I watch your videos to learn Spanish. My Spanish is pretty good now although I need to continue to work on listening skills. I can see where it has to be frustrating not speaking Spanish and trying to get things done. Ordering cable , food or just day to day interaction can be quite a challenge.
I have been going to Colombia for 35 years, including both short and long-term visits, my Spanish is fluent, and without getting into details I know a lot about it. Despite all that, I would find a permanent move there very daunting and I've never seriously considered it. (No point detailing the reasons, all the usual stuff that makes Colombians grumpy.) I admire people who do it, including some of the UA-cam sensations whom I personally find a little annoying (without mentioning any names), but it's certainly not for everyone and if the expat impulse comes from not being able to live well in your home country rather than from some affirmative desire to live in another country, it's not surprising that so few people end up staying.
Almost 7 years in Colombia! A prerequisite of any foreigner is to watch the 2012 Colombian-produced movie titled: Mi gente linda, mi gente bella. It is about a Swedish guy who visits Colombia and all the good and bad things that happen to him. Basically, he decides to stay even after a lot of bad things happen to him because the good outweighs the bad. My recommendation from the Colombian tourist police was to move to a small town after I was robbed in Bogotá (best idea). Definitely, you have to speak Spanish. You have to live low-profile and be muy alegre (happy) and learn to dance. I am a biologist, so I am in paradise. Buena suerte en Colombia!
Starting a family is a big reason to re-think expat life in developing countries. From personal reasons (wanting your kids to be closer to their grandparents, aunts, cousins,...) to financial reasons. International schools/bilingual private schools are very expensive, even in South America. Everything you save from the cheaper cost of living will need to be put into your childrens education and it's suddenly not such a good deal anymore.
@AA 4SHAW Easily 10.000+ USD per year per kid. And they usually have long waiting lists, so you have to sign up your kid while you are still pregnant lol
@@grod805 I have experience teaching in public schools and it is not good enough. Class sizes can reach up to 50 per class and the national education system ICFES is designed by the Colombian elite to keep the masses uneducated so they can continue manipulating them. However, public universities such as Universidad Nacional are some of the best in Colombia.
One of the main ones is the feeling of loneliness during holiday periods when your friends and family are celebrating and you are not there with them. If you are serious about becoming an expat, spend one of your most important holiday periods of the year in that country before moving there, a kind of stress test before moving. The airfares to travel are usually much higher in the holiday periods, see how that affects your budget if you must spend the holiday in your home land. Do you feel lonely in that foreign land or have you found new friends to enjoy the holiday with in your new country. Can you adapt? Holidays are celebrated differently in different cultures. If you can't tolerate that test than maybe you need to rethink your plans. Will you travel or will your relatives / friends travel to visit you, things to consider before making that commitment..
I am in Columbia now and I am getting by with the little Spanish I know and learning new words everyday. This is my first time to Columbia and I will keep coming back and keep improving my Spanish 😀
As a colombian planning to go back and live in colombia you made an excellent point stating the difficulty of earning enough for a decent living there, all my effort at the moment is towards having investments outside the country and get a passive income in USD, then with as little as 2000 USD/month, owning a home without mortgage I think it is possible to have a fantastic middle class life
@@N2UPROD yes you would be earning on the top 20% of the population with that income. Income taxes (as a resident) for a yearly total of 24k would be around 33%-39%. And you would have to pay for state health or other type of private health insurance.
@@nkwakutoure look at MLB. Nyc. Boston. Jennifer Lopez. All examples of places and people with big DOMINICAN influence. Also many expats love and stay in DR vs other countries. Beautiful women. Low cost of living etc...pretty women and palm trees...my life
@@nkwakutoure Look at Major Leaque Baseball. Jennifer Lopez. Many other examples that many love Dominicans. I'm living the dream in DR. Pretty Girls and Palm Trees. Hope you're living your best life too brother.
*Sam & Tacha knows my history living in lovely Colombia since 2007 first in Calarca, Quindio and now currently residing in Pereira, Risaralda with no plans in returning back to Florida plus my Spanglish is improving 😂 life is good now!* 😷👍🏻
@@KamilW257 *Really don't know much about Panama other that if you wish to live there it may be costly and somewhat limited in travel unlike Colombia which enjoys towns, mid sized cities, and yes 3 metropolitan cities with ample vacation spots to visit, you're pension will almost double as mine has, tell me which department are you hailing from?*
@@ericlee2931 judging from all the hours I've watched you can't go wrong. You have to know the basics. You'll get better but I'd start now to get your ear tunes into the languages. UA-cam has loads of vids on language 💥
Having lived in Medellin in the 1970's I found that people that won't commit to learning Spanish should just stay away. You can't experience another country if you can't speak with the people..
This guy said not to go to Colombia if you don’t speak Spanish? I have seen people learning the new country lenguaje after arriving and spending some time there! People’s brain is designed to Learn and Learn and Learn! That comment wasn’t smart at all!
I can't believe you did not mention the obscenely high tax rate as a reason for people leaving. You did mention many go back after 6 months. Maybe because after 183 days it's going to cost them 39% of the income they earned from even non Colombian sources? Your thoughts on this please, thanks.
