| Author | Message | ||
     Patrick Helander New member Username: Swede Post Number: 1 Registered: 9-2006 |
Hi there, great forum you got here Roberto, so happy that i found it! I´m a swede that have been living in Colombia for a couple of months, and my plans are to move to south america with my wife and start a business. We are choosing between Argentina and Colombia, but before we make the final decision, we would like to know first of all which of the two countries is cheapest, to live - buy house and taxes etc? And second, easiest to start a company as a foreign person? Thanks and Best Regards Patrick | ||
| Gustavo Flores Junior Member Username: Xgustax Post Number: 37 Registered: 6-2006 |
By far Argentina... Electronics here are cheaper and so is gas, Just to name a few. Argentina is also holds a much more higher Standard of living then Colombia. Thanks Gustavo | ||
| Tom Woodson Intermediate Member Username: Diverdown48 Post Number: 163 Registered: 6-2006  |
I think I would consider what my life is worth. Let's see, Colombia, drugs, rebel militias, probably the most dangerous country in the Western hemisphere. I think Argentina is the "cheapest" | ||
| Eric Northam New member Username: Enortham Post Number: 1 Registered: 12-2006 |
I spent three months in Colombia and about six months in Argentina. The two countries are vastly different. I stayed in Bogota, Medellin, and Cartagena in Colombia. Out of all the places I've visited in Latin America I found the Colombians to be the happiest and friendliest and the Portenos (not Argentineans as a whole) to be the least. The Portenos aren't that bad but they just don't stand out in the friendly or happy area in Latin America. The costs in Colombia are much more divided. If you want to live with a nice standard of living it's going to cost you more than Argentina but if you're on a budget you can find lower cost food and housing in Colombia but they won't be up to western standards. Unskilled labor is also much cheaper than Buenos Aires (Don't know about the rest of Argentina). I also felt that, just as in most cities in the world, the good parts were safe and you can get by easily if you just use common sense. Having said all that I recently decided to start an IT business in Buenos Aires over Colombia. In general the population as a whole is very well educated and my clients won't have a negative stereotype as soon as they hear where my business is. Other than fruit, the food is much better in Argentina. The standard of living is also higher and Buenos Aires is a beautiful city with wonderful parks and many things to do in the city. Buenos Aires also has the vibrancy, spirit, and life that only a few cities in the world have. I'm guessing overall the costs won't be that different but if you need unskilled labor you might want to look into Colombia whereas if you need imported goods such as electronics Argentina may save you more. Also exporting is probably easier from Argentina. Best of luck in your business and decision! Eric | ||
| Roberto Board Administrator Username: Admin Post Number: 904 Registered: 12-2004 |
That was a nice, informative summary Eric. Thank you. My only experience with Colombia -which was a happy one- was meeting people from the coast, most of which told me they were *different* than the people from other parts of Colombia... meaning nicer. I specially liked their music -ballenato- and their simple, humble demeanor. But planning to do business in a location may require more than this. | ||
| Gustavo Flores Member Username: Xgustax Post Number: 62 Registered: 6-2006 |
Overall cost in Living in Colombia will be a lot more expensive then Argentina. That and as said above I vaule my safty more then "how cheap" it is to live in Colombia. With all the government problems and drug traffiking it is a very clear why Colombia is the most Dangerous country to live in the Western Hemoshpere. Take Care Gustavo |
