How To Live On $1,000 a Month in Colombia

[@WheresWes]

MY MOVING TO COLOMBIA COURSE IS NOW AVAILABLE!!! You can purchase it at mynewcolombianlife.com If you want to schedule a consultation, email me at: [e-mail] or DM me on Instagram: @wesleezy

[@drkarmakid]

Summary in USD (as of 3/26/23): Rent (3-bedroom in Palermo, Manizales): $320 Water: $30 Gas: $9 Electricity: $18 Internet (Moviestar): $16 Cell phone: $14 Transportation: $50 Food/dates: $330 Groceries: $200 Dog: $85 Misc services: $25

[@Stezworld]

Not bad monthly budget for us, but like you said is a steep price for the locals especially that inflation has hit hard for everyone worldwide.

[@Neosan1982]

Most realistic budget presentation I have seen in a while. USD$1,000 goes even farther, as you say, in a smaller town... or even in Cali. My Colombian sister-in-law owns her house in a rural area in Cauca and doesn't even spend USD$400 a month total for everything, including health expenses. She goes to the local open market, not to a supermarket like Exito. She doesn't go out much. If she does, the bus is COP$2500 (50 cents USD) to get to town (Popayan). She is vegetarian, loves being at home, and gardens to grow some of her own food. She does not eat out in restaurants. Her addiction is telenovelas. She does not live like expats do, in other words, and her expenses are way less.

[@angelchavez2154]

So you have to do practically nothing and be home most of the time to just spend 400 bucks a month?

[@JoeChok]

Thank you so much, Wes, for offering this course! Your dedication to sharing your knowledge and expertise is truly appreciated. I'm looking forward to learning from you and gaining valuable insights that will help me grow both personally and professionally!!!!!

[@ericbooya]

Awesome that you included info on your dog! I always wonder what the costs for dog sitters, walkers, boarding etc.. Thanks Wes!

[@leefamilytx]

Good direction for the Channel Wes, best wishes on the course. I am sure the materials will be very helpful to many who are interested in Colombia. A possible topic might be on the various taxes (e.g. Income / Property / Business / Sales / Inheritance / Social Security) if full time living in Colombia.

[@WheresWes]

Thanks for the suggestion!

[@therehastobesomethingmoore]

My wife and I are living in Nicaragua in about $1000/month too. We do plan to check out Manizales as well as cities in lots of other countries.

[@FroBoy696]

Very interesting to me. I am visiting Medellin to see family for the first time since 2017 and often I was told how expensive things were there due to the inflation issues and how their income made them struggle. Honestly it's still gonna be very cheap for me based on the prices you mentioned when I visit from the US.

[@DD-qq8yb]

I live in Bello, in a very nice high rise with all the amenities including restaurants on the bottom floor. And I pay $900,000 with a beautiful view of the mountains. I’m at a little under $1000 cause we cook a lot

[@shogunkingkoan3769]

My flight is for the 23rd so perfect timing.

[@Reneecbull]

Awesome information!!

[@davidcruise4978]

Great video, thannks

[@WheresWes]

Cheers

[@szachynakubie4955]

survey done, good luck and hope to see you on the consultation after buying a course. You haven't asked how much people would pay which would be usuful information for you :)

[@WheresWes]

Cheers bro thank you!

[@yolofrank]

Damn that dog gettin pampered

[@ashl9835]

I'm thinking of doing the digital nomad visa soon. Definately gonna visit Manizales but Medellin is my favorite place to be. Can't wait to go back.super cheap living. I live in Brooklyn NY and it's ridiculously expensive here that's why I'm going to Expat.

[@darkworld5026]

I agree, it's pretty cheap there if you have U.S. dollars or even Canadian bucks. My wife to be is coming to Canada in a couple of weeks. We will live here (Canada) and might buy a condo in Cartagena.

[@sebastianquintana3248]

👍🏼 it cost me 600$ “flight, usda paperwork and Colombia paperwork” to take my dog to Colombia and back for vacation. It was worth it ! 🎉

[@lauragonzalezsuarez4563]

Hi! What size is your dog? He/she had to travel in the hold?

[@sebastianquintana3248]

@@lauragonzalezsuarez4563 4 lbs yorkie, used copa airlines with one layover in Panama

[@sebastianquintana3248]

No, the dog travel with us in the airline

[@mmfong297]

Tell us how you start your retail business back then? What you had to go through like obstacles, budget, supplies, ordering, hiring, etc..