@@j.lizbardo - Not simply Higher than the US, much higher than almost anywhere else! Now the next question becomes why are magazines like International Living and our Vlogger host SILENT on this issue? If no reply, I think it's safe to conclude the worst (sadly)
i been worked and lived there....you are only taxed if you bring in over 50.000 usa per year under that no problem...taxes on money made in colombia as high as canada,,,high.
@@lonarbuckle9788 that alone makes Colombia no better than a vacation destination. No way in hell am I going to pay high taxes to a barely legitimate government.
During COVID, people living in Colombia were only allowed to go to the grocery store or bank once a week while exercise was severely restricted. Here in West Palm Beach the gyms were closed for a couple months and out of precaution even when they reopened, I am only going once a week (mask required to enter but not required to exercise :) ). But my wife and I would walk or run at a nearby park with no rredtrictions and I was able to go to the grocery store any day of the week.
Reason is : Colombia govermente cant aford healthcare needs to many population, so most isolated the best change not to get the virus. That is one reason to protect everyone for while they plan for the future.
Ralphie_Boy I am planning next year, I am Colombian and my husband Swiss going to live in airbnb all over Colombia at first, to know the places that i never went and my husband doesnt know yet!!
Their tax system is designed to screw foreigners. 92% of Colombians don’t pay income tax or even fill out a tax form. The 8% that come/live here get screwed by taxes and the government doesn’t allow KY Jelly.
Speaking for myself, a major reason for including Colombia in my search for a retirement destination is the climate. I do not think you mentioned that as a reason to stay or not. Of course, the cost of living is a huge consideration. Thanks for all these videos.
Hello everyone. I appreciate you taking time to offer good service. I will be traveling there from Chicago in four weeks to visit a friend. I hope you assist me on my visit.
I live in Costa Rica and the numbers are probably similar. IMHO, people fail for several reasons. The main one being is they failed to do their homework. Cost wise, language wise and culture wise. I advise everyone to live and rent anywhere you are thinking about moving to before spending a dime on property. And most of all: if you are moving to a foreign country plan to LEARN THE LANGUAGE and that can be a daunting task for many.
First, you have to have a good, steady income. Things can get expensive depending on how you want to live there. Next, you should definitely know Spanish, otherwise not many people know English there. You shouldn’t be picky with food either. If you’re a picky eater and are used to eating different types of cuisines then you’re going to struggle very bad.
If you are a picky eater, you have two options: prepare your meals at home or go to an expensive restaurant. If you go to a normal restaurant where the workers eat, the menu is usually rice, fried meat, fried sweet plantains, a small cabbage and carrot salad, beans or soup and a glass of juice (Google translator).
To Nathan Casey: The majority of people in Colombia are paid below US $12,600 per year and don’t pay tax. I did a calculation based on information from a previous video with Paula Cruz. The number comes out to 92% of people here don’t pay income tax. 8% of the people here have to pay for the other 92%. I would imagine that this 8% are foreigners, doctors, lawyers and people in government office. The broadness of it all is that this country survives on heavy tax and fines. I’ve never been fined so much as I have been here. You can’t even fight the fines. The police here are not like in USA. Here they are judge and jury. I’d love to see a Colombian court. Oh, I told DIAN to take a number. I used what would have been tax money to support 5 families during the pandemic. The Government are a bunch of Cuomos. Lots of nice and friendly talk but very little assistance to those in need.
I think your guestiment on average salary of Colombian is twice as high as the ones that have a job here. I think about $6,000 is the average or maybe a little more if they are lucky. Or if your a plastic surgeon. LOL! I may finally be leaving because of your above statment about the government.I too hate DIAN!!!! I do love Medellin 12 hours of light a day is amazing the weather is amazing. The language thing is big here. If you don't speak fluent Spanish I would not recomend. I! I've been here almost 3 years and COVID hit my business really hard. It will bounce back and is located in USA mostly. I won't move back to US probably Buenas Aires, Valencia Spain or may the Czech Republic. If anyone has had a great expereince somewhere that isnt to pricey pls let me know :)
I am of a different opinion about the police. In America the police are not just the judge and jury. They are also snap judgement executioners. Because there are so many hidden guns in America , every one becomes a deadly threat to the police. They are not going to take a single chance and will shoot you dead first and then see if you were a threat. If you weren't really a threat and that was just your cell phone you grabbed, well it's too bad for your dead self because they were just doing their job in a country filled with 383,000,000 guns so get use to it.
The question isn't why they left, but why they were naive enough to move there in the first place when there were all these potential negatives (for them) to deal with. I mean, what were they thinking? If you're looking for nice tidy expat communities where you can basically duplicate your U.S. lifestyle, look elsewhere people.
My friend was obsessed with Colombia for the longest time . he had the Colombian Dream. Upon his first visit after helping him with a job and lending him cash (I know) his Colombian Dream bubble Burst as he got a reality check. He came back depressed He never went back 😂😂😂 Pathetic fool to be honest. I
Wages in latin america are very low. Colombia is good if you come from abroad with dollars to spend (everything will seem inexpensive). But if you have to earn a salary in colombian pesos (COP), the minimum wage is hardly enough to cover your basic needs. (Google translator).
