How To Live on a Hood Budget in Colombia
It's no secret that Colombia is known for its vibrant culture and beautiful scenery, but did you know that it's also possible to live on a tight budget in this South American paradise? In this post, we'll show you how to make the most of your money and still enjoy the best of Colombia's culture, food, and experiences. Read on to find out how to live on a hood budget in Colombia! “Living on a hood budget” is a phrase that came from living in the streets of the Bronx. You’ll hear this in other hoods too, like Newark, NJ, Chicago, IL, Detroit, MI, etc. What this means is that you can only buy what’s on the dollar menu at McDonald’s or whatever coupons you can get for Burger King. As of January 2023, 1 USD is equivalent to 4570.64 COP. I like to use XE Currency to check the current exchange rate.
Food
You can get lunch in cities like Medellin for 12,000–14,000 COP around the neighborhood of Laureles, which is about $2.60–$3.00 USD. These lunches are loaded with food. A lunch plate comes with a choice of protein, a starch like rice, greens, legumes, healthy fats like avocados, and natural fresh juice.
Housing
If I’m trying to make every peso in Colombia last, I know that I could live in hostels for as little as $6 USD a night. Every city in Colombia has hostels. Viajero is a franchise that can be found in almost every major city, but not all Viajeros are cheap. For instance, a room in Viajero Bogota can cost about 130,000 COP a night for a solo room, while mixed rooms cost 48,000 COP. There are hostels that cost 20,000 COP a night, for example, the Hilltop Hostel in Salento. The cheaper hostels are dorm-style hostels.
Transportation
You can take a bus from city to city for about 70,000–130,000 COP, which is a lot cheaper than taking a plane. If you’re not in a hurry, consider taking a coach bus. You can also take a local bus in the cities for about 2,500 COP, which is cheaper than taxis, which can start at 9,000 COP. Of course, these prices aren’t terrible, but if you really want to be frugal with your spending, you have some options.
Congratulations! You've made it to the end of this guide on “How to Live on a Hood Budget in Colombia!” Whether you're a student, a backpacker, or a digital nomad, this guide has hopefully given you some helpful tips and tricks on how to make the most of your budget while exploring this beautiful country.
