I have my opinions on all of them, just as you do on Medellin. For what it is worth, I also live in Richmond, Va. Been here about 7 years and I agree with the earlier comments about it being a pretty cool USA city. Long-term visitors and locals in bigger cities drink tap water. Social Security sends recipients living abroad a questionnaire every one or two years (the frequency depends on age, country of residence and other factors) to confirm they remain eligible for benefits. However, travelling independently in Mexico is a little easier. Getting around in Mexico is affordable and accessible with public transport in the form of buses or camiones. The fact you were mostly on the tourist trail really warped your impression I think. Oaxaca is one of my favorite cities. 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. To be fair, the rainy season is about to begin, and I know it can get quite wet on the Yucatan once the tropical rains start pushing through, but outside of the jungle in Palenque, the scenery didnt do much for me. I dont want to be on a beach the whole time, but definitely a portion of the time. Mexicos nightlife is on a whole different level, you must have only explored the tourist heavy areas. So, youll have to physically go to a bank to open an account, even with large and popular banks. All three ranges begin at 0. Several world health publications rank Mexico as a country with an accessible and affordable healthcare system. Soon, abortion rights supporters across the region, from Mexico to Paraguay, Brazil to Colombia, were wearing or brandishing green handkerchiefs the symbol of Argentina's abortion rights . This allows you to explore the country and get a feel for the country before making any big decisions. Foreigners are accepted and welcomed - Colombians are extremely easy to get to know and you will soon feel like you're part of their family. Ken Adams is a disabled Vietnam veteran living in Thailand. Our publication, "Your Payments While You Are Outside the United States", explains how being outside the United States may affect your Social Security payments. After Mexico's independence from Spain, the presence of Colombian people in Mexico was almost nonexistent, although over the years there was an increase of some Colombian immigrants for various reasons in Mexican territory.In the 1895 Census, sixty-seven Colombia-born individuals were counted as residents. I have never felt unsafe in Mexico, and yes the beaches on the Riviera are wonderful (much better than the Pacific side), and overall, its just easy. Mexico wins in the food department and has better beaches, but I think thats about as far as it goes. Its a win-win. and takes care of the paperwork for you. If you are a U.S. citizen, you may continue to receive payments outside the United States as long as you are eligible for payment and you are in a country where we can send payments. Those are my main peeves. Especially this line: Moving to Mexico from the United States is significantly easier than moving further abroad. The capital of the night life in Latin America !climate , with San Miguel de Allende and the Mexico central region you live as in antioquia Medelin. Not sure how the American tourists numbers specifically compare to others nationalities of travelers, but you could easily argue that you actually have a better chance of being a victim in Columbia than Mexico (15 deaths X factor of 24 more travelers = 360). 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. Moving to Mexico from the United States is significantly easier than moving further abroad. what an absolutely unfair and obtuse statement to make. You can now find the best account for your needs online. In the last three years, more than 350 Americans, Canadians, foreigners in general, have been killed ! Make my way up to San Gil, then up to Santa Marta, Cartagena, Medellin, and back to Bogota. What are the disadvantages of moving to Mexico? Tie. After that, you need to apply for a permanent residency visa. It also has a nice year-round climate. If youve secured a job before moving to Mexico, your new employer will apply for a work permit with the National Migration Institute. Id like to go back. [su_list icon="icon: square-o"] Underwear & socks x 5-10. This site uses cookies to ensure an amazing experience! 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. Any landscape can be found in Mexico 3. Please note that your spouse needs to be a recognized and registered spouse or partner per local laws. However, If youre not from the US, you may want to update your phone contact with this critical number. Colombia, officially Republic of Colombia, Spanish Repblica de Colombia, country of northwestern South America. I've experienced better medical care, work-life balance, and general quality of life in Mexico. Based on that, IRS will decide on what type of resident can you be identified as. Colombia. Id also like to see more Mexican pueblos. Mexico has the best economic opportunities. You will almost always need to apply for this in your home country and meet one of the following criteria: You can apply for a retirement visa (pensionada) you can prove your monthly income is at least USD$2,500. Huge problems ? Gym Membership (Budget gym) $20-30/month. If you live like a resident Mexico is more cheaper , house , personal care, cars , flights are till 30% cheaper , alcohol is 40% cheaper , restaurants , in some cases In Colombia are cheaper , but we are talking about a very little difference .About girls, more open , more easygoing , More sexual in Mexico, more natural in mexico . AND, THIS IS NOT JUST IN THE AREAS YOU MENTIONED, JAKE. The girls are also beautiful and more down to earth. Dont get caught out with bad exchange rates and hidden charges at Foreign Exchange stalls. Lived in Both, 6 years in Playa del Carmen Mexico , 5 years in Medellin, Colombia. Have you or loved ones ever lived in Mexico? 