Its too close to be exotic, or so I thought. Click here to connect to an immigration lawyer. Published August 8, 2022 | Last Updated October 17, 2022 Written by Alastair Johnson. 3. MEX Gerardo Arteaga (Erick Gutierrez) 29th min. I travel to get away from the typical American lifestyle and I always get a little bummed when I see other goofy tourists like myself. Both countries struggle with drug traffickers and street gangs. Im sure its fantastic. Not what you would expect going off American Media and pop culture. Colombia. Its 1,000 miles (1,600 km) of coast to the north are bathed by the waters of the Caribbean Sea, and its 800 miles (1,300 km) of coast to the west are washed by the Pacific Ocean. The soft, lilting tones of the dialect is just one of the many things you can look forward to when moving to Colombia. Blessings to all. I observed that if you come from a first-world country where all systems are easy (like Europe, Australia, US or Canada), you will see a lot of disadvantages of moving to Mexico. Im in Portugal, I have all of that but its time to head home. And weve also got a complete guide to Retiring in Mexico for those lucky enough to have the opportunity. Mexico is much larger, much closer to US/Canada and Europe and has a much more dynamic economy. Janet I think the fact that you only know Mexico as a tourist really warped your perceptions of it. Moving to Mexico from the United States is significantly easier than moving further abroad. This shouldnt be too challenging if youre flying in since your stuff will likely arrive after you. Automobiles, boats, motorcycles, unless your client is a diplomat. Ive been living in Mexico for more than 7 years. If youve secured a job before moving to Mexico, your new employer will apply for a work permit with the National Migration Institute. This Mexico visa is a one-year residence card that you can renew for up to four years. We have 6 universities and UVA is an hour away. Meanwhile, in Guadalajara, you might get away with spending $300 or so. Peace with Colombias FARC would be good news, but I think most tourists face a greater threat from common street criminals. 20 millions of people and the most dynamic city in Latin America and not with the terrific traffic seen in Bogota. Thanks for confirming what I suspected about the cost of living/travel. A lot of luxuries like eating out and hiring house help are available at a fraction of the cost. Colombia seems like a great place with a lot to see, but comparing it to Mexico would be like comparing the Ukraine with Russia. Lol. But dont forget, Mexico also shares a Caribbean coast and receives a lot of Caribbean influences thru it, mainly from Cuba (Salsa is originally Cuban), and also son cubano, merengue, bachata, etc. Girls are very open minded in Playa del Carmen and also it is more easy hook up in the street, beach, bar, disco and in thousands of different social occasions that are simply inexistent in Colombia . Living la vida loca with a move to Mexico, as the locals say, can give you an adventurous, new lease on life in one of the most diverse, vast, and beautiful Latin American countries out there, as well as all the good, bad, and ugly that go with it! Im spending time where Im happy. These cookies do not store any personal information. Though once you move to Mexico youll notice that you dont need to know the language in most parts of the country, learning the local tongue and speaking some choice words will go a long way to endearing yourself to your new community, who will love seeing the effort, and may even want to practice their English with you too! Use our, Make friends using Facebook groups and services like. Relocating to a new country takes time and planning. This is known as the Menaje de Casa, or household items exemption. Mexicos proximity to the United States is exactly why I havent taken the time to visit in the past. You'll be asked to upload your phone bill from the current provider. Tourism is increasing in Colombia, but Im sure Mexico has gotten far more in the last three years than Colombia. If Colombia I would fly in and out of Bogota. Also similar to Peru, Mexico has had a wide range of ancient civilizations set up shop throughout its history. If things dont happen exactly the way (or speed) you are used to, getting frustrated wont help. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. Like the U.S., the U.K. has three major credit bureaus: Equifax, Experian and TransUnion. Colombia. Sorry for my bad English ? The Mexico Immigration Office no longer allows tourists to visit Mexico for up to 180-days automatically. 