Nice Bogota Apartment for 800,000pesos a month ????

Mr. Hollywood says on Aug 3, 2005, 12:23:

Nope You can get a nice apartment in a middle class neighborhood of Bogota for that price, but you're nowhere near what apartments cost in the nice neighborhoods of north Bogota. A furnished 2 bedroom anywhere near Andino is going to cost you at least 2 to 3 million.

0 funny, 0 helpful.

Lucia Rojas says on Aug 3, 2005, 12:28:

Yes I live in a super nice 3 bedroom that I share with a roomate and that is what we pay..and I live very close to Andino.... The thing is that you have to decide wether you want a newly built apartment..or a more vintage architectural look from a building built in the 60's or 70's.. which are actually more spacious and have more light and a re definetily much more interesting architecturally and designwise.

0 funny, 0 helpful.

Lucia Rojas says on Aug 3, 2005, 12:28:

Check out the Chapinero alto zone.. which is nice, safe, and cheap

0 funny, 0 helpful.

Lucia Rojas says on Aug 3, 2005, 12:29:

Chapinero Alto is on the mountains..but from 67 st. to 45 st. they are really nice and cheap

0 funny, 0 helpful.

BAQ says on Aug 3, 2005, 12:39:

I remember another thread about a week ago where people were talking about Bogota and saying you could "Live really nice" on 2.5-3.0 million COP per month. If the cost of a NICE apartment to RENT is 1.5 COP I don;t see how you can live in Bogota for LESS than 3 million per month and in my mind, thats now allowing much for extras.

Semper Fidelis !

0 funny, 0 helpful.

Greg444 says on Aug 3, 2005, 12:43:

??????? There is a huge differnce in the answers so far, so I am confused.

Lucia, is the place you talk about have no street traffic noise, or noise from other apartmants?, a balcony?

0 funny, 0 helpful.

Greg444 says on Aug 3, 2005, 12:45:

1,500,000 to 3,000,000 seems high, but maybe they are super high quality apartments

0 funny, 0 helpful.

Lucia Rojas says on Aug 3, 2005, 12:49:

No noise no noise..that depends on wehter the apt. is close to a main street or not. The worst noise comes from the septima so you don't want tol ive close to that... a balcony is always possible to find.

Believe me.. I don't have a huge budget... and I share my apartment so i end up paying like 350,000 pesos a month without public services.. but the area is amazing....close to everything... transmilenio... supermarkets,parks, hospitals... and i don't hear much noise. You never complain if a neighbor is having a party ( they usually invite you anyways) just in case you have one too and you don't want anyone calling the police on you either.

I would say chapinero alto is your best bet. the area in which I live is wery demanded do it's hard to find an aprtment there. We were lucky!

0 funny, 0 helpful.

Lucia Rojas says on Aug 3, 2005, 12:50:

metrocuadrado.com check out metrocuadrado.com

0 funny, 0 helpful.

Nora says on Aug 3, 2005, 13:11:

Sorry Greg I live in Rosales which is one of the Mountain Side Norte places you´re looking for and I pay 1.7 for a one-bedroom furnished flat (quiet and with big terrace). A lot of us expats in the area driving up prices I'm afraid. I´d go for Alto Chapinero or Andino zone too. Agree with Lucia on the architecture, I looked at some really charming apts in the area more or less between cl.75-82 cra 9-11, but it seemed difficult getting something furnished there.

0 funny, 0 helpful.

Greg444 says on Aug 3, 2005, 13:22:

chapinero OK, Chapinero has been on other post I just read.

So it must be the in place to live??? can you walk to Andino, or how far is the taxi ride?

In place, I mean a place where is hip, like every city in the US , has ahip part of town , close to spots popular?

Is Andino the only hip area? or if you were just 10 minutes away that would no problem. or is Santa Barbara? or Unicentro? or Salitre plaza area?

I do not care about strata , I just want an area that has good gyms, stores, not a real hassle to get to the night spots, etc....

0 funny, 0 helpful.

Lucia Rojas says on Aug 3, 2005, 13:27:

jejeje yes it's Hip The area is really nice.. and very close to the places to be, where you know you will be safe.. Where Nora lives is the place just next to Chapinero alto. Now remember there is a big difference betheen chapinero Alto and Chapinero...Chapinero is a much more noisier place. I lived ther for a year and the noise kept me up all night...that the main reason why I left...
so mkae sure tolook in the Chapinero Alto area..it's funny how just a block apart from each other ( rosales, and Chapinero Alto) the price goes way down... the strata also changes so public services are cheaper.

By the way Nora... hos colombia treating you? have you found nice, smart girls to hang around with?

0 funny, 0 helpful.

Lucia Rojas says on Aug 3, 2005, 13:28:

You can walk or take a cab to Andino for about the minimun tariff which is 2,600 pesos...

0 funny, 0 helpful.

Lucia Rojas says on Aug 3, 2005, 13:30:

Sorry about the spelling sorry... I was typing too fast, and didn't proofread

0 funny, 0 helpful.

