Teach English in Colombia

Name: Colombia vs Mexico for TEFL Pay Cost of Living & Visas| TEFL
Uploaded: 2026-02-17
Duration: 4 min 36 s
Channel: The TEFL Institute Group
Description: Thinking about teaching English abroad but stuck between Colombia and Mexico? This video compares TEFL pay, cost of living and visas in both countries.

TEFL jobs in Colombia

Living costs Key facts FAQ’s Student Story TEFL jobs in Colombia

Yes, you can teach English in Colombia, one of the fastest growing TEFL markets in Latin America. Most jobs are at language institutes, bilingual schools and in business English, mainly in Bogotá and Medellín. A 120 hour TEFL certificate is usually required and a degree often is not for institute work. To work legally you need a Colombian visa that allows employment, usually sponsored by your employer.

Teaching English in Colombia at a glance

Main employers	Language institutes, bilingual and international schools, universities, business English providers, private and online students
How pay works	Hourly in Colombian pesos at institutes, monthly salaries at schools and universities
Minimum wage benchmark	COP 1,750,905 a month from 1 January 2026, under Decree 1469 of 2025
Hiring season	Institutes hire year round. Bogotá calendar A schools start in January and calendar B schools in August
Minimum TEFL hours	120 hours, with business English and young learner training valued
Degree required	Often not for institutes. Usually required for bilingual schools, universities and many work visas
Main cities	Bogotá, Medellín, Cali, Barranquilla, Cartagena and Bucaramanga

Who can legally teach English in Colombia?

Visiting. UK, Irish, EU, US, Canadian and Australian citizens can usually enter Colombia without a visa as visitors, typically for up to 90 days at a time. Visitor entry does not allow you to work for a Colombian employer.

Work visa. To work legally for a Colombian school or institute, you need a visa that allows employment, applied for online through Colombia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, normally with a job offer or contract from your employer. Bilingual schools, universities and larger institutes are the employers most likely to sponsor. A degree and apostilled documents are often required.

Digital nomad visa. Colombia offers a visa for remote workers paid from abroad, with a minimum income requirement. Teaching English online to students outside Colombia can fit this route, but it does not cover working for local employers.

Volunteering. Some government and non profit programmes place English volunteers in Colombian schools. Check what visa a programme provides before you commit.

Working informally on visitor entry is common but not legal, and we do not recommend it. Confirm current rules with Colombia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and see our Visa Desk for updates.

How much do English teachers earn in Colombia?

Pay is modest in international terms, but living costs are low, and teachers who combine a school or institute timetable with private or online students usually live comfortably.

Type of work	How it is usually paid
Language institute	Hourly in pesos, with many classes early morning and evening
Business English, in-company	Hourly at a higher rate, often through an agency
Bilingual schools	Monthly salary, sometimes with housing help or flights for qualified teachers
Private lessons	Set by you, usually more than institute rates
Online lessons for foreign students	Typically around US$10 to US$25 an hour

A full time employment contract must pay at least the minimum wage of COP 1,750,905 a month in 2026. Compare pay across countries on the TEFL Salary Index.

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Teaching English in Colombia vs Mexico

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Where are the English teaching jobs in Colombia?

Bogotá, the capital, has the largest market: institutes, bilingual schools, universities and business English. Medellín is the most popular city with foreign teachers for its climate and lifestyle, with a busy institute and private lesson market. Cali, Barranquilla and Bucaramanga have growing demand and lower costs, and Cartagena adds tourism related English.

Bilingual and private schools follow two calendars. Calendar A schools run from late January to November, and calendar B schools, common among bilingual and international schools in Bogotá, run from August to June. Language institutes hire throughout the year.

What qualifications do you need?

A TEFL certificate of at least 120 hours is the practical minimum, alongside native or near native English. Many institutes do not insist on a degree, but bilingual schools, universities and most work visas do. Experience with young learners is valuable for school jobs, and business English training for adult work.

