I shouldve been more specific, comparing my experience living in Medelln, CO with the specific cities I couldve seen myself living in for at least a few months, including: Puerto Vallarta/Sayulita, Guadalajara, Mexico City and Playa del Carmen. Ive been to plenty of places in Mexico. Broadband internet and Wi-Fi were easily accessible at decent speeds, and it cost about $45 to get a SIM card for my iPhone 4S, and 3 GB of data for 30 days (I actually used double that with no interruption in service). Crimes , medellin and Colombia too much unsafe , very dangerous in comparison with Mexico. Have lived 4 consecutive years under a temporary residence permit. Forbes ranks virginia as a great state to own a business..thus why I have 7,000,000 in the bank! Medelln is a city with a more neutral and stable climate with temperatures ranging between 65 and 75 degrees Fahrenheit. Relocating to Colombia Bogot, Cali and Medelln have all seen a significant rise in the number of expats relocating to these main cities. Mexico wins hands down. Large quantities of similar items, which may be perceived as items intended for sale in Mexico. I live in the lovely Ajijic, at Lake Chapala area, in the state of Jalisco. Blessings to all. ), Own property in Mexico of at least MXN$5,668,000 (roughly USD$280,000. We did a whole lot of research for you. Which one is more safe for living lonely? I think the fact that you only know Mexico as a tourist really warped your perceptions of it. Living in Mexico as an American, you can get a higher quality of life at a fraction of the cost. It isn't recognized at all in Colombia. The Mexico/Colombia comparison is like apples and oranges, both great. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Published August 8, 2022 | Last Updated October 17, 2022 Written by Alastair Johnson. 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. A PROVEN factnot just speculations ! 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! I would definitely prefer the food in Mexico but I would prefer the nightlife in Colombia. Climate: during my stay in Medellin I constantly compared its climate to Guadalajara, which Ive visited several times. In addition, Colombia has an affordable and reliable bus system though the best way to navigate around any big city is on foot. The weather argument is silly. I moved here (from South Florida) expecting it to be hot and difficult I enjoy Medellin for having a pretty moderate climate in comparison so I couldnt have been more wrong. Buying a property in the country can also be a solid investment as, although slow, house prices are continually rising. It was not until the 1970s when the presence of Colombians increased . Mexico is a continent, 140 millions of people, 48 millions of tourist in 2017 , Colombia only 2 .You can fly from Cancun to bogota for 40 USD thanks to the Mexican Low cost Interjet , you can fly to Miami at same price , this is not possible in Colombia. This permission is not a standard visa; it is a permit you receive when you arrive in the country. Mexico left a very positive impression on me, and got me thinking about whether Id enjoy living there as much, or more, than in Colombia. Tip: Much of Mexico is still a largely cash-based culture. Its a matter of preference in the end. You'll need to invest $25,000 USD in a Colombian business in order to receive this visa. That said, the process of opening an account can be reasonably straightforward compared with other countries. You can renew your temporary permit for up to four years and then apply for a permanent residence permit. I was only in Guadalajara a short time, but enjoyed it. Please keep Medellin Living going. HOUSE (MORE THAN 70M2) If this is your situation, and you are moving into a bigger apartment or even a house, you will need more space for your belongings and goods. The low cost of basic necessities like fresh produce and even luxuries like eating out is often more affordable in Mexico. You can enter Colombia from the USA by embarking on many direct flights from Orlando Airport and Fort Lauderdale Airport. Despite being well acquainted with tourists and expats over the years, and as such a very high understanding of English can be widely found, as the largest Spanish speaking country on Earth, Mexico possesses a native tongue that is not only lively and alluring, but also remarkably one of the easiest to pick up as a second language. Here in Lake Chapalas area State of Jalisco, in Mexicos west/center area, and this is just as a single example, those freezers with their horrifying, macabre contents, have been found in our own neighborhoods, as well as casas de seguridad (houses where kidnapped victimas are kept ) just NEXT DOOR (literally !) In the latter case the company should assist you in getting the visa but they will have to prove . To apply to be a temporary