LatAm Expat & Nomad Daily Guide — Thursday, June 25, 2026
Good morning. Your LatAm expat nomad daily guide opens on a settled Colombian election, two host nations through to the World Cup’s knockout rounds, and an Argentine dollar still climbing.
The hard news is finally quiet in Bogotá; the action shifts to the football and, for residency-watchers, Uruguay’s tax clock ticking toward July 1.
Key Points
- Colombia’s result is official. The electoral authority certified De la Espriella, with the handover on August 7.
- Brazil and Mexico are through. Both won their groups 3-0 and reached the last 32; Mexico hosts its tie in CDMX.
- Argentina’s blue dollar peaks. The parallel rate hit about 1,530 pesos, a five-month high.
- Uruguay’s tax goes live July 1. New residents must choose their regime before the collection clock starts.
- Bolivia’s roads are clear. The government says all blockades are down, though the Cochabamba pause could still reverse.
- FX is live. The dollar was mixed, firmest against the Chilean peso.
00Status Changes Since Wednesday
| Story | Yesterday | Today | Next |
|---|---|---|---|
| Colombia runoff | Scrutiny reconvening | CNE certifies De la Espriella president-elect | Transition; inauguration Aug 7 |
| World Cup (LatAm) | Brazil & Mexico decide groups | Both won 3-0, into the Round of 32 | Ecuador v Germany tonight; R32 opens Jun 28 |
| Argentina dollar | Wholesale at a 2026 high | Blue ~1,530, a five-month high | Watch the BCRA band |
| Uruguay 12% tax | About seven days out | About six days to July collection | New-resident election; withholding begins July 1 |
| Bolivia unrest | Roads cleared | Cochabamba growers’ pause holds | Watch for renewed action |
01Visas & Residency
| Where | What changed | What it means for you |
|---|---|---|
| Uruguay | The 12% tax on foreign capital income starts collecting on July 1, and new residents from this year must make a one-time election between a tax holiday, a reduced rate or the standard rate. It is not a tax on remote-work salaries. | If you became a tax resident in 2026, make the election now with a local accountant rather than after the date. |
| Colombia | The result is now certified, with no rule changes due before the August 7 inauguration. A harder security posture and closer US ties are the medium-term signals. | Keep visa and residency appointments; the October 31 switch deadline for some holders is unrelated to the vote. |
| Mexico | Beyond the closed permanent-residency shortcut, a May reform tightened work-based temporary visas, with employers spelling out modality, addresses and pay. Nomads on the tourist or solvency routes are unaffected. | Employer-sponsored applicants need fuller paperwork; remote workers on savings are not hit. |
| Peru | Fujimori’s win is essentially confirmed, with the handover on July 28, and San Pedro y San Pablo brings a public holiday on Monday, June 29. | Expect closures and a long weekend; keep documents current through the handover. |
| Bolivia | The 90-day state of emergency stays in force as the army keeps roads open, with movement limits possible in declared conflict zones. | Most corridors are moving, but confirm conditions before any trip near Cochabamba or the Chapare. |
02Cost of Living & Money
The dollar was mixed across the region into Thursday, firming most against the Chilean peso while the Colombian held broadly steady after the result. The standout is still Argentina, where the parallel dollar reached a five-month high.
| Currency | Per US$ | Read |
|---|---|---|
| Brazilian real | 5.19 | broadly steady |
| Mexican peso | 17.59 | little changed |
| Colombian peso | 3,434 | steady after the result |
| Chilean peso | 919 | the day’s softest |
| Peruvian sol | 3.42 | a touch firmer |
| Argentine peso | 1,479 | official near its high; blue ~1,530 |
| Uruguayan peso | 40.11 | slightly softer |
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 (Thursday). Ecuador must beat Germany to stay in the World Cup, while Manuel Medrano plays Medellín and Mérida opens its Distrito Mejorada cultural corridor. The festas juninas roll on toward São Pedro this weekend.
This weekend. Uruguay face Spain on Friday and Ricardo Arjona reaches Lima, then Saturday brings Colombia v Portugal, Argentina v Jordan and Medellín’s Dreaming Festival. Bogotá’s Lechona Festival runs Friday to Sunday.
Week ahead. The Round of 32 opens June 28, and Monday, June 29 is San Pedro y San Pablo, a public holiday in Colombia and Peru.
04Art & Culture
The festas juninas build to São Pedro on June 29, the second peak of Brazil’s winter-festival season after St. John’s Day. Rio and São Paulo keep the free neighbourhood arraiás running.
Rio’s World Press Photo exhibition closes June 28, and Bogotá Comic Con wraps up June 29. Medellín’s Dreaming Festival lands on June 27.
05Food & Coffee
Bogotá’s Festival de la Lechona takes over Zona L from Friday to Sunday, with scores of lechonerías serving the slow-roast pork by the portion. It is a cheap, only-in-Colombia way into the long holiday weekend.
Across Brazil, São Pedro keeps the canjica, pamonha and quentão flowing at arraiás through the weekend. The Northeast does it biggest, but the cultural centres in Rio and São Paulo carry the table too.
06Community & Safety
Colombia. With the result certified, the protest risk of the past week has receded and the cities are calm. Expat districts in Medellín and Bogotá are back to normal; the long holiday weekend is the next thing to plan around.
Bolivia. The government says the highways are clear, but the Cochabamba growers have only paused. Confirm conditions before any trip near the Chapare, and favour flying on affected corridors.
Mexico City. The capital will host a Round-of-32 match, so expect big match-day crowds around the Azteca later in the tournament. The emergency number is 911 and the tap water is not safe to drink.
07What to Watch — June 25–July 1
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Colombia’s election result official now?
Yes. The National Electoral Council certified De la Espriella as president-elect, with 49.66% to Cepeda‘s 48.70%, and the handover is set for August 7.
How did Brazil and Mexico do at the World Cup?
Both won 3-0, against Scotland and Czechia respectively, to top their groups and reach the Round of 32. Mexico will host its knockout tie in Mexico City.
What is happening with Argentina’s dollar?
The parallel “blue” dollar closed near 1,530 pesos, a five-month high, with the official rate also near its peak. For people earning abroad, that means a few more pesos per dollar.
What changes with Uruguay’s tax on July 1?
Collection of the 12% tax on foreign capital income begins, and new residents must elect a tax holiday, a reduced rate or the standard rate. It does not tax foreign salaries for remote work.
What are the latest exchange rates?
The dollar buys roughly 5.19 Brazilian reais, 17.59 Mexican pesos and 3,434 Colombian pesos. It was firmest against the Chilean peso.
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