LatAm Expat & Nomad Daily Guide for Friday, July 10, 2026
Good morning. Your LatAm expat nomad daily guide opens on Argentina’s quarter-final tomorrow, an escalating institutional fight in Colombia, and a weekend of racing in São Paulo.
Argentina face Switzerland in Kansas City on Saturday, the region’s last game of the tournament. Markets close the week steady, with Argentina’s June inflation due Tuesday.
Key Points
- Argentina’s quarter-final tomorrow. They face Switzerland in Kansas City at 9pm Eastern.
- France go through. They beat Morocco 2-0 to reach a third straight semi-final.
- Colombia’s fight turns legal. The government filed a criminal complaint against a transition-team member.
- Joint sessions suspended. The outgoing government asked the public prosecutor to supervise the handover.
- The tax reform stands. It is still due to be filed on July 20.
- FX holds. Rates below are the latest close; Argentina’s June inflation lands Tuesday.
00Status Changes Since Yesterday
| Story | Yesterday | Today | Next |
|---|---|---|---|
| World Cup (LatAm) | Quarter-finals begin | France through; Argentina play tomorrow | Argentina v Switzerland, Kansas City |
| Colombia transition | Handover declared over | Criminal complaint; prosecutor asked to supervise | Tax reform filing Jul 20 |
| Peru election | Policy rewrite opens | Transition continues | Credentials Jul 15; handover Jul 28 |
| Argentina money | Steady | Steady into the print | June CPI on Tuesday |
| Riviera Maya sargassum | Unchanged | Unchanged | Aug–Oct peak |
01Visas & Residency
| Where | What changed | What it means for you |
|---|---|---|
| Colombia | The handover has collapsed into a legal fight, with a criminal complaint filed against a transition-team member and joint sessions suspended. A tax reform is still planned for July 20. | Watch the July 20 filing; nothing changes for residents before the August 7 inauguration. |
| Peru | The foreign ministry is rewriting the national migration policy, the framework that contains the digital-nomad permit. Credentials for the president-elect follow on July 15. | Nothing changes at the border today; watch for a draft and a consultation window. |
| Argentina | A 2025 decree means the two years of residence for citizenship must be uninterrupted, so leaving can break the count. Permanent residency lapses after 12 consecutive months abroad. | If building time toward citizenship, avoid leaving; confirm with Migraciones before travelling. |
| Mexico | The tax authority is cross-checking immigration data on long-staying foreigners, and the residency test turns on your home and center of life. Doubled 2026 fees also stand. | If you live most of the year in Mexico, check your tax status. |
| Uruguay | The 12% tax on foreign capital income is live, with the first payments due this month. A reduced 8% rate can apply where a local custodian intermediates. | If you became a tax resident in 2026, confirm your withholding with an accountant. |
02Cost of Living & Money
These are the most recent rates against the dollar as markets close the week. The Colombian peso held firm through the political fight, and Argentina’s peso is steady before Tuesday’s inflation print.
| Currency | Per US$ | Read |
|---|---|---|
| Brazilian real | 5.17 | steady |
| Mexican peso | 17.47 | little changed |
| Colombian peso | 3,368 | firm through the political fight |
| Chilean peso | 924 | flat |
| Peruvian sol | 3.42 | steady |
| Argentine peso | 1,489 | official; blue ~1,515 |
| Uruguayan peso | 40.12 | firm |
Analysts still see Argentina’s dollar above 1,600 by year-end, with inflation near 30 percent. June inflation, due Tuesday, is expected near 1.8 to 1.9 percent.
Apartment-hunting season runs all winter, so here is the rent check across all 13 hubs — a furnished one-bedroom in the neighbourhoods expats actually pick.
| City | Furnished 1-BR | Comfortable month |
|---|---|---|
| Mexico City | US$800–1,500 (Roma Norte) | US$1,800–3,500 |
| Playa del Carmen | US$900–1,400 near the beach | US$1,700–3,600 |
| Mérida | US$500–800, bills often in | US$1,100–1,500 |
| Oaxaca | US$400–750 | US$1,600–2,400 |
| Medellín | US$500–1,200 (El Poblado) | US$1,200–1,800 |
| Bogotá | US$550–1,300 furnished | US$1,200–2,850 |
| Buenos Aires | US$800–1,300 (Palermo) | US$1,500–2,000 |
| São Paulo | US$950–1,900, condo fees in | US$1,800–2,500 |
| Rio de Janeiro | US$690–1,190 (Botafogo) | about US$2,000 |
| Florianópolis | US$700–1,400 | US$1,250–2,000 |
| Lima | US$600–900 (Barranco) | US$1,300–1,600 |
| Santiago | US$550–900 (Providencia) | US$1,200–2,000 |
| Montevideo | US$600–1,000 (Pocitos) | US$1,500–2,200 |
03What’s On
Today (Friday). São Paulo’s endurance racing weekend opens at Interlagos, running through Sunday. Spain play Belgium in the World Cup’s second quarter-final.
This weekend. Argentina face Switzerland in Kansas City on Saturday night, the region’s last game, and Caifanes headline Mexico City the same evening. Norway meet England earlier on Saturday.
Next week. The semi-finals fall on Tuesday and Wednesday, and the final is Sunday, July 19. Peru’s president-elect receives her credentials on Wednesday.
04Art & Culture
São Paulo hosts the endurance championship at Interlagos from today to Sunday, the city’s big motorsport weekend. Mexico City’s concert month continues with Caifanes at the Estadio GNP Seguros on Saturday.
Oaxaca builds toward the Feria del Mezcal from July 17 and the Guelaguetza later in the month. Buenos Aires, Santiago and Montevideo keep their winter theatre calendars running.
05Food & Coffee
Buenos Aires will fill its parrillas and bars on Saturday night for the quarter-final, the region’s last World Cup game. Fan zones run at Plaza Seeber and across the city.
Oaxaca’s mezcal fair from July 17 is the month’s set-piece for the spirit. On the Caribbean coast, the sargassum keeps beach days pointed at the sheltered bays and the cenotes.
06Community & Safety
Argentina. Buenos Aires is calm, with Saturday’s quarter-final the week’s big public draw. Expect busy bars and fan zones around the late kickoff.
Colombia. The cities are calm, with the dispute confined to institutions rather than the streets. Expect noisy politics through to the August 7 inauguration.
Peru. With the transition under way and the opposition rejecting the result, protests remain possible around government buildings in central Lima. Avoid demonstrations and allow extra time in the Centro.
07What to Watch — July 10–19
Background: our living in merida expat guide guide.
Frequently Asked Questions
When do Argentina play?
Argentina face Switzerland in the quarter-final on Saturday, July 11, in Kansas City at 9pm Eastern. It is the region’s last game of the tournament.
What happened in Colombia?
The outgoing government filed a criminal complaint against a member of the incoming transition team and asked the public prosecutor to supervise. Joint handover sessions are suspended.
Does the Colombia fight change anything for foreigners?
No. No visa, tax or residency rule changes before the August 7 inauguration, though the July 20 tax reform is the item to watch.
When is the World Cup final?
Sunday, July 19, in the New York area. The semi-finals fall on Tuesday and Wednesday.
What are the latest exchange rates?
The dollar buys roughly 5.17 Brazilian reais, 17.47 Mexican pesos and 3,368 Colombian pesos. Argentina’s blue dollar sits near 1,515.
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