LatAm Expat & Nomad Daily Guide for Saturday, July 11, 2026

Bottom Line Up Front

Today’s verdict: Colombia’s outgoing government has laid bare a budget locked at nearly 94%, leaving its successor barely 35 trillion pesos of room and sharpening the stakes of a July 20 tax reform — as Argentina’s World Cup quarter-final lands tonight.

01

Colombia’s fiscal squeeze. The outgoing finance ministry says 93.7% of the 2026 budget is locked, leaving only about 34.6 trillion pesos of room. It blamed court rulings for tens of trillions of pesos in lost fiscal space.

02

The tax reform’s rising stakes. That squeeze hardens the case for a tax reform the government still plans to file on July 20. It is the measure that reaches foreigners’ income, VAT and property.

03

Argentina’s quarter-final tonight. The region’s last team face Switzerland in Kansas City at 9pm Eastern. Spain beat Belgium to reach the semi-finals.

What changed since yesterdayColombia’s fiscal picture is now public, with the outgoing government revealing a budget almost entirely locked. It hardens the stakes of the July 20 tax reform, as Argentina’s quarter-final tonight is the region’s last World Cup game.

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.

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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 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 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

Sat Jul 11Argentina v Switzerland quarter-final, Kansas City · Norway v England · Caifanes, Mexico City.

Sun Jul 12WEC 6 Hours of São Paulo finishes at Interlagos.

Tue Jul 14World Cup semi-final · Argentina’s June inflation print.

Wed Jul 15World Cup semi-final · Peru’s president-elect receives her credentials.

Sun Jul 19The World Cup final.

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 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.

Connected Coverage

Colombia’s locked budget: what the fiscal squeeze means

Uruguay’s 12% tax goes deeper: the look-through rule and US expats

Colombia’s handover turns legal

Colombia’s July 20 tax reform: the handover fight