With ten million people spread out over 612 square miles, Bogotá is the capital of Colombia and one of the largest cities in South America. A bustling metropolis with a family-oriented culture, Bogotá is a place where husbands still go home every day to eat lunch with their wife and kids. Here, multigenerational households are the norm. Children live with their parents until marriage, even afterwards in some cases. Grandparents stop by regularly to offer advice and support. And workers rarely stay late at the office when they could be with their loved ones instead.
Thanks to these types of close-knit households, life here moves at a different pace. It’s slower, calmer, and more traditional. People can take time for themselves, to build relationships and practice self-care, which is one of the reasons why Americans love living in Bogotá, though certainly not the only one.
Affordable prices and a fast-growing economy help their income go farther, while the city’s scenery, food, and cultural institutions provide plenty of opportunities for fun and excitement. So whether you’re considering a move or just curious about Colombia, here is why Americans are moving south in record numbers.
Affordable Costs
Living in Bogotá doesn’t require a high-paying job or enormous savings. In fact, it’s possible to get by comfortably on as little as $2,000 a month! The average apartment rents for less than half of what it does in the United States. And while the average home costs around $233 per square foot in the U.S., in Bogotá, homes near the city center are only $157 per square foot.
Newcomers can expect to pay less for clothing, groceries, restaurants, utilities, transportation, and childcare as well. Even luxury items, like health club memberships, are relatively inexpensive. Foreign goods are subject to import fees, but the money saved by purchasing local goods more than makes up for it.
Strong Job Market
Bogotá is an economic engine and one of the most prosperous cities in Latin America. Due to its favorable business climate, most of Colombia’s major industries and startups are headquartered here. Since 2017, the city’s GDP (Gross Domestic Product) has outpaced the rest of Latin America, growing at an average rate of 9.9 percent compared to just 4 percent over the same period.
Financial services, education, healthcare, and real estate are Bogotá’s biggest industries, but the city also has a significant manufacturing base, focused primarily on textiles, food processing, and pharmaceuticals. Though the tech sector is still rather small, it is slowly making a name for itself with several fintech, software development, and e-commerce companies operating around the city. To spur funding, the city has been adding new infrastructure, including a technology park, to complement its young, educated workforce.
So far, these initiatives have paid off. Bogotá has received a tremendous amount of overseas investment, over $17 billion in 2022 alone. With an increasing number of multinational corporations setting up operations in the city, there has been a rising demand for foreign workers comfortable speaking English and Spanish, particularly in the IT, marketing, education, and customer service fields.
High-Quality Healthcare
With eighteen of the top hospitals in Latin America, Colombia has one of the best medical systems in the region. The government has spent years upgrading the country’s healthcare facilities with top-grade staff and equipment, allowing them to prevent, treat, and manage a wide range of ailments and illnesses.
Because so many of its doctors and nurses were trained overseas, Americans typically have an easy time navigating the system. Bogotá’s medical professionals are commonly fluent in both Spanish and English. Most of the country is enrolled in the state health plan, known as Entidades Promotoras de Salud (EPS), which is available to legal residents and citizens.
But even though EPS is subsidized by the government, many Americans prefer to purchase private insurance instead. Residents who choose a private plan are generally seen faster and have access to a wide network of upscale facilities. Compared to the United States, private insurance is relatively affordable here. Most monthly premiums are under $300, with small copays required when visiting a doctor.
Delicious Native Cuisine
Unlike most other countries, Colombia doesn’t have one signature cooking style. It has six: Amazonian, Andean, Caribbean, Insular, Orinoco and Pacific. You’ll find all of them in Bogotá, where chefs combine provincial recipes to create an array of tantalizing meals, such as:
- Ajiaco. The city’s signature dish, a steamy soup made from chicken, herbs, corn, avocado, and three types of potatoes, served with a helping of rice. It’s the perfect way to warm up when the mountain wind sweeps in.
- Tamales. While tamales are a popular staple across Latin America, Colombian tamales are made from pork, rice, bacon, chicken, corn flour, and wrapped in a plantain leaf, which gives them their particular flavor. They’re normally eaten along with a cup of hot chocolate or aguapanela (a drink made from sweetened sugarcane). One of the oldest foods in South America, they help connect Bogotanos (people who live in Bogotá) to their ancestral roots, especially during the Christmas holidays.
- Changua. A creamy soup made from eggs, milk, bread, and scallions, with a few pieces of bread on the side for dipping. Rich, warm, and flavorful, it’s one of the city’s favorite comfort foods, normally eaten in the morning.
- Arepa. A flatbread made from ground maize and cornmeal. The insides are filled with cheese, eggs, beans, or freshly roasted meat, such as beef, pork, or chicken. Depending on what part of town you visit, it’s not uncommon to smell grilled arepa wafting from every shop and street corner.
Thirsty residents like to relax with a cup of aromática, a sweet tea infused with herbs or fruit, such as mint, mango, pineapple, lemongrass, or chamomile. If you’re feeling wild, chicha is an indigenous beer made from fermented corn and honey. Be careful though. It can pack quite a wallop.
Outdoor Adventures
Bogotá is nestled on the Andean plateau, surrounded by forests, mountains, and páramos ‒ tropical alpine ecosystems unique to this region of South America. Just a few hours outside the city, you’ll find:
- La Chorrera Waterfall. Colombia’s largest waterfall. The trail takes you through lush farmland and wooded peaks, to a nearly two thousand foot drop overlooking the roaring waters cascading through the trees down onto the rocks below.
- The Cloud Forest of Chicaque. Hike through seven types of woodlands to reach the Pico del Águila, a foggy peak that, on clear days, offers stunning views of Magdalena Valley and its rolling green landscapes.
- Páramo de Sumapaz. The largest páramo in the world, Located above the treeline but below the snowline, this surreal, misty wilderness is full of grasses, shrubs, and huge patches of espeletias (giant rosette plants with huge, silver leaves), which locals refer to as frailejones (big friars).
Though Bogotá is only a short distance from the equator, its elevation means that temperatures are rather mild year-round. Lows are typically 40-45°F, with highs around 65-70°F. Not surprisingly, on the weekends, swimmers and sunbathers head down to the Caribbean and Pacific Coasts, just a few hours away, where they can surf, kayak, and paddleboard through shimmering waves, or strap on their snorkel gear to explore the colorful wildlife just below the surface.
Amazing Culture
Living in Bogotá lets you participate in a vibrant community shaped by indigenous traditions, Spanish influence, and modern aesthetics. It’s home to the Museo del Oro (Gold Museum), which showcases the metalworking skill of the country’s pre-Hispanic cultures, as well as several other institutions with works from Colombia's leading artists, detailing their distinctive perspective on history, politics, and humanity.
But in Bogotá, art isn’t confined to museums. It’s out in the streets. Practically every Bogatano is wild for music and dancing. Most begin studying salsa and cumbia (a blend of African, indigenous, and European styles) at an early age, so even if they can’t play an instrument, they can keep time with their bodies. Dancing plays such a pivotal role in the city’s social life that newcomers are advised to visit their neighborhood bar or club to brush up their moves. Most nightspots hold classes at least once a week, to ensure everyone has a chance to participate in the fun.
During Carnival, cumbia, vallenato, salsa, and Andean rhythms reverberate through every street and the public square in Bogotá, as people in elaborate costumes parade on colorful floats through the center of town. But while carnival is the city’s most famous festival, it certainly isn’t the only one.
Every two years, Bogotá hosts the Ibero-American Theater Festival, featuring actors and singers from all over the world performing a wide range of classical, contemporary, and experimental pieces. Even the city’s street artists come out in force, turning the entire town into a stage. During the Bogotá International Book Fair, writers from across the continent share their latest novels and poems and discuss cultural trends within the publishing industry. The diverse and lively social calendar allows you to indulge a wide range of interests, with unique offerings for newcomers and natives alike.
Moving to Bogotá
At North American Van Lines, we make your move as smooth as possible. Our international agents work with you at every stage of the relocation process. Whether you only need help packing or someone to coordinate everything door-to-door, our plans are based around your situation and budget.
We’ll walk you through pricing, shipping, and customs, so you know exactly what to expect at every step of your journey. North American’s full service moving teams can even recommend the best packing and crating options, so you can be certain your belongings will make it safely to your new home. No matter the destination, we'll help get you there. Contact us today for a free quote!