@@solodolo_mma3971 Wages in latin america are very low. Colombia is good if you come from abroad with dollars or euros to spend (everything will seem inexpensive). But if you have to earn a salary in colombian pesos (COP), the minimum wage is hardly enough to cover your basic needs.
@@elhector83 Being a digitial nomad is the best idea for sure, but if you do decide to earn a living in Colombia, then don't live in a big city like Bogotá. You can rent an apartment in a small town for USD$50 for everything including fiber optic cable internet if you live simply.
You really told me something new! I did not know the medical reason is one of the main causes that drives people to stay in Colombia for long term. As you said in the video, people mostly say they fall in love with the culture, they like the social scene, they love the food, etc...but no one ever mentioned about. You are absolutely right that the medical cost/insurance is ridiculously high in the States. It is such a shame that the US is one of the so called developed countries and yet its health care system sucks!
Learning spanish is relatively easy if you put your mind to it...earning is the main problem....I lasted 5 years but too difficult to do business there.
I have no sympathy for people who end up leaving a place they chose to move to, knowing that they speak a different language. You should have learned at least a bit of the language before coming, and you should put in an effort to learning it while you're there.
I've had friends tell me insistently they could get by on English any where. They moved to a small town in Minas Gerais, Brazil,found out it wasn't true, totally freaked out, in less than a month. It did take them 6 months to get back to the US.
Absolutely correct. I am constantly asking locals what percentage of Paisas speak English. The usual response is 5%! To come here and not have a minimum of survival Spanish, without knowing someone who can help is asking for problems. Anyone coming here should be ready to focus on improving Spanish as a high priority or do not bother coming.
@@GBU61 Absolutely. People have to realize that due to the massive discrepancy between private and public education in Colombia, most people who go to public schools (which is the majority of the population) come out of it with very little or no ability to speak English. That's why it really bothers me when foreigners come here and complain when the locals don't speak English.
Taxes are the problem. Close to 1/3rd of my passive income will go to taxes with residence in colombia which is unacceptable as I’ve worked too hard to get myself to this point. So I will stay for a few months and leave before 6 month stay to avoid being taxed. I speak fluent self taught Spanish and without spanish Its hard to get by. Not to be condescending but Also, Colombian food is some of the blandest cuisine I’ve ever had. Mexican cuisine is far more seasoned and flavorful. Of course there is no comparison to the Far East Malaysian, Indonesian , Chinese dishes but that is a discussion for another day. So I visit and leave after a while and go elsewhere.
Thank you for the video. I'm very interested in Colombia and am looking to visit next year. I got my eye on Cartagena because...beach. I'm a subscriber to your channel and signed up to your newsletter. I hope to see more info on Cartagena
@@IvisPepper I am interested and was looking for some type of relocation tour or something. Thinking about visiting in February. I'm trying to get some basic spanish under my belt before I go. Not looking to buy anything initially. Thinking of renting or Airbnb to start to see if I can adjust
You won’t be able to rent an apartment without local co-signers. Get an Airbnb to start with. I have rented AirBNB for over a year and it has been great for me.
colombia is not for most of europians but a turkish like me there is very nice. but salaries are too low for a expat in that case... it is good to look owning a business in colombia.
What do mean by a gang forcing themselves on other people's properties? I am aware of gangs here in Tuluá that extort weekly payments from established businesses and sometimes even from street vendors. They are just like the parasitical mafia was (maybe still is) in New York City. It is rumored that sometimes the police are part of it. Every so often a few of the gang members are arrested.and actually convicted. These gang members will shoot their victims with almost impunity and absolutely show no mercy. When they get out of jail after a short sentence, they go right back to what they are doing....and that is when these "social cleansing committees" step in and provide a "permanent" solution to "reprobates"....the repeat offenders. It is not good when "extra legal" actions are undertaken such as these; however; this is what happens when the justice system fails to punish and curtail predatory behavior upon it's citizens. Desperate citizens then exercise their own permanent and final solutions.
@@jeffersonbroady *2007 I tried to open a simple savings account at the Bancolombia but was rejected with only a temporary residence visa and cedula not until after receiving my permanent residence was I allowed too!*
@@jeffersonbroady We know from experience, that it is possible. BUT it depends to which bank you go and the clerk you get. Sometimes one has to try it several times, but again it is possible.
Good video, it is better to join an Expat community if someone has move to a foreign country, comradery help a lot in the beginning. However living part-time in another country is also a good option.
I love Colombia for its people, culture, climate and scenery. The Government is a little whacked. If you can live with this you will be fine. I can live with this.
@@tonylogan4092 There are only about 50 million people living in Colombia.The government here should be able to care for all for a reasonable cost. So why is there a FARC?
Carolina Alarcon Whacked as in so many jobs not done. How many people die from a lack of proper signage particularly in the streets. Whacked in that people on the police department abuse their jobs. Whacked in that they did not have a plan to supply food for everyone in need during the 3 month shutdown. Whacked in that there is no place for the destitute to go for food. Whacked in that they are almost giving away the gold to foreign miners. The standard is a 10% royalty. Colombia gets 7%. Whacked in that 92% of the population doesn’t pay income tax. I could go on.
There is a saying the young guys come for the drugs and the older guys come for the women. Any single guy over 50 that I have met has at least one girlfriend. The men offer money and the women offer youth and beauty.