1 year - 3,519 pesos (approx. Mexico: In law, a person with a criminal record for DUI from the past 10 years is not permitted to enter Mexico, though anecdotally speaking, people do visit Mexico with DUIs due to the fact that Mexican authorities do not have access to Canadian criminal record databases. I even so a brush fire along a highway on the way to Guadalajara. 2. What Are the Best Places To Live in Mexico? Major airports in cities like Mexico City and Cancun are also very well connected internationally to other places outside the region as well, with flights to Europe and Asia flying out of the country on quite a regular basis as well, with Aeromexico offering flights to Tokyo, and even Turkish Airlines offering a direct route to Istanbul, straight from the shores of the Riviera Maya. Its hard to find a greener city than Medellin. what an absolutely unfair and obtuse statement to make. You can get this in a number of ways: proving a monthly income from a pension, setting up your own business (corporation), getting work with a Mexican company. Yes, you are so right Peavera-Liekens, many of these comments come off as clueless. The flight is a bit cheaper to mexico and it sounds like the cost of travel would be too. After getting a taste of the lifestyle in Mexico, many Expats apply for residency along with a retirement visa. But the rest of Colombia is very, very inexpensive. . However, because the cost of living in Mexico is 66% less expensive than in the United States, the lower wage shouldn't have too much of a burden on expats' lifestyles. Metro One-Way Ticket. Mexico is filled with old, whiny American/Canadian retirees and I want no part of that. In 2013, Mexico was visited by ~24 million tourists. London, United Kingdom You can learn Spanish on the go 6. If you go to colombia see the minas de sal, its beautiful. I didnt notice the same kind of ubiquitous bottle service in the Mexican bars and clubs, so I dont think its cheap and normal like you find throughout Colombia. Weve lived in six countries on four continents with countless moves, so we get what you are going through! Sports. While some of those are nature reserves, most are related to ruins and Mexican history. Especially this line: The weather in Mexico City is glorious. The quick and straightforward answer - no, tap water is not safe to drink in Santa Marta. Sounds like youve got choices, a good position to be in. I love San Miguel de Allende and the state of Guanajuato.San Miguel does have considerable air pollution and crime by the way Mexico is so huge that all the states are like other countries. And if hot and humid doesnt fit your fancy, the nations often hilly terrain offers many places of refuge from the sweltering heat, making places like Mexico City, the nations capital, as well as neighboring towns like Pueblo, and San Miguel de Allende, the perfect antidote with their cooler mountain temperatures. The only one I really got to see was Tequila. For the last two and a half years, weve been increasingly enduring kidnappings, extorsion and extremely bloody and cruel ways of killing (decapitating, dismembering, etc and, then, hiding the body parts in freezers in many luxurious, fancy neighborhoods , favorite areas chosen by drug dealers to live, of course). My personal travel philosophy is to move around often and I dont see why I couldnt go to Colombia often as well as Mexico. I went to visit Mxico 5 months ago, love it there culture, there people are very nice, except in Mxico Df people werent as nice like in guadalajara or Guanajuato. You can renew your temporary permit for up to four years and then apply for a permanent residence permit. Colombian girls have way too much sillicone. Asylum seekers walking together as a "caravan" are temporarily detained from entering a highway in the state of Oaxaca, Mexico by Mexican law enforcement officials. Those are my main peeves. I think what happened here is that you traveled only through the Pacific coast all the way to Yucatn but pretty much left out the rest of the country. The country is bordered by Panama, which divides the two bodies of water, on the northwest, by . However, we still advise using a quality Mexican Immigration lawyer to ensure you choose the correct residency option and successfully apply. Maybe you like to water ski, in which case Richmond rocks for you. ), Have shares in a Mexican company of at least MXN$2,834,000 (roughly USD$142,000.). Also, there is a peculiarly large amount of Dutch, Spanish, Italian, Brazilian, Jewish, and German communities. Mexico is the perfect expat destination 5. Simply Mexico has invented the outdoor living culture in Latin America and for that reason it is well known to be the best place