cost of living in cali, live like a KING!!

[Throw]

Pete's post below is right on the money as far as expenses go.  I have lived in Cali off and on for a few years and after to speaking to many, many people who either live there now or have in the past, they find that to live very well, you need $5000 usd ever month.  At an exchange rate of 2300 that gives you 11,500,000 in pesos. To be able to have a nice place, maid, party Thursday, Friday, Saturday, movies, dinners, parties at the apartment, massages, health treatments, mini vacations, belonging to a little club with a nice pool or golf.  I am talking about living well, $5,000 is your magic number.  Sure you can do it on less but everyone always says, go to colombia and live like a king.  Well that is how much you need...

[teoblas]

... in response to cost of living in cali, live like a KING..., posted by Throw on Sep 13, 2005

For those that are interested in making the move to Colombia at the earliest possible opportunity, here is a data point from the other end of the scale.

After 20 years in the rat race I made the move to early retirement in Colombia.  During the first year I lived mostly in Cali by myself with a target of spending $1,000 a month.  Actual costs were around $1,250. (Travel to the US not included during that first year.)  

Just started my second year, this time my high school son has moved with me and our target is $2,000 a month (includes his school costs).  Actual costs may reach $2,500.  (We do not intend to travel to the US this year.)

If anyone is considering moving to Cali and making money here, there are limited, limited options.  That has been addressed in other threads...  I have a modest income stream which I supplement with modest savings.  My projections are that I could continue living here for many, many years or for the rest of my life (under the present circumstances).

The key to my situation is that I do not have any expensive habits (don't think I ever will) - I mostly explore the city, visit with contacts, practice my Spanish and do my best as a single father of a lucky 16 year old gringo in Cali.  Like I said in my subject line, it is similar to summer vacation during my college years.  My one luxury is eating out for lunch and dinner which usually runs me about $2 a plate for lunch and $4 or $5 a plate for dinner - almost as cheap as eating at home and without the cleanup.  Also, I will occasionally go on a date with a local girl.

If you or I wanted, You or I could have the pick of any sweet, simple(a LITTLE bit better looking than you or I and 10-15 years younger than you or I) single girl in Colombia.... these run of the mill girls just need to be screened to ensure they share the same values and goals...  This is the scenario for a bachelor who wants to start a family.  
 
If I did cultivate an expensive habit it would likely be the same expensive habit most gringos in Latin America have (and the same hobby I pursued in the US in my 20s and 30s) - chasing and entertaining and temporarily conquering hot women -- economically disadvantaged hot women.  The definition of hot women for any man is a girl that is 3 points or more above them on the (physical) attractivness scale.  The other common expensive habit is maintaining multiple women.  99.5% of hot women or kept women are high maintenance here and anywhere else in the world.  This is the scenario for a young at heart guy who always wants play or for a guy who already had a family and want to return to playtime.

Obviously Plant-Love has males that post that fit into both scenarios....

Any gringo can live like a king in Colombia for a week.  Maintaining a hot latina in Colombia for a week is afordable.  Maintaining a hot latina in Colombia for the long haul requires spending and living like a king in Colombia.  Maintaining a hot latina in the US for the long haul requires spending and living like a king in the US.  I repeat, the definition of hot women for any man is a girl that is 3 points or more above them on the (physical)attractivness scale...

[OkieMan]

... in response to Re: cost of living in cali, live like a ..., posted by teoblas on Sep 14, 2005

Teoblas,

Hi Teo.  I don't know if you remember meeting me in Cali, back in May.  I have also written you an email or two concerning me helping my step-daughter and her husband work on adopting a baby from Colombia.  So far, they are still checking out many options.  But, to get to my points; first of all, I think it's great that you have your son with you in Cali.  I am sure that his young life will be enriched by that experience.   However, since I have met you, and I know that you are fluent in spanish, and you have lived in Cali for a good while, I am indeed curious to find out how you would rate your success with the latinas?  I mean, a guy like you should have women coming out of every corner, so to speak.  I do not mean to ask any questions that you think are too personal; but I would be curious to know if you desire to get re-married, or do you just want to date around?   Maybe you can share some of your experiences with the board-- and by the way, I am glad that you decided to start posting here.  To my knowledge, I don't think you have been posting on this board before now.  We need to hear more from guys like you that are down there living and working and learning more of the culture, etc. I know that I still have a lot to learn, and I would appreciate getting the opportunity to "pick your brain", every now and then.  It would be great if I could retire down there; but for now, I must continue to work here in the States.  Thanks again for sharing with the board, and I look forward to hearing more from you.

