[Purple Urkle]

I know, "It depends" on what I'm into and how I like to roll, right? Well, I like CHEAP without risking too much in the safety department. My goal is to hole up and woodshed on my Spanish and miscellaneous art projects for three months. I'm equally entertained alone in a small isolated pueblo somewhere off The Gringo Trail or smack dab in the middle of industrial revolution. Getting my Colombian flag is a given so this decision has relatively little to do with pussy and everything to do with "vibe" and aesthetics and CHEAP rent and food (I cook 90% of my meals).

I've been puttin' off this Colombian thing because its so fuckin' expensive compared to Nicaragua where I've rented a three bedroom house for ninety bucks a month. I'm just not gonna pay 700 to 1000/mo. for a zone six apartment. I'm talking 300 to 500/mo. zone four shenanigans. Is this possible? Anyone seen any stuff like this anywhere?

I'm leaning toward the "ugly" yet friendly industrial grunge of north Barranquilla or the provincial calm and cleanliness of Bucaramunga (spelling?) but I can't find much about the rental scene in these two cities on here. Bogota, Medellin, Cartagena, and Cali are off the table.

Thanks.

[freshcream]

I'd like to hear some tips about this as well ^^)

[rinestone]

Do you want a whole apartment or just a room for rent? If its just for a room and you pay local price (not gringo price), you don't necessarily have to take the larger cities you listed off the table.

But if you're accustomed to Nicaragua, it sounds like you want to look for a pueblo. If safety is a concern, which I think you mentioned, you'll probably want to be 'close' to a larger city. Maybe la Mesa, which is close to bogota.

Also, consider what else you want. Water? Weather? Did you check out villavicencio? Maybe some other third tier cities?

[Tully Mars]

Maybe look into Melgar.....Lots of my work colleagues and Rolo's in general head to Melgar to escape the cold of Bogota for the weekends....it's about 100 km southwest of Bogota...dubbed city of swimming pools....my friends enjoy the strip of bars in town so there is some nightlife....dont know about montly rents...

[thegmanifesto]

(03-09-2013 09:11 PM)Purple Urkle Wrote:  

I've been puttin' off this Colombian thing because its so fuckin' expensive compared to Nicaragua where I've rented a three bedroom house for ninety bucks a month. I

Where in Nicaragua?

Can we get a sheet?

[Tigre]

Check out Armenia or somewhere nearby in the coffee zone. Salento, Valle de Cocora etc.

You're talking furnished rental, right? Would you consider renting a room?

You should know there's some red tape involved with renting in Colombia. You often need co-signers and such. It will be impossible to get utilities put on in your own name if you don't have a local ID card.

There's some chance to bypass the co-signer thing if you pay the entire 3 months up front. But that's not always desirable - any leverage you have to convince them to work for you and fix problems disappears if they already have all your money at the beginning.

[Purple Urkle]

(03-20-2013 10:30 AM)thegmanifesto Wrote:  

(03-09-2013 09:11 PM)Purple Urkle Wrote:  

I've been puttin' off this Colombian thing because its so fuckin' expensive compared to Nicaragua where I've rented a three bedroom house for ninety bucks a month. I

Where in Nicaragua?

Can we get a sheet?

In the small pueblos around Jinotepe. Its been my intention for some time to drop some stuff on Nica so I'll be doing that soon. Agreed with freshcream's break down on Leon.

[InternationPlayboy]

Dude, compare prices in cities on this site, and thank me later... http://www.compartoapto.com/

If you don't like that site check out airbnb, but compartoapto is the cheapest I saw. My buddy was renting a place in La Estrella for less than $10 a night in a decent house, made service once a week in Medellin.

[Big Nilla]

Barranquilla is good to go. Plenty of hot chicks with a variety of different looks that don't have attitudes. Plus you can hit Cartagena to the west and Santa Marta to the east in 1-1.5 hours.

[Purple Urkle]

(03-22-2013 01:18 AM)Big Nilla Wrote:  

Barranquilla is good to go. Plenty of hot chicks with a variety of different looks that don't have attitudes. Plus you can hit Cartagena to the west and Santa Marta to the east in 1-1.5 hours.u

Yeah, that's got me psyched. Where in your opinion is the best place to live in Barranquilla? What are rents like? I'd prefer to live alone in a studio or one bedroom with a private entrance. Have you seen rideable waves on that coast? I've seen pictures of the harbor jetty in Cartagena looking very fun. I know its fickle and not much surf culture as a result but that makes it cool. I hear August and September and December and January and February are the best months for surf? Water looks filthy in and around the Barranquilla beaches but Tyrona looks interesting and so does that La Guajira Peninsula, that thing sticks out there in the ocean doesn't it? What about the coast straight out from Sincelejo and Monteria? I smell waves on the right hurricane swell or big low pressure system. AND the coastline up near the Panamanian border is very interesting but looks inaccessible without a boat and is probably a bit sketchy as well do to "traffic." Am I right? Any info. or thoughts?

[Big Nilla]

Best place to live in Bquilla... northern part by Buena Vista mall. Rents... no clue.

The whole Caribbean coast of Colombia sucks. The only good beach would be in Tyrona National Park (note that this is not the same as Santa Marta's public beach, which sucks). I don't recall ever seeing any decent sized waves or people surfing anywhere on the coast.

[Purple Urkle]

(03-22-2013 12:46 AM)InternationPlayboy Wrote:  

Dude, compare prices in cities on this site, and thank me later... http://www.compartoapto.com/

If you don't like that site check out airbnb, but compartoapto is the cheapest I saw. My buddy was renting a place in La Estrella for less than $10 a night in a decent house, made service once a week in Medellin.

Oh perfect, thanks. I think I peaked too soon. Good info.

[Purple Urkle]

(03-20-2013 10:19 AM)Tully Mars Wrote:  

Maybe look into Melgar.....Lots of my work colleagues and Rolo's in general head to Melgar to escape the cold of Bogota for the weekends....it's about 100 km southwest of Bogota...dubbed city of swimming pools....my friends enjoy the strip of bars in town so there is some nightlife....dont know about montly rents...

That sounds very cool. Thanks for the info.