Bogota, Colombia Report of what it's like to live there - 03/20/25
Personal Experiences from Bogota, Colombia
Background:
1. Was this post your first expatriate experience? If not, what other cities have you lived in as an expat?
No, I have lived in Europe and other WHA countries.
2. What is your home city/country? How long is the trip to post from there, with what connections? How easy/difficult is it to travel to this city/country?
Easy, lots of cheap options for direct flights from Bogota to Miami and Atlanta and then you can take your connection from there. Miami is 3-3.5 hours in the air. Also a few direct flights to Houston, Dallas, and NY but they tend to be a little more expensive and less availability.
3. What years did you live here?
2024 to present.
4. How long have you lived here?
One year.
5. What brought you to this city (e.g. diplomatic mission, business, NGO, military, teaching, retirement, etc.)?
U.S. Embassy.
Housing, Groceries & Food:
1. What is your housing like? What are typical housing sizes, locations, and commute times for expatriates?
Apartment. It on the 8th floor and has a nice view of the mountains. It is in the more high class neighborhood of Bogota and lots of nice restaurants nearby.
2. How would you describe the availability and cost of groceries and household supplies relative to your home country?
Groceries are a lot cheaper. The only things more expensive are a couple of types of clothing (e.g., Levi's jeans)
3. What household or grocery items do you wish you had shipped to post?
None, you can find everything here. Please don't put any liquids in the DPO mail because they always break and ruin everyone else's packages.
4. What typical restaurants, food delivery services, and/or takeout options are popular among expatriates?
Rappi is a very popular delivery app, and unfortunately due to the weak economy in Colombia, there are plenty of people of bikes and motos that will deliver it for very cheap. They will also deliver anything, not just food; you can order medications from pharmacies, household products, etc.
It is so easy it can be addicting. You can literally sit in your house for an entire weekend and order everything from rappi. Many porteros (door person) will even put your delivers in the elevator and send it up to you.
5. Are there any unusual problems with insects or other infestations in housing?
No. Bogota is 8,000 ft so there are very little mosquitos and other bugs. I leave my windows open all the time without a screen.
After going to some lower elevation WHA cities in the malaria/dengue zone, I find the higher altitude to be a huge advantage in this region.
Daily Life:
1. How do you send and receive your letters and package mail? Are local postal facilities adequate?
DPO at the embassy works well and seems to move faster than other posts that where I have lived.
2. What is the availability and cost of household help, and what types of help are typically employed by expatriates?
Colombia is a poor country, therefore, household cheap is very affordable. I only use a cleaning lady but it is very easy and cheap to use nannies, personal cooks, drivers, etc. I would consider it comparable to most other WHA posts.
3. Do you feel that it is safe to walk, run or hike outside? Are there areas where bike riding is possible? What is the availability and safety of outdoor space for exercising? Are these easily accessible?
No, this is the biggest downside of Bogota. It is a poor WHA country so theft is rampant and ranges from everything to pickpockets and motocycle "phone swipers" to more serious armed robberies. These also can happen in the more affluent neighborhoods as well; they are not immune. There is no natural barrier that separates the neighborhoods so it isn't hard for a thief in a motorcycle to swing through a nice neighborhood looking for targets of opportunity.
I try to mitigate this by not walking long distances at night and take an Uber, even if only for short distances.
4. What kinds of gyms or other sports/workout facilities are available? Are they expensive?
Bodytech is the premier gym and if you are a member you can use any bodytech facility in the country. I often use the one in Cartagena when on vacation.
Overall, Colombians are very big on fitness so you can find about anything from yoga, pilates, running groups, hiking groups, etc.
5. Are credit cards widely accepted and safe to use locally? Are ATMs common and do you recommend using them? Are they safe to use?
Yes, credit cards are used wisely. The ATM at the embassy is the safest.... or maybe an ATM within bank facility that is closed/locked at night. I wouldn't use a street ATM.
6. What English-language religious services are available locally?
Not sure, I don't go to church but Colombia is a very Christian oriented country.
7. How much of the local language do you need for daily living? Are local language classes/tutors available and affordable?
Very important. Out of all the WHA countries I have been in, Colombia is one of the most Spanish centric countries. The good news is that Bogota Spanish is pretty clear and easy to understand so it is a great place to learn.
8. Would someone with physical disabilities have difficulties living in this city?
Yeah, the sidewalks are garbage.
Transportation:
1. Are local buses, trams, trains or taxis safe and affordable?
Buses are off limits for security reasons. Trains don't really exists. Hailing a tax on the street is prohibited by RSO for security reasons as well.
However, Uber works great, is cheap, legal, and safe. By far the best option and widely used by Embassy personnel.
2. What kind of vehicle(s) including electric ones do you recommend bringing to post, given the terrain, infrastructure, availability of parts, burglary/carjacking risks, etc.? What kind of car or vehicles do you advise not to bring?
A normal SUV works great and the ground clearance can come in handy. Potholes can be a pain on some roads, but the biggest issue is plowing through street flooding during the rainy season... which can get pretty deep sometimes.
Although most parking areas are secure garages, I still wouldn't recommend bringing something too flashy. Google the phrase "No Dar Papaya" to see what i'm referencing
Phone & Internet:
1. Is high-speed home Internet access available? How long does it typically take to install it after arrival?
Yes, pretty easy to get.
Pets:
1. Are qualified veterinarians and/or good kennel services available? Do animals need to be quarantined upon entry to the country? Are there other considerations regarding pets that are particular to this country?
Not sure, I don't have a pet, but it is a great city for dogs. It is easy to find dog walkers and they even have great deals on the "doggy camps" where some guy with a truck will come in the morning, then bring your dog up to a play area in the mountains for the entire day, then return your dog in the late afternoon for $5-$10/day. The only problem is your dog will probably enjoy that more than you and think you are boring on the weekends.
Employment & Volunteer Opportunities:
1. What types of jobs do most expatriate spouses/partners have? Locally based or telecommuting? Full-time or part-time? Can you comment on local salary scales?
The Embassy has a lot of EFM roles and that is the best option. The second best option is probably US remote based jobs due to being on the same time zone. Since Colombia is poor and has a high unemployment rate, I can't imagine getting a good job on the local economy.
2. What is the typical dress code at work and in public places? Is formal dress ever required?
Average dress code. Of note, most Colombians wear pants and a nice shirt when in public. It is colder in Bogota and not a beach town.
Health & Safety:
1. Are there personal security concerns to be aware of at this post? Please describe.
Pickpockets, phone snatchers on bikes, and in rare cases armed robberies. Mitigate as appropriate (don't wander around at night with your phone out)
For men, this is the only place I have been in the world that men are at higher risk of being drugged by women (versus the other way around) in the nightlife scene. They often use scolpamine to knock their victims out of commission then steal all their stuff. It can be avoided with some common sense, but men+attractive girls+alcohol can lead to common sense going out the window for some people.
2. Are there any particular health concerns? What is the quality of available medical care? What medical conditions typically require medical evacuation?
Bogota has pretty good hospitals. The altitude sickness varies. Some people adjust quickly while others take longer. I have noticed a few people that develop some breathing issues which effects their sleep patterns due to the thin air/altitude.
3. What is the air quality like at post (good/moderate/bad)? Are there seasonal air quality issues? Does the air quality have an impact on health?
Some pollution but not that bad.
4. Are there any particular mental health issues that tend to crop up at post, such as Seasonal Affective Disorder (winter blues)?
Weather is the same the entire year, although the rainy season does fluctuate. November and April are the heights of the rainy season and it can get a little gloomy with weeks straight of cloudy and rainy days. When it is the sunny, the weather is Bogota is amazing.
5. What is the overall climate: is it extremely hot or cold, wet or dry, at any time of year, for example?
As stated above, it is on the Equator and doesn't fluctuate that much except for the rainy seasons. It does get a little chilly at night and many people prefer a light jacket/sweatshirt
Expat Life:
1. What is the relative size of the expatriate community? How would you describe overall morale among expatriates?
Expat size is average. It is cheap here so various digital nomads and retirees come to Bogota. There are a few expat groups around the city.
However, Medellin is probably the biggest expat community in Colombia although I got a bad vibe from some of the expats there..... too many "passport bros" looking for the wrong stuff.
2. What are some typical ways to socialize, either with local people or with other expatriates? Are there groups or clubs that you can recommend?
It is a big city and plenty of ways to socialize if you are willing to put yourself out there. Run clubs, facebook expat groups, salsa dancing classes, wine tasting, etc. However, you really need to learn some Spanish and put yourself out there with the locals. The English-speaking expat group is limited, although the Embassy community in itself is pretty big.
3. Is this a good city for single people? For couples? For families? Why or why not?
Yes. Families seem to do well although there is some concern with crime.
This is probably one of the best posts in the Foreign Service for single males and dating..... although you also need to know how to avoid the land mines with bad intentions.
4. Is this a good city for LGBT expatriates? Why or why not?
Despite being known as a deeply catholic country, I have found that they are very open with LGBT here.
5. What have been the highlights of your time in this country? Best trips or experiences?
The northern Caribbean coast (Cartagena, Santa Marta, Tayrona, etc) is amazing and has great weather.
6. What are some interesting/fun things to do in the area? Can you recommend any “hidden gems"?
Getting a weekend airbnb in the mountains 1-3 hours outside of Bogota is great. It is an awesome country once you escape the madness of the city.
7. What are the particular advantages of living in this city?
Mild weather, good international airport with lots of flights, cheap cost of living, close to the U.S. while still having a unique culture.
Words of Wisdom:
1. Knowing what you know now, would you still move to this city?
Yes, I love it here.
2. But don't forget your:
light jacket.
3. Do you recommend any books or movies about this city/country for those who are interested in learning more?
Controversial opinion, but "Narcos" on netflix actually does a great job explaining the complicated and violent history of Colombia during the rough years in the 90s. It is also nice to listen to in Spanish to work on your informal Colombian Spanish.
4. Do you have any other comments?
Main downsides are crime and traffic.
Traffic is bad, but it is a little more complicated; the traffic is actually pretty light during the summer and winter school breaks, as well as during vacation weeks of Christmas and Holy Week/Semana Santa. Outside of that, it can be pretty annoying. Many people works 7 AM to 4 PM to try and leave early to beat the worse of the traffic. Afternoon commutes can range anywhere from 35 minutes on a good day to over an hour on the bad days.