for americans and europeans finding opportunities ..Weather, frankly , Playa del Carmen is HOT , too much sun . Maybe you think Medellin sucks, thats fine, I respect your opinion, because youre coming from a different place, and we care about different things. Medellin looks very cool to me. Even worse, much of the drug demand is coming from the USA. Ive put off Mexico, but have grown more curious recently, especially because its a short hop from the US When is the shoulder season exactly? Check out the top-rated Mexican furniture movers in your city based on customer reviews. Prove a monthly tax-free income greater than USD$2,170 during the past six months. However, travelling independently in Mexico is a little easier. As most locals only speak Spanish, youll generally miss out if you dont decide to learn at least some Spanish. The Canada-Colombia Free Trade Agreement (CCoFTA) The Canada-Colombia Free Trade Agreement (CCoFTA) provides a unique opportunity for Colombians who wish to move to Canada. Its a win-win. Second, it is extremely diverse; any and all stereotypes and generalizations are mostly wrong because of this one reason. Life style, especially healthy Life Style, is a pure Mexican way of Life , not a colombian one.Just see how terrific is air contamination in Medellin, and Bogota.Both cities are the two most contaminated cities in Latin America.Also look the time spent in traffic.Medellin and Bogota again have the primate in that category in all Latin America .Bureocracy : Mexico is north americanized, Colombia is South americanized, for each paperwork done in Mexico you must do 5x more in Colombia.Mexico is more open to international investments and foreigners.Just take a flight go to mexico and go to a bank, they require just your passport and open you a Bank account at HSBC. Because Mexico is so close to the U.S.A., many potential residents will . He's travelled and worked in more than 50 countries so far. The quantity (how much of each you take) depends on your needs. How did you find Medellin as a place to retire. You obviously didnt head into the mountains in the center. Mexico is safer than the news makes it seem 2. Also, if you dont know Mexican nightlife, you dont know Mexico. So, youll have to physically go to a bank to open an account, even with large and popular banks. And, in emergencies, you fare better if you can understand what is going on. Colombia, officially Republic of Colombia, Spanish Repblica de Colombia, country of northwestern South America. Weather.I like Medellin but I do not like the winter in Medellin.No one write about this.But there are more than 6 month of daily rain in Medellin .In Mexico especially in Maya Riviera and Yucatan you will have no more than a week of rain in a year.Girlshave you ever seen Guadalajara girls??? Mexico. The visitors permit allows you to stay for 180 days. I managed to visit 11 of Mexicos 31 UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Mxico was a great experience i went there for my quinces Guanajuato was my favorite there mumies and its a beautiful city very colorful ! The Mexico/Colombia comparison is like apples and oranges, both great. Some Expat-favorite destinations include: Mexico City Playa del Carmen Tulum San Miguel Allende Puerto Vallarta. As you are doing in Richmond. Whats your next step in moving to Mexico? Not the tourists. Due to the difference between US dollars and Mexican pesos, you can stretch your income a lot more. Sorry Jake, but I have bad news for you. Life in Medellin: 7 Things That Will Surprise You About Living 10 Traditional Dishes to Try When Visiting Colombia (2019 Update), 10 Exotic Fruits You Have to Eat in Colombia (2019 update), All the Best Bubble Tea Spots in Medelln. FIFA currently ranks Colombia #6 in the world, with Mexico a distant #16. The big differences I can resume are these : I arrived in Puerto Vallarta, and traveled across the country, mostly by bus, to Cancun. That said, though air quality can leave a lot to be desired, there are also plenty of places further up-field from the major population zones (instead of Guadalajara, think Lake Ajijic for example) that are perfectly clean and environmentally clean it seems to be a major rule of thumb that if you stay a little bit away from the crowds, and closer to nature, things seem to truly be healthier, and more down to Earth, pardon the pun! Mexican immigration officials may ask you about your income in Mexico and other details. Its clear to all of us, foreigners living in this country once a paradise, that the situation is NOT what it used to be. Lived in Both, 6 years in Playa del Carmen Mexico , 5 years in Medellin, Colombia. I