                            OkieMan

P.S  I am curious to know how you determine the 3 or more points thing? In other words, how would you define that?  I don't think that most of us can be that objective.  Besides, the so-called "hotties" are usually the 20 somethings that are generally way too young for most of us middle-aged guys.  Yeah, I know that it isn't very difficult to take them out, or even have sex with them.  But, I believe that you was referring to someone who was trying to have a serious relationship with a latina; not just screw around. If so, then I would be curious to get your take on that scale or qualification.

[teoblas]

... in response to Re: Re: cost of living in cali, live lik..., posted by OkieMan on Sep 14, 2005

I would not mind starting a new thread in the near future on the perspective of a guy that lives here and is waiting on one special relationship.... I have some conclusions that I have not seen on this forum.

More detail on the 3 point thing I talked about on my first post.... Give yourself an objective rating on a physical scale of 1 to 10.  Give the girl a rating on a physical scale of 1 to 10.  If she is 3 or more points above you, you are in hottie land.

There are other considerations that usually cancell each other out, that is why I did not include them in my original post, but here they are now.  Subtract a point from your score or her score if any of the following apply.

For the guys

-1 if you cannot maintain a 15 minute spoken conversation in Spanish

-1 if you do not understand Latin culture.  If anything that goes on down here gets you confused or frustrated or starts you ranting, that means you do not understand that aspect of the culture....

-1 if you do not know how (or refuse) to dress like a native of the country you are visiting.  Double negative if you always go out in sneakers.  For long term prospects this becomes a Tripple negative if you go out in shorts and white socks...  

-1 if she knows you have a vasectomy and she wants to have more children.  Tripple negative for a long term relationship if she is 30 or under and does not have any children of her own.

+ 1 if you are in the top 3% income bracket in your place of residence, tripple if you spend money like water

For the girls

-1 if they cannot maintain a 5 minute writen or spoken conversation in English

- 1 if they are not punctual, reliable or act for short term gains without considering long term consequences.

-1 if they are economically disadvantaged

-1 if they have a child, triple negative if they have 3 children...

+1 if she is the best sex partner you ever had or think that you can ever get for the rest of your life

You could go on and on, but for the most part it evens out for most guys and girls.  If you have a bunch of negatives you are generally limited to choosing from the girls that have a bunch of negatives also (the bulk of the agency girls...not that I am slaming agency girls, they just generally come with these characteristics).  If you invest the time and energy to improve yourself to eliminate your negatives (like so many guys on P-L stress when they advise guys to learn spanish...) then you have access to a whole new catagory of women that generally make for better partners.

Bottom line is latin culture is accepting of younger woman dating an older man so you can get a girl 10-15 years younger for as a freebee (but you already knew that or you would not be here....).  You got a US or Canadian or European passport (and they don't) so you get a girl that is a LITTLE more attractive (1 or 2 points higher than you on the attractivness scale).  If she is three or more points above you on the attractivness scale than she is most likely interested in something other than a long term sentimental relationship.

For an example:  On 09/05/2005 Chris F posted this link

http://www.sjbearden.com/BETRAYALBYMYRIAM.htm

Unfortunately the guy has a weight problem.  Most people would agree that the girl is about (or at least) 3 points above the guy on the attractivness scale (regardless of how you or another person assign points).  The relationship was doomed from before they met.  The only other explanation is that somehow their points evened out but when she saw the guys sofa it just sent her over the edge....    

Teo

[Hoda]

... in response to The 3 Point Thing....and other considera..., posted by teoblas on Sep 15, 2005


that "Sofa" was the killer....lol

[OkieMan]

... in response to The 3 Point Thing....and other considera..., posted by teoblas on Sep 15, 2005

Teo,

Excellent post.  Yes, please start another thread concerning whatever you were referring to.  As far as the spanish, I am trying to learn more spanish, but it is slow going.  Now, the one thing that you said that got me the most curious was understanding the culture.  I have been to Cali only twice, so I am far from an expert.  So, naturally I need some help to better understand the latin culture and the ladies.  That is one of the main reasons why it is so helpful for you and other experienced guys to share their experiences and opinions.  Now, I realize that with anything, many different guys will have many different opinions.  That's ok.  None of us will agree about all things.  But, I am sure that you can give us your own unique prospective, and that will be very helpful. Certainly, it would help me if I could converse with any latina in spanish.  But, in my opinion, that has nothing to do with why she would or would not tell me the truth about something she and I are discussing.  This all goes back to my bad experience when I was in Cali in May.  That's too long to go into now, and I am not in contact with that girl anymore.  But, right now, I am trying to better prepare for my next trip.  At present, I am not exactly sure when that will be.  I just know that I don't want a repeat performance.  And just to let you know, I don't do the shorts and white socks thing.  I dress well when I go out, and I am no George Clooney or Brad Pitt, but I think that I can hold my own when compared to other guys in their late 40's and early 50's.  Well, thanks again, and I look forward to hearing more from you soon.

