Do I need EPS as a foreigner in Colombia?

Legally, residents on M or R visas must enroll in EPS (Sura, Sanitas, Compensar). Most expats also add prepagada on top for faster service.

Do Colombian doctors speak English?

Many specialists in El Poblado, Chapinero and Bogotá's Country area do — but GPs and pharmacy staff usually don't. Ask when booking.

How much does a private doctor visit cost?

With prepagada: a copay of $10,000–$30,000 COP. Without: $80,000–$200,000 COP for a private GP, $200,000–$400,000 COP for a specialist.

Expat & remote-worker guide

Spanish for Colombia

Sound less gringo from week one in Medellín, Bogotá or Cartagena.

Colombian Spanish — especially the paisa variant from Medellín — is often called the clearest in Latin America. Vowels are crisp, the rhythm is steady, and locals will slow down for you if you ask. It's an unusually friendly place to start speaking.

But Colombia hits expats with two surprises: the constant use of 'usted' (even between close friends and inside families), and a wave of warm-fuzzy diminutives — 'un tintico', 'gracias mi amor', 'a la orden'. Learn to mirror both and you'll fit in fast.

These scenarios cover the situations digital nomads in El Poblado, Laureles and Chapinero hit in their first 30 days: renting a furnished apartment, opening a bank account, ordering at a tienda, and dealing with Rappi.

Real situations you'll hit

Each guide has dialogues, vocab, local tips and practice prompts.

Renting an apartment in Colombia

Furnished Airbnb-style rentals to year-long leases — the Spanish you need.

Open guide

Ordering at a tienda or panadería

Tintos, pandebonos, and the warm small talk locals expect.

Open guide

Ordering Rappi and dealing with delivery

Portería pickup, missing items, and refunds — handled in Spanish.

Open guide

Taking Uber, Cabify and taxis in Colombia

Uber, Cabify, yellow taxis — pickup, route, and small talk.

Open guide

Opening a bank account in Colombia

What to say at Bancolombia, Davivienda or BBVA in Medellín or Bogotá.

Open guide

Going to the doctor in Colombia

Describe symptoms and navigate EPS or prepagada in Spanish.

Open guide

City guides

Neighborhoods, slang and pronunciation for the cities you'll actually live in.

Spanish in Medellín

Paisa Spanish — singing, warm, and dripping with usted.

Open city guide

Spanish in Bogotá

The neutral Spanish broadcasters love — and the polite formality that comes with it.

Open city guide

Spanish in Cartagena

Costeño Spanish — fast, rhythmic, and missing every consonant you needed.

Open city guide

Colombia Spanish: what's different

The dialect quirks that trip up expats in the first week.

Usted is the default

In Antioquia and most of Colombia, 'usted' is used in almost every context — even between siblings. It's not formal here; it's just normal. Don't fight it.

A la orden

Heard everywhere — shops, restaurants, taxis. Means 'at your service' or 'you're welcome'. Use it back: 'gracias' → 'a la orden'.

¿Bien o qué?

Paisa greeting — 'good or what?'. Reply with '¡bien, gracias a Dios!' and you'll sound local immediately.

Soft, sing-song rhythm

Colombian Spanish has melody — almost questioning. Don't flatten it. Practice the cadence, not just the words.

Starter slang

The ten words you'll hear in your first week.

Phrase	Meaning	Example / note
Parce / parcero	Friend / dude	¿Todo bien, parce?
Chévere	Cool / nice	Qué chévere ese lugar.
Bacano	Cool / awesome (paisa)	Bien bacano el plan.
Mero / mera	Total / complete	Mero gentío had el centro.
Listo	OK / ready / done	Universal acknowledgement word — use it like 'OK'.
Hágale	Go for it / do it	Used to encourage or agree to a plan.
Tinto	Small black coffee	¿Me regala un tintico?
Me regala…	Could I have… (polite request)	Me regala la cuenta, por favor.
Rumba / rumbear	Party / to party	¿Nos vamos de rumba?
Guayabo	Hangover	Tengo un guayabo terrible.