resident, the length of your stay should be around six months. You cant compare rural Mexico to urban Colombia. Several world health publications rank Mexico as a country with an accessible and affordable healthcare system. Interesting post. This guide will focus on making the nuts and bolts of the move as easy as possible. If youre entering under a temporary residence permit, its expected that everything you import will be exported back to your home when you leave. Yorman and his team getconsistent excellent reviews pluswe continuously assess their performance and value to our clients. You need a letter from the bank or a bank statement that you earn a minimum of $2000 per month or have investments of over $102,000 for each applicant. 1 year - 3,519 pesos (approx. Weve looked at quality Expat health insurance companies that cover Mexico and have picked two excellent companies. Mexico wins in the food department and has better beaches, but I think thats about as far as it goes. while bogot is very cold. Beyond soccer, Mexico has access to the second largest barrier reef system in the world, which leads to a lot of snorkeling and diving opportunities along the Mayan Riviera. Many expats are lured by the vibrant culture and increasingly international communities. You'll need to report to a Department of Immigration office in Mexico before the visa expires and within 30 days of your arrival. 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). Average salary in Mexico. As you are doing in Richmond. This site uses cookies to ensure an amazing experience! Colombia is still unsafe and socially unstable (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Copyright 2023 Eureka Expat! Also, if you dont know Mexican nightlife, you dont know Mexico. The overwhelming majority of Social Security recipients abroad get their benefits . If your spouse has a Mexican grandparent or grandparent who is a permanent resident, you can live in Mexico. Dont worry here is the complete guide on How to Move to Mexico. Where? Im mainly talking about the Weather and Scenery points. Medelln is the city of eternal spring, a very hemosa city, and with musical performances of category such as the mariachis medellin mix show. Mexicos proximity to the United States is exactly why I havent taken the time to visit in the past. The CCoFTA allows professional workers and technicians working in select specialty occupations to obtain Canadian work permits. And weve also got a complete guide to Retiring in Mexico for those lucky enough to have the opportunity. Huge problems ? The answers to those questions will decide the type of Mexico visa you need. April 15, 2021 Latin America Mexico 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! Medelln, Colombia Medelln has grown tremendously in popularity over the last few years. Youll apply for this at your Mexican consulate after obtaining your visa and pay a USD$130 fee. 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. Having spent time in Mexico he is right about the mountains, just like Bogota could seem cold as can be for people travelling from Medellin. Then again, you could easily save 20% off those prices - or spend three times as much. If youve never been to the country and want to know if Mexico is right for you, a short visit may be best. Its a great way to see what you can afford (and how much luxury youll have!). Not the tourists. Id still visit Columbia although not live there long term like I would in Mexico. Weve spent time in Oaxaca as well and looking forward to checking out Davids comparison. In 2013, Mexico was visited by ~24 million tourists. from 14 to 19 % each year in Playa del Carmen Mexico , against no more that 2/3% in Medellin.Just think what you want.But after many years spent in both I surely prefer Mexico .Also it is much cheaper and easier take residency in Mexico than Colombia.In Mexico they do not require paperwork or a lawyer to do this, immigration talk fluent english, in Colombia no one talk fluent English.Eating in Mexico is not comparable with Colombia .Just take a flight to Playa del Carmen, Cancun or Merida and see.What about Mexico City ? The girls there are insanely hot. Mexico has both public and private healthcare systems. But the rest of Colombia is very, very inexpensive. It saddens me that this beautiful paradise has now come to this . I have my opinions on all of them, just as you do on Medellin. In the past three years, 305 Americans have been murdered in Mexico while only 15 Americans have been murdered in Colombia. Batteries. When you apply for any immigration procedure at an immigration office in Mexico for example: residency on the basis of Family Unit, exchanges, renewals, regularization, etc. the immigration office will quote Mexican pesos (or a foreign currency equivalent) based on the multiples of UMA if an 'economic solvency' requirement is asked for within The price of meat varies between $6.94 for beefsteak and $5.84 for minced meat to $3.10 for fresh fish. Sorry Jake, but I have bad news for you. Many places in Mexico have high levels of English. 