LatAm Expat & Nomad Daily Guide for Sunday, July 12, 2026
Good morning. Your LatAm expat nomad daily guide opens on Argentina’s place in the World Cup semi-finals, the contours of Colombia’s tax reform, and a court test for Colombia’s president-elect.
Argentina beat Switzerland in extra time and now face England on Wednesday, the region’s last team standing. Markets are closed for the weekend, so the rates below are Friday’s close.
Key Points
- Argentina reach the semis. They beat Switzerland 3-1 and face England on Wednesday.
- A fixture with history. Argentina and England carry a rivalry that goes back to 1986.
- Colombia’s tax reform. The July 20 bill targets higher income and wealth taxes on top earners.
- The VAT angle. It would also trim the list of exempt goods, sparing the basic family basket.
- A court reprieve. A bid to annul the president-elect’s win was not admitted as filed.
- FX is the weekend close. Rates below are Friday’s; markets reopen Monday.
00Status Changes Since Yesterday
| Story | Yesterday | Today | Next |
|---|---|---|---|
| World Cup (LatAm) | Quarter-final | Argentina reach the semis | England v Argentina Wednesday |
| Colombia transition | Budget revealed | Tax-reform contents public; court test | Reform filed Jul 20; inauguration Aug 7 |
| Argentina money | Steady | Steady | June CPI Monday |
| Peru election | Transition continues | Unchanged | Credentials Jul 15; handover Jul 28 |
| Riviera Maya sargassum | Unchanged | Unchanged | Aug–Oct peak |
01Visas & Residency
| Where | What changed | What it means for you |
|---|---|---|
| Colombia | The July 20 tax reform would raise the top income-tax rate, apply a wealth tax with higher tariffs on the largest fortunes, and trim VAT exemptions. The handover remains suspended, and a court declined to admit a bid to annul the result. | Watch the July 20 filing; nothing changes for residents before the August 7 inauguration. |
| 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 consultation. |
| 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 print. |
| Uruguay | The 12% tax on foreign income now reaches income routed through offshore entities owned above 5%, hitting US expats hardest with no treaty. | If you hold offshore structures or are a US taxpayer, review your position with a cross-border adviser. |
| 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 Friday’s closing rates against the dollar. The Colombian peso held firm through 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, due July 20, would aim to raise around 21.8 trillion pesos (~US$6.5 billion) next year, rising toward 37 trillion (~US$11 billion) by 2030. 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 (Sunday). São Paulo’s endurance race finishes at Interlagos, closing the motorsport weekend. Fans across the region look ahead to Wednesday’s semi-final.
This week. France play Spain on Tuesday and England meet Argentina on Wednesday in the World Cup semi-finals. Peru’s president-elect receives her credentials on Wednesday.
Later. Oaxaca’s Feria del Mezcal opens on Friday, July 17. The World Cup final is Sunday, July 19.
04Art & Culture
Oaxaca opens its Feria del Mezcal on July 17, the state’s biggest festival season, with the Guelaguetza following the next week. Mexico City’s concert calendar runs on through the winter.
Buenos Aires, Santiago and Montevideo keep their winter theatre programmes. São Paulo returns to its museums after the endurance-racing weekend at Interlagos.
05Food & Coffee
Buenos Aires will build all week toward Wednesday’s semi-final, the biggest World Cup night the city has had in years. Fan zones run at Plaza Seeber and across the capital.
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 now, but expect huge crowds for Wednesday’s semi-final. Plan around packed bars, fan zones and heavy transport demand that evening.
Colombia. The cities are calm, with the handover fight confined to institutions and the courts. 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 12–19
Background: BRICS Just Got Bigger — Who’s In, Who’s Still Out, and Why It Matters.
Background: World Bank Cuts Brazil 2026 Growth to 1.9% as Oil Shock Bites.
Background: our living in merida expat guide guide.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are Argentina still in the World Cup?
Yes. They beat Switzerland 3-1 in extra time to reach the semi-finals, where they face England on Wednesday.
Why is Argentina v England a big deal?
It revives one of football’s fiercest rivalries, going back to the 1986 World Cup. It is the region’s last game in the tournament.
What is in Colombia’s tax reform?
The July 20 bill would raise the top income-tax rate, apply a wealth tax on large fortunes and trim VAT exemptions. It is a bill, not yet law.
Does the court ruling stop Colombia’s president-elect?
No. A court declined to admit a bid to annul his win but did not reject it, and the August 7 inauguration proceeds.
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.
This article was produced by The Rio Times’ automated newsroom system. How we use AI · Report an error