Moving to Colombia from Germany

moving to

What to Expect

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

If you moved from Germany to Colombia, you would find that Colombia is 51.2% cheaper than Germany overall. A €65,577 salary in Germany would need to be roughly COP116,173,223 in Colombia to maintain the same lifestyle, and you’d need to navigate life in Spanish.

Planning this move? Get up to 5 free, no-obligation quotes from vetted international movers. Get free quotes ↓

How Far Will Your Money Go?

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

What does your salary buy?

€65,577 COP116,173,223

To maintain the same standard of living in Colombia

Calculate with your salary →

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

Restaurants

pay 65.0% less

Groceries

pay 40.6% less

Transportation

pay 44.1% less

Housing

pay 62.8% less

Childcare

pay 59.0% less

Entertainment and Sports

pay 63.6% less

See full cost of living breakdown
Exchange rate: 1 EUR = 3687.07 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 Germany to Colombia, based on official data.

Moved in 2021
331 ↑ 140% vs 2020

people moved from Germany 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 Germany to Colombia.

Is it safe?

Homicide rate United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

per 100,000 people per year

DE
0.8
CO
25.4
Feel safe walking at night United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

of residents who feel safe walking alone at night

DE
72%
CO
51%

Germany performs better than Colombia across all safety metrics.

How's the healthcare?

Healthcare spending per person World Bank, 2024

annual government + private spending per person

DE
$8,826
CO
$1,758
Doctors per 10,000 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

affects wait times and access to care

DE
45.2
CO
24.5

Germany generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Colombia leads in healthcare spending per person.

What about the environment?

Air pollution deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2019

deaths attributable to air pollution per 100k people

DE
15.0
CO
24.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

DE
6.9t
CO
1.8t

Germany 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

DE
45.0
CO
17.0
Water stress level United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

DE
35.4%
CO
4.4%

Germany generally does better on infrastructure, though Colombia leads in water stress level.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate The World Factbook, 2023

percentage of the labour force without work

DE
3.0%
CO
9.6%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

DE
$61,900
CO
$18,800

Germany generally does better on employment & economy, though Colombia leads in top income tax rate.

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy The World Factbook, 2022

average years of life at birth

DE
81.5 yrs
CO
74.9 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

DE
3.2
CO
11.7

Germany generally does better on family life, though Colombia leads in education spending.

Data: Federal Central Tax Office (BZSt), The World Factbook, United Nations SDG Indicators, World Bank

What's the Climate Like?

Monthly averages — select a city to compare.

Berlin Rain: 22.5 in/yr (571 mm)
56° / 43°F

Avg. annual high / low

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

Avg. annual high / low

Months Berlin Bogota
Jan–Mar 41°/31°F (5°/-1°C) 62°/44°F (17°/7°C)
Apr–Jun 64°/47°F (18°/8°C) 61°/47°F (16°/9°C)
Jul–Sep 72°/55°F (22°/13°C) 60°/45°F (15°/7°C)
Oct–Dec 47°/37°F (8°/3°C) 61°/45°F (16°/7°C)
View all months
Month Berlin Bogota
Jan 37°/29°F (2.9°/-1.9°C) 62°/42°F (16.4°/5.6°C)
Feb 40°/29°F (4.2°/-1.5°C) 62°/44°F (16.7°/6.5°C)
Mar 47°/34°F (8.5°/1.3°C) 62°/46°F (16.7°/7.6°C)
Apr 56°/40°F (13.2°/4.2°C) 61°/47°F (16.0°/8.6°C)
May 66°/48°F (18.9°/9.0°C) 61°/48°F (16.2°/8.7°C)
Jun 71°/54°F (21.6°/12.3°C) 60°/47°F (15.7°/8.3°C)
Jul 75°/58°F (23.7°/14.3°C) 59°/46°F (14.9°/7.7°C)
Aug 74°/57°F (23.6°/14.1°C) 60°/45°F (15.4°/7.3°C)
Sep 66°/51°F (18.8°/10.6°C) 60°/45°F (15.8°/7.1°C)
Oct 56°/44°F (13.4°/6.4°C) 61°/46°F (15.9°/7.7°C)
Nov 45°/36°F (7.1°/2.2°C) 61°/46°F (16.0°/7.9°C)
Dec 40°/31°F (4.4°/-0.4°C) 61°/43°F (16.1°/6.3°C)

Data: Deutscher Wetterdienst Deutscher Wetterdienst, Institute of Hydrology, Meteorology and Environment Studies Institute of Hydrology, Meteorology and Environment Studies

Visitor Visa Requirements

Short-stay tourist visa rules between Germany 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.

Germany passport

Germany passport holder visiting Colombia

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

Colombia passport holder visiting Germany

Visa Free
Colombia passport holders can enter Germany 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 Germany?

Yes — Colombia is on average about 52% cheaper than Germany. City-level variation can be significant.

How much money do I need to move to Colombia?

Plan for at least 3 months of living expenses — roughly COP29,043,306 in Colombia on a €65,577 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?

Germany performs better than Colombia across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in Colombia is 25.4 per 100,000 people, compared to 0.8 in Germany. About 51% of people in Colombia feel safe walking alone at night.

How is healthcare in Colombia compared to Germany?

Germany generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Colombia leads in healthcare spending per person. There are 24.5 doctors per 10,000 people in Colombia, compared to 45.2 in Germany. Colombia scores 80 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Germany: 88).

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

The average high temperature in Bogota is 61°F, compared to 56°F in Berlin. Bogota receives around 31.5 in of rainfall per year, while Berlin gets 22.5 in.

What language do they speak in Colombia?

The official language in Colombia is Spanish. In Germany, the official language is German.

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At a Glance

DE CO
Population 84,316,622 49,059,221
Currency Euro (€) Colombian Peso (COP)
Languages German Spanish
Driving side Right Right
Calling code +49 +57
Time zones 1 1
Emergency number 112 123