People that expatriate tend to be experienced multilingual and had already known the obvious before expatriating! It’s a decision you made before you arrive.
Those that go without doing their homework...and make it are a very rare percentage. But usually the ones that do expatriate have the disposition for what it takes.
You mentioned you've dealt with American expats mostly. Does one's ethnic background make a difference in the probability of staying or going? I assume Latino-Americans are more like to settle long-term than Whites from the Midwest or South. Asian-Americans might be somewhere in between, considering they mostly live in California and the East Coast.
To say a place sucks is useless and to me vague. I have not read much thats not obvious besides sucks. Language (duh as my sister might say), taxes (ok but some of us are retirees neither earning local nor seeking work), budgeting (Really? With all of the online info it seems data is available), lonliness (a big one for sure and hard to feel before trying it). So the profile person needs to grasp a good chunk of Spanish, be solvent enough not to rely on a job, be outward going to engage others as best as possible knowing there will be bad days. One day it will all be right. I don't need a 20something. Still i wonder what I am missing.
What you save isn't worth the sacrifice in life style & the language difficulty for many. Too expensive & difficult. They only want the rich for the most part.
I found my 3rd wife in medellin. I respect the Colombian people BUT.... Medellin sucks. I am not even trying to be disrespectful. Its true. Medellin sucks, The only city I like in Colombia is Cartagena. I ended buying property in costa rica. I live in USA and rent costa Rica property when I am not there. The only two latin countries worth "living in" as a american is Costa Rica or Chile. All the other latin countries just visit and bring your butt back to the USA. My wife is from Medellin. The medellin people are great. But Medellin sucks.
Sam & Tacha will show you the real Medellin from an Expat perspective!
💡 Sneak Peek Services 💡 www.how-to-expat.com/medellin-sneak-peek-services/
Exactly! You need an open mind if you're planning on living in another country. You adapt to the place, not the other way around. Excellent video 💜
I watch your videos to learn Spanish. My Spanish is pretty good now although I need to continue to work on listening skills. I can see where it has to be frustrating not speaking Spanish and trying to get things done. Ordering cable , food or just day to day interaction can be quite a challenge.
I have been going to Colombia for 35 years, including both short and long-term visits, my Spanish is fluent, and without getting into details I know a lot about it. Despite all that, I would find a permanent move there very daunting and I've never seriously considered it. (No point detailing the reasons, all the usual stuff that makes Colombians grumpy.) I admire people who do it, including some of the UA-cam sensations whom I personally find a little annoying (without mentioning any names), but it's certainly not for everyone and if the expat impulse comes from not being able to live well in your home country rather than from some affirmative desire to live in another country, it's not surprising that so few people end up staying.
Almost 7 years in Colombia! A prerequisite of any foreigner is to watch the 2012 Colombian-produced movie titled: Mi gente linda, mi gente bella. It is about a Swedish guy who visits Colombia and all the good and bad things that happen to him. Basically, he decides to stay even after a lot of bad things happen to him because the good outweighs the bad. My recommendation from the Colombian tourist police was to move to a small town after I was robbed in Bogotá (best idea). Definitely, you have to speak Spanish. You have to live low-profile and be muy alegre (happy) and learn to dance. I am a biologist, so I am in paradise. Buena suerte en Colombia!
Thanks for sharing!
Starting a family is a big reason to re-think expat life in developing countries. From personal reasons (wanting your kids to be closer to their grandparents, aunts, cousins,...) to financial reasons. International schools/bilingual private schools are very expensive, even in South America. Everything you save from the cheaper cost of living will need to be put into your childrens education and it's suddenly not such a good deal anymore.
@AA 4SHAW Easily 10.000+ USD per year per kid. And they usually have long waiting lists, so you have to sign up your kid while you are still pregnant lol
Or not have kids and enjoy life
Public school is good enough
@Nathan B You need private school. Public schools are very, very bad quality education.
@@grod805 I have experience teaching in public schools and it is not good enough. Class sizes can reach up to 50 per class and the national education system ICFES is designed by the Colombian elite to keep the masses uneducated so they can continue manipulating them. However, public universities such as Universidad Nacional are some of the best in Colombia.
One of the main ones is the feeling of loneliness during holiday periods when your friends and family are celebrating and you are not there with them. If you are serious about becoming an expat, spend one of your most important holiday periods of the year in that country before moving there, a kind of stress test before moving.
The airfares to travel are usually much higher in the holiday periods, see how that affects your budget if you must spend the holiday in your home land. Do you feel lonely in that foreign land or have you found new friends to enjoy the holiday with in your new country. Can you adapt? Holidays are celebrated differently in different cultures.
If you can't tolerate that test than maybe you need to rethink your plans. Will you travel or will your relatives / friends travel to visit you, things to consider before making that commitment..
Well said!
Also remember that in the USA it's almost imposible to live with the minimum wage it's not only hard in Colombia but here in the states too
So nice of you to refer them as having budget reasons, rather than calling them losers.
I am in Columbia now and I am getting by with the little Spanish I know and learning new words everyday.
This is my first time to Columbia and I will keep coming back and keep improving my Spanish 😀
Amazing, best of luck!
@@HowToExpat thanks 😊
Good, but first thing you should know is that it’s Colombia, not Columbia.
