Moving to Colombia from United Kingdom
What to Expect
Everything you need to know before relocating from United Kingdom to Colombia — costs, safety, healthcare, and practical first steps.
If you moved from United Kingdom to Colombia, you would find that Colombia is 52.3% cheaper than United Kingdom overall. A £55,958 salary in United Kingdom would need to be roughly COP108,931,461 in Colombia to maintain the same lifestyle, and you’d need to navigate life in Spanish. You’ll also switch from driving on the left to the right.
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 United Kingdom to Colombia.
What does your salary buy?
£55,958 → COP108,931,461
To maintain the same standard of living in Colombia
Calculate with your salary →Where you'll feel the difference day-to-day
Restaurants
pay 56.3% less
Groceries
pay 34.6% less
Transportation
pay 46.6% less
Housing
pay 66.2% less
Childcare
pay 77.5% less
Entertainment and Sports
pay 70.4% less
Data: MyLifeElsewhere's crowdsourced cost of living database, with prices submitted and updated by users worldwide. Exchange rates are refreshed regularly from public sources.
Get free moving quotes to Colombia
We've teamed up with a vetted network of international movers to help MyLifeElsewhere readers plan their move with confidence. Tell us about your move and get up to 5 free, no-obligation quotes in under 2 minutes.
- ✅ Up to 5 quotes from screened movers
- ✅ Licensed and insured providers only
- ✅ 100% free — you choose who contacts you
Who Else Is Making This Move?
How many people actually move from United Kingdom to Colombia, based on official data.
Key Indicator Comparison
Key indicators for anyone considering a move from United Kingdom to Colombia.
Is it safe?
per 100,000 people per year
per 100,000 people per year
United Kingdom performs better than Colombia across all safety metrics.
How's the healthcare?
annual government + private spending per person
affects wait times and access to care
WHO index from 0–100 measuring essential service access
share of adults with obesity
per 100,000 people — a proxy for mental health support
Colombia generally does better on health & wellbeing, though United Kingdom leads in doctors per 10,000 people.
What about the environment?
deaths attributable to air pollution per 100k people
tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year
United Kingdom generally does better on environment, though Colombia leads in co₂ emissions per capita.
Will I have good infrastructure?
fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work
higher means greater strain on freshwater supply
annual consumption — reflects grid capacity
share of households with internet
United Kingdom generally does better on infrastructure, though Colombia leads in water stress level.
What are the job prospects?
percentage of the labour force without work
a broad measure of economic output per person
the highest marginal rate on personal income
share of people below the poverty line
United Kingdom generally does better on employment & economy, though Colombia leads in top income tax rate.
Is it good for families?
average years of life at birth
deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better
government spending on education as % of GDP
United Kingdom performs better than Colombia across all family life metrics.
Data: HM Revenue & Customs, The World Factbook, United Nations SDG Indicators, World Bank
What's the Climate Like?
Monthly averages — select a city to compare.
Avg. annual high / low
Avg. annual high / low
| Months | London | Bogota |
|---|---|---|
| Jan–Mar | 49°/38°F (9°/3°C) | 62°/44°F (17°/7°C) |
| Apr–Jun | 64°/48°F (18°/9°C) | 61°/47°F (16°/9°C) |
| Jul–Sep | 72°/56°F (22°/13°C) | 60°/45°F (15°/7°C) |
| Oct–Dec | 53°/43°F (12°/6°C) | 61°/45°F (16°/7°C) |
View all months
| Month | London | Bogota |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 47°/38°F (8.1°/3.1°C) | 62°/42°F (16.4°/5.6°C) |
| Feb | 47°/37°F (8.6°/2.7°C) | 62°/44°F (16.7°/6.5°C) |
| Mar | 53°/40°F (11.6°/4.6°C) | 62°/46°F (16.7°/7.6°C) |
| Apr | 58°/43°F (14.6°/5.9°C) | 61°/47°F (16.0°/8.6°C) |
| May | 65°/48°F (18.1°/8.9°C) | 61°/48°F (16.2°/8.7°C) |
| Jun | 70°/53°F (21.0°/11.8°C) | 60°/47°F (15.7°/8.3°C) |
| Jul | 74°/57°F (23.4°/13.7°C) | 59°/46°F (14.9°/7.7°C) |
| Aug | 74°/57°F (23.1°/13.8°C) | 60°/45°F (15.4°/7.3°C) |
| Sep | 68°/53°F (20.0°/11.4°C) | 60°/45°F (15.8°/7.1°C) |
| Oct | 60°/48°F (15.5°/8.8°C) | 61°/46°F (15.9°/7.7°C) |
| Nov | 52°/42°F (11.3°/5.8°C) | 61°/46°F (16.0°/7.9°C) |
| Dec | 47°/38°F (8.4°/3.4°C) | 61°/43°F (16.1°/6.3°C) |
Data:
Met Office,
Institute of Hydrology, Meteorology and Environment Studies
Visitor Visa Requirements
Short-stay tourist visa rules between United Kingdom 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.
United Kingdom passport holder visiting Colombia
Visa Free
Colombia passport holder visiting United Kingdom
Visa Online (e-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 United Kingdom?
Yes — Colombia is on average about 56% cheaper than United Kingdom. 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 COP27,232,865 in Colombia on a £55,958 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?
United Kingdom performs better than Colombia across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in Colombia is 25.4 per 100,000 people, compared to 1.0 in United Kingdom.
How is healthcare in Colombia compared to United Kingdom?
Colombia generally does better on health & wellbeing, though United Kingdom leads in doctors per 10,000 people. There are 24.5 doctors per 10,000 people in Colombia, compared to 31.7 in United Kingdom. Colombia scores 80 on the WHO universal health coverage index (United Kingdom: 88).
What's the weather like in Colombia compared to United Kingdom?
The average high temperature in Bogota is 61°F, compared to 60°F in London. Bogota receives around 31.5 in of rainfall per year, while London gets 22.0 in.
What language do they speak in Colombia?
The official language in Colombia is Spanish. In United Kingdom, the official language is English.