3 year - 6,678 pesos. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. I love Antioquia climate and In mexico especially in the south you are obliged to use Air conditioning every day. We, foreigners, are great targets for them since theyre dollars in the picture. If they want to quiet things down to decrease attention from the cops, they do. If I were to live in Playa del Carmen, Id have to accept much hotter temperatures, and air conditioning. Whats your next step in moving to Mexico? Woman , Colombia has a lot of beautiful woman, but many are simply a result of plastic surgery .Also many come with you for money . OpenPhone team submits your port request to your old provider (AT&T, T-Mobile, Verizon, etc.) Well cover Mexico visas and residency, banking, accommodation, language, and more. Lol. Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. Places not considered as points of travel in this blog and light years in opposite directions to places like playa or cabo. 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! There are so many great places to visit and the cost of living is affordable. However Ill add something else. Migration history. Make my way up to San Gil, then up to Santa Marta, Cartagena, Medellin, and back to Bogota. Thanks for introducing yourself. By far the most common choice for people moving abroad is a complete door to door moving service. If you do not have this, youll have to pay to store your goods until it is procured. Once they complete their application, you can then apply for a work visa. He's an owner and founder of Where Can I Live, a company created to help you share in the joy and opportunity of living abroad. Vamos! As long as your license from your home country is current, you can use it to drive legally in Mexico. Or, you can show investment or bank accounts with an average monthly balance equivalent to USD$145,000 for twelve months. Both Mexico and Colombia are manageable to get around, particularly when travelling between major cities. Automobiles, boats, motorcycles, unless your client is a diplomat. Where Can I Live Ltd. One thing I did notice is they have beautifully preserved and painted pueblos like Tequila and San Cristobal de las Casas, and historic city centers such as Puebla and Oaxaca. Its a win-win. But I do think its highly underrated, and has a lot to offer those willing to give it a try. After four years of. After that, you need to apply for a permanent residency visa. Im glad I came across this article while exploring my mini retirement destination options. You obviously didnt head into the mountains in the center. I am taking a 2 week trip in February and have narrowed it down to Colombia or Mexico. And each Mexican state has its own regional culinary flare, giving you 32 different varieties of delicioso, from mole to machaca, to everything in between. But, again, Mexico is huge and very diverse, so generalizations are deceptive.. Almost always sunny, never too hot, never too cold, almost no pollution. Id argue that the higher class women in Medellin and Colombia in general absolutely blow away the high-class women from Mexico city and Mexico. Its one of a small handful of Latin American restaurants to make the list, along with Astrid & Gaston in Lima. I need to figure out how to get a visa to work, and get a job in those areas. Sign up below for advice from other Expats, opportunities, and professional advice. A one-year temporary card costs $4,413 MXN (around $220 USD), and a permanent residence card costs $5,379 MXN (around $270 USD). These include the convenience. I would obviously choose Colombia because people here are very nice we help everyone and we know how to dance not to mention how beautiful girls are over here! Perhaps the latter are more accessible because they generally speak fluent english and dating foreigners doesnt carry a stigma for them as it does in Medellin. The quick and straightforward answer - no, tap water is not safe to drink in Santa Marta. Be a scientific researcher in Mexican waters. However, If youre not from the US, you may want to update your phone contact with this critical number. I arrived in Puerto Vallarta, and traveled across the country, mostly by bus, to Cancun. The mountain towns in Puebla (central-south) have a cold rainy climate. You may be able to apply when you are already in Mexico, but only in specific cases, including families and spouses of residents. Nice to hear Oaxaca has a good climate. Id say this was a good assessment having lived in Mexico and traveled a lot to Colombia. 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