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Need Advice About Colombia
06-01-2014, 03:53 PM
I would be grateful to anyone who could give me some advice about Colombia regarding especially living costs.
I'm curious especially about monthly prices for a decent (not luxury) apartment in Medellin or other good cities you may know of. I'm looking on Craigslist and the prices seem high. Nothing under $700/month, and very often over $1000. I'm not sure if these are accurate prices as in the case of Buenos Aires craigslist, or inaccurate ones that only reflect the "online" high end market.
I've read on the forum that the city Armenia is also good; how are the living costs there?
Finally, I'm curious about any possibility of finding work in Colombia. Nothing fancy, but something to pay rent and some living costs.
I know I'm a new poster and don't have much to offer in return now but if someone could give me advice here or by PM I'd be grateful and remember it as a favor.
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06-01-2014, 03:55 PM
Use the search feature, I've seen links to websites that have apartments available.
CL is going to have high prices as it caters to Americans.
As always, it's better if you are fluent in the local langauge.
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Need Advice About Colombia
06-01-2014, 09:22 PM
I've rented before but it was years ago before I bought a place. As Corroncho mentioned on another thread the best way is to walk around and look for the signs in the windows with telephone numbers and have a local give them a call. Even if you speak perfect Spanish your accent may give you away. The smaller cities should be expected to be less expensive. A friend of mine just rented a place in El Carmen de Viboral for 300 mil a month. It's a really nice 2 bedroom that was just redone. Of course you're 1.5 hours from Medellin.
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Need Advice About Colombia
06-01-2014, 09:39 PM
Thanks for the responses. I'd still like a range of prices if possible from people who have lived there. For example:
Buenos Aires: at least 2009-2011 you could get a very well-located studio for $700-$750, which included all utilities, good internet, and also weekly cleaning. If you were willing to be just a block outside Recoleta or Palermo, or if the studio wasn't totally "reformado" but a normal apt., you could get it for less than that, even for $500 at the lower end. A one bedroom with similar location and amenities would run you $900-$1000 although one time I got one in a building with pool for $800 because the agent liked me. Deposit is also very small. The way to find apts. is through craigslist, as prices through newspapers or agencies are not any smaller.
Rio: Prices have skyrocketed since mid-2000's and even 2008. A one-bedroom or studio in Copacabana (not a great area) will run you at least $1000 and won't include utilities and will generally look very shabby. A one-bedroom or studio in Ipanema is not possible to find anymore without connections and will run you over $2000 last I checked. Agencies were never a good bet in Rio, and craigslist/internet less so (only overpriced apts. through agencies or internet). The way to do it is through the Sunday Globo, if you speak Portuguese. However, given market realities I would recommend you look for apt. in Flamengo or Catete, where you can occasionally still get something decent for $800-$900, although it will be small and very basic. Flamengo is also now a better neighborhood than Copa. Not recommended you visit during World Cup as you won't find any housing at all.
Anyway I'm giving this advice for anyone interested in these two places, but also as a model for what I would like someone to tell me about Medellin or parts of Colombia if possible. I would gladly repay you with info. or owe you a favor. I need to know soon because I'm trying to decide if to go next week.
Also curious about work in Colombia.
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06-02-2014, 12:13 AM
From the work point of view dont expect much. Almost all the opportunities will be in teaching English and most likely with an institute, as they are the only ones able to help you with the visa. Unfortunately your going to be getting less per month than what you would pay on some of these apartments. If your working at an institute you'll also be stuck working mostly evenings and weekends. Best case scenario you can be frugal and make ends meet.
If your looking for a place my advice is like the others hit the pavement and talk to people.
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06-02-2014, 05:25 PM
Minimum salary will be set back soon to less than 350 USD to "Encourage" foreign companies to go. As almost everybody's salary is calculated by using multiples of the minimum, you should go back to the drawing board with the plan.
The job market in Colombia is open but pays like shit and treats you like shit (and almost always even worse than you think), good luck.
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Need Advice About Colombia
06-02-2014, 06:53 PM
Thanks guys. So it sounds like a typical Brazil or Argentina "bring your own money" situation. It also sounds like the craigslist prices are correct for Medellin? $700 minimum for a decent studio with furniture and wifi in a good part of town?
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06-02-2014, 07:30 PM
Volk is certainly your greatest resource here. His advice should not be ignored.
When you are looking for a place in Medellín, it's always going to be a toss up between the money you wish to spend and the security and services you desire. Obviously, you can find something for less than $700 USD/month, but that is going to come with consequences.
Also, of note, look at the time of year you are going--you've the Flower Festival coming up and things are going to be abnormally priced. A 30% mark-up would not be unusual if you're looking for a place popular with tourists and relatively secure.
If you're on a budget, I would try to avoid Poblado. Have you considered Laureles?
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06-04-2014, 01:33 AM
I would also suggest Envigado, but why craigslist? Almost nobody in Colombia uses craigslist, you are fishing in the wrong well. A studio anywhere else innthe city should go for 600 to 700k pesos depending on the location, size, state and the language you speak, if you get what I mean. (I know people who overcharge people from Bogota based on the accent)
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06-05-2014, 04:13 AM
There are rental agencies. My apartment is being rented through one of them. You can also go to any university, they have pinboards with all kind of offers but 90% of them are for flat rentals (the downside to this is that 3 out of 4 indicate in huge red letters : Girls Only, but such is the world where we live in)