South America Relocation Calculator
Compare Cost of Living, Taxes, Rent & Moving Budget by City
Compare taxes, rent, living costs, take-home pay, and one-time moving expenses across Medellín, Bogotá, Buenos Aires, Santiago, Lima, and São Paulo.
Use this calculator to pressure-test your budget before relocating to Colombia, Argentina, Chile, Peru, or Brazil.
Colombia's Digital Nomad Visa (V) is one of the most accessible in the world — remote workers earning just $800+/mo qualify for a 2-year renewable stay. Pensionado Visa requires $700+/mo in pension income. Migrant Visa (M) leads to permanent residency after 5 years of continuous stay. Medellín and Bogotá are the continent's top expat hubs. Cost of living is very low by North American and European standards.
Visa requirements vary by citizenship and change frequently. Always verify with official government sources and an immigration attorney.
Medellín is roughly 73% less expensive than New York City.
See how relocating to South America impacts your FIRE timeline.
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What this South America relocation calculator includes
This calculator estimates how a move to South America may affect your monthly budget — covering income taxes, housing, living costs, and one-time relocation expenses for Colombia, Brazil, Argentina, Chile, and Peru.
City-level cost defaults are available for Medellín, Bogotá, Buenos Aires, Santiago, Lima, and São Paulo — with country-specific tax models and detailed visa context for each destination.
Estimated take-home pay based on your salary, filing status, and country-specific tax rules.
Rent, utilities, groceries, transportation, and healthcare costs for each South American city.
Digital nomad visas, pensionado programs, rentista options, and estimated permit fees — with income requirements and key notes per country.
Monthly flexibility, comparable salary, savings coverage, and a comfort score to judge whether the move looks realistic.
Results are estimates only. Real taxes, rent, healthcare, immigration rules, and household costs vary by residency status, visa path, and local market conditions.
South America offers some of the lowest costs of living available to North American and European expats. Colombia and Peru have become major digital nomad hubs. Argentina's parallel exchange rate market means real purchasing power often differs significantly from official-rate estimates.
This tool is most useful for testing scenarios, comparing South American destinations, and seeing whether your income and savings create enough room to make the move comfortably.
Frequently asked questions
- Which South American country is the cheapest to live in?
- Colombia is generally the most affordable destination in this calculator, particularly Medellín — which combines low rent, low everyday costs, and a large established expat community. Peru (Lima) and Argentina (Buenos Aires) can also be very affordable, especially for those holding USD. Chile (Santiago) and Brazil (São Paulo) are higher-cost but offer stronger infrastructure and economic stability.
- What is the easiest South American country to get a visa for?
- Colombia's Digital Nomad Visa is one of the most accessible in the region — remote workers earning just $800/month qualify for a 2-year renewable stay. Chile also offers a dedicated Digital Nomad Visa requiring $1,500/month. Argentina, Peru, and Brazil have rentista and retirement visa options with varying income requirements. Always verify current requirements with official government sources before applying.
- How does this calculator handle Argentina's currency situation?
- The calculator uses official exchange rates for its estimates. In practice, many expats in Argentina access a significantly higher rate through legal parallel exchange mechanisms, which can make the real cost of living substantially lower than official-rate estimates suggest. The calculator includes a warning note for Argentina and recommends verifying current rates independently.
- Is Medellín, Colombia a good place for remote workers?
- Yes — Medellín is one of the most popular remote work destinations in the Americas. It combines low rent, fast internet, a large English-speaking expat community, spring-like weather year-round, and Colombia's accessible Digital Nomad Visa. The calculator defaults to Medellín when Colombia is selected.
- How much money do I need to relocate to South America?
- One-time relocation costs for most South American destinations in this calculator range from $2,000 to $5,000, covering visa fees, flights, a security deposit, and temporary accommodation. Colombia and Peru tend toward the lower end; Chile and Brazil slightly higher. Use the calculator to estimate both the upfront costs and the ongoing monthly budget difference.