Moved from Texas to Bogotá: Life is cheaper and more connected

Jennifer Jamali moved from an Austin suburb to Bogotá in 2025 with her husband and young daughter to be closer to family and lower living costs. Life in Texas felt repetitive and isolating — "I felt isolated and craved more adventure and community," she said after a layoff and several family deaths prompted a rethink of priorities.

Childcare in Bogotá has been one of the biggest changes. Their nearly 3-year-old attends a preschool with a structured early-learning curriculum, hands-on care and three nutritionist-approved meals prepared by a chef, at about $400 a month — roughly a third of what the family paid in Austin.

Jamali noted the teachers are intentional about development: "They're focusing on her development... We're able to track how she's building different skills," and she has noticed more empathy from staff. The family’s monthly expenses fell from about $7,000 in Austin to roughly $2,000 in Bogotá.

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