Moving to Colombia from Brazil

moving to

What to Expect

Everything you need to know before relocating from Brazil to Colombia — costs, safety, healthcare, and practical first steps.

If you moved from Brazil to Colombia, you would find that Colombia is 2.0% more expensive than Brazil overall. A R$384,308 salary in Brazil would need to be roughly COP246,430,950 in Colombia to maintain the same lifestyle, and you’d need to navigate life in Spanish. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Bogota averages 61°F vs 80°F in Brasilia, making it significantly cooler.

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How Far Will Your Money Go?

What to expect for your wallet after moving from Brazil to Colombia.

What does your salary buy?

R$384,308 COP246,430,950

To maintain the same standard of living in Colombia

Calculate with your salary →

Where you'll feel the difference day-to-day

Restaurants

pay 8.5% less

Groceries

pay 2.3% more

Transportation

pay 11.9% more

Housing

pay 20.6% more

Childcare

pay 16.1% less

Entertainment and Sports

pay 12.0% less

See full cost of living breakdown
Exchange rate: 1 BRL = 642.97 COP (July 2026)

Data: MyLifeElsewhere's crowdsourced cost of living database, with prices submitted and updated by users worldwide. Exchange rates are refreshed regularly from public sources.

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Who Else Is Making This Move?

How many people actually move from Brazil to Colombia, based on official data.

Moved in 2021
499 ↓ 9% vs 2020

people moved from Brazil to Colombia · OECD (latest data available)

Who's moving to Colombia?

Top countries of origin for Colombia's foreign-born residents.

Foreign-born population · UN DESA (2020)

Key Indicator Comparison

Key indicators for anyone considering a move from Brazil to Colombia.

Is it safe?

Homicide rate United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

per 100,000 people per year

BR
20.6
CO
25.4
Feel safe walking at night United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

of residents who feel safe walking alone at night

BR
48%
CO
51%

Brazil generally does better on safety, though Colombia leads in feel safe walking at night.

How's the healthcare?

Healthcare spending per person World Bank, 2024

annual government + private spending per person

BR
$2,070
CO
$1,758
Doctors per 10,000 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

affects wait times and access to care

BR
21.4
CO
24.5

Colombia generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Brazil leads in health coverage index.

What about the environment?

Air pollution deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2019

deaths attributable to air pollution per 100k people

BR
23.0
CO
24.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

BR
2.3t
CO
1.8t

Brazil generally does better on environment, though Colombia leads in co₂ emissions per capita.

Will I have good infrastructure?

Broadband per 100 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work

BR
21.0
CO
17.0
Water stress level United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

BR
1.5%
CO
4.4%

Brazil performs better than Colombia across all infrastructure metrics.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate The World Factbook, 2023

percentage of the labour force without work

BR
8.0%
CO
9.6%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

BR
$18,600
CO
$18,800

Brazil generally does better on employment & economy, though Colombia leads in gdp per capita.

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy The World Factbook, 2022

average years of life at birth

BR
75.9 yrs
CO
74.9 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

BR
13.3
CO
11.7

Brazil generally does better on family life, though Colombia leads in infant mortality.

Data: Secretaria da Receita Federal do Brasil, The World Factbook, United Nations SDG Indicators, World Bank

What's the Climate Like?

Monthly averages — select a city to compare.

Brasilia Rain: 61.1 in/yr (1552 mm)
80° / 61°F

Avg. annual high / low

Bogota Rain: 31.5 in/yr (799 mm)
61° / 45°F

Avg. annual high / low

Months Brasilia Bogota
Jan–Mar 80°/63°F (27°/17°C) 62°/44°F (17°/7°C)
Apr–Jun 78°/59°F (26°/15°C) 61°/47°F (16°/9°C)
Jul–Sep 80°/58°F (27°/14°C) 60°/45°F (15°/7°C)
Oct–Dec 80°/64°F (27°/17°C) 61°/45°F (16°/7°C)
View all months
Month Brasilia Bogota
Jan 80°/63°F (26.9°/17.4°C) 62°/42°F (16.4°/5.6°C)
Feb 80°/63°F (26.7°/17.4°C) 62°/44°F (16.7°/6.5°C)
Mar 81°/64°F (27.1°/17.5°C) 62°/46°F (16.7°/7.6°C)
Apr 80°/62°F (26.6°/16.8°C) 61°/47°F (16.0°/8.6°C)
May 78°/59°F (25.7°/15.0°C) 61°/48°F (16.2°/8.7°C)
Jun 77°/56°F (25.2°/13.3°C) 60°/47°F (15.7°/8.3°C)
Jul 77°/55°F (25.1°/12.9°C) 59°/46°F (14.9°/7.7°C)
Aug 81°/58°F (27.3°/14.6°C) 60°/45°F (15.4°/7.3°C)
Sep 83°/61°F (28.3°/16.0°C) 60°/45°F (15.8°/7.1°C)
Oct 82°/63°F (27.5°/17.4°C) 61°/46°F (15.9°/7.7°C)
Nov 80°/64°F (26.6°/17.5°C) 61°/46°F (16.0°/7.9°C)
Dec 79°/64°F (26.2°/17.5°C) 61°/43°F (16.1°/6.3°C)

Data: Instituto Nacional de Meteorologia Instituto Nacional de Meteorologia, Institute of Hydrology, Meteorology and Environment Studies Institute of Hydrology, Meteorology and Environment Studies

Visitor Visa Requirements

Short-stay tourist visa rules between Brazil and Colombia. To live, work, or study long-term in Colombia, you'll need a separate residence or work visa — check Colombia's immigration authority.

Brazil passport

Brazil passport holder visiting Colombia

Visa Free
Brazil passport holders can enter Colombia without a visa.
Colombia passport

Colombia passport holder visiting Brazil

Visa Free
Colombia passport holders can enter Brazil without a visa.

Data: Henley Passport Index. Check with the destination country's embassy for the most current requirements.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is it cheaper to live in Colombia than Brazil?

Costs in Colombia and Brazil are broadly similar overall, though categories like rent and dining differ between cities.

How much money do I need to move to Colombia?

Plan for at least 3 months of living expenses — roughly COP61,607,738 in Colombia on a R$384,308 comparable salary — plus one-off moving costs (flights, shipping, a rental deposit, and visa fees).

Can I work remotely from Colombia?

Internet is rarely the blocker — Colombia has 17.0 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people. The real questions are legal: digital nomad visa eligibility, your employer's overseas-work policy, and tax residency in both countries.

Is Colombia safe for expats?

Brazil generally does better on safety, though Colombia leads in feel safe walking at night. The homicide rate in Colombia is 25.4 per 100,000 people, compared to 20.6 in Brazil. About 51% of people in Colombia feel safe walking alone at night.

How is healthcare in Colombia compared to Brazil?

Colombia generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Brazil leads in health coverage index. There are 24.5 doctors per 10,000 people in Colombia, compared to 21.4 in Brazil. Colombia scores 80 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Brazil: 80).

What's the weather like in Colombia compared to Brazil?

The average high temperature in Bogota is 61°F, compared to 80°F in Brasilia. Bogota receives around 31.5 in of rainfall per year, while Brasilia gets 61.1 in.

What language do they speak in Colombia?

The official language in Colombia is Spanish. In Brazil, the official language is Portuguese.

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At a Glance

BR CO
Population 217,240,060 49,059,221
Currency Brazilian Real (R$) Colombian Peso (COP)
Languages Portuguese Spanish
Driving side Right Right
Calling code +55 +57
Time zones 4 1
Emergency number 190 123