Moving to Colombia from Washington
What to Expect
Considering a move from Washington to Colombia? Here's how the two compare on cost, climate, safety, and more.
If you moved from Washington to Colombia, you would find that Colombia is 52.2% cheaper than Washington. A $75,000 salary in Washington would need to be roughly COP106,324,483 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?
A breakdown of how everyday costs differ between Washington and Colombia.
What does your salary buy?
$75,000 → COP106,324,483
To maintain the same standard of living in Colombia
Calculate with your salary →How key spending categories compare
Restaurants
pay 62.5% less
Groceries
pay 53.0% less
Transportation
pay 27.7% less
Housing
pay 70.3% less
Childcare
pay 81.7% less
Entertainment and Sports
pay 71.1% 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.
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Who Else Is Making This Move?
What the data shows about people moving from Washington to Colombia.
people moved from United States to Colombia · OECD (latest data available)
Key Indicator Comparison
The numbers behind daily life in Colombia compared to Washington.
How's the healthcare?
share of adults with obesity
Colombia performs significantly better than Washington across all health & wellbeing metrics.
Will I have good infrastructure?
share of households with internet
Washington performs better than Colombia across all infrastructure metrics.
What are the job prospects?
percentage of the labour force without work
a broad measure of economic output per person
share of people below the poverty line
Washington performs better than Colombia across all employment & economy metrics.
Is it good for families?
average years of life at birth
Washington performs better than Colombia across all family life metrics.
Data: Bureau of Economic Analysis, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (PLACES), OECD Regional Demography, US Census Bureau (American Community Survey)
What's the Climate Like?
Monthly averages — select a city to compare.
Avg. annual high / low
Avg. annual high / low
| Months | Olympia | Bogota |
|---|---|---|
| Jan–Mar | 50°/34°F (10°/1°C) | 62°/44°F (17°/7°C) |
| Apr–Jun | 65°/43°F (18°/6°C) | 61°/47°F (16°/9°C) |
| Jul–Sep | 76°/49°F (24°/10°C) | 60°/45°F (15°/7°C) |
| Oct–Dec | 51°/36°F (11°/2°C) | 61°/45°F (16°/7°C) |
View all months
| Month | Olympia | Bogota |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 46°/34°F (7.7°/0.9°C) | 62°/42°F (16.4°/5.6°C) |
| Feb | 49°/33°F (9.6°/0.4°C) | 62°/44°F (16.7°/6.5°C) |
| Mar | 54°/35°F (12.2°/1.7°C) | 62°/46°F (16.7°/7.6°C) |
| Apr | 59°/38°F (14.9°/3.2°C) | 61°/47°F (16.0°/8.6°C) |
| May | 65°/43°F (18.5°/6.2°C) | 61°/48°F (16.2°/8.7°C) |
| Jun | 71°/48°F (21.4°/8.7°C) | 60°/47°F (15.7°/8.3°C) |
| Jul | 77°/51°F (24.9°/10.4°C) | 59°/46°F (14.9°/7.7°C) |
| Aug | 78°/51°F (25.4°/10.3°C) | 60°/45°F (15.4°/7.3°C) |
| Sep | 72°/46°F (22.1°/7.8°C) | 60°/45°F (15.8°/7.1°C) |
| Oct | 60°/40°F (15.7°/4.7°C) | 61°/46°F (15.9°/7.7°C) |
| Nov | 50°/36°F (10.1°/2.4°C) | 61°/46°F (16.0°/7.9°C) |
| Dec | 44°/33°F (6.8°/0.3°C) | 61°/43°F (16.1°/6.3°C) |
Data:
National Weather Service,
Institute of Hydrology, Meteorology and Environment Studies
Visitor Visa Requirements
Short-stay tourist visa rules between United States 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 States passport holder visiting Colombia
Visa Free
Colombia passport holder visiting United States
Visa RequiredData: 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 Washington?
On average Colombia is about 56% less expensive than Washington, with major cities narrowing the gap.
How much money do I need to move to Colombia?
Budget about COP26,581,121 for 3 months in Colombia (based on a $75,000 comparable annual salary), then add the one-off costs: flights, shipping, a rental deposit, and visa fees.
Can I work remotely from Colombia?
From major Colombia cities the network usually holds up. Visa rules, your employer's stance on overseas employees, and tax residency in Washington and Colombia are what actually decide it long-term.
How is healthcare in Colombia compared to Washington?
Colombia performs significantly better than Washington across all health & wellbeing metrics.
What's the weather like in Colombia compared to Washington?
The average high temperature in Bogota is 61°F, compared to 60°F in Olympia. Bogota receives around 31.5 in of rainfall per year, while Olympia gets 50.0 in.
What language do they speak in Colombia?
The official language in Colombia is Spanish. In Washington, the official language is English.
