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[QUOTE=MrEnternational;3079357]My ex-girlfriend lives in Cali. She said she was running out of the hospital where she works and fell and people were running over her. Her boss had to drag her away by the arm until she could get up. The building collapsed. .[/QUOTE]This might be it:
[URL]https://www.youtube.com/shorts/R1N1R4uD20s[/URL]
Has anyone been keeping track of the USD-to-COP exchange rate? I was in Medellin in May when it was 3,500 COP and now looking at 3,100.
A year ago it was near 4,000. Seems like such a crazy drop-off.
[QUOTE=VoodooJones;3079811]Has anyone been keeping track of the USD-to-COP exchange rate? I was in Medellin in May when it was 3,500 COP and now looking at 3,100.
A year ago it was near 4,000. Seems like such a crazy drop-off.[/QUOTE]May 15 it was 3,810. To 3,133 today. Almost 18% drop in three months is crazy. In contrast the USD has strengthened vs the Brazilian Real in that period. 5. 05 to 5. 20.
[QUOTE=VoodooJones;3079811]Has anyone been keeping track of the USD-to-COP exchange rate? I was in Medellin in May when it was 3,500 COP and now looking at 3,100.
A year ago it was near 4,000. Seems like such a crazy drop-off.[/QUOTE]I have to keep track of it because I visit Medellin almoat every other month. I have no idea why the USD is losing value against the COP. The dollar is up over the past year against the Euro and the Japanese yen, yet is down almost 25% during that time against the COP. That should make US products less expensive in Colombia, but the grocery stores haven't dropped their prices on US products that I have observed.
[QUOTE=VoodooJones;3079811]Has anyone been keeping track of the USD-to-COP exchange rate? I was in Medellin in May when it was 3,500 COP and now looking at 3,100.
A year ago it was near 4,000. Seems like such a crazy drop-off.[/QUOTE]
I've been going there since early 2022. It almost touched 5000 in November 2022. Spirit flights to Colombia ($200 RT) and Viva flights within Colombia ($70 RT) were dirt cheap. It was a golden period.
[QUOTE=FunLuvr;3079828]I have to keep track of it because I visit Medellin almoat every other month. I have no idea why the USD is losing value against the COP. The dollar is up over the past year against the Euro and the Japanese yen, yet is down almost 25% during that time against the COP. That should make US products less expensive in Colombia, but the grocery stores haven't dropped their prices on US products that I have observed.[/QUOTE]The peso was extremely devalued during the time when the exchange rate was in the 4000's. Now it is at a more realistic valuation. It is a combination of the Colombian peso getting stronger against the dollar and the dollar getting weaker against the Colombian peso. What the dollar does against other currencies has no bearing on what it is doing against the Colombian peso. In addition to the exchange rate going significantly down there is significant inflation here across the board. I'm fortunate enough to be able to swallow it but my expenses betwen those two issues is costing me about 40-50% more overall so it does sting but I'm not going anywhere.
[QUOTE=JuneFly;3079878]I've been going there since early 2022. It almost touched 5000 in November 2022. Spirit flights to Colombia ($200 RT) and Viva flights within Colombia ($70 RT) were dirt cheap. It was a golden period.[/QUOTE]Do to responsible governance. Think how the strong dollar has benefited us.
[QUOTE=MojoBandit;3079681]This might be it:
[URL]https://www.youtube.com/shorts/R1N1R4uD20s[/URL][/QUOTE]Yep. That was it.
[QUOTE=Manizales911;3079883]I'm fortunate enough to be able to swallow it but my expenses betwen those two issues is costing me about 40-50% more overall so it does sting but I'm not going anywhere.[/QUOTE]Same here man. Stings a little but still worth it to me compared to other countries I have been to.
[QUOTE=GringoLoko;3079900]Same here man. Stings a little but still worth it to me compared to other countries I have been to.[/QUOTE]From about 2010 through 2014, the USD was on average below 2,000 to the Colombian Peso. In that context, 3,100 isn't bad. Though late 2022 was especially good.
[QUOTE=Manizales911;3079883]The peso was extremely devalued during the time when the exchange rate was in the 4000's. Now it is at a more realistic valuation. It is a combination of the Colombian peso getting stronger against the dollar and the dollar getting weaker against the Colombian peso. What the dollar does against other currencies has no bearing on what it is doing against the Colombian peso. In addition to the exchange rate going significantly down there is significant inflation here across the board. I'm fortunate enough to be able to swallow it but my expenses betwen those two issues is costing me about 40-50% more overall so it does sting but I'm not going anywhere.[/QUOTE]What the US dollar does against the Colombian peso is related to all other currencies and their relativity to each other. The relative change versus the COP is similar for Canada which I know about, and likely similar to most of the major currencies. The change in the value of the Canadian dollar versus the US dollar explains almost all of the difference between the change in value between COP and CAD versus COP and USD.
