°µÍø½ûÇø

The government (DANE) says inflation is around 6% but my experience  its around 10% to 15% and most Colombians I talk to agree.

All your questions are totally variable depending city  location  estrato  and personal choices as far as food  accomodation preferences etc

Generally half or even a third or less the cost in Canada or US bssed on $Usd

Except electronics snd imported goods which could be more expensive

This is my WAG( wild azz guess ) compered to Canada .

Outside of estrato 6.in Bogota and Medellín

Rent 20% to 30% of Canada

House costs 15% to 30% of Canada depending city , estrato/ barrio you compare it to and location

Food 40% to 70% of Canada except imported items.which could be the same or more  and of lower quality ( e.g. salmon)

Restaurants 40% to 70.% of Canada on an apples to apples basis

Hotels 30% to 90% dependimg on star rating, room size location and season..

Utilities 30% to 40% of Canada

Dentistry ..10% to 15% of Canada

Healthcare..difficult to asses..complicated situation.Canada is free, but falling apart EPS in Colombia is cheap if you lie about your income, like all °µÍø½ûÇøs do  but is falling apart as well

Private medicine..can be expensive if you are older.and may be imposible to get beyond a certain age, or have pre existing  conditions,  but.still way cheaper than in the US.

Paying out if pocket would be a fraction of the US ..eg $55 to see a specialist , $200 for an MRI, $25 for a GP, $$30 for emergency

Also cosmetic surgery very  cheap in comparison to Canada and US

Oh yeah taxis.are cheap..20 % in Canada or US except in Cartagena where they coukd be 50% or 60% because.th taxistas try to rip you.off

CIty Buses about 75 cents to a buck a ride..and frequent

Long distance buses cheap ..2 hour inter city bus ride about $4

@nico peligro

At least that much, maybe 20% but depends on the product and where you shop. D-1 has been pretty steady eddy......I stay outta Exito and Jumbo.

@Kai Luna

D1 ( at least ones i have seen in Manizales) has only basic staples..and sugary / starchy garbage Colombians eat.

Éxito  Carulla and some other stores (.like one I know

lcalled Ahorros) have nore variety, fish ,   chicken, lean meats  fruits and vegetables, but.even that is sketchy Went.a week without strawberriess  and I havent seen Kiwis.in any of these places in months. Also hard to find different.types of raw, unsaltened, unsweetened nuts, usually just almonds and brazilnuts.Also, sometimes the packaged stuff is rotten.I got a big pack of blackbwmerries I always buy, and today I opened tge pack and half were rotten, so you have to.watch it.

Of course best place to find strawberries and other friuts freshercand  chesper than the big supers are street vendors, or at smaller markrlets in el centro or the galleria, where you can also find unsalted cashews,, seeds, spices and local carniceros for meat and fish. at specific locations, problem.is not very convenient unless you live close to these locations.

As far as food  I dont skimp  go for quality and healthy ,not cost.

Still,apples to apples,a lot cheaper than Canada.

I spend about $320/month USD on rent in Bogota (Teusaquillo next to U Nacional). My food expenses are around $15 USD per day (eating out). I only make about $2500 USD per month, but live very well with national travel every couple months and near daily outings being possible.

@Juan Droverse

Depends were you go.

I am going to restaurant in Manizales that will cost $100 US for 2 people with drinks

Once a month thing

The lunch restaurant I go to costs 24 mil., almuerzo ejectivo ..its healthy

I probably  spend at least 30 mil on breakfeast, greek yougurt, kiwis, blueberries,blackberries , various nuts,avena, strawberries , piña

That leaves dinner

No way I could live on $15 single.

We all cant all live on beans, rice, arepa, sancocho and rubbery tough meat or greasy chicharron like the locals

I spend about $320/month USD on rent in Bogota (Teusaquillo next to U Nacional). My food expenses are around $15 USD per day (eating out). I only make about $2500 USD per month, but live very well with national travel every couple months and near daily outings being possible. - @Juan Droverse

$320/month? In or around Bogota? How and when did you score THAT apartment deal? I'm jealous. I'm here in prison in Barranquilla, paying $500/month for a 3bd 2ba estrato 4 unit...

I just quickly looked at Locanto and found a 2br 440sf apartment in Plaza Imperial, in Bogotá, for about $230 USD per month - 960,000 COP.

Locanto is a useful free classified ad platform that not only has real estate but just about everything else. Not only agencies but also individual owners post real estate ads. It exists for all major cities in Colombia.  Here are the links, first for Bogotá, then Barranquilla:

To look at apartments for rent, under Inmobiliaria, click on Apartamentos en arriendo.

I just quickly looked at Locanto and found a 2br 440sf apartment in Plaza Imperial, in Bogotá, for about $230 USD per month - 960,000 COP.
Locanto is a useful free classified ad platform that not only has real estate but just about everything else. Not only agencies but also individual owners post real estate ads. It exists for all major cities in Colombia. Here are the links, first for Bogotá, then Barranquilla:


To look at apartments for rent, under Inmobiliaria, click on Apartamentos en arriendo. - @OsageArcher

I tried that website (and other similar apartment listing websites) several times in the past, starting in December 2022. It turned out to be an exercise in futility. Expired listings, inaccurate listings, people not responding (or responding and saying the place is no longer available), and so on. After over 25 attempts, I gave up. What I did find, was via word of mouth. And I semi-regret what I did get here in Barranquilla.... unfortunately I am stuck here till Dec. this year.

Has Locanto.com changed (gotten better) since Dec. 2022?

I pay about $330 US fora 60 M2 , 3 bedroom 2 bath apartment estrato 4 in Manizales.

But I am getting a good deal. Most owners in the building are asking 20% more.

Whether they.are getting.tenants is another storty.

The apartment was a personal connection. Several years ago

If I was to aply online, would be stuck with the 1 or 2 fiadores and/ or 6 month s rent CDT in trust BS.

Or just spend time goingv door to doir and asking friends.