Emilia K. Says:
I’ve always loved the romance and passion of Colombia. Is it possible to live there on my Social Security check of $1,000 a month?
IL Executive Editor Jennifer Stevens Says:
Hi Emilia,
One of the main benefits of living in Colombia is the low cost of living. And what’s more, it’s a low cost of living in a country that offers many of the first-world amenities and infrastructure that you’d expect in a much more expensive location.
While the cost of living has risen considerably in recent years, foreign residents can still live quite comfortably in upper-class areas starting at $1,000 per month for small cities like Manizales and Pereira.
It is important to note that Colombia uses a tiered, estrato system to determine the cost of utilities, including electricity, natural gas, water, and telephone and internet service. The system assigns an estrato number to neighborhoods based on the average income of its residents. Lower estrato neighborhoods pay lower rates than higher estrato neighborhoods.
There are other ways in which the cost of living in Colombia varies from one neighborhood to another.
Gentrified neighborhoods like Cartagena’s Boca Grande and El Poblito in Medellin will charge you a higher price for things like rent and eating out. But cities known for their tourism industry will tend to have higher costs in general, with the more affordable options further away from the beachfront.
To help choose your Colombian getaway, I’d recommend this article by IL contributor Michelle Thompson: Three Best Colombian Cities to Live in for Under $1,000.
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