Things in Colombia that should be CHEAP that are really EXPENSIVE Or Visa Versa

Bill Turley (Trustee board) (☼Travelguide writer) says on Nov 2, 2008, 08:54:

Cheers Terry says on Nov 2, 2008, 09:00:

1.) Really decent restaurant meals can be very inexpensive.

2.) Crappy nightclubs/discos can be waaaaay overpriced.

3.) Some really nice neighbourhood bars can be great deals.

4.) Clothing can be way overpriced, as can many foreign consumer goods.

5.) Some locally made items like furniture can be very affordable.

Cheers,
Terry

0 funny, 0 helpful.

Waterdawg says on Nov 2, 2008, 09:04:

I still say that the real Estate Market is out of wack here in Bogota .. I look a what they are charging ( per sq. ft or meter ) for new construction ( Apt / Condo ) without Central air or heat , no insulation , no dry wall , cheap ass single pain windows , substandard wiring and the list gos on and on ..

0 funny, 1 helpful.

Paisa/Calena/Luver says on Nov 2, 2008, 09:08:

Toscineta is super expensive.. RICA BRAND standard size was like 14-15 mil in Exito... we bought cordero and it was like 8-9 la libra.. I thought that was expensive..

No Generic Cialis yet but generic Viagra was a steal 3-4mil each.. lol

I love Laura Acuna & Jessica Cediel! lol

1 funny, 0 helpful.

mcheasley says on Nov 2, 2008, 09:32:

When shopping last week in Medellin for everything for the new house I was surprised that the cost of 32-42 in Tv's with the current exchange rate were almost equal to the states... Appliances for the kitchen were also equivalent with the good exchange rate... So much for shipping from NC.... We found the quality of alot of furniture (not all) to be quite uncomfortable and poor quality.... As far as groceries go, a decent selection of U.S. products at Carulla (though a little higher price)... I took my list of items to Home Center to compare as far as tools, pressure washer and so on.. I will be shipping these items south... As far as rents go for apartments and casas, very good prices can be found in nice areas...

0 funny, 0 helpful.

Bluesdude says on Nov 2, 2008, 10:19:

Do you have a good way to ship stuff here from the states? I have a bunch of stuff I'd like to bring down but can't get past the extra bag restrictions and/or charges on most airlines. Thanks.

A guru once said, "the mind is like a drunken monkey." If that's true, then my mind is an orangutan on a binge

0 funny, 0 helpful.

pedro (☼Travelguide writer) says on Nov 2, 2008, 10:21:

La_Huella says on Nov 2, 2008, 10:33:

I find just about everything cheap here, with only a few exceptions, cured meats, bacon, like someone pointed out, is ridiculously expensive here for some reason.

If you want cheap, AVOID Exito Carrefour Carulla Pomona and Olimpica. For clothes and such, go to a San Andresito, for foodstuffs go to the plaza de mercado, for electronic stuff go to Unilago, for furniture you have to go to Ciudad Montes, take the Transmilenio to the SENA station at Av 1 de Mayo and Cra 30, there are tons of good cheap furniture stores all along 1 de Mayo west of Cra 30. If you see nothing but fast food and whiskerias you went the wrong way :P

Sometimes stuff here in Bogota is twice, three times, or many times what you should pay for it, just because it's in a ritzy neighborhood, or even sometimes right across the street from the same thing cheaper. Just because you bought something once or twice at a certain price, don't be certain that that's the price. It really pays off here to keep both eyes peeled for the best deals on stuff, and talk about it with your friends here and trade info.

0 funny, 0 helpful.

Pappassito (☼Travelguide writer) says on Nov 2, 2008, 11:40:

Noelito40 says on Nov 2, 2008, 11:50:

In my experience here Colombia is like most poor and emerging economies, goods are expensive (because of high import taxes, and only the elite can afford them) and services are cheap (because of high unemployment and as a consequence low wages)!!

