If you’ve ever wondered what kind of home you can get in Bogotá — whether you’re working with $225 a month or $1,000 — let me take you inside the places I’ve actually lived. Over the years, I’ve bounced around this city, from modest stratum 3 apartments to a Swiss-style chalet in stratum 6, and finally to a penthouse with a skyline view. Each move taught me something different about Bogotá, about money, and about lifestyle. Here’s the full ride.

My very first home in Bogotá was in the Río Negro neighborhood, stratum 3 — a safe, working-class area. It was a two-bedroom apartment with one bathroom, a tiny kitchen, and even a washing machine hookup. My landlord Andrés went above and beyond, even writing me a personal letter to support my visa application. Rent? Just 900,000 pesos a month — about $225 USD. No admin fees, no surprises.

The neighborhood was practical too — fresh produce and meat markets just two blocks away, plus the Iserra 100 mall for anything the local shops didn’t carry. For a first landing spot, it was simple, affordable, and surprisingly supportive.

Next stop: Los Andes, just a few blocks away, but a big upgrade. Here I rented a full house: four bedrooms, three bathrooms, a garage, a courtyard, even a servants’ quarters (though I was the only occupant).

The rent was 2.5 million pesos ($625 USD) plus an optional 130,000 pesos ($30) for the neighborhood security guards to watch your house and sign for packages. Trust me — this “optional” fee wasn’t really optional.

The location had its perks. I lived near Vasconia Bakery (where fresh empanadas cost pocket change), clothing outlets near Caracol TV, and small corner shops for daily needs. It was spacious, affordable for the size, and perfect for a couple of years. But then I was ready for something different.

Now this one was special. In the upscale Santa Bárbara neighborhood, I found a house straight out of the Alps — a Swiss-style chalet with three stories, a detached guesthouse, and four bathrooms. The rent was listed at 6 million pesos ($1,200 USD), but after some classic negotiation, I got it down to 5 million pesos ($1,000 USD) paid upfront for the year.

The house had a hotel-worthy master bath, a remodeled kitchen, a big courtyard, and a bonus room on the top floor that became my favorite hangout spot. But the real charm? The landlord’s family. Theresa, the 82-year-old owner, and her daughters, Patricia and Natalia, welcomed me like one of their own. Natalia, a plastic surgeon, even removed a couple of moles I’d had since childhood — making a literal house call for the stitches. Try finding that in a U.S. rental contract!

After a stint in Europe and Asia, I came back to Bogotá and stayed in an Airbnb in Toberín, another stratum 3 neighborhood. Through Airbnb, it cost 2.8 million pesos ($700 USD) the first month. But once I got to know the owners, Milena and her husband, I cut out the middleman and rented directly for 2 million pesos ($500 USD).

This apartment had everything: two bedrooms, two bathrooms, underground parking, and 24-hour security. Perfect for a short-term stay while I figured out my next move.

Meanwhile, my “storage apartment” in Alcázares deserves an honorable mention. For 900,000 pesos ($225 USD), I essentially rented a weirdly laid-out space that acted more like a giant storage closet. The kitchen was comically small, the rooms flowed into each other with no doors, and privacy was nonexistent. But it was cheap, and it kept my stuff safe.

After years of moving, I circled back to Santa Bárbara — just two blocks from the chalet I once loved. This time, it’s a penthouse apartment in a secure building. The rent is 3.5 million pesos ($875 USD), a reminder that exchange rates matter as much as local prices.

The neighborhood is one of Bogotá’s best: quiet, walkable, and filled with cafés, restaurants, and shops. From my balcony, I get views that remind me every day why I stayed.

What did all of this teach me?