Colombia Forum

yolatengo
Joined 2019
Posts: 545

4 years ago

Budget vs. Actual

4 years ago

I thought it would be interesting to compare budget vs. actual cost of living - the one before I moved here, and now that I'm living here for nearly 10 months. The total was pretty much on target - 5.715.000 (pre move estimate) vs. 4.730.000 (actual). In USD, that's about $300 under budget.

The large discrepancies were with EPM, health insurance (I budged for prepago), general medical, food, restaurants (I forgot to include in original). I have someone prepare lunches and dinners for me which comes out to be a little under 25.000 per day. I don't eat out much except for breakfasts.

EPM is 100.000 over budget due to having a washer and dryer. It is well worth the extra money to me ($35 USD) to have a dryer despite what seems to be the general consensus.

Medical is well over budget due to high cost for my medications and seeing mostly private doctors, another subject. That's countered by health insurance being way under budget since I didn't get prepaid as planned.

Of course one can do better (or worse), but I'm comfortable with this.

Jan2019 Present
Rent 1.500.000 1.200.000
Internet 220.000 150.000
Cell 100.000 75.000
EPM 120.000 220.000
Transp 200.000 100.000
Health Ins 700.000 110.000
Private Med 100.000 300.000
Bank fees 100.000 75.000
Food 500.000 700.000
Restaurants 0 300.000
Entertainment 500.000 500.000
Misc 1.000.000 1.000.000

TOTAL 5.715.000 4.730.000

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