A regulated qualification such as our Ofqual-regulated Level 5 TEFL course can be verified on the Ofqual register, and our 120 Hour Advanced TEFL Course meets the standard institute requirement. Some Spanish makes daily life and paperwork much easier.

What does it cost to live in Colombia?

Colombia is one of the more affordable places in Latin America to live and teach. Bogotá and Medellín are the most expensive cities, mainly because of rent in popular neighbourhoods such as Chapinero, El Poblado and Laureles, while Cali, Bucaramanga and smaller cities are cheaper. Local food, buses and metro systems are good value. Neighbourhood choice matters for safety as well as cost, so take local advice before you sign a lease. For rent by city, how estratos work and worked budgets, see the cost of living in Colombia for English teachers.

What is it like teaching in a Colombian classroom?

Colombian learners are typically warm, friendly and eager to practise speaking. Adult students often want English for career progression, and school students respond well to energetic, interactive lessons. Relationships matter, greetings are personal, and a friendly, patient approach goes a long way. Expect early morning classes before work and evening classes after it.

Where to find English teaching jobs in Colombia now

Colombian institutes hire through the year, while calendar A schools recruit for a late January start and calendar B bilingual schools for August. These are the best ways to see what is open and plan your timing.

Browse current vacancies on our TEFL jobs board, where partner schools post roles worldwide.
Sign up for Deadline Alerts to hear about application windows before they close.
Read the cost of living in Colombia for English teachers to check a job offer against real rents.
Use the Eligibility Checker to see which routes your passport and qualifications open.

Teaching in Colombia: read next

Comparing Latin America? Read our guide to the best TEFL certification for Latin America.
Working out a budget? See the cost of living in Colombia for English teachers.
Considering Mexico too? See our guide to teaching English in Mexico.
Or Chile? Read our guide to teaching English in Chile.
Compare pay in our TEFL Salary Index and check entry rules on the Visa Desk.
Not sure where to teach? Try our Country Matcher or browse more destinations on the Teach English Abroad hub.

Get TEFL qualified for Colombia

Last updated: 4 October 2026. 2026 figures checked October 2026: minimum wage of COP 1,750,905 a month plus a COP 249,095 transport allowance, set by Decree 1469 of 2025 and reissued at the same rate by Decree 0159 of 2026. Pay and living costs are approximate. Immigration rules change, so confirm current requirements with Colombia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs before you travel.

Living costs

When It comes to living costs, Colombia is Latin America’s second cheapest and is 91% less expensive than the rest of the world. So, although the salary might seem quite low to you, the amount you will be spending to live is much less than you will be used to. If you apply to teach English in Colombia at one of the volunteer programs, you will find that your accommodation is provided free of charge, and there is often a small monthly payment to help with the basics.

The weather turns on a dime, and you will need to get used to carrying a range of clothing and wet weather gear as you go about your daily life. It is a very laid-back lifestyle, and the locals are very kind. It is always advisable to eat like a local as you will spend more money on imported items from the US.

Even though things are a lot safer now, you should still take care when moving around. Pickpockets are rife, but this is not unique to the area. If you are headed somewhere, prebook your taxis to ensure it is legit rather than flagging someone down in the street. Also, stay away from unlit regions and move in a group when you are out at night.

To obtain the most up-to-date cost of living figures, we use the world’s biggest cost of living comparison website, Numbio.com.