Greg444 says on Aug 3, 2005, 13:39:

Thanks for the info. Yes Chapinero Alto and Rosales, it appears, are at the top of the list for now.

0 funny, 0 helpful.

Nora says on Aug 3, 2005, 14:10:

Lucia: Smart and funny... I´ve found a couple of gals that really fit the category and by coincidence they turned out to be my neighbors! Another good thing to be said for Rosales:)

0 funny, 0 helpful.

Lauthra says on Aug 3, 2005, 17:15:

A Taxi from Chapinero Alto it A Taxi from Chapinero Alto to Andino it's just a bit over the minimum rate, or a nice polluted 30 mins walk along the main avenues...
When I was looking for a flat in Chapinero Alto, there price of furnitured ones was higher than 800.000, I was looking for a two bedroom flat though, dunno if a one bedroom furniture flat would fit in your price range.

Nato

(='.'=)

Nato (='.'=)

0 funny, 0 helpful.

DCShoeCo says on Aug 3, 2005, 17:26:

I live in a nice, safe, furnished, guarded, decently sized, one bedroom apartment in the north (close to Bulevar mall)... I pay 600 000 pesos a month. Full bathroom, real hotwater shower, queen sized bed, etc. The only catch is I had to pay all six months up front.

Oh yeah the owner is a nice guy who speaks English, and there´s currently a vacancy.

If you´re willing to not live in Andino, there´s plenty of places in your price range.

0 funny, 0 helpful.

Greg444 says on Aug 3, 2005, 18:03:

DCShoe is it quiet, no street traffic noise, no sound thought the walls, etc..???
This is my #1 criteria, an absolute must.
Nicely constructed cement block condo bldgs block out noise street and the unit next to you.
Then I will look for the best location

0 funny, 0 helpful.

Mr. Hollywood says on Aug 3, 2005, 18:09:

Noise Man, you're going to have a hard time with your noise requirement, mostly because there's huge amounts of construction all over Bogota. You might move into a quiet place and a month later they'll tear down the house next door and begin building a highrise.

0 funny, 0 helpful.

Rubiazo says on Aug 3, 2005, 20:21:

The thread was 'live DECENTLY.' And I started it, and the money figure that I personally threw around was 1.5-2 million

To repeat
my gf's apt close to the portal de la 80 (estrato 4)
50 and change m2
3 bdrms
hot water
basic kitchen
linoleum floor
450k/month including administracion but not servicios publicos.

Obviously that's in the west, not the north, and not furnished.

I do have to concur with Mr. Hollywood. My gf and I put a 5 minute time limit on conversations if i call her cellular and she's out on the street because it's so noisy I have to ask her to keep repeating herself over and over! As a matter of fact if both of us are out in the street, me in the noisy Bronx and her in noisy Bogota, it's damn near impossible to hear anything but noise!

0 funny, 0 helpful.

lpdiver says on Aug 4, 2005, 02:41:

Is there any place in the cities That is quiet? I have yet to find it...though I was mainly in hte lower stratas.

t

"cook some rice!"

0 funny, 0 helpful.

DCShoeCo says on Aug 4, 2005, 07:36:

Greg, they are tearing up the street left and right to make the Suba transmilenio (I live off of Av Suba), so good luck finding a really quiet place... at night it´s not bad, I am a light sleeper and I don´t have any problems.

Unfortunately I went home last night and somebody had moved into the vacant apartment.

0 funny, 0 helpful.

Nora says on Aug 4, 2005, 07:44:

Noise Mr. H is right. Even in Rosales with well constructed houses and little traffic noise there’s always construction noise somewhere around –and no noise through the walls /roof??? I can hear the phones ringing in at least 2 other apartments…

0 funny, 0 helpful.

Greg444 says on Aug 4, 2005, 10:07:

Nora,

Any outside noise in your $1.7m apt on Rosales??? street traffic, neighbors phones, babies crying, those loud annoying 2cycle motorcyles, etc...

0 funny, 0 helpful.

Rubiazo says on Aug 4, 2005, 10:48:

If you really hate noise that much Maybe you want to look at somewhere different than Bogota, or outside of Bogota.
My really good friend here who lives in Queens hails from Zipaquirá, which is about 30 minutes or so by car from the DC to the north. In between the two is Chía, but there are LOTS of new buildings going up in Chia apparently.

0 funny, 0 helpful.

Diez Y Siete says on Aug 4, 2005, 11:02:

how much would am apartment in the ilarco/ pointe largo area cost....like 3 bedrooms?

0 funny, 0 helpful.

Greg444 says on Aug 4, 2005, 11:11:

I know there are plenty of quiet apts, in a good location in Bogota.

I remember I stayed in the neighborhood just norht of UNicentro, I think it was La Fontana area, and after I went down a couple streets all was quiet!!!! Big Tall new looking condo apts bldgs in that neighborhood, just might be a hassle to have to take a taxi all the time to get to Andino and Park 93.