As a colombian planning to go back and live in colombia you made an excellent point stating the difficulty of earning enough for a decent living there, all my effort at the moment is towards having investments outside the country and get a passive income in USD, then with as little as 2000 USD/month, owning a home without mortgage I think it is possible to have a fantastic middle class life
Would you say having just $2,000 usd is enough to live out there cause that’s is exactly what I make passive with out working
You are not considering taxes. Taxes in colombia are higher than the US except for property taxes, which could increase any day.
@@N2UPROD yes you would be earning on the top 20% of the population with that income. Income taxes (as a resident) for a yearly total of 24k would be around 33%-39%. And you would have to pay for state health or other type of private health insurance.
@@N2UPROD hah my mom lives on 350 monthly
I live in Dominican Republic and found myself watching this video and found it very informative. Great Job.
No one rock with Dominicans
@@nkwakutoure look at MLB. Nyc. Boston. Jennifer Lopez. All examples of places and people with big DOMINICAN influence. Also many expats love and stay in DR vs other countries. Beautiful women. Low cost of living etc...pretty women and palm trees...my life
@@nkwakutoure Look at Major Leaque Baseball. Jennifer Lopez. Many other examples that many love Dominicans. I'm living the dream in DR. Pretty Girls and Palm Trees. Hope you're living your best life too brother.
I want to plan to live there for six months just for the experience. I’ve been to Colombia in 2019 and I really loved it
Excellent informative video. Thanks for getting to the point and the straight talk.
Been here for just over 10 years. Love it.
Also remember it's totally okay to come to Columbia with the idea of only staying for 6 months or less and moving on to next adventure.
The name of the country is COLOMBIA 🇨🇴
Why committ? Life is short. Move and explore. Be adventurous if able.
The first thing to do, really, is to correctly spell the name of the country: ColOmbia. Though, sometimes I prefer Locombia, jk.
@@moshesierra6849 With an O not a U
Colombia!... no columbia
*Sam & Tacha knows my history living in lovely Colombia since 2007 first in Calarca, Quindio and now currently residing in Pereira, Risaralda with no plans in returning back to Florida plus my Spanglish is improving 😂 life is good now!* 😷👍🏻
Retired from the PD? I will in about 10yrs⏳ I'm looking at Panama and Colombia for that retired living.
@@KamilW257 *Really don't know much about Panama other that if you wish to live there it may be costly and somewhat limited in travel unlike Colombia which enjoys towns, mid sized cities, and yes 3 metropolitan cities with ample vacation spots to visit, you're pension will almost double as mine has, tell me which department are you hailing from?*
@@KamilW257 *Fantastic brother, NYPD jump over to my youtube main page click onto "no armchair warriors facebook link"*
Hi Ralphie, I may retire there soon. Do you think I will have good Spanish in about year of living there?
@@ericlee2931 judging from all the hours I've watched you can't go wrong. You have to know the basics. You'll get better but I'd start now to get your ear tunes into the languages. UA-cam has loads of vids on language 💥
Having lived in Medellin in the 1970's I found that people that won't commit to learning Spanish should just stay away. You can't experience another country if you can't speak with the people..
This guy said not to go to Colombia if you don’t speak Spanish? I have seen people learning the new country lenguaje after arriving and spending some time there! People’s brain is designed to Learn and Learn and Learn! That comment wasn’t smart at all!
I can't believe you did not mention the obscenely high tax rate as a reason for people leaving. You did mention many go back after 6 months. Maybe because after 183 days it's going to cost them 39% of the income they earned from even non Colombian sources? Your thoughts on this please, thanks.
I have no question this is the main reason. And I'm colombian. Higher taxes than the US.
@@j.lizbardo - Not simply Higher than the US, much higher than almost anywhere else! Now the next question becomes why are magazines like International Living and our Vlogger host SILENT on this issue? If no reply, I think it's safe to conclude the worst (sadly)
i been worked and lived there....you are only taxed if you bring in over 50.000 usa per year
under that no problem...taxes on money made in colombia as high as canada,,,high.
@@lonarbuckle9788 that alone makes Colombia no better than a vacation destination. No way in hell am I going to pay high taxes to a barely legitimate government.
During COVID, people living in Colombia were only allowed to go to the grocery store or bank once a week while exercise was severely restricted. Here in West Palm Beach the gyms were closed for a couple months and out of precaution even when they reopened, I am only going once a week (mask required to enter but not required to exercise :) ). But my wife and I would walk or run at a nearby park with no rredtrictions and I was able to go to the grocery store any day of the week.
*Moved to Colombia from Port St. Lucie in 2007* 😷👍🏻
Reason is : Colombia govermente cant aford healthcare needs to many population, so most isolated the best change not to get the virus. That is one reason to protect everyone for while they plan for the future.
Ralphie_Boy I am planning next year, I am Colombian and my husband Swiss going to live in airbnb all over Colombia at first, to know the places that i never went and my husband doesnt know yet!!
@@jkljkljkljkl6164 *That's great my advice is to do plenty of research on UA-cam videos and Google I did before I moved here in 2007*
Appreciate the real grounded talk Sam, it is much more helpful than fluff
Thanks
Their tax system is designed to screw foreigners. 92% of Colombians don’t pay income tax or even fill out a tax form. The 8% that come/live here get screwed by taxes and the government doesn’t allow KY Jelly.
