Latest news with #LaPaz
Bloomberg
2 days ago
- Business
- Bloomberg
Unfrozen Loans Give Arce Hope of Easing Crippling Bolivia Crisis
Bolivian President Luis Arce plans to use overseas loans green-lit by congress to tackle crippling fuel shortages and soaring consumer prices before he leaves office in November. 'We're going to make every effort to keep the economic growth rate positive, and we're going to keep inflation as low as possible,' the socialist leader said Wednesday, in an interview in La Paz.
Daily Mail
5 days ago
- Business
- Daily Mail
The cheapest country to live as an expat revealed - with three-bedroom flats costing less than £600 per month
A new study has revealed the most affordable country to live as an expat and its prices might just tempt you to relocate. The research looked at the cost of healthcare, transport, rent, food and utilities in each country to crown the winner. So, where is top of the ranking in 2025? Vietnam is officially the cheapest country to live as an expat, according to the experts at William Russell who commissioned the research. A spokesperson says: 'A long-time favourite among budget-conscious and digital nomads, Vietnam has all the ingredients needed to make the perfect quality of life. 'From sun-swept beaches to metropolitan cities, good food and friendly locals, modern conveniences and ancient traditions to discover, Vietnam is one of the few countries that can truly claim to have it all.' A one-bedroom apartment can cost as little as $361/£265 a month while a three bedroom condo comes to $801/£589 on average per month. And the overall cost of living in Vietnam is 59 per cent cheaper than the UK, according to William Russell. The experts say the country's cheapest city is Da Nang, a coastal metropolis with easy access to beaches and a vibrant nightlife scene. Bolivia ranks as the second most affordable country to live as an expat. A one-bedroom apartment in the capital La Paz costs around $386/£284 a month while a three-bedroom property comes to $707/£520. The spokesperson says: 'The inland South American nation captures all the best qualities of an intrepid yet modern destination, with bustling cities like La Paz, Cochabamba and Santa Cruz de la Sierra nestled in the heart of stunning mountains and lush jungles. 'With the cost of living 71 per cent lower than the UK, and rent less than half the price you would pay in many Western countries, expats in Bolivia will find their budget stretches much further, offering them the opportunity to live a high-class lifestyle for only a few dollars per day.' Georgia is the third-cheapest destination on the list and offers expats a 'modern society without the price tag', according to William Russell. While the country's capital Tbilisi recently became much easier to reach with new direct flights from easyJet and British Airways, it's the city of Kutaisi that ranks as the cheapest spot in Georgia for expats. Georgia's third-largest city, Kutaisi has easy access to nature and a walkable city centre. Although the country is a cheap option for expats, the spokesperson warns that living in India is not for the 'faint-hearted' as the lifestyle may take some getting used to According to the research, a small city centre apartment can cost as little as $550/£405 a month. Next on the list is India where expats can rent a three-bedroom apartment for just $433/£318 a month. The spokesperson says: 'Living in India, you'll find your budget stretches considerably further, allowing you to live a luxurious lifestyle, even in one of India's megacities.' Although the country is a cheap option for expats, the spokesperson warns that living in India is not for the 'faint-hearted' as the lifestyle may take some getting used to. Rounding out the top five cheapest countries for expats is Cambodia, where a one-bedroom city centre apartment costs $405/£298 a month on average. 'With modern apartments springing up throughout Cambodia's cities and coastal regions, those who make the move can expect to enjoy an ever-increasing quality of life without breaking the bank,' says William Russell's spokesperson. Cambodia's capital, Phnom Penh, ranks as the cheapest spot for expats to settle down.
Reuters
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Reuters
Music, dance and color at La Paz's Great Power festival
Dancers, musicians, singers took to the streets of La Paz, Bolivia, on Saturday (June 14) for the traditional festival of the Great Power (Gran Poder). But this year, Bolivians have had to tighten their belts as the economic situation continues to deteriorate and inflation keeps prices high.