                            OkieMan

[Avispa]

... in response to The 3 Point Thing....and other considera..., posted by teoblas on Sep 15, 2005

Good post.
The trouble is getting guys to accurately access themselves on the 1-10 scale.

Here's my contribution.
-5  Woman over 30 with a child

[beenthere]

... in response to The 3 Point Thing....and other considera..., posted by teoblas on Sep 15, 2005

"-1 if you do not know how (or refuse) to dress like a native of the country you are visiting. Double negative if you always go out in sneakers. For long term prospects this becomes a Tripple negative if you go out in shorts and white socks..."

When talking with Colombianas, this is ALWAYS their biggest complaint against gringos.  The majority of the gringos that go to Colombia dress horribly, and of course it's the first thing the women notice.

Most excellent post Teoblas!!!  I guess this explains why I've always had a problem getting a hottie...you see, it's hard to find a woman who is a 13...hehehe

[Avispa]

... in response to Re: The 3 Point Thing....and other consi..., posted by beenthere on Sep 15, 2005

I've noticed this also. Look at the pictures of social gatherings on the websites. The guys are dressed to mow the lawn.

[Pete E]

... in response to Re: cost of living in cali, live like a ..., posted by teoblas on Sep 14, 2005

Your cost before your son came is probably a reasonable minimum,although a person could live on less.I think a guy with maybe $1000 a month Social Security only could get by well,alot better than that would buy him in the states.
My utilities just kill me in my strata 6 location.But I have guys working from here for US endeavors.We have to have the high speed internet and the vonage phone hookups.
And I agree its hard to make any money here,so better working the US market from here if a person can.One of my roomates does Real estate loans from here.An ex roomate,web site design for a US company.
I think you told me one time your apartment was 600,000,a good target area I think to get by on less.I presume your utilities are pretty reasonable.
What Throw is talking about is the other extreme,closer to what I spend.Which is fine if you can afford it,but not required.

Pete

[teoblas]

... in response to Re: Re: cost of living in cali, live lik..., posted by Pete E on Sep 14, 2005

It is true that I could have lived on less than $1,000 a month my first year - the majority of Colombians do it so you or I could do it also.

I could have continued renting a room from a grandmother for $100 a month instead of moving into a sinple two bedroom apartment by myself and paying $300 for rent and furniture and utilities....

I could have eaten peanut butter and jelly sandwiches standing up in my kitchen instead of eating steak dinners at Lenos y Carbon....

I could have drank 40 cent beers by myself in my living room and watch the paint on the wall peel instead of enjoying $1.75 beers at Chipichape mall while I watched the girls stroll by....

Most of us come to Latin America without the support structure that a typical Colombian has.  No family, no coworkers, no classmates, no neighborhood buddies and few if any friends to start off with...  So you spend a little extra to fill the empty spaces and socialize....

[Throw]

... in response to Re: cost of living in cali, live like a ..., posted by teoblas on Sep 14, 2005

Great thread, now posters have both ends of the cost of living spectrum, heat lived there for awhile and can also attest that somewhere in the middle is your magic number to live well in colombia...

[Heat]

... in response to Re: cost of living in cali, live like a ..., posted by teoblas on Sep 14, 2005

Hey Teo,

I think you are an example of someone who has found the key to working and living in Colombia.  That is you have become complete fluent in Spanish and know the culture like your own.  That gives you a huge advantage over the majority of gringos who live in Cali.

And you never have any shortage of hot women.  Proving that money is not the real key to these women.

It personality and communication.

You are an honest guy who these gringos can trust.
Good luck in your business and have fun.

[Beattledog]

... in response to Re: cost of living in cali, live like a ..., posted by teoblas on Sep 14, 2005

This is one of the best posts that I have read about the cost of living in Colombia,  Thanks for  the information

Beattledog