Also, I still think all the tall condo apt along the moutainside in Norte look really nice., a big expressway road is at the bottm of the moutainside, the expressway goes from norte bogota all th way down to centro, with many parks along way off to your right as you go south.

I just do not know if you can get one for 800,000 to 1.2mil a month.
Hollywood gringo said no.

0 funny, 0 helpful.

Nora says on Aug 4, 2005, 16:09:

No traffic, but phones ringing and music yes, so I guess I´m just lucky they don´t have babies:-) Come to think of it I never hear their voices, so maybe they just have really loud phones…?
I kinda like hearing that there are other people alive in the world so I don´t mind.

If you want really quiet I just got to thinking about Usaquén, to me it seems almost like a nice little village inside Bogota (norte and mountainside, by mall Santa Barbara). I´ve no idea about prices, communications and availabilities there though, but maybe somebody else knows?

0 funny, 0 helpful.

Greg444 says on Aug 4, 2005, 18:19:

I find it hard to believe you hear noise from other apts , in a 1.7mil apt.

The ones I were in were solid cement block or brick construction, you would have to go out on the balconey to hear any noise.
So nice going out on he balcony at night, seeing all the lights of the city down below, from your condo on the mountain.

And in Fontana area theones I were in wre also solid block construction, sound proof from inside. Maybe the Fontana area , just north of Unicentro is strat 6.


I have some good ideas of where to look now, but it appears you will be unique situation compareing apt bldg by apt bldg., no blanket statements can be made.


I live on the beach now in Florida, and the only thing I hear are the waves and seagulls at night, very relaxing.
You go out and have a good time , but you always need a place to go back and relax, where you are in complete control.

Andino Park on a Thur night, then back to the condo, for a good nights sleep fro work on Friday. Parque92, San Angel on Friday night, then again get a nice quiet nights sleep, ready for the gym or a trip to the finca Saturday.

0 funny, 0 helpful.

Greg444 says on Aug 12, 2005, 18:11:

It looks like all the nice 1 or 2 bedroom apartments in Chico run 2 to 3mil.

And for Chapinero Alto run 1.8 to 2.2 mil


Also I cannot believe how many apartments 4 bedrooms run 14 to 21 mil a month in Norte, that is more then Miami Beach beachfront!!!!
Who are these people?

I used metrocuadrado.com

0 funny, 0 helpful.

ws244 says on Aug 12, 2005, 19:10:

apt A new unfurnished apartment North of Unicentro will rent for a minimum of 1.2 mil pesos per month, maybe 950 square feet, and with the dollar being worthless now it is ridiculous what prices are there. An unfurnished apartment means no refrigerator, washer dryer etc. Those 20 story high rises just north of Unicentro are selling for 250,000 U.S. South of 100 street the terrain goes downhill towards the city center, and the pollution starts. If you live north you can see it every morning. Bogota apartments do not as a rule have heating or air conditioning. Rental Apartments more than 5 years old are not usually maintained well.

0 funny, 0 helpful.

poco says on Aug 12, 2005, 19:14:

The facts Going to Colombia with an AMERICAN wife and child?

IF YOU CAN'T AFFORD THREE THOUSAND DOLLARS per month you can count on a divorce if you are still there when she leaves. (6 Million Pesos).

THREE THOUSAND DOLLARS in a big city is about right, not fantastic. 1000 per month is WATCHING the Paint Peal unless you are single and living "low",,, ie: Washing and Hanging your used Zip Loc Baggies on the clothes line to dry.

"When you men get home and face an anti-war protester, look him in the eyes and shake his hand. Then, wink at his girlfriend, because she knows she's dating a pussy." Quote - General Tommy Franks

0 funny, 0 helpful.

Greg444 says on Sep 22, 2005, 19:42:

Not worth the hassle I checked it all out.
But moving to Colombia is a not worth the hassle, too many questions,
where do I store my car, what about my mail, my bills, my furniture, etc,my condo, maintaining two residences is not worth the hassle....

0 funny, 0 helpful.

aztec says on Sep 23, 2005, 05:41:

You are ... ...correct Greg444 about the hassle of moving to Colombia. We are in the middle of the process and it has been an education. Much of the problem has nothing per say to do with Colombia but rather the logistics of the change.

All of the difficulties you mention can be resolved but it is certainly burdensome.

0 funny, 0 helpful.

Gator says on Sep 23, 2005, 06:20:

A Quick Look In "El Tiempo"... on the north end suggests $850/1000 USD a month rent. Paying bills? I just use citybank and on-line banking, mail don't have that problem but there are drop services that will forward(expensive).

Also agree with poco-$2500/3000 USD for the north-end life.

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

0 funny, 0 helpful.

aztec says on Sep 23, 2005, 08:08:

Queston poco ... Does the $3000 include rental of apartment.

0 funny, 0 helpful.

bogota says on Sep 23, 2005, 08:15:

Apartment costs Even in Colombia you get what you pay for, a cheap apartment in a not so great area, or a good area like you want for more money, both are available.

0 funny, 0 helpful.