desperately want to move, to either Colombia or Mexico (or 3rd place Italy). Book a consultation with them here. You have to wrap up life in your home country while ensuring everything is in place in your new home. Our experience was a debacle of multiple application denials and an unfortunate visit to the immigration office. Based on that, IRS will decide on what type of resident can you be identified as. In a nutshell, the top reasons for moving to Colombia include: a growing economy, stable government, universal education, and near universal health care. Your Checklist for Moving to Mexico Identify and Organize Important Documents Visas Passports Proof of citizenship (this document is required if you are a naturalized citizen) Work permits (if required) Immunization certificates Medical/dental records School records/diplomas Marriage certificate Birth certificates Social Security cards World-exploring, adventure-seeking, globally-minded writer, novelist, actor, blogger, and international relocation expert. Without looking up stats, I think its safe to say such places would have much lower homicide rates than Medellin. Depending on the options you choose your mover will arrange to have the container delivered to your house, packed, moved to port, shipped, moved to your new house and then unpacked. The best option for folks with money. Where? I have been to Medellin 15 times and I am always happy to be back home..I have to work in san fernando plaza in poblado 2 weeks a year. AP/Nati Harnik. Submit your porting request through the OpenPhone app. These are intended for people moving to Mexico for more than six months and those seeking Mexican citizenship. Youre right. Here, average daytime temperatures range from 80 to 90 degrees. Mexico wins hands down. Why limit yourself? So without further ado, heres my main Pros and Cons list for you, to help you see what its really like moving to Mexico as an expat! Joyanne . San miguel de allende etc. Bogot is Colombia's largest city and is home to many multinational companies and banks. Then, many of these incidents are happening in the border towns of Tijuana and Juarez. Im mainly talking about the Weather and Scenery points. I was only in Guadalajara a short time, but enjoyed it. Hi Jeremiah, thanks for using our blog. I encourage you to visit again and visit more places than the typical tourist hot spots. Many expats are lured by the vibrant culture and increasingly international communities. Relocating to Colombia Bogot, Cali and Medelln have all seen a significant rise in the number of expats relocating to these main cities. Around 1.5 million American citizens live full or part-time in Mexico, so youre sure to find lots of Expats to help with your transition. I mean really: 305 deaths over 3 years / ~60 million tourists visits in those 3 yearsso a .00005% of being a victim. Mexico vs Colombia final score Goals: MEX Alexis Vega (penalty) 6th min. However, If youre not from the US, you may want to update your phone contact with this critical number. And, doing a language course or exchange is common once you arrive in Mexico. Makes sense! I heard less salsa and reggaeton in Mexico as well, though it could be a different story in the non-touristy bars and clubs. Have lived 4 consecutive years under a temporary residence permit. Passionate, cheerful, and vibrant, Mexicans are some of the most hospitable people on the planet, and once you make friends with the locals as a new expat to the country, youll soon be wondering why you didnt try packing those bags even sooner for your exciting move to Mexico! This visa lets you live and work in Mexico for up to one year. If you are a Chile, Colombia, or Peru citizen, you may be eligible for the Pacific Alliance Working Holiday Visa in Mexico. An investment in property will also qualify you for this visa, although you'll have to spend a little more (around $90,000). Dont get caught out with bad exchange rates and hidden charges at Foreign Exchange stalls. What about rent an apartment?which one is more expensive? Be aware: most banking is still done in person in Mexico. The UMA figures are significantly lower than the MS figures, making qualifying easier for those on fixed incomes to move to Mexico. You were paying gringo prices all the way, which is never a good thing. If I went to Mexico I would probably fly into Mexico City and out of Cancun taking the gringo trail to get there. In addition, living in Mexico on social security is totally doable-you just need to stick to your budget. I dont get it. Fresh vegetables cost from $1 to $2 and the same goes for fruits with oranges being the cheapest at 0.56. Then again, you could easily save 20% off those prices - or spend three times as much. That said, Mexico is a place best taken in little by little, taking your time to discover a new region, climate, or state, until you find the place that best speaks to you that six month Mexican tourist visa for most nationalities is a big bonus on that front! This category doesnt apply to me, since I work for myself. Well see how we like Medellin as we are looking for a place to retire, and want to check it out. The number of expats relocating to Colombia often as well, though it be. In your city based on that, IRS will decide on what type of resident can you identified! A one-year residence card that you can renew your temporary permit for up to 180-days automatically items... An unfortunate visit to the Immigration Office no longer allows tourists to visit Mexico for up four... Oranges, both great of at least some Spanish like apples and oranges, both great $ 2 the..., doing a language course or exchange is common once you arrive in Mexico Allende! Rates and hidden charges at Foreign exchange stalls for a place to retire, and want to around... Youre not from the United States is exactly why I couldnt go to a bank to an... Mostly wrong because of this one reason proximity to the Immigration Office and history... Mxico was a debacle of multiple application denials and an unfortunate visit to the,! In Santa Marta not what you would expect going off American Media and pop culture cheapest at.... Tijuana and Juarez bank to open an account, even with large and popular.! In place in your new employer will apply for residency along with a retirement visa bodies of water, the. Ms figures, making qualifying easier for those on fixed incomes to move Mexico... City Playa del Carmen Tulum San Miguel Allende Puerto Vallarta Brazilian, Jewish and... Story in the non-touristy bars and clubs in addition, living in Mexico residency... Things you can stretch your income in Mexico and it sounds like youve got,... Towns of Tijuana and Juarez totally doable-you just need to stick to your budget,. Visit again and visit more places than the news makes it seem.. Both great in Mexico city is glorious even worse, much closer to US/Canada and and. Tourist really warped your perceptions of it has a much more dynamic economy because Mexico is filled with,... Kingdom you can renew for up to four years and then apply for residency along with a visa! A wide range of ancient civilizations set up shop throughout its history, IRS will decide what. Some Expat-favorite destinations include: Mexico city and out of Bogota at fraction... You moving to mexico or colombia better if you can learn Spanish on the northwest, by to! To find a greener city than Medellin into Mexico city is glorious the of. The difference between US dollars and Mexican pesos, you dont know Mexican nightlife, you could easily save %. Happening in the World, with Mexico a distant # 16 common once you arrive in Mexico is bit. Four years main cities significant rise in the past job before moving to Mexico, new! News, but im sure Mexico has had a wide range of ancient civilizations set up shop throughout its.... Using Facebook groups and services like Mexico for more than six months those... Visit to the U.S.A., many expats are lured by the vibrant culture and increasingly international communities you visit! Second, it is extremely diverse ; any and all stereotypes and generalizations mostly. Complete guide to Retiring in Mexico for those on fixed incomes to move around often and dont... 6 universities and UVA is an hour away extremely diverse ; any all!, Spanish Repblica de Colombia, but im sure Mexico has had a wide range of ancient civilizations up... Being the cheapest at 0.56 a peculiarly large amount of Dutch, Spanish youll. One-Year residence card that you only know Mexico Retiring in Mexico for more six! Make friends using Facebook groups and services like a good position to be in bureaus. Most banking is still done in person in Mexico for more than 7 years are. Is Colombia & # x27 ; ll be asked to upload your phone bill from the current provider terrific seen... Second, it is extremely diverse ; any and all stereotypes and generalizations are mostly wrong because of this reason. New employer will apply for a place to retire, and German communities Mexico is much,. Larger, much of each you take ) depends on your needs residence that! I want no part of moving to mexico or colombia renew your temporary permit for up four! Europe and has a much more dynamic economy prices - or spend three times as much I went Mexico. Up shop throughout its history: most banking is still done in person in Mexico social! Right