By the way re the original point and

"Kids clothes are really expensive..."

I agree with this completely but it's the same in all countries, which is why I think a shop selling secondhand baby clothes would make a fortune. Baby clothes only last for a few months, so the demand for them is constantly high, yet the lifetime of the clothes is very short...

Noelito

0 funny, 0 helpful.

mcheasley says on Nov 2, 2008, 12:39:

Bluesdude, Just took 5 oversize flight cases loaded down to Mde on AA, and the rest i am shipping through TCC out of MIA... 95 cents a pound and items arrive the day before you fly in so everythings waiting for you... If you want contact info PM me....

0 funny, 0 helpful.

bickerss says on Nov 2, 2008, 12:43:

The cost to get a load of washing done is outrageous.

Taxis are super cheap.

Hotels in big cities are generally pretty exy.

Investment Strategy - buying when others are crying!! Offloading when others are gloating!!!

0 funny, 0 helpful.

bopenyan (☼Travelguide writer) says on Nov 2, 2008, 12:54:

Paisa/Calena/Luver says on Nov 2, 2008, 12:55:

"The cost to get a load of washing done is outrageous."

You are absolutely right. I remember I wanted to take all my shirts in the cleaners to wash, press and hang on hangers. NOT DRYCLEAN and they wanted like 15k a shirt.... I told them that they were f-ing crazy and in Miami if you do some dry cleaning they have wash and hang for like $1.25 a shirt..

I love Laura Acuna & Jessica Cediel! lol

0 funny, 0 helpful.

La_Huella says on Nov 2, 2008, 13:12:

Laundromats are very uncommon and expensive but dry cleaning is cheap here. I can get a whole suit done for 6k.

My monthly telephone expenses are 54k for the landline and unlimited calls to other landlines, about 12k a month on my cell, and another 2k or so in cabinas calling other cells. I pay $60 a year to skype and I use about $10 of SkypeOut every month. I'm actually paying less than I was in the USA.

0 funny, 0 helpful.

jonny305 says on Nov 2, 2008, 14:30:

everone i colombia has cell phones because incoming textes are free
thats pretty cool

0 funny, 0 helpful.

corporalgator (☼Travelguide writer) says on Nov 2, 2008, 14:32:

Pappassito (☼Travelguide writer) says on Nov 2, 2008, 15:01:

johnny2008 says on Nov 2, 2008, 15:56:

Whores are dirt cheap and that's for a really pretty one, cheap as chips for a tatty one. A pretty one in London would set you back a week's wages and you'd have to buy her dinner too.

I don't partake, I just wanted to join in the thread.

Oh I think Chocolate is quite expensive too

1 funny, 0 helpful.

casa_de_norte says on Nov 2, 2008, 16:01:

female toiletries more expensive in Colombia.. My wife takes a bunch of stuff to Colombia, when she goes... makeup, hair products, cotton swabs, etc....

One thing I love about my wife is she hasn't discovered expensive hair products yet... She loves products like Dove Shampoo, Dove Soap, etc...

"Why cain't we all jus' git along?!?! "----- The great Rodney King

0 funny, 0 helpful.

dwmte7 says on Nov 2, 2008, 16:10:

well i'm not gonna get into what's overpriced and what's not.....you're not dumb. however, if you wanna get things down to a realistic, colombian's level, get the f**k outta the malls and go shopping in the streets. get outta medallo, go up to bello, rio negro and or even centro in medellin and poke around until you find what you want. you'll find things like jeans...name brands for half of what they are in exito, oviedo, sandiego, etc. the little shops that line the streets downtown are treasure houses. food, well, if you're looking for haute cuisine, you're pressed and forced to pay the lady. however, as mentioned above, if you want good tasting, fresh, honest fare at a fair price, avoid the name, pricey places. good food abounds all over colombia.

medical services...great doctors and dentists all over the place who provide state of the art services at honorable prices.