You are right. Foreign exchange markets have not been binary since the days of central banks having multi-day settlement cycles. There are only a few dozen countries (among which North Korea, Pacific Islands, former Soviet republics of Central Asia) that aren't active in up to the minute FX transactions.
[QUOTE=Zeos1;3079953]What the US dollar does against the Colombian peso is related to all other currencies and their relativity to each other. The relative change versus the COP is similar for Canada which I know about, and likely similar to most of the major currencies. The change in the value of the Canadian dollar versus the US dollar explains almost all of the difference between the change in value between COP and CAD versus COP and USD.[/QUOTE]
That is only part of the story. Something that isn't as noticeable to short term visitors and tourists because it doesn't affect them in meaningful ways is price inflation. Food staples, utility bills, and real estate leases have shot up way above where they had increased to make up for the peso's devaluation. If you are here full time it is a bit of a double whammy. It's not enough to price out many foreigners but it's definitely noticeable and it's no longer as much of a bargain. Someone else mentioned Brazil. The US dollar is performing very well there and the quality of life intangible is higher in the form of less noise pollution and better infrastructure (public transportation, road safety, etc.) To get back on topic, the cost of a Centro casa is COP75 k to 80 k (about USD $24 to $28). The cost of an comparable Sao Paulo casa is are $200 (about USD $40). The Brazilian girls have as good or better looking on average and generally perform better but definitely not 60% better. All in all it's a mixed bag and it will be interesting to see how this shakes out over the next 6 months or so. FOr now I don't feel the need to make a move.
[QUOTE=VoodooJones;3079811]Has anyone been keeping track of the USD-to-COP exchange rate? I was in Medellin in May when it was 3,500 COP and now looking at 3,100.
A year ago it was near 4,000. Seems like such a crazy drop-off.[/QUOTE]
A lot of people think it is very difficult to figure out what currency exchange rates will do. I know exactly what they will do. They will fluctuate. Now ask me what interest rates and commodities prices will do.
95% of this thread is just chit chat so here's some boots on the ground reporting.
While preparing for my trip to MDE, I've felt that FB chica matching has gone off a cliff. I hadn't updated my FB roster for 2 years since I didn't go to MDE for two years. But one month of FB chica hunting hasn't produced much of value before my trip. I got maybe 2 new adds during the entire month. Most girls don't respond, lock profiles, or are not good looking enough to consider. It's showing way more men (probably you guys) than it used to. It also limits your number of new chats per 24 hrs.
After one other board member suggested Tinder, I gave it a try. Yes I was absolutely hesitant about Tinder and other dating apps since most guys who got drugged in MDE seemed to have started out on dating apps. But Tinder has a verified feature where I suppose the girl must match a selfie with their profile photos. Also promised myself not to put anything but water from the tap into my mouth while the girl is in my apartment. So hopefully this isn't my final post on ISG.
Bought myself Tinder Gold. The benefit of Gold is the incognito mode where only the girls I'm interested in can see my profile. You also get unlimited likes which comes from the lower Plus tier. Also if you read my earlier posts, I only do BBFS. The range I've set for myself is 350-400 because I already have a roster of pretty hot girls who would come for 400.
My first day, I created a very brief profile, stating that I'm just looking for mutually beneficial relationships. I used some pictures of myself dressed cleanly, travel pics, nothing special. I set my preference for "short term fun". Somehow I did not get any matches the first night, maybe because it was late or because I didn't verify my photos. Next day, the app asked me to verify my photos and once I did that the matches started rolling in. For me, the girls are about the same as FB-level. Mostly GNDs, a few that I would consider to be hot. Purposely swiped left on the girls with travel pics to Europe, holding iPhone 17's Pros (maybe it's borrowed but I don't care), implants. Once the chat started, I just asked if they're OK with a mutually beneficial relationship and if so, let's move onto WhatsApp. Everyone gets the picture.
On WhatsApp, I propose BBFS and give my offer. I get rejected right off the bat maybe 50% of the time. For the remaining half, half of that ask for too much, so about a quarter will take BBFS in between the 350 to 400 range for an hour. I stick to 350 including transportation. If she asks for transportation and I really want to see her, I'll pay for their return trip. One girl was quite hot and I gave her 400. With the exchange rate as it is, anything beyond 400 is not worth it and I would go elsewhere either for better / similar quality for the same price or lower prices.
I already sessioned twice with Tinder girls with two more scheduled for the upcoming days. It's way easier than FB's current limitations, but probably more risky since there's no established profile, so just make sure you guys protect yourself. Most importantly, do not drink with the girl, ever, even after you've met her once or twice. I might have avoided a scope queen when she asked if I've been to Meddy before and I said yes and she went silent.