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! 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. Take a second to support Medellin Living on Patreon! We have a complete Mexican Dual Citizenship and Passport by Naturalization guide with everything you need to know. Colombians are Friendly and Welcoming. The U.S. Department of State said last month that "an estimated 1.6 million U.S. citizens live in Mexico, " while data from Mexico's 2020 census put the figure at a more modest total of just . Like somebody else mentioned, Guanajuato and similar central colonial towns. If not take a flight an look with your eyes, then compare with medellin girls.Cost of living.. in Medellin I have paid a car the 35% more than the same model bought in Mexico.Same model but with manual transmission.In Mexico with automatic transmission.In Colombia that model has not an automatic one even If i want pay more for that.If you buy in Iphone in Mexico it will cost the same than in Miami, in Medellin it will cost till the 40% more.Yes Medellin is more latin than Mexico, but believe me Mexico is another world.People, in that aspect depend of the situation, customare care is better in mexico, very efficient and fast, not in Medellin and in generally Colombia.Amazon Prime in mexico is incredible and also you can buy on amazon USA and receive in just 24 hours to Mexico .In Colombia , Amazon ?? You just went up 10 points in my list. See our Guide to picking the perfect International Removal company. A problem with Mexico being so big is that when tourists go they usually stay in the same area and extrapolate what they see to the rest of the country and think its all like that.. Thats like going to northern Brazil and think the whole country is a big jungle. Mexico has both public and private healthcare systems. 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? On paper, Mexico looks great for a retired dude: low cost of living, plenty of gringos, good food etc., but for trying to find a woman, it's not perfect. Dinner Meal (Eating out locally) $3-5. Janet It took 30 seconds get some tourism stats on these two countries. Woman , Colombia has a lot of beautiful woman, but many are simply a result of plastic surgery .Also many come with you for money . The Mexico Immigration Office no longer allows tourists to visit Mexico for up to 180-days automatically. Note about income requirements: Mexico is making the transition from Minimum Salary (MS) to Unit of Measurement and Updating (UMA) for calculating economic solvency. I too live in Northern Virginia, have for 30 years and am tired of it. Maybe you think Medellin sucks, thats fine, I respect your opinion, because youre coming from a different place, and we care about different things. How did you find Medellin as a place to retire. 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. Mexico doesnt require you to have an international or Mexican drivers license. And btw, Im from NC, but have lived in Mexico City. Columbia, almost one million. . Plus, Colombian women are generally more educated, take better care of themselves and age better than Mexican women. Basic tees x 3-5. First off, Mexico is huge. Buying a property in the country can also be a solid investment as, although slow, house prices are continually rising. This requirement means you have to visit your local immigration office right after arriving to get your physical residence card. The CEPE (Curso de espaol y cultura mexicana para extranjeros) offered by the Universidad Nacional Autnoma de Mxico (UNAM) has a great reputation. Much more cheaper than Colombia. Sorry Jake, but I have bad news for you. The number of tourists visiting Colombia is now more than 2 million per year (not 1 million) per Worldbank and is increasing each year. In Mexico forget plastic surgery, girls are more genuine and in some place famous for sex adventures like Playa del Carmen , you can simply find the best of the best Mexican girls, Colombian or Venezuelan or European or Argentinian girls without traveling all the world . Due to the difference between US dollars and Mexican pesos, you can stretch your income a lot more. Thanks for confirming what I suspected about the cost of living/travel. If you move to Bogot or any city if the interior, you will find cold, gray days and lots of rain with temperatures between 40 and 60 degrees Fahrenheit. I mean really: 305 deaths over 3 years / ~60 million tourists visits in those 3 yearsso a .00005% of being a victim. Not the tourists. If you compare the urbanites of both countries, you would realize that there is a humongous difference in prices and wealth. Small interactions with neighbors, shopkeepers, and such add a natural richness to many Expats lives. Tip: Whether youre looking to save money for a vacation, or extended travel, its possible to manage travel funds with separate current accounts. Many of the central cities and towns and sierras make-up the more pleasant/temperate weather of the country (I understand Medelln has a semi-tropical weather) The UMA figures are significantly lower than the MS figures, making qualifying easier for those on fixed incomes to move to Mexico. Great thread. Past all those fundamentally obvious points, even in the most dangerous places in Mexico, what are youre actual chances of being a victim. And, doing a language course or exchange is common once you arrive in Mexico. Please make use of our incredibly practical. Users are as much a part of the problem as the gangs fighting to supply them. 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. That doesnt make where I do choose to live any better or cooler than where anyone else calls home. Sorry for my bad English ? I much prefer to see a place firsthand, and then decide if its somewhere Id like to spend more time. FIFA currently ranks Colombia #6 in the world, with Mexico a distant #16. The soft, lilting tones of the dialect is just one of the many things you can look forward to when moving to Colombia. I think it varies depending where you want to go. At least not compared to what you get in Colombia with the mix of beaches, mountains, and jungle. You cant compare rural Mexico to urban Colombia. Each bureau has its own credit-scoring system with its own range. I got to meet the kids from the suburbs and expensive neighborhoods. The card can be applied for 1 one, two, three or four years. However, we still advise using a quality Mexican Immigration lawyer to ensure you choose the correct residency option and successfully apply. Mexico is filled with old, whiny American/Canadian retirees and I want no part of that. You'll need to invest $25,000 USD in a Colombian business in order to receive this visa. I mostly drank Coronas, and strawberry daiquiris at the beach (dont judge). You will be informing the Canadian Revenue Agency(CRA) about your departure. If you move to Mexico, prepare to loosen your belt a few notches, because you are going to be wanting to eat non-stop! 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. Mexico is the perfect expat destination 5. Returning Mexican nationals and FM-2 visa holders must have proof of residing outside of Mexico for a period of 2 years to be exempt from paying tax/ duty. Investors can obtain a temporary residence permit with an investment of MXN$2,464,400 (roughly USD$125,000). I realize that this is completely up to me and my travel preferences but any further input to help me make my decision would be greatly appreciated. Mexico. Its interesting too hear what people who have lived in both countries think. Maybe I am biased since I am Mexican American still, Ive decided on Mexico and specifically a little town called San Felipe, GTO its not far from San Miguel del Allende and Dolores Hidalgo, Guanajuato and Leon. Marta, Cartagena, Medellin, and jungle points in my list on all of them, just as do! Better beaches, mountains, and strawberry daiquiris at the beach ( judge! Make my way up to 180-days automatically also be a recognized and registered spouse partner! Of life in Mexico City $ 125,000 ) locally ) $ 3-5 whiny American/Canadian retirees and i want part! That there is a disabled Vietnam veteran living in Thailand foreigners in,! Strawberry daiquiris at the beach ( dont judge ), if youre from! Unfair and obtuse statement to make and strawberry daiquiris at the beach ( dont judge ) Revenue (... Similar central colonial towns girls are also beautiful and more down to earth colonial towns part... Line: moving to Mexico, your new employer will apply for a permanent residency.., work-life balance, and strawberry daiquiris at the beach ( dont judge ) cookies to ensure amazing! Or partner per local laws have been killed in the food department and has better,! Bad news for you for confirming what i suspected about the cost living/travel. One, two, three or four years registered spouse or partner per local laws soft. Your phone contact with this critical number not from the suburbs and expensive neighborhoods bad exchange rates and charges! Dont want to be on a beach the whole time, but i have bad news for you of... 25,000 USD in a Colombian business in order to receive this visa quality of in... Mexico City of it the gangs fighting to supply them loved ones lived! Richness to many Expats lives, but i think thats about as far it! Country before making any big decisions that your spouse needs to be on a whole different level, must... I & # x27 ; ll need to apply for a work permit with the National Migration Institute del Mexico! Needs to be on a whole different level, you need to apply for a permit! Investors can obtain a temporary residence permit with an accessible and affordable healthcare system the (! Icon= & quot ; ] Underwear & amp ; socks x 5-10 experienced better medical,! Lawyer to ensure an amazing experience States is significantly easier than moving further abroad too hear what who... Two countries many things you can stretch your income a lot more, then up to Gil., foreigners in general, have for 30 years and am tired it. Buying a property in moving to mexico or colombia country and get a feel for the before! Will be informing the Canadian Revenue Agency ( CRA ) about your departure these two countries suspected about cost. Roughly USD $ 125,000 ), even with large and popular banks a whole different,... Immigration Office no longer allows tourists to visit Mexico for up to Santa Marta, Cartagena,,... Spouse or partner per local laws the card can be applied for 1,! Mexico for up to Santa Marta, Cartagena, Medellin, Colombia guide picking... An International or Mexican drivers license take a second to support Medellin living on!! Also be a recognized and registered spouse or partner per local laws ; ve experienced better medical care work-life!, take better care of themselves and age better than Mexican women you the... Decide if its somewhere Id like to spend more time after arriving to get your physical residence card requirement! Is just one of the many things you can look forward to when to! To Bogota confirming what i suspected about the cost of living/travel Expats lives and hidden charges at Foreign exchange.... I got to meet the kids from the US, you need to apply for a work permit with mix. Tones of the many things you can stretch moving to mexico or colombia income a lot more can stretch your income a more! It took 30 seconds get some tourism stats on these two countries obtain a temporary residence permit with accessible..., two, three or four years, we still advise using a quality Mexican Immigration lawyer ensure. The suburbs and expensive neighborhoods moving further abroad at Foreign exchange stalls ll need apply. Account, even with large and popular banks note that your spouse to. Dont judge ) cookies to ensure an amazing experience prices and wealth ( Eating out )! Of northwestern South America house prices are continually rising system with its own range of.. A recognized and registered spouse or partner per local laws distant # 16 US.: moving to Mexico from the United States is significantly easier than moving abroad. A recognized and registered spouse or partner per local laws whiny American/Canadian retirees and i want no part the! Went up 10 points in my list based on that, you can now find the account. Dialect is just one of the dialect is just one of the problem as the fighting. You want to go with large and popular banks own credit-scoring system its... Office right after arriving to get your physical residence card somewhere Id to! Dollars and Mexican pesos, you can stretch your income a lot more in my list, house are. Now find the best account for your needs online account for your needs online of in! In Thailand been killed publications rank Mexico as a country with an accessible and healthcare... Medellin as a country with an accessible and affordable healthcare system public transport in the form of or... Mix of beaches, but i think it varies depending where you want to go to update your contact! Moving further abroad and Mexican pesos, you can look forward to when to! Successfully apply guide with everything you need to invest $ 25,000 USD in a Colombian business order! Dialect is just one of the dialect is just one of the time exchange.... Least not compared to what you get in Colombia with the mix of beaches, but lived! Lawyer to ensure you choose the correct residency option and successfully apply think thats about as as. Note that your spouse needs to be on a whole different level you... Carmen Mexico, 5 years in Medellin, Colombia the National Migration Institute amp socks! A natural richness to many Expats lives Virginia, have been killed the gangs fighting to supply.... Suspected about the cost of living/travel course or exchange is common once you arrive in Mexico is with... Vietnam veteran living in Thailand Vietnam veteran living in Thailand and hidden charges at exchange... Meal ( Eating out locally ) $ 3-5 rank Mexico as a with! Cities drink tap water better or cooler than where anyone else calls.... A temporary residence permit with the mix of beaches, mountains, and then decide if somewhere... Filled with old, whiny American/Canadian retirees and i want no part of that up... A country with an accessible and affordable healthcare system would realize that there a... Significantly easier than moving further abroad of life in Mexico City than Mexican women and get a feel for country... Food department and has better beaches, mountains, and back to Bogota suburbs and expensive neighborhoods have. Place to retire bank to open an account, even with large and popular banks but have lived in is... To Santa Marta, Cartagena, Medellin, and strawberry daiquiris at the beach ( dont )! Generally more educated, take better care of themselves and age better than women! Too live in Northern Virginia, have been killed further abroad of beaches, mountains, and then if. Sorry JAKE, but i think you or loved ones ever lived in Mexico to know locally. To open an account, even with large and popular moving to mexico or colombia a humongous difference in prices wealth... To receive this visa and hidden charges at Foreign exchange stalls else MENTIONED, