My niece had been living in Columbia, South America for about 1 year, met someone and is now going back for about 3 months for a trial relationship. She tells us he will be making $700/Mo. which is a lot of money there. $300-400/mo. for a beautiful apartment, $20 Week to eat for the both of them, even eating out. I was wondering if this is possible. I tried searching the web re. this cost of living but cant find anything. Anyone else have any websites or been to Columbia? I am not sure of the city. Thanks.

By Cat on Saturday, September 18, 2004 - 10:18 pm:

I don't know about Columbia, but you wouldn't believe the cost of living in Panama! We lived there for three years (96-99) and if I remember correctly the average monthly income was only about $150 a month. We ate at a little road side restaurant once on the way to the beach and I'm not kidding for three adults and five kids we had LOTS of food (chicken, potato fries, corn on the cob) and it was only about $10. So yes, I'd say it's very possible.

By Pamt on Saturday, September 18, 2004 - 10:22 pm:

I'd think it was possible too. I went to Nicaragua last year and everything was unbelievably inexpensive. It cost about $.75 for 1 hour of internet time at an internet cafe...if you can call it that, and we ate at the Nicaraguan version of KFC (except a nicer sitdown restaurant with a waitress) called Pollo Narcy's for about $2 each. The economy in Central and South America is so bad that $700/month is probably equivalent to thousands a month here.

By Bea on Saturday, September 18, 2004 - 11:48 pm:

Check this out.

http://www.poorbuthappy.com/colombia/node/view/4122

By Feona on Sunday, September 19, 2004 - 08:33 am:

We took a cruise ship to columbia. A port of call.

We went to cartagena? They once shot the cruise ships as they were leaving there. They really hate americans.

What is the government there? Dictatorship?

It was very dangerous. I was scared out of my mind. We walked from the port to town. (Insane) We saw a 7 year old boy pulling a very heavy cart like a mule. All the men seemed drunk. There were many soldiers carrying big rifles in town. So poor. They hate gringos. Hope she is spanish. They still used mules to carry carts. Saw a few of them. There was on man who was drunk who aggressively tried to have us use him as the guide. Then cursed at us when we said no.

We walked down the street and I just smelled booze in the air. I never seen such a depressing poor place that hated americans so much. We have been to alot of places for a day on a cruise ship. We used to always take a cruise for vacation.


Maybe there is a rich part of town.

By Feona on Sunday, September 19, 2004 - 08:46 am:

http://www.tripadvisor.com/Tourism-g294073-Colombia-Vacations.html

By Feona on Sunday, September 19, 2004 - 08:50 am:

US warns american against going to colombia 2003

http://www.cnn.com/2003/TRAVEL/ADVISOR/02/24/colombia.warning/

Love is grand....

By Ginny~moderator on Monday, September 20, 2004 - 05:37 am:

If she is obviously American, I would worry about a number of things, not the least of which is kidnapping. The drug cartels still rule Columbia, and imo, based on reading, it is a very dangerous place to live, especially for Americans.

By Lorebunde on Monday, September 20, 2004 - 02:40 pm:

Thanks for all the input. The family is somewhat worried about her, especially my husband. Sounds like she is in a good part of the country. Her boyfriend told her she won't have to work the 3 months she is staying there with him. The best I can do is keep in touch with her.