Accommodation: USD $391–$656
Utilities: USD $58
Health insurance : Cost of a typical visit to a GP:: USD $20
Monthly transport pass: USD $33
Basic dinner out for two: USD $9
Cappuccino in ex-pat area: USD $1.85
A beer in a pub: USD $0.98
1 litre of milk: USD $0.70

TEFL jobs in Colombia: KEY POINTS

SALARY

Hourly in pesos, full time at least COP 1,750,905 a month

EDUCATION

BA degree preferred

MAIN JOB TYPES

Institutes, bilingual schools, business English & online

TEFL CERTIFICATION NEEDED

120 hour TEFL Training

KEY FACTS

Popular locations for TEFL jobs: Bogota, Medellin, Bucaramanga, Barranquilla, and Cali
The average salary for EFL teachers: The basic monthly salary for full-time positions will likely be 1.5 million to 2 million pesos (USD $400–$520) per month. Jobs for experienced teachers at IB schools can pay up to around 5 million (USD $1,300) pesos per month.
TEFL qualification requirements: A 120-hour TEFL qualification will be required for most positions
Prerequisite university degree: Most positions require a BA degree
Term times: Public school years start in January/February and end in November, with holidays in April, June and October. Private schools begin in August/September and end in June
Currency: Peso (COP)
Language: Spanish
Teaching programmes: Private Language Schools, Public Schools, Voluntary, Government Program, Freelance
Age restrictions: None
Previous teaching experience: Beneficial but not always required

When to go

Climate and hiring in Bogotá

Arrive in January: most schools start their year in late January or February, and institutes fill timetables then. July, after the mid-year break, is a smaller window, and institutes hire through the year.

Month	High	Low	Hiring
January	20°C	7°C	Main
February	20°C	8°C	Main
March	20°C	9°C
April	20°C	10°C
May	20°C	10°C
June	19°C	9°C
July	19°C	9°C	Some
August	19°C	9°C
September	20°C	8°C
October	20°C	8°C
November	20°C	9°C
December	20°C	8°C

At about 2,500 metres, Bogotá has spring-like weather all year, with days around 68°F and cool nights around 48°F, and homes are rarely heated, so bring layers. Rain totals about 795 mm a year, with two rainy seasons from April to May and October to November. Medellín is warmer, around 80°F by day.

Average daily highs and lows, 1991 to 2020 station averages for Bogotá. Hiring months are typical patterns, not guarantees.

Facts about Colombia

LANGUAGE

Spanish

POPULATION

5.09 crores

TEFL JOB DEMAND

Mid

CURRENCY

Peso

CAPITAL

Bogotá

OUR COLOMBIA TEFL RATING

3.8/5

TEFL jobs in Colombia: FAQS

Is Colombia expensive to live in?

Colombia is one of the more affordable countries in Latin America. Bogotá and Medellín are the most expensive cities, mainly because of rent in popular neighbourhoods, while Cali, Bucaramanga and smaller cities are cheaper. Local food and public transport are good value. For a full budget, see the cost of living in Colombia for English teachers.

Where can I find a job teaching English in Colombia?

Most foreign teachers work at private language institutes, bilingual schools, universities and companies, or teach privately and online. Institutes hire through the year, with the busiest periods in January and February and again in July.

How much can I earn as a TEFL teacher in Colombia?

Language institutes in Colombia usually pay hourly in pesos, while bilingual schools and universities pay a monthly salary. A full time employment contract must pay at least the minimum wage of COP 1,750,905 a month in 2026, plus a transport allowance. Many teachers add private or online students, with online lessons typically paying around US$10 to US$25 an hour.

What is the best TEFL certificate for teaching in Colombia?

An accredited TEFL certificate of at least 120 hours, such as our 120 Hour Advanced TEFL Course, is what most Colombian institutes ask for. For bilingual schools, universities and business English, an Ofqual-regulated Level 5 TEFL Diploma gives you a stronger application and is recognised wherever you teach, including online.

Can UK and US citizens teach English in Colombia?

Yes, with the right visa. Paid work usually needs a migrant visa linked to a job offer, and tourist entry does not allow paid work. Bilingual schools and universities are the most likely employers to arrange a visa. Check current rules on our Visa Desk.

Do I need to speak Spanish to teach English in Colombia?

Not to teach, since lessons are in English, but Spanish makes daily life, renting and paperwork much easier, and Colombian Spanish is known for being clear and easy to follow. Many teachers take classes once they arrive. For a nearby market, see our guide to teaching English in Ecuador.