What is one year's expenses to live in Colombia?

asdfn says on Jul 16, 2008, 23:26:

oh, also, I would be willing to teach english a few days a week if that were possible. for a native speaker with a Bachelors (in Economics).

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goin_south says on Jul 17, 2008, 00:24:

economia. that is a bunch of B.S. lol

Where do we go from here?

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Cerealkiller says on Jul 17, 2008, 01:18:

Id say 1.5 yo 2 million pesos per month in estrato 4 or 5...

Conservatives are not necessarily stupid, but most stupid people are conservatives -John Stuart Mill

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dwmte7 says on Jul 17, 2008, 05:50:

i would recommend medallo (medellin) for all around comfort and ease. and as for a budget for the year...of course this depends on how carried away you want to get, between 10,000 and 20,000 would be easily safe. again, you could go through that in a month. it's all based on your discipline. too there's a nice 'bolsa de valores' in medellin. and everything from work to play is less than 15 minutes apart. as for cartegena...probably one of the worlds funkiest beaches. don't recommend. too, after a week or two, it's a fuckin bore.

dwmte

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pilotguy says on Jul 17, 2008, 06:21:

It is more expensive here than you would think. Consider carefully. This is not a "cheap" place to live as might have been years ago. My opinion...

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yummyj says on Jul 17, 2008, 06:32:

I would not recommend medellin unless you have a LOT of money.

And teaching Engish requiers more than speaking the language and having a degree in anything. Sorry, sad, but true.

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arthur brode says on Jul 17, 2008, 06:37:

And teaching Engish requiers more than speaking the language and having a degree in anything. Sorry, sad, but true.
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true,but many language institutes will hire native english speakers without any teaching experience/certifications.

and you can live in Colombia on less than $10k/year if you keep your expenses/rent down

http://www.calirentals.net/

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Tinto (Moderator) says on Jul 17, 2008, 06:48:

Douglas, the small regional stock markets went out of business/merged a few years ago. The Bolsa de Valores is now in Bogota.

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tejasmarcos says on Jul 17, 2008, 07:03:

it is a mixed bag and certainly not cheap. i live in medellin and my minimal months run me about $1700 USD including everything (rent, food, utilities, transportation, fun). this list is in order of most expensive to least. if i choose to eat out on occasion or go out once or twice a week to socialize, the monthly bill can easily rise to $2000 - 2100 USD. if you want to travel around, it is more.

*my expenses do not include a vehicle.
*working here or earning money here is a whole new bag of worms.
*rate exchange variables can catch you offguard too. expenses have dramatically gone up over the last 9 months.

trying to walk a straight line on sour mash and cheap wine...

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Brians says on Jul 17, 2008, 07:11:

Wow Tejas...I would have expected minimums a lot more than that rate.

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dwmte7 says on Jul 17, 2008, 07:20:

argh....you deep pocketed gringos are all the same....money to burn....bars, pussy, hangin out....love it.

dwmte

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dwmte7 says on Jul 17, 2008, 07:20:

trouble is, because of the bars, pussy, hangin out, i burned all my money.

dwmte

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asdfn says on Jul 17, 2008, 07:43:

thx for the replies, plenty to think about.

I wasnt necesarily looking for a steal, but wanted to visit anyways and figured if its cheap all the better.

Im looking into the TEFL now.

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Tinto (Moderator) says on Jul 17, 2008, 07:47:

There are a couple people doing what you're thinking about doing. Maybe they'll contact you via private message.

If you're an independent trader (your own money), make sure you get the straight story on bringing capital into the country. I realize you could leave it all in your home country but you may need to transfer some to get the right kind of visa. Glancing at the different stories on this site, it sounds confusing, and painful if you don't do it properly.

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tejasmarcos says on Jul 17, 2008, 08:35:

brians - those minimums have been lately as the "honeymoon period" in medellin is over for me. i am not in the bars all the time. i do not eat out very often (besides lunch) and i watch my $$ since the exchange rates have eaten 30 % out of my purchase power.