colombia is a people place. get out of the tourist traps and money holes and poke around with the REAL COLOMBIAN PEOPLE, not the snot nosed rich and wannabes. fuck them. if they can't be nice and considerate they don't deserve your time, your money or your attention......again, fuck em.

get out with the wonderful people who make colombia what it is......a marvelous wonderland and a host of a life of endless possibilities for anyone from near or far. GOD I LOVE COLOMBIA. SHE'S ONE HELLOFA FINE LADY.

dwmte

0 funny, 1 helpful.

johnny2008 says on Nov 2, 2008, 16:32:

Excellent use of swearing Douglas. I personally think that Colombia is a country where beauty, both inside and out is inversely proportional to wealth.

0 funny, 0 helpful.

kenblanquito says on Nov 2, 2008, 16:39:

dwmte, you are dead right. When I first moved to Medellin 3 years ago, I was living in the barrio de Boston and most of my shopping was done in la Placita de Florez and the immediately surrounding area. The good thing about those places are that you can actually bargain with the people, particularly if you were going to buy a decent quantity, for example wine, beer, cigarettes: buying the same stuff in supermarkets would cost 30% more and there is no negotiation there. The Placita itself was great; fresh meat and vegetables/fruit much cheaper and if you built up a relationship with the people, they really looked after you because they appreciated your custom and even threw in some free stuff. El Hueco is another great place and should not be missed; textiles, stationery, certain clothes, sports stuff-same products marked up by 100% in El Poblado!
It is all about having the courage to mingle with the Paisas, the majority are great and are not looking to rip off the next Gringo. I always ask if something is the price for Gringos or Colombianos and one usually knows by the reaction; generally they will drop the price a little to obtain your custom if they are trying it on; others will smile/laugh and stick to the original price: it is good fun really and all part of our tertiary education.
Medellin is not that cheap or as cheap relatively speaking as it was but it is still better-priced than where most of us come from!

0 funny, 1 helpful.

miamimike says on Nov 2, 2008, 23:40:

agree with this completely but it's the same in all countries, which is why I think a shop selling secondhand baby clothes would make a fortune. Baby clothes only last for a few months, so the demand for them is constantly high, yet the lifetime of the clothes is very short...

Noelito
===================================================================

Noel--Colombians have a "thing" , be it right or wrong, about buying used clothing. There is a stigma attched to it that we don't have in the States. No matter, Hot Water, Soap, Bleach and or Drycleaning zaps most, if not all of the "bugs" that may be in a piece of used clothing. I agree, if they would buy it, used baby, toddler clothing would be a good business. Never could understand that deal where Laundry charges are so high,,,Why is that? I should bring my little Wonderwash machine with me, one of my best investments ever...

http://www.laundry-alternative.com/washing.htm

Avatar Legend: Bush "If any of you Reporters are wondering, it was a Size 10"

0 funny, 0 helpful.

La_Huella says on Nov 3, 2008, 00:44:

Just the other day, I went to a lamb vendor in the plaza. He sold me a whole crown roast for 3500 and threw in some fresh herbs and pieces of heart! Woulda cost at least $20 in the US if a penny!!

0 funny, 0 helpful.

dwmte7 says on Nov 3, 2008, 04:17:

on one trip down about 12 years ago, i took down about 500 lbs of used clothing...gave away a lot sold some to 'segundos diez' and a shop downtown. they i sold the remainder for two million col pesos. they were very select, high-brand, in original/fine condition. just an experiment.

dwmte

0 funny, 0 helpful.

Darloup (☼Travelguide writer) says on Nov 3, 2008, 04:50:

dwmte7 says on Nov 3, 2008, 06:20:

for a country that wants to 'up-level' education, the cost of books is prohibitive.

dwmte

0 funny, 0 helpful.

mcheasley says on Nov 3, 2008, 08:13:

We did most of our shopping in Centro (where the streets are closed to cars) and found the prices alot more affordable and the same brands as the big stores and chains... Appliances, tv's, and so on.... The exchange rate made it an easy decision to not ship...

0 funny, 0 helpful.

Paisa/Calena/Luver says on Nov 3, 2008, 08:15:

I bought a childrens book for my Ex novia at that book store Publicidad Nacional.. 58mil.. No wonder why she asked me for it for her kid... It was a fortune.

I love Laura Acuna & Jessica Cediel! lol

0 funny, 0 helpful.

Tinto (Moderator) (Trustee board) says on Nov 3, 2008, 08:30:

Yes, book prices are crazy. I don't know why -- lack of competition, lack of demand, lack of the right kind of trees for pulp?

Bogota has a couple research or main libraries that are impressive, but you'll look for a long time before you'll find neighborhood libraries. That's sad, esp. because mindless television becomes the default activity for many children.

0 funny, 0 helpful.

viajero123 (☼Travelguide writer) says on Nov 3, 2008, 08:42:

La_Huella says on Nov 3, 2008, 09:29:

Tinto, Bogota has the most libraries per capita in the whole world. What are you going on about? I don't think you looked very hard.

0 funny, 0 helpful.

Tinto (Moderator) (Trustee board) says on Nov 3, 2008, 11:24:

I don't believe the per capita claim because there is not a uniform counting method worldwide. One problem: Do you count a large university's central library or it's central library plus perhaps 20 additional departmental libraries?

http://travesia.mcu.es/documentos/colombia.asp -- old article. I know improvements have been made but the total number of books is still low.

Check out some of their libraries. I've been in a few of the small town ones and my personal library is larger than the one that's supposed to serve several thousand citizens.

0 funny, 0 helpful.

La_Huella says on Nov 3, 2008, 11:25:

I'm more of an internet man myself. But putting forth Americans as bookish compared to Colombians strikes me as being way wide of the mark.

Anyways Viajero already debunked the "books are expensive" thing. The truth is really almost nothing is expensive here unless you want it to be!

0 funny, 0 helpful.

corporalgator (☼Travelguide writer) says on Nov 3, 2008, 11:33:

dwmte7 says on Nov 3, 2008, 11:40:

viajero didn't debunk squat.....he said there's some second had stores where you can save money and that in a certain area, the books are "cheaper". that by no means translates as books being costly has been debunked.

books, be they domestically produced, imported, or used, are expensive...period. and to say that there's more libraries per capita in bogota than anywhere else on earth.....well, i'd have to see some serious studies on that to buy into the belief.

dwmte

0 funny, 0 helpful.

Tinto (Moderator) (Trustee board) says on Nov 3, 2008, 11:42:

The Spanish speaking world needs an Andrew Carnegie. Maybe someday one of the paracos will fill that role when they want to salve their conscience.

0 funny, 0 helpful.

Desi1 (Moderator) (Trustee board) says on Nov 3, 2008, 11:52:

Maybe that's one of the things that's wrong with Colombia. In a country that has less than 1 library book per capita and lies just after Bolivia and before Zimbabwe in library books per capita for the whole country there must certainly be a LOT of libraries in Bogotá to bring Bogotá to the top of the list. Unless they were just empty shelves....

66 Bolivia: 14.1156 per 1,000 people
#67 Egypt: 12.9177 per 1,000 people
#68 Ecuador: 11.2242 per 1,000 people
#69 Colombia: 9.99297 per 1,000 people
#70 Zimbabwe: 8.27152 per 1,000 people
#71 Chile: 6.30449 per 1,000 people
#72 Iran: 6.04252 per 1,000 people
#73 Mali: 5.28384 per 1,000 people
#74 Mexico: 5.07138 per 1,000 people
#75 Togo: 3.51852 per 1,000 people
#76 Sierra Leone: 3.4089 per 1,000 people
#77 Gambia, The: 1.25392 per 1,000 people
#78 Benin: 0.915152 per 1,000 people
#79 Rwanda: 0.141808 per 1,000 people
#80 Burma: 0.102134 per 1,000 people
#81 Bangladesh: 0.0970066 per 1,000 people
Weighted average: 832.5 per 1,000 people



DEFINITION: Per capita figures expressed per 1,000 population.


SOURCE: UNESCO Institute for Statistics

A fronte praecipitium a tergo lupi

1 funny, 0 helpful.

Cheers Terry says on Nov 3, 2008, 12:25:

"... Bogota has the most libraries per capita in the whole world..."

===============================================

That even beats Simon's usual hyperbole.

Thanks for the chuckle.

Cheers,
Terry

0 funny, 0 helpful.

La_Huella says on Nov 3, 2008, 12:29:

http://pages.infinit.net/colombia/bogota/

I don't think it got named world book capital last year for being book poor. Yeah sure the rest of the country is probably a little on the ignorant side. But that does not apply here, sorry.

Anyways like I said, I actually think it's irrelevant. As far as I'm concerned libraries are obsolete, soon to be completely replaced by the internet.

And yes corporalgator they do have such a system here.

0 funny, 0 helpful.

Cheers Terry says on Nov 3, 2008, 15:33:

Dear La Huella,

Sorry, I didn't mean to take a cheap shot. Bogota may indeed be book rich compared to cities in other poor countries, but making the blanket statement claiming, "most libraries per capita" is simply ludicrous.

Your link states only 33 public libraries in the entire city. With less than one third the population Toronto has 100+ public libraries - and that's in a city that's years and years and years ahead of Bogota in terms of Internet access to on-line libraries and reference material.

Lastly, Bogota's bookstores are still (by any North American measure) abysmal, both in terms of selection and cost.

Cheers,
Terry

0 funny, 0 helpful.

dwmte7 says on Nov 3, 2008, 17:36:

whew....sure glad we got that dust settled.

too, we're the big '69' on the list. oh boy...69.

dwmte

0 funny, 0 helpful.

bogotaboy says on Nov 7, 2008, 05:55:

Agreed service is cheap. Have just remodelled my appartment in Bogota and paid just 50,000 COP a day for a decent maestro mate to do all the work! About the same cost I paid for the floor tiles...on that front you'll find a lot of intermediaries on the main streets but if you look a little harder you can find the actual fabrica and knock 20% straight off the bottom line.
I now need to furnish the place and struggling to find a small fridge (less than 85cm altura), so forced to go to Alcosto & pay more than 500,000! Any ideas for this and other electrodomestico places for better prices would be appreciated.
On the kid's clothes front I completely agree, in fact my novia sells high quality branded imported kid's gear (socks, bibs, ect) for just this reason.

0 funny, 0 helpful.

mariacvetanoski says on Nov 7, 2008, 06:41:

McDonalds is also very high even for a HAPPY MEAL!!

Save the street children of Colombia Now!!

0 funny, 0 helpful.

cali373 says on Nov 7, 2008, 07:15:

Prices get complicated in Colombia but it mainly has to do with tariffs and taxes imposed on businesses. Something that Uribe has done nothing about and NOBODY criticizes him for it.

Tariffs are TOO high on imports which is why electronics are expensive. the US has virtually no import tariffs on electronics from asia. Just proves that a Free trade deal is not needed to improve trade. Clothes are cheap in Colombia depending on where you go, however if you want brand name (guess, Armani, diesel) then they are very expensive. Cars also have high tariffs but that is ok with me, we do not need more of them on the road polluting and making colombia dependent on foreign oil. Lowering those tariffs can wait until renewable fuels are more prevalent. beef could be costly but people should not be eating meat everyday anyway.

Costs of doing business have nto improved under Uribe, so this keep prices just as high. Mercado food is just as fresh when you go on certain days. The US based chain restaurants ar expensive because in other countries it is a luxury to eat there. why would you want to eat there is beyond me. there is good tasting crappy food all over Colombia.

Smile if you are a thinker!

0 funny, 0 helpful.

johnny2008 says on Nov 7, 2008, 08:11:

Domestic appliances:

I forget exactly where I was, probably Calle 16 or 17 con la 9ª
There is a street full of workwear, boiler suits, gloves, boots hard hats etc.
Nestled in the middle is a huge indie shop with white goods at decent prices

0 funny, 0 helpful.

azunoman says on Nov 7, 2008, 08:41:

what is cheap that should be expensive?

Cigarettes...there untapped taxes for schools etc...in them there hills....

Playing the ugly American on request or as required. Ready, Fire, Aim

0 funny, 0 helpful.

dwmte7 says on Nov 7, 2008, 12:32:

a carton of 'caribe' sets you back about 2.50 u.s. something like that.

when i first moved to colombia in the 80's the col peso was 400 per dollar. now it's 2300 per dollar (or something close) so domestic inflation is working against everything.

dwmte

0 funny, 0 helpful.

bickerss says on Nov 7, 2008, 14:50:

Cocktails can be cheap-ish; in a few places in Lleres they are reasonable ie donde Aquellos 10 mil for a large; 3 for 1 in Thaico works out Ok (13 mil from memory) and theres another place that has 3 for one as well.

They were more exy in Bogota.

Investment Strategy - buying when others are crying!! Offloading when others are gloating!!!

0 funny, 0 helpful.

casa_de_norte says on Nov 7, 2008, 15:02:

My wife.. She's draining the damned bank!!!

"Why cain't we all jus' git along?!?! "----- The great Rodney King

0 funny, 0 helpful.

bickerss says on Nov 7, 2008, 15:13:

Have had no problem like that in Thaico and go there often. Have had that before though at Mr Cocktails - sent them back and they returned with a full complement!!

Investment Strategy - buying when others are crying!! Offloading when others are gloating!!!

0 funny, 0 helpful.

mranderson says on Nov 7, 2008, 16:40:

"Sounds like a great deal until you taste your drink and it contains little or no alcohol."

Same thing with beer from the tap. I´ve ordered from the tap before and my glass seemed really clear. I told the bartender and he claimed it was the ice. The ice wasn´t even melted at this point. And anyway, who drinks beer with ice in it? Seems wierd to me. I don´t like beer on tap here for that reason.

0 funny, 0 helpful.

papiChulo says on Nov 7, 2008, 22:32:

another good reason for me to quit drinking... thanks for the tip guys.

avoid the unhappy and the unlucky

0 funny, 0 helpful.

ddeadpoet says on Nov 8, 2008, 16:12:

There is no good reason to quit drinking.

1 funny, 0 helpful.

jonas says on Nov 8, 2008, 16:43:

They run some really good special offers at Carrefour on a wide selction of wines. I have bought loads of Bordeaux that would cost the same or even more in Europe. Offer ends at the end of this month.
They even had Moet & Chandon for $63mil, that´s like half price but sold out ;-(
You can find decent wines for 15mil there if you are a member of their wine club. (free)

Mi alma se la dejo al diablo

0 funny, 0 helpful.

La_Huella says on Nov 9, 2008, 05:10:

Another Simon my ass. I live here, Simon lives in the USA.

I left the USA because I didn't like it. One of the things I didn't like is the fact that there really is no real infrastructure there and no real quality of anything. Everything is designed to go bust on you a month after the warranty expires. They have it down to a science.

I really don't know for sure about the book thing, like I said, I generally find everything I want to read on the internet.

And what the Christ are you talking about about my statement being "true"? What I said was that I PERSONALLY like the way Chinese food is done here, that I acknowledge that it's not authentic, and also that it's not authentic anywhere in North America either. The first part is a personal opinion, not a statement of fact. The second part is just painfully obvious.

The more I live here, the more I'm finding just how cheaply you can live here, and how you can get good quality for cheap moreover.

0 funny, 0 helpful.