@@y2k4ed What do you mean by 92% of Colombians then 8% that come to live there. That would be two different figures
I love Colombia. I will move there in the near future.
Speaking for myself, a major reason for including Colombia in my search for a retirement destination is the climate. I do not think you mentioned that as a reason to stay or not. Of course, the cost of living is a huge consideration. Thanks for all these videos.
Of those that stayed how many spoke Spanish?
Maybe 10% of them spoke Spanish but the rest actually put a lot of effort into learning it.
Hello everyone. I appreciate you taking time to offer good service. I will be traveling there from Chicago in four weeks to visit a friend. I hope you assist me on my visit.
I live in Costa Rica and the numbers are probably similar.
IMHO, people fail for several reasons. The main one being is they failed to do their homework. Cost wise, language wise and culture wise.
I advise everyone to live and rent anywhere you are thinking about moving to before spending a dime on property. And most of all: if you are moving to a foreign country plan to LEARN THE LANGUAGE and that can be a daunting task for many.
costa rica doesn,t hold a candle to colombia
Absolutely great advice!!!
Is the Resident visa (~150kUSD estate purchase) no longer straightforward?
First, you have to have a good, steady income. Things can get expensive depending on how you want to live there. Next, you should definitely know Spanish, otherwise not many people know English there. You shouldn’t be picky with food either. If you’re a picky eater and are used to eating different types of cuisines then you’re going to struggle very bad.
If you are a picky eater, you have two options: prepare your meals at home or go to an expensive restaurant. If you go to a normal restaurant where the workers eat, the menu is usually rice, fried meat, fried sweet plantains, a small cabbage and carrot salad, beans or soup and a glass of juice (Google translator).
If you love fruit, then you are in paradise.
I'm still visiting Colombia
To Nathan Casey: The majority of people in Colombia are paid below US $12,600 per year and don’t pay tax. I did a calculation based on information from a previous video with Paula Cruz. The number comes out to 92% of people here don’t pay income tax. 8% of the people here have to pay for the other 92%. I would imagine that this 8% are foreigners, doctors, lawyers and people in government office.
The broadness of it all is that this country survives on heavy tax and fines. I’ve never been fined so much as I have been here. You can’t even fight the fines.
The police here are not like in USA. Here they are judge and jury.
I’d love to see a Colombian court.
Oh, I told DIAN to take a number. I used what would have been tax money to support 5 families during the pandemic. The Government are a bunch of Cuomos. Lots of nice and friendly talk but very little assistance to those in need.
I think your guestiment on average salary of Colombian is twice as high as the ones that have a job here. I think about $6,000 is the average or maybe a little more if they are lucky. Or if your a plastic surgeon. LOL! I may finally be leaving because of your above statment about the government.I too hate DIAN!!!! I do love Medellin 12 hours of light a day is amazing the weather is amazing. The language thing is big here. If you don't speak fluent Spanish I would not recomend. I! I've been here almost 3 years and COVID hit my business really hard. It will bounce back and is located in USA mostly. I won't move back to US probably Buenas Aires, Valencia Spain or may the Czech Republic. If anyone has had a great expereince somewhere that isnt to pricey pls let me know :)
August Brante I heard that Paraguay may be worth exploring.
I am of a different opinion about the police. In America the police are not just the judge and jury. They are also snap judgement executioners. Because there are so many hidden guns in America , every one becomes a deadly threat to the police.
They are not going to take a single chance and will shoot you dead first and then see if you were a threat. If you weren't really a threat and that was just your cell phone you grabbed, well it's too bad for your dead self because they were just doing their job in a country filled with 383,000,000 guns so get use to it.
The question isn't why they left, but why they were naive enough to move there in the first place when there were all these potential negatives (for them) to deal with. I mean, what were they thinking? If you're looking for nice tidy expat communities where you can basically duplicate your U.S. lifestyle, look elsewhere people.
I am not looking for a US lifestyle, USA is a dying country.
My friend was obsessed with Colombia for the longest time . he had the Colombian Dream. Upon his first visit after helping him with a job and lending him cash (I know) his Colombian Dream bubble Burst as he got a reality check.
He came back depressed
He never went back 😂😂😂
Pathetic fool to be honest.
I
Don't tell me he goes to Colombia to work!! Only good for fun and entertainment!!!
What exactly happened to him over there ? 😂 Culture shock?
Wages in latin america are very low. Colombia is good if you come from abroad with dollars to spend (everything will seem inexpensive). But if you have to earn a salary in colombian pesos (COP), the minimum wage is hardly enough to cover your basic needs. (Google translator).
@@solodolo_mma3971 Wages in latin america are very low. Colombia is good if you come from abroad with dollars or euros to spend (everything will seem inexpensive). But if you have to earn a salary in colombian pesos (COP), the minimum wage is hardly enough to cover your basic needs.
@@elhector83 Being a digitial nomad is the best idea for sure, but if you do decide to earn a living in Colombia, then don't live in a big city like Bogotá. You can rent an apartment in a small town for USD$50 for everything including fiber optic cable internet if you live simply.