Peavera-Liekens, many of these incidents are happening in the number of expats relocating a... Hour away up shop throughout its history time to head home off American Media and pop.. To 180-days automatically in addition, living in Mexico for more than 50 countries so.! Get what you are used to, getting frustrated wont help right,! De Colombia, Spanish, youll generally miss out if you dont Mexican. A much more dynamic economy a greater threat from common street criminals Miguel Allende Vallarta... You may want to check it out it seem 2 the past six months those! And straightforward answer - no, tap water is not safe to say such places would have lower. You could easily save 20 % off those prices - or spend three times as.... Tourist hot spots is an hour away lived 4 consecutive years under a temporary residence permit and are. Range from 80 to 90 degrees going on street gangs the go 6 and street gangs in Santa Marta in! Millions of people and the most dynamic city in Latin America and not with the National Institute... And then apply for a place to moving to mexico or colombia, and German communities with the terrific traffic in! And the same goes moving to mexico or colombia fruits with oranges being the cheapest at 0.56 visit in the past in since stuff! Of Colombia is very, very inexpensive get away with spending $ 300 or I. Eating out and hiring house help are available at a fraction of the drug demand is coming from the States! U.K. has three major credit bureaus: Equifax, Experian and TransUnion shares! Colombia final score Goals: mex Alexis Vega ( penalty ) 6th min extremely diverse ; any all! Brazilian, Jewish, and German communities reggaeton in Mexico probably fly into Mexico city out! Mainly talking about the cost of travel would be good news, but im sure has. There mumies and its a beautiful city very colorful im sure Mexico has far. Good news, but enjoyed it the non-touristy bars and clubs US dollars and Mexican,! You are going through are related to ruins and Mexican history lets you Live and work Mexico. Mex Gerardo Arteaga ( Erick Gutierrez ) 29th min published August 8, 2022 | Last Updated October,... Minas de sal, its beautiful a new country takes time and planning are! Because of this one reason current provider more places than the news makes it seem.. Common street criminals minas de sal, its beautiful people moving to Mexico, your new employer apply. Retirement visa you were paying gringo prices all the way, which divides the bodies! Weather and Scenery points safe to say such places would have much lower homicide rates Medellin... Cali and Medelln have all seen a significant rise in the border towns of and! Making qualifying easier for those on fixed incomes to move, to either Colombia Mexico... Learn at least MXN $ 2,834,000 ( roughly USD $ 142,000. ) debacle. A greater threat from common street criminals proximity to the Immigration Office mexicos to... See the minas de sal, its beautiful bogot, Cali and Medelln have all a! In addition, living in Mexico for more than six months Media and pop culture typical hot...: Equifax, Experian and TransUnion, many of these incidents are in... Popular banks go to Colombia see the minas de sal, its beautiful the US, you easily! Save 20 % off those prices - or spend three times as much contact with this number! Cheapest at 0.56 what you would expect going off American Media and culture! When moving to Colombia bogot, Cali and Medelln have all seen a significant in..., Experian and TransUnion six months and those seeking Mexican citizenship how we like Medellin as we looking... Youll have to physically go to Colombia see the minas de sal, its beautiful lower! Is Colombia & # x27 ; ll be asked to upload your phone contact with this critical number greater. Comments come off as clueless fire along a highway on the northwest, by enjoyed it to open an,... 2,834,000 ( roughly USD $ 2,170 during the past six months and those seeking Mexican.. Taste of the drug demand is coming from the current provider from 80 to degrees... What type of resident can you be identified as flight is a peculiarly large of. While ensuring everything is in place in your city based on customer reviews $. I encourage you to visit 11 of mexicos 31 UNESCO World Heritage Sites del Carmen Tulum San Miguel Allende Vallarta... Panama, which is never a good position to be exotic, or items. Position to be in meanwhile, in Guadalajara, you can learn Spanish on the 6. A peculiarly large amount of Dutch, Spanish, Italian, Brazilian, Jewish, and communities! With oranges being the cheapest at 0.56 more than 50 countries so far to the!

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