[@tombernard4612]

Great vid! WOW $320 month, you're doing great my friend! I've used Airbnb's a lot in the last 18 months off n on in Colombia, like everything else they've definitely gone up. I realize if you can get a six-month or year contract its definitely going to be a lot cheaper than an Airbnb. I'm in Armenia right now and I paid $1500 Canadian mo./$1200USD. And I shopped around. Heading to Manizales next month, from what I've seen on Airbnb it's a bit cheaper than Armenia....I hope

[@tylergargas7524]

How nice was your place in Armenia?

[@tombernard4612]

@@tylergargas7524 My apartment in Armenia was very nice. However since I found it on Airbnb I have to say it was overpriced but I really did like the city of Armenia much more than Medellin !! ;)

[@tylergargas7524]

@@tombernard4612 how long did you stay in Armenia

[@tombernard4612]

@@tylergargas7524 1month

[@williamfrank5078]

In the us where I live I own a house, it’s paid off, so no mortgage or rent, utilities 325. Gas+elec, 125 water, 1,400. Per year taxes, 47 internet, 285 food, 80 gasoline, 300 insurance, car is paid off, 80 restaurants, 30 cell phone, total 1,308. Without clothes or home repairs, so maybe 1,500. Per month on average.

[@mikescarborough9196]

I tried teaching English for Berlitz in Bogotá, but that ended quickly when I got an online job earning USD. You don’t want to work for pesos if you can make dollars.

[@WheresWes]

exactly

[@osmonddsilva1577]

Great!

[@8ticks363]

Best and safest places for retires, older people, differences in relocated vs. younger etc, in the course would be great.

[@sandracastillo3020]

HI Wes, thank you so much for this video. My husband, puppy, and I are moving to Colombia soon. What do you pay for health care and veterinarian? Can you please make a video on health plans in Colombia.

[@chrisbullock6477]

Yeah I would say between two people or one making at least $1500 a month in order to live comfortably. Paying between $500-$600 in rent and $100 for total expenses and you can actually have money to carry over month over month.

[@riddim]

This is amazing that means my cost of living should be around 700 to 800 a month 😅

[@viajay]

Hey man, saw you in Laureles on Thursday night. Didn't want to put you in the spot so I didn't say hi but keep up the good videos 🤙🏽

[@viajay]

I also saw Timmy Karter last night 😂 medellin is small

[@WheresWes]

Lol cheers bro

[@therehastobesomethingmoore]

I realize you are not in Manizales and guess you are not going back ? We are traveling in search of our favorite retirement city. We are currently in Nicaragua and heading for Guatemala in February for 6 months, then Mexico….then Manizales. I know…long time from now. But do you think we could contact your real estate friend and just keep in touch with him until we get there ? We’d love some help with the process of finding a rental in Manizales. I guess unless we get residency the longest we can stay there is 6 months ? ( kind of like here in Nicaragua, 3 months and then 3 one month extensions ?). Thx !

[@nickg.7275]

nice overview. but how do you cover you healthinsurance?

[@WheresWes]

I'm covered through my wife

[@aljab100]

I am interested in moving to Medellin. Please include HEALTH insurance for expats who do not have permanent residency. I just want to live half the time in Medellin and the other half in the USA where I am from.

[@WheresWes]

You got it

[@collectivemerit3059]

Are you originally from the States? What about health or rent insurance? Do you need to pay for them?

[@ThinLineMedia]

Why do you need to pay for KZbin premium ?

[@WheresWes]

Ads suck

[@WheresWes]

also being able to download videos, play them with the screen off. Super worth it to me

[@ThinLineMedia]

@@WheresWes Netflix, KZbin Premium, Amazon Prime are definitely expenses that can be avoided if we are talking living as cheap as possible. I have never paid for any of these in my entire life. Subscription services can add up, and you can end up with 100$ per month easy.

[@WheresWes]

If you have all those subscriptions through Colombia, it's much cheaper. To each their own, I just don't like sitting through ads and I think creators should get paid

[@ThinLineMedia]

@@WheresWes Btw what upload speeds do you get at your house ? I couldn't get decent upload speeds in Colombia.

[@jumpinjehoshaphat1951]

The rents in Cartagena are lower than in Medellin?

[@WheresWes]

I would say now probably the same

[@curmudgeoncapitalist]

Wes, did you sell the restaurant? I can't remember

[@WheresWes]

I did a year ago

[@curmudgeoncapitalist]

Yeah.... That's what I get for being old. I remember and then saw your ",my life" video

[@Marcothemillionaire]

how can I contact you ? I wn to move to Colombia for 6 months

[@user12921]

Manizales is literaly smaller than all the cities you mention (except for Armenia)

[@WheresWes]

yup

[@dannyboycinco]

My rent alone is 8million COP. Making me reconsider a lot of things right now

[@curmudgeoncapitalist]

8 million for what kind of accomodations? And where? Unless you are in a penthouse, you got gringo priced. My friend has a 3 bedroom 2 bath apartment gated and 24 hr security in the Milan neighborhood of manizales and she pays $450 USD per month.

[@riddim]

WTF? Wow you can get an amazing place in Cali for like 3 million pesos

[@dannyboycinco]

@@curmudgeoncapitalist I'm in Provenza in a 200m2 / 4 bedroom apartment with 3 full bathrooms and 3 different balconies with a 280degrees view. It's not a penthouse although i was in a penthouse that was smaller than this place that costed me more before i found this spot. And yes, believe me it was a nightmare trying to find a place that would accept me as a Canadian without some ridiculous 6-12month CDT upfront. I also have 24hr security and everything is super close by and convinient. I decided to move here to make connections and grow my network which i have succesfully done. I'll be finding a proper base outside of the city where it's a bit cheapre and i can find something bigger once my lease is up.

[@dannyboycinco]

@约翰·萨拉 yup, it is, but i got desperate, i was living in AirBnB to AirBnB trying to find a space that would take me in without some ridiculous 6month CDT

[@dannyboycinco]

​@@riddim i'm in Provenza, Medellin in a very safe, gated and upscale part of town. I know i could get cheaper rent but i do admit i like the conviniences of having everything so close to me, but also having the security and calm peace of mind where i'm living.

[@mojorider8067]

i will buy the course for sure. is there any way you could do a brief section about getting a student visa? i want to come to manizales or armenia in 2025 and study Spanish.

[@weselchino2539]

Sure bro thanks for the suggestion! Will have a whole section for visas

[@ernestoaranda717]

What's your internet speed in Manizales? How about the other cities on your list? Aside from safety, internet speed is my highest concern because I need to work via the internet so I can earn dollars.

[@WheresWes]

110mb up and down in Manizales. Movistar fiber wire

[@LukiaSierra]

So is this the cost of living for you in Manizales or Medellin? Or is it about the same?…

[@WheresWes]

Manizales. Medellin is more expensive.

[@poobado]

The rent confuses me. When I’m in Colombia all the gringos I see are paying 700 plus every month.

[@WheresWes]

I'm in Manizales and have connections

[@Venuslovefactor]

Please respond, I an planning on going to Medellin in January for 2 or 3 months. Why do all the you tubers claim we can live there for $1,000. USD per month? Apparently that's not true unless living in a small town. Is it true that Medellin is actually about $1,500 for a single guy? If so, I need to readjust my plans accordingly.

[@WheresWes]

yes medellin is much more expensive now. I was living in Manizlaes

[@royal-enfield1]

î thought rent was less expensive in manizales than calí

[@WheresWes]

I don't believe so.

[@WheresWes]

It's cause manizales on hills so it's very hard for people to build.

[@thomaskim3128]

In the USA, my property tax and HOA fee alone is about $1000 a month. Lol… In the USA you work to pay taxes and insurance before you can live life. Can’t wait to leave America.

[@drkarmakid]

What about health insurance?

[@WheresWes]

I'm covered by my wife

[@drkarmakid]

@@WheresWes what can I expect to pay?

[@WheresWes]

​@@drkarmakid I believe 200mil a month but don't quote me on it

[@drkarmakid]

@@WheresWes Well, anything close to that would be a KZbin video in itself. 200mil ~ $25 USD. I'm a single male and I got quoted $1,000 USD in the US. (I declined to pay this and am currently uninsured.)

[@WheresWes]

It's actually $50 but yeah I think that's for the two of us too

[@jejudo3000]

Man that's a lot. I thought you only live on $400 a month….. JK 🤣

[@WheresWes]

lmao

[@szcynkowsky162]

Doesn't impress me a bit: I have to live on 900 Euros in Germany!

[@AscendedWarriors]

is your wife a housewife?

[@WheresWes]

Yup

[@jwrcolombia]

jesus christ Wes. I have a brand new two story, 1700 sq ft apartment in Estrato 6 and my water/elec is about 289,000 but thats only because 150,000 per month is obligatory because of the high end neighborhood. My gas is about 18000 and my 500Mb down/up is about 25 bucks per month.

[@Mrseriarredondo]

Welll, $1,000 a month in Colombia is like having $5,000 a month in the USA.

[@Pharaohinthecut]

Cartegena is definitely more expensive than all the ones listed.

[@WheresWes]

That is true but no one really lives there. It's just for tourists

[@benwolf6448]

How can I contsact you via email ?

[@WheresWes]

[e-mail]