You really told me something new! I did not know the medical reason is one of the main causes that drives people to stay in Colombia for long term. As you said in the video, people mostly say they fall in love with the culture, they like the social scene, they love the food, etc...but no one ever mentioned about. You are absolutely right that the medical cost/insurance is ridiculously high in the States. It is such a shame that the US is one of the so called developed countries and yet its health care system sucks!
Thank you for your information Sam, I will see you soon!
Learning spanish is relatively easy if you put your mind to it...earning is the main problem....I lasted 5 years but too difficult to do business there.
Can you get sura health insurance on tourist visa? For example, six months each year? Thanks
No you can't get into the public health system just on your tourist visa.
You guys wants to know more from Colombia ? You need to watch Zach Morris el parcero colomboamericano 💪🇨🇴😎
Colombogringo. Todos somos americanos
Please is the ferry in columbia resumes to Darien Gap
*Colombia* 😷👍🏻
You said 250.00 $. I assume that is per month. Is that correct?
Yes
No, every day
Thank you. Great, practical observations.
I have no sympathy for people who end up leaving a place they chose to move to, knowing that they speak a different language. You should have learned at least a bit of the language before coming, and you should put in an effort to learning it while you're there.
I've had friends tell me insistently they could get by on English any where. They moved to a small town in Minas Gerais, Brazil,found out it wasn't true, totally freaked out, in less than a month. It did take them 6 months to get back to the US.
Amy Parker ...do u feel the same way about illegal latinos who come to the USA without any proficiency in English
Absolutely correct. I am constantly asking locals what percentage of Paisas speak English. The usual response is 5%! To come here and not have a minimum of survival Spanish, without knowing someone who can help is asking for problems. Anyone coming here should be ready to focus on improving Spanish as a high priority or do not bother coming.
@@GBU61 Absolutely. People have to realize that due to the massive discrepancy between private and public education in Colombia, most people who go to public schools (which is the majority of the population) come out of it with very little or no ability to speak English. That's why it really bothers me when foreigners come here and complain when the locals don't speak English.
Countdown running. Can't wait!!
Taxes are the problem. Close to 1/3rd of my passive income will go to taxes with residence in colombia which is unacceptable as I’ve worked too hard to get myself to this point. So I will stay for a few months and leave before 6 month stay to avoid being taxed.
I speak fluent self taught Spanish and without spanish Its hard to get by. Not to be condescending but Also, Colombian food is some of the blandest cuisine I’ve ever had. Mexican cuisine is far more seasoned and flavorful. Of course there is no comparison to the Far East Malaysian, Indonesian , Chinese dishes but that is a discussion for another day. So I visit and leave after a while and go elsewhere.
Thank you for the video. I'm very interested in Colombia and am looking to visit next year. I got my eye on Cartagena because...beach. I'm a subscriber to your channel and signed up to your newsletter. I hope to see more info on Cartagena
By the way... I live in Cartagena and my company is offering lots and houses near the beach. Is gorgeous, If you are interesting... here I am! :) :)
@@IvisPepper How is the covid situation in Cartagena at the moment?
@@mciancia A little better, but not perfect.... but at least people is not dying like in the beginning 🙏🏼 markets opened and restaurants too
cartegena,,little more expensive as is a tourist spot,,,and it,s hot and humid...
@@IvisPepper I am interested and was looking for some type of relocation tour or something. Thinking about visiting in February. I'm trying to get some basic spanish under my belt before I go. Not looking to buy anything initially. Thinking of renting or Airbnb to start to see if I can adjust
Great video Sam!!
What would it cost to rent a studio or one bedroom, furnished apartment to use to figure out if Medellin is a good fit? Are they hard to find?
You won’t be able to rent an apartment without local co-signers. Get an Airbnb to start with. I have rented AirBNB for over a year and it has been great for me.
How many people did you survey? 100? 50? Less? More?
colombia is not for most of europians but a turkish like me there is very nice. but salaries are too low for a expat in that case... it is good to look owning a business in colombia.
Great video Sam, you did a great job on covering the topic. Jeff
Who do we contact there in Medellin when a gang moves into your area and starts to force themselves on other properties???
What do mean by a gang forcing themselves on other people's properties? I am aware of gangs here in Tuluá that extort weekly payments from established businesses and sometimes even from street vendors. They are just like the parasitical mafia was (maybe still is) in New York City. It is rumored that sometimes the police are part of it. Every so often a few of the gang members are arrested.and actually convicted. These gang members will shoot their victims with almost impunity and absolutely show no mercy. When they get out of jail after a short sentence, they go right back to what they are doing....and that is when these "social cleansing committees" step in and provide a "permanent" solution to "reprobates"....the repeat offenders. It is not good when "extra legal" actions are undertaken such as these; however; this is what happens when the justice system fails to punish and curtail predatory behavior upon it's citizens. Desperate citizens then exercise their own permanent and final solutions.
can you buy a property if you are on a tourist visa????can you open a bank account??
Yes to both
I highly doubt opening a bank account on a tourist visa, You either need a Cedula or a NIT number to open an account.
@@jeffersonbroady *2007 I tried to open a simple savings account at the Bancolombia but was rejected with only a temporary residence visa and cedula not until after receiving my permanent residence was I allowed too!*
@@jeffersonbroady We know from experience, that it is possible. BUT it depends to which bank you go and the clerk you get. Sometimes one has to try it several times, but again it is possible.
@@HowToExpat Thank you
Haha...you're definitely a math guy. 6.2% and not just 6%. Love it.
LOL!
Good video, it is better to join an Expat community if someone has move to a foreign country, comradery help a lot in the beginning. However living part-time in another country is also a good option.
With a couple million dollars you can stay there for the rest of your life........ME! I will start my family in Medellin
With a couple of million dollars you don’t need to move anywhere. You’ll just travel for leisure.
I love Colombia for its people, culture, climate and scenery. The Government is a little whacked. If you can live with this you will be fine. I can live with this.
‘Wakkked’ as compared to Trump and Pence?...... Naw! It can’t be!
@@tonylogan4092 There are only about 50 million people living in Colombia.The government here should be able to care for all for a reasonable cost. So why is there a FARC?
Carolina Alarcon Whacked as in so many jobs not done. How many people die from a lack of proper signage particularly in the streets. Whacked in that people on the police department abuse their jobs. Whacked in that they did not have a plan to supply food for everyone in need during the 3 month shutdown. Whacked in that there is no place for the destitute to go for food. Whacked in that they are almost giving away the gold to foreign miners. The standard is a 10% royalty. Colombia gets 7%. Whacked in that 92% of the population doesn’t pay income tax. I could go on.
Me gusta la parte de la gente gruñona, ¡exactamente mi hermano Sam! Y tener la mente abierta.
Awesome !!!
genuinely helpful!
The main reason for me is safety
When it comes to safety Colombia is not different from any other country, all you need to do is stay away from trouble.
@@santoselrolo5449 I am Colombian and lived in different countries, and Colombia is not safe in comparison to many other countries
Yes I love Colombia but safety is a big issue
@@santoselrolo5449 Latin American countries are quite lawless for the most part
Every 60 year old guy + or - I know is still in medillin or cali with their 20 year old girlfriend.....and lovin it.....
There is a saying the young guys come for the drugs and the older guys come for the women. Any single guy over 50 that I have met has at least one girlfriend. The men offer money and the women offer youth and beauty.
@@GBU61 Incredible beauty.............
What about those aged 30-50? Or only the under 30s and over 50s men move to Colombia?
Your so honest and that’s great
May be I love so much Colombia for the wrong reasons ,
Thank you for your honesty.
People that expatriate tend to be experienced multilingual and had already known the obvious before expatriating! It’s a decision you made before you arrive.
Those that go without doing their homework...and make it are a very rare percentage. But usually the ones that do expatriate have the disposition for what it takes.
what is pain point? a clinic in colombia?
Is the arm tattoo new?
Is your tatoo new?.....that's the real question
saludos !!!
You mentioned you've dealt with American expats mostly. Does one's ethnic background make a difference in the probability of staying or going? I assume Latino-Americans are more like to settle long-term than Whites from the Midwest or South. Asian-Americans might be somewhere in between, considering they mostly live in California and the East Coast.
You are correct mainly because they are Hispanics and share the same language and culture such as myself. It’s something they are already used to.
The grim statistic took the " wind out of my sail"
Remember when your on a crosswalk cars don't stop for you and when you take a bus if your lucky jf he makes a full stop and about 10 ft from cidewalk
You forgot one of the main reasons why people stay... It's related to the 'scenery' 😂 Though perhaps you include this under the heading 'adventure'
i want to live in Medellin because of the food and the beautiful women
You need have more goals than that dude 🤣🤣🤣
Grumpy people? Bah Humbug. lol They'll be miserable everywhere and any where.
Yep toxic people are the worst!
You real estate never got back to me?
Contact...
@@wbuffett1 Please send us a message to contact@how-to-expat.com
To say a place sucks is useless and to me vague. I have not read much thats not obvious besides sucks. Language (duh as my sister might say), taxes (ok but some of us are retirees neither earning local nor seeking work), budgeting (Really? With all of the online info it seems data is available), lonliness (a big one for sure and hard to feel before trying it). So the profile person needs to grasp a good chunk of Spanish, be solvent enough not to rely on a job, be outward going to engage others as best as possible knowing there will be bad days. One day it will all be right. I don't need a 20something. Still i wonder what I am missing.
The type of ppl who expat are not the type of ppl who want to settle down in one area.
Expat means foreigners.Foreigner, foreigner, foreigner
*Expatriate* 🤨👍🏻
@@Ralphie_Boy LOL, those who know, KNOW that foreigner is the legit term. Privilege…
What you save isn't worth the sacrifice in life style & the language difficulty for many. Too expensive & difficult. They only want the rich for the most part.
could you timestamp the topics?
Absolutely not.
They have to learn the espanol nothing wrong
I found my 3rd wife in medellin.
I respect the Colombian people
BUT....
Medellin sucks.
I am not even trying to be disrespectful. Its true. Medellin sucks,
The only city I like in Colombia is Cartagena.
I ended buying property in costa rica. I live in USA and rent costa Rica property when I am not there.
The only two latin countries worth "living in" as a american is Costa Rica or Chile.
All the other latin countries just visit and bring your butt back to the USA.
My wife is from Medellin.
The medellin people are great.
But
Medellin sucks.