Washington Post
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Washington Post
As Bolivia celebrates its main Andean festival, it feels the pain of mounting crises
LA PAZ, Bolivia — Bolivia's largest Andean religious festival has long inspired joyous revelry and offered a chance for the nation to forget about its perpetual political turmoil and escape into the world of its rich folklore. But this year on Saturday, Bolivians say the day of the Great Power, the beloved carnival dedicated to a 17th-century painting of Jesus Christ, reflects more than distracts from the country's spiraling economic and political crises .
The Independent
6 days ago
- Politics
- The Independent
As Bolivia celebrates its main Andean festival, it feels the pain of mounting crises
Bolivia's largest Andean religious festival has long inspired joyous revelry and offered a chance for the nation to forget about its perpetual political turmoil and escape into the world of its rich folklore. But this year on Saturday, Bolivians say the day of the Great Power, the beloved carnival dedicated to a 17th-century painting of Jesus Christ, reflects more than distracts from the country's spiraling economic and political crises. The typically exuberant crowd fell silent for a few moments on Saturday before the folk dance performance kicked off in the major city of La Paz, paying their respects to the victims of fierce clashes between protesters and police last Thursday that left six people dead, among them four police officers and two civilians. The second civilian, identified by protesters as a young student beaten by police, had been hospitalized and succumbed to his wounds on Saturday, just before the festival. After Bolivia's electoral tribunal disqualified former President Evo Morales, a leftist political titan who still wields influence in the country's tropical heartland, from running in Bolivia's August presidential election, his loyalists took to the streets to vent their outrage earlier this month. Many of them, both peaceful and violent, have reported being bruised and beaten by officers in recent days. The government sent military tanks to the streets of Llallagua, in central Bolivia. La Paz municipal authorities proposed postponing the festival, citing the 'pain of the Bolivian people." But organizers refused, pointing to the $68 million that was expected to be generated Saturday – a shot of stimulus into a sputtering economy now witnessing its worst crisis in 40 years. The annual festival, which takes place some eight weeks after Easter, was recognized by the UNESCO World Heritage Committee for displaying the nation's unique mix of Roman Catholic belief and Indigenous heritage. The ceremony pays tribute to what is believed to be a miraculous rendering of Jesus Christ — El Señor del Gran Poder, or The Lord of the Great Power — that shows the Christian savior with Indigenous Andean features and outstretched arms. Dancing in the festival is a holy act of spiritual devotion as dancers pray for personal forgiveness and salvation. This year, however, many turned their prayers on a more immediate target. "Devotees are asking for economic recovery, as well as for peace and unity among Bolivians in this time,' said a priest leading the ceremony, Father Saul Mamani. Economic strain was visible at Saturday's giant party as participants pared down their usually elaborate costumes and masks and dancers traded their traditional gold jewelry for Chinese-made knock-offs. 'The price of my costume went up by 60%," said dancer Jorge Rodríguez, 37. 'Many haven't been able to dance, almost half of my group didn't come." Organizers could only afford to hire some 70,000 dancers — some 20,000 fewer than last year — and scrapped their usual plans to invite regionally renowned musicians. Every year, one of La Paz's wealthy merchants, or 'qamiris," gets the expensive honor of paying more than anyone else for Gran Poder. This year, the unlucky merchant, Edgar Apaza, said he had been saving all year and his budget was still tighter than ever before. 'The crisis is affecting everyone,' Apaza said. Inflation in Bolivia over the first five months of 2025 hit 9.81%, the highest rate in more than a decade, according to official figures, fueling public protests over President Luis Arce's handling of the economy and leaving many Bolivians struggling to buy even the basics. Plácida Quispe, 73, an embroiderer at the festival Saturday, said there wasn't enough demand to sell her colorful costumes this year. She said she would rent her handiwork to participants instead. 'There is no business,' she said. ' People want to celebrate, but they cannot afford to pay the price.'
