LatAm Expat & Nomad Daily Guide for Saturday, July 11, 2026
Good morning. Your LatAm expat nomad daily guide opens on the fiscal reckoning behind Colombia’s handover fight, Argentina’s quarter-final tonight, and a racing weekend in São Paulo.
Colombia’s outgoing government has revealed a budget with almost no room to move, sharpening the stakes of a looming tax reform. Markets are closed for the weekend, so the rates below are the latest close.
Key Points
- Colombia’s budget is locked. The outgoing government says 93.7% of the 2026 budget is inflexible.
- Little room to move. That leaves only about 34.6 trillion pesos (~US$10.3 billion) of discretionary spending.
- The tax reform matters more. The squeeze raises the stakes of the July 20 tax reform for residents.
- Argentina’s quarter-final tonight. They face Switzerland in Kansas City at 9pm Eastern.
- Spain reach the semis. They beat Belgium 2-1 and will play France on Tuesday.
- FX is the weekend close. Rates below are the latest; markets reopen Monday.
00Status Changes Since Yesterday
| Story | Yesterday | Today | Next |
|---|---|---|---|
| Colombia transition | Legal escalation | Fiscal picture revealed; budget locked | Tax reform Jul 20; inauguration Aug 7 |
| World Cup (LatAm) | France through | Argentina’s quarter-final tonight | Winner meets Norway/England in the semi |
| Peru election | Transition continues | Unchanged | Credentials Jul 15; handover Jul 28 |
| Argentina money | Steady | Steady into the print | June CPI Monday |
| Uruguay tax | Live | Look-through detail in focus | Withholding continues |
01Visas & Residency
| Where | What changed | What it means for you |
|---|---|---|
| Colombia | The outgoing government revealed that 93.7% of the 2026 budget is locked, leaving little room, and still plans a tax reform on July 20. The handover remains suspended amid a legal fight. | Watch the July 20 filing; nothing changes for residents before the August 7 inauguration. |
| Uruguay | The 12% tax on foreign capital income now reaches income routed through offshore entities, attributed to residents who own more than 5%. US expats face the sharpest exposure, with no US tax treaty. | If you hold offshore structures or are a US taxpayer, review your position with a cross-border adviser. |
| Peru | The foreign ministry is rewriting the national migration policy, which 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. June inflation lands Monday. | If building time toward citizenship, avoid leaving; watch Monday’s inflation print. |
| 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. | If you live most of the year in Mexico, check your tax status. |
02Cost of Living & Money
Markets are shut for the weekend, so these are the latest closing rates against the dollar. The Colombian peso held firm despite the fiscal news, and Argentina’s peso is steady before Monday’s inflation print.
| Currency | Per US$ | Read |
|---|---|---|
| Brazilian real | 5.17 | steady |
| Mexican peso | 17.47 | little changed |
| Colombian peso | 3,368 | firm despite the fiscal news |
| Chilean peso | 924 | flat |
| Peruvian sol | 3.42 | steady |
| Argentine peso | 1,489 | official; blue ~1,515 |
| Uruguayan peso | 40.12 | firm |
Colombia’s tax reform, if filed on July 20, would aim to raise around 21.8 trillion pesos (~US$6.5 billion) next year, roughly US$6.5 billion. Argentina’s June inflation, due Monday, 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 (Saturday). Argentina face Switzerland in the World Cup quarter-final in Kansas City tonight, the region’s last game. Norway meet England earlier, and Caifanes headline Mexico City.
This weekend. São Paulo’s endurance race finishes at Interlagos on Sunday. The World Cup semi-finals then fall on Tuesday and Wednesday.
Next week. Peru’s president-elect receives her credentials on Wednesday, and Oaxaca’s mezcal fair opens on July 17. The World Cup final is Sunday, July 19.
04Art & Culture
São Paulo’s endurance-racing weekend wraps at Interlagos on Sunday, closing the city’s big motorsport dates. Mexico City’s concert month rolls on after Saturday’s Caifanes show.
Oaxaca builds toward the Feria del Mezcal from July 17 and the Guelaguetza later in the month. Buenos Aires, Santiago and Montevideo keep busy winter calendars.
05Food & Coffee
Buenos Aires will fill its parrillas and bars tonight 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 tonight’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 handover fight 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 11–19
Background: BRICS Just Got Bigger — Who’s In, Who’s Still Out, and Why It Matters.
Background: our living in merida expat guide guide.
Frequently Asked Questions
What did Colombia’s government reveal?
The outgoing finance ministry said 93.7% of the 2026 budget is locked, leaving only about 34.6 trillion pesos (~US$10.3 billion) of discretionary room. It blamed court rulings for much of the lost fiscal space.
Does the fiscal news change anything for foreigners?
Not directly. But it raises the stakes of the July 20 tax reform, which would reach residents’ income, VAT and property.
When do Argentina play?
Argentina face Switzerland in the quarter-final in Kansas City tonight at 9pm Eastern. It is the region’s last game of the tournament.
What changed in Uruguay’s tax?
Its 12% tax on foreign income now reaches income routed through offshore entities owned above 5%. US expats are the most exposed, with no US tax treaty.
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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