* remember also - i am just supporting me right now.

trying to walk a straight line on sour mash and cheap wine...

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elk says on Jul 17, 2008, 08:53:

Eating out can be very expensive here in Medellin. I pay 12,500 COP for a hamburger and fries. ($7.00 USD) The exchange rate is killer. It's gone from 2,600 to 1,750 in just two years.

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quantum says on Jul 17, 2008, 08:56:

Asdfn,
A more affordable Colombia is definately more interesting, but, in consideration of the current cost factor, u may want to think about setting up shop in Panama. Its got its problems, without question, but everything works, its in dollars, its got one 24&7 trading company in Panama C. Cars cost american prices, more or less, cheaper for new ones, low taxes, very good infrastructure and lowest level of violent crime in central america (couple bad barrios) Lacks the culture of Colombia, but overall friendly and cooperative and yur not a target, at least not in the way u might be in Colombia. And plus Panama C. is full of great lookin Colombianas. In Panama you can eat fresh for the price of rice and beans in Colombia any more. Its gotten rediculous there.......

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tejasmarcos says on Jul 17, 2008, 08:56:

my burger and fries (and coke) at presto is $14,000. it is $20,000 at el corral.

- where are you eating, elk?

trying to walk a straight line on sour mash and cheap wine...

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vicshere says on Jul 17, 2008, 09:33:

holy crap I can get by with about 1,600,000
own my home
family of 4
car
motorcycle
bills
food
taxes
strato 3
don't eat out
internet cable and unlimited phone

listo

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360Degrees says on Jul 17, 2008, 09:47:

asdfn......hope your having better luck on your post

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tejasmarcos says on Jul 17, 2008, 10:43:

vicshere - as you know, bucamaranga is not medellin and medellin is not bogota - and there are wide variances depending on location, strata, expense styles, etc.

like i said, colombia is far from simple. it is varying shades of grey at best.

come live it for a while and you will begin to understand.

trying to walk a straight line on sour mash and cheap wine...

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jorgegdiaz says on Jul 17, 2008, 11:17:

Why don`t you post the projected budget you prepared so we can help better?
Choose a cheap/smaller (Bucaramanga, Santa Marta, Tunja, Armenia, Manizales, Villavicencio) city rather than a big/expensive one to start (Medellin, Cali, Bogota, Cartagena, B/quilla). you can always move after you proved that what you`re doing works.

Q: are you doing FOREX?

"To err is human - and to blame it on a computer is even more so."Robert Orben

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papiChulo says on Jul 17, 2008, 11:20:

tejasmarcos... wot strata do you live and wot do you rent and how much...??? its been 18 months since I've been there... just trying to get an idea but if the Qs are personal... sorry to pry.

paz

I'm not greedy I just want a lot.

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arthur brode says on Jul 17, 2008, 11:49:

there are plenty of unfurnished Studio Apartments and 1br. apartments in good,safe barrios both in Cali and Medellin from 400,000 pesos/month(estrato 3/4).now,qualifying to rent them is another story.

utilities 50,000/75,000 pesos per month(1 person estrato 3/4)

Internet 500kbps 100,000 pesos per month

Phone bill 50,000 pesos per month(unlimited local calls plan)

Cell phone 50,000 pesos per month(pre paid rough estimate)

Health Insurance 60,000 pesos per month (eps government plan)

Food is cheap.You can eat out everyday seven days a week(lunch,dinner and breakfast)5,000-6,000 pesos for lunch and like 8,000-12,000 pesos for dinner(delivery included)
In my case i have the neigbors next door cook me lunch or dinner for 5,000 pesos

Taxis 3,000/4,000 pesos(one-way) because everything is pretty close in the North of Cali

Now,if you want to live up to American Standards in estrato 5/6 with administration payments,24hr security,etc. then you are going to spend a lot more.

http://www.calirentals.net/

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asdfn says on Jul 17, 2008, 11:57:

thanks again all.

I dont have a budget yet, I am just wondering what it would take to make it happen. I would prefer not to have a car - I am assuming Medellin and Bogota are walkable/have good public transit from what Ive read.

Quantum, I think Panama City might be a stop on my "could I set up shop here" tour near the end of this year. Any reason so many colombianas there? And in what sense would I be a target in Medellin or Bogota?

Ive lived in Argentina and loved it, but always thought Brazil or Colombia would be interesting. Plus once I fell for a girl from Medellin who turned out to be a total sociopath, so maybe Im just a sucker for girls who are nuts.

Yes, I work in FX. I havent traded "for myself" but professionally for a year or so (plus equities and options for like 5 years as a hobby), and Im fairly certain I could do it for a living once I am well enough capitalized. Might trade the futures contracts though instead of the spot.

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tejasmarcos says on Jul 17, 2008, 12:00:

avoid panama city unless you enjoy constant traffic jams, honking horns, deplorable heat and humity, terrible cusromer service and a dirty city. good place to vacation, bad place to live. been there, done that.

trying to walk a straight line on sour mash and cheap wine...

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nbenjamin says on Jul 17, 2008, 12:10:

Broder!!!!!!!!!! Where you been my man. Art Brode - rumors were going that you were up there at tres cruces, pimpin, slangin, dealin, and otherwise keepin it street. Try and check in more often.

As for 10k-15k. You could do it. It would suck. I would target 20k plus - for comfortable living.

Also I would throw out Cali as the place to live - and when there look up the man Art Brode - he will put you up cheap while you are looking for a place to stace.

Cali has the Best weather, partying, women in Colombia - a little seedier - but nothing my man AB could not explain for cheap.

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nbenjamin says on Jul 17, 2008, 12:14:

After further review - Medellin may be more appropriate for Colombia at the beginner levels. But, if starting a business is your interest, although much more expensive you should take Bogota (probably the worst Colombian city) into account. It unquestionably has the most thriving economy.

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yummyj says on Jul 17, 2008, 15:14:

reality...

Some people live like misers. Some people actually live ife.

Misers are happy and think their families are also happy.

Money to live on depends on the person. Just because someone says X amount of dollars, that doesn't mean YOU can do it.

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papiChulo says on Jul 17, 2008, 18:39:

nbenjamin... love the glowing recomendation for el don AB.... roflmao!

I'm not greedy I just want a lot.

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vicshere says on Jul 17, 2008, 19:44:

some of use dont need to be in a everlasting party either....just living in colombia is party enough for me

listo

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papiChulo says on Jul 17, 2008, 22:48:

I'm along vics budget with out the kids or mujer but will be in medellin. I don't feel I'm missing out on anything at all in the past.

I'm not greedy I just want a lot.

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Alma del Norte says on Jul 18, 2008, 00:07:

I was mortified recently to analyse my budget over the last 6 months and find out I'd been spending $2,000 a month, that's COP 3.5 million. I'm renting a furnished apartment in estrato 4 Bogota, (cable, phone, internet), no dependants, travel within Colombia a lot, run a motorbike, fair social life, drink quite a lot of imported wine, excellent gym, had some dental work done, bought a new bed and a pair of Levi's!. No health insurance. Things just seem to be getting more and more costly. Having said that, I know I could live elsewhere in Colombia for a quarter of that, had I the will/necessity.

La vida es una rutina

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nbenjamin says on Jul 18, 2008, 13:55:

Papi - I am a huge Brode fan.

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dwmte7 says on Jul 18, 2008, 16:46:

how much money can you spend in a year. well between 1989 and 91, i spent more than a hundred grand. i went through money like piss through a tin horn. then the peso was about 400 per dollar. if you have it, it's real easy to spend it. and, it's fun. you used to be able to hire private helicopters from 'helicol'...was that a rush. take off with the secretary, fly off from the municipal airport to la trucha, have lunch, go up to rio negro...hang out there. in those days, they'ld put the bird down anywhere there was space. if you landed in someones field, it made em feel special that a helicopter was out there on top of their cow shit. they'ld even want you to come eat....silently drooling inside that maybe we would take em for a ride.

so, anyway. what's a budget. 10 grand for a broke fuck like me now up to 50 grand for you big rollers. you can throw around more and enjoy the shit out of it. but it's really...and you know this, just showing off and pissing away money.

dwmte

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Gator says on Jul 18, 2008, 18:09:

Amen, Vic.

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

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mranderson says on Jul 18, 2008, 19:36:

I came here with about 10 grand. I figured it would be enough to live for a while and I could study and do what I want. That didn't really work out. I had to start working almost right away.

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la campiña says on Jul 18, 2008, 21:46:

how much coke do you need

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truthspeaker says on Jul 18, 2008, 21:56:

If you think that coke is considerable in your expense item list in Colombia, than you will be dead soon.

Remember, I can only tell the truth. No more Sex Tourism in Colombia.

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la campiña says on Jul 18, 2008, 22:08:

¿how long is soon?

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truthspeaker says on Jul 18, 2008, 22:17:

sooner than you think

Remember, I can only tell the truth. No more Sex Tourism in Colombia.

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dwmte7 says on Jul 19, 2008, 05:11:

not soon enough....

dwmte

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rhydewithdis says on Jul 19, 2008, 16:15:

at truthseeker, LOL funny comment!

I calculated my budget and it worked out to 3.5-4million pesos a month. That would not be including the upfront costs of furnishing the 200sqmt house estrato 4 (900k) I would say furnishing would cost about 6-8 million pesos.

That would be for a single guy, high-speed Internet cable (150k), vonage ($20), maid 2x/wk for 5-6 hrs each time supplies (150k), going out to party moderately 2-3x/wk (600k), health insurance (120k), eating out pretty often (1.5mill), cell phone (80k), taxis buses metro (200k).

They said I couldn't play football I was too small / They say I couldn't play basketball I wasn't tall / They say I couldn't play baseball at all / And now everyday of my life I ball.

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tejasmarcos says on Jul 19, 2008, 16:28:

i furnished 93 meters for 16,000,000 when the peso was 2400 to 1. i bought mid range furniture in mde. if you throw 6-8 mill pesos at 200 meters, i think you will be dissapointed with the reults, notwithstanding finding a great deal for some nice used furniture.

* a coke habit here would set you back at the same price of a coffee habit in the states. the speaker makes a valid point....... finally!

trying to walk a straight line on sour mash and cheap wine...

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dwmte7 says on Jul 19, 2008, 18:13:

it's all so relative....if you've got it, you spend it. i could easily go through a million a day, with no problem. too, i could go through a day and not spend hardly anything. when i had it, especially when i was the only foreigner around, pissing away money bought my sanity, cured my loneliness. playin king of the mountain. wierd? sure, but when you're the only round eye around for about 3 years, you try anything. there was little to no peace with my wite at that time, so my company became my secretary...she went with me everywhere and enjoyed a rather lavish daytime life style. if she wanted anything she got it. she helped keep me sane. we weren't lovers...at least in the conventional sense, but i sure did love her company, and she mine. sure is different now. moneys gone and lifes simple and...............

dwmte

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dwmte7 says on Jul 19, 2008, 18:18:

and like marcos said, party favors were like free.............. a fat gram or mother of pearl, ether wash, was $1.50 u.s. nor to shabby. you could by a 3" X 3" X 3" corner of a unit (ki) for thirty dollars. beat that. for those of you who don't know, that's a whole lot of toot.

dwmte

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dbldareu says on Jul 22, 2008, 01:13:

You wanna live nicely and play several times a week at the hot spots, drink the high end alcohol, buy the better quality food, and not penny pinch, you need 2500-3000 USD a month. Just the way it is for me and every professional single gringo I know. Colombia is no longer a great bargain. Maybe 20% cheaper than L.A. but worth it...

DD

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