LatAm Expat & Nomad Daily Guide — Thursday, July 23, 2026
Good morning. Your LatAm expat nomad daily guide opens on Colombia’s Senate vote and what it means for the tax reform, Chile’s passed reform, and Brazil’s tightening on tourist stays.
Colombia’s Senate handed the president-elect his first win, a signal that also makes the wealth-tax reform reaching foreign residents very unlikely to pass.
Key Points
- Colombia’s Senate vote. It approved relocating the August 7 inauguration to Cauca, 55 to 32.
- The reversal. The win shows the president-elect can build majorities after his July 20 defeat.
- The tax read. The opposition lacks the votes to pass Petro’s reforms, so the wealth-tax cut is likely dead.
- Chile’s reform. The Chamber passed Kast’s overhaul, cutting corporate tax and easing property tax for over-65s.
- Brazil tightens. Reports say tourist-stay extensions are harder, pushing remote workers to formal residency.
- FX steady. The Brazilian real held at 5.11; rates below are the latest close.
00Status Changes Since Yesterday
| Story | Yesterday | Today | Next |
|---|---|---|---|
| Colombia venue | Senate to vote | Senate approves Cauca | Cámara votes Jul 28 |
| Colombia tax | Reform filed | Likely dead on the maths | Incoming government sets policy |
| Chile tax | Bill in Congress | Chamber passes Kast reform | Municipal-compensation article pending |
| Brazil residency | Tourist stays | Extensions tighten | File the VITEM XIV |
| Peru election | Six days out | Five days out | Inauguration Jul 28 |
01Visas & Residency
| Where | What changed | What it means for you |
|---|---|---|
| Colombia | The Senate approved relocating the inauguration to Cauca, the president-elect’s first win, which signals the opposition cannot pass Petro’s reforms. The filed wealth-tax cut is now very unlikely to become law. | Reassuring: the reform reaching residents’ worldwide assets probably dies; the new government sets policy after August 7. |
| Chile | The Chamber passed Kast’s tax reform, cutting corporate tax toward 23 percent and exempting first homes of over-65s from property tax. The three-year foreign-income exemption is unchanged. | Older homeowners gain on property tax; the tax runway for new arrivals still stands. |
| Brazil | Visa-service reporting says the 90-day tourist-stay extension is being denied more often, pushing long-stayers to the digital-nomad visa. The eVisa is now required for US, Canadian and Australian visitors. | If you live in Brazil, file the VITEM XIV rather than rely on tourist extensions. |
| Mexico | Freelancers can use the RESICO regime for a low effective tax rate, with zero VAT on services exported abroad. Employer-sponsored work visas face tougher audits. | If you invoice foreign clients from Mexico, RESICO can cut your tax sharply. |
| Peru | The inauguration is July 28. The digital-nomad permit still cannot be filed, and naturalisation takes five years. | Nothing changes at the border before July 28; watch the migration appointments. |
02Cost of Living & Money
These are the most recent rates against the dollar, with markets steady. Argentina’s Monotributo recategorisation deadline is August 5.
| Currency | Per US$ | Read |
|---|---|---|
| Brazilian real | 5.11 | firm |
| Mexican peso | 17.46 | little changed |
| Colombian peso | 3,368 | firm |
| Chilean peso | 924 | flat |
| Peruvian sol | 3.42 | steady |
| Argentine peso | 1,489 | official; blue ~1,515 |
| Uruguayan peso | 40.12 | firm |
Colombia’s filed wealth-tax cut, which would have reached resident expats’ worldwide assets, now looks very unlikely to pass. Chile’s reform lowers corporate tax and eases property tax for older homeowners.
| 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 (Thursday). Oaxaca’s Feria del Mezcal continues in the last days of the city’s biggest fortnight. The regional calendar is quieter after the World Cup.
This week. The Guelaguetza’s final Lunes del Cerro falls on July 27, and the mezcal fair runs to July 28.
Later. July 28 is a double marker, with Peru’s inauguration and Colombia’s Cámara vote on the venue. Medellín’s Feria de las Flores opens at the end of the month.
04Art & Culture
Oaxaca’s Guelaguetza runs to its final Lunes del Cerro on July 27, with the Feria del Mezcal to July 28. Medellín’s Feria de las Flores follows at the end of the month.
Mexico City has Harry Styles on July 31. The southern-cone cities keep their winter programmes.
05Food & Coffee
Oaxaca stays the place to be, with mezcal tastings and festival food through the week. Book ahead while the city is full.
Buenos Aires has settled into its winter rhythm. On the Caribbean coast, sargassum keeps beach days pointed at the northern beaches and the cenotes.
06Community & Safety
Colombia. Bogotá is calm, with the transition contest confined to Congress. Expect continued political noise through to the August 7 handover.
Mexico. Oaxaca stays at capacity for the festival, so book accommodation and transport ahead. Cities are otherwise calm.
Brazil. No disruption is expected. The change is administrative, affecting how long-stayers regularise rather than daily life.
07What to Watch — July 23–August 7
Frequently Asked Questions
What did Colombia’s Senate approve?
It voted 55 to 32 to relocate the August 7 inauguration to Cauca, the president-elect’s first congressional win. The Cámara votes July 28.
Why does it matter for the tax reform?
The win shows the opposition cannot muster the votes to pass Petro’s reforms, so the filed wealth-tax cut is very unlikely to become law.
What is in Chile’s tax reform?
The Chamber passed most of it, cutting corporate tax toward 23 percent and exempting first homes of over-65s from property tax.
What changed for tourists in Brazil?
Reports say the 90-day tourist-stay extension is denied more often, and the eVisa is now required for US, Canadian and Australian visitors.
What are the latest exchange rates?
The dollar buys roughly 5.11 Brazilian reais, 17.46 Mexican pesos and 3,368 Colombian pesos. Argentina’s blue dollar sits near 1,515.
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