (which after 9 months I have kept diligently!!) was to keep a detailed account of all our income and expenditure, so I have the figures to back up what I’m saying.

Here is a sample of a month’s spending, for 2 people…

Household COP 694,800 Mortgage Admin Bills furniture
Technology COP 189,500 Primarily 1 mobile bill
Transport COP 743,050 Car/Parking/Bus,taxi fares, note this does not include a portion for annual insurance
Medical COP 650,000 Dental/Medical bills, includes a part for Café Salud prepaid
Food COP 1,117,750 Both groceries, ($450k) and dining out ($650k)
Personal Care COP 507,200 includes clothes, sports wear, etc
Bank charges COP 51,100
Regalos COP 89,000

Total COP 4,042,400

Bear in mind that you always have exceptional items, for example, I bought a new laptop in April, but on average, our spending is hovering in an around the 4million COP monthly…

Noelito

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curramberochris says on Sep 11, 2008, 16:06:

I doubt your friend has any real grasp on how people live in Bogotá. If she pisses her money away than that is her right!!!!

The more you earn the more you spend. Bogotá is an expensive city. If you want to have some or all of the little luxuries you have back in the states or wherever, expect to pay for them.
After living here for 5 years I have come to this conclusion: It is not as cheap to live here as you believe.

I still have no idea how a family survives on less than 1million pesos per month..........that must be a hard life.
I can't really complain

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curramberochris says on Sep 11, 2008, 16:07:

If she say 2.5million a month is poor she should get outside her estrato 5/6 bubble and see how most people really live.

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MedellinMadman says on Sep 11, 2008, 18:08:

I live in strata 5 Belen. to duplicate a nice lifestyle in the states to here is not cheap!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I live in Medellin. People coming from a nice house, or condo and duplicating that in a nice city is going to pay 6 or 7 hundred usa a month for rent. My utilities are high I admit but over 200 usa a month, internet and tv 110 dolllars a month, cell phone 90 bucs a month ok let me break down

rent for me is 900 usa a month ( yeah I have a nice place) 1,800,000 cop expenses based on 2000 cop per dollar

utilities 220 usa
internet and phone 110usa
cell phone 90
food 600 usa
taxis 250 to 300 usa
entertainment 200 usa
girlfriend clothes, her gym etc 200
my gym 25 usa a month
trips to usa, visa, lifestyle 600 usa


As you can see I am running about 3,000 a month expenses. I am not living like a king it is equivalent to my lifestyle in the states except my apartment is better then the states, I dont even drive a car but taxis are expensive if you are dating someone and paying for their taxis ( this is a fact of life when dating colombianas) Food at supermarkets is more here then in the states for lesser quality. Also if you buy electronics, cars, anything imported tack on 20 to 40% more then same thing in the states. So everyone saying they are living on 1500 a month usa here are just living thats it. They are not living like kings as some would suggest.
They drive a cheap car or no car, average apartment if its a strata 5 or 6. ( certainly they are not renting a nice house in Poblado for example)
Dont have a full social life, dont travel to other places outside of colombia much.

If you own a house or apt here free and clear that can help with expenses
a nice house in Poblado will cost you 300,000 usa or more though

My current lifestyle would cost more in the States, and I certainly dont want to move back there. So many more pluses then minuses to living in Medellin. I just want to illustrate that
you are not going to live in a nice place, a nice area, and live a full exciting life for 1500 usa a month count on 3,000 a month to live like an executive, 1500 a month to live like a minimum wage earner in the states who works at mcdonalds and lives at home.

If you have any questons about prices or want to check out medellin and have a guide
go to medellinmadman.com for more info. I hope to spare you the mistakes I made when moving here. Like how I paid 2000 usa for a couch that I could buy for 1000 somewhere else.
I can save you on furniture since I have furnished two aparments in the last year.

sign up at colombialovedoctor.com its free and if you need a place to stay in Medellin I am renting a room in my luxury penthouse apartment

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Waterdawg says on Sep 11, 2008, 18:24:

Bogota ( estrato 5/6 ) is one of the more expensive City's to live in ( In Latin America )

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rocinante says on Sep 11, 2008, 19:59:

Living in Colombia ain't all that cheap. It is if you adopt the lifestyle of the locals which is living with your entire family in one house in an average neighborhood, eating lots of beans rice and eggs, taking busses and drinking at the local parche.

If you want your own private estrato 6 place in a nice and really safe neighborhood with parking, doorman, pool, and to eat well (normal for your home country) and have the usual items (luxuries) such as car, hi speed internet, hot water, decent furniture, telephone answering machine (I'm not joking), travel/vacation (IN the Americas - not Europe) twice a year, nights out on the town, eating in decent restaurants (by foreign standards) a few times a month, movies, and maintain toys like iPods X-Box, computer(s) and other gadgets be prepared to fork over COP 8,000,000 or USD$4,000 a month at today's exchange rates. If that rate hits 1560 (like it did in June) that USD$4,000 just became USD$5,125 NOT INCLUDING 5%-10% or more inflation.

A tiny jar of PeterPan peanut butter is almost 8 bucks. You do the math.

"World economic indicators point to a democrat winning 2008. It will surely be Obama. Not that the US president actually runs the US." Feb 5, 2008

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PBHjon says on Sep 11, 2008, 22:09:

I demand all those lifestyle characteristics, but also I would like an estrato 7 house, which i have heard exists in Bogota. Someone crunch the numbers for my new lifestyle upgrade.

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ietk says on Sep 12, 2008, 04:30:

As a matter of fact living anywhere today is not cheap.

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tomtom33 says on Sep 12, 2008, 04:35:

You can get by pretty cheaply in the rural US or rural Colombia.

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pilotguy says on Sep 12, 2008, 06:00:

Waterdawg, I thought those that "work for a living" could live cheaper. :) Us commissioned type gentleman who "did not work for a living", cannot do it either. joe

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jonas says on Sep 12, 2008, 08:01:

I bet you they both are siliconas. With girls in Colombia the rule "you get what you pay for" simply does not apply. I recommend you read "Las Prepagos" and you will be surprised what rich and famous girls will do for money.

Mi alma se la dejo al diablo

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tomass says on Sep 12, 2008, 09:16:

180000 a month rent (no extra costs) own room and b/room Envigado - basic but ok (guess i was lucky to get it) - kind of share with a couple of ancianos abajo but own entrance and a bit of a patio outside with a fine tree. strato 2 or 3 id guess. 4 weekends just booze (plenty) and food = 4*175000.
Total US $440. (no costs weekdays as paid away meals and room).
and a fine existence.

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sanandressi says on Sep 12, 2008, 12:41:

You are doing well tomass and I salute you. Those two girls above should leave home and spend about 6 months alone on that salary then they would appreciate what little they think they have. Mommy and Daddy paying the rent. Same with my wife. Never has lived alone so does not know how to handle money or what is important first.

Brother, abbove, moves to NYC then they all want to come here as if it so easy. One of my wife's brother, right after I met him, wanted a VISA for NYC. Oh brother.......

Two things bug me about this. Americans who think that Latin America is so cheap with a few dollars and Latin Americans who don't realize how hard it can be here in the US without English or education.

"FDR in 1929 as president went on televison..." Joe Biden DEMOCRAT VP candidate who just keeps on giving! FDR elected 1932 and television appeared in the 1950''s LOL

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david barkley says on Sep 12, 2008, 14:20:

Well , we two full time people above who say 4k mil is min, and another says 3kmin, both itemized out their expenses.

From the looks of it, 5k is needed to live stress free, 4k pushing it, 3k on a tight get by life style, no savings.

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Robert Jorge says on Sep 14, 2008, 20:09:

I lived on about $750 a month in Villavo; estrato 4 apartment. I will admit, that was also when the exchange rate was 2.600 cop to $1 usd. And I also know that it is a LOT cheaper in secondary cities than Bogota. But I could handle living on 2.500.000 in Bogota. I wouldn't be able to live in Chapinero, but 1 de mayo would be affordable, and a lot more fun.

I thought Cartagena was the most expensive city in Colombia?

He who farts in church, sits in his own pew.

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tomtom33 says on Sep 15, 2008, 04:42:

I think Cartagena may be the most expensive. In my estrato 6 apartment in Laguito, I pay around 500K per month for maintenance, 400K for electricity, and 150K for water. Gas is pretty cheap since I don't cook. I don't recall what I pay for cable TV, Internet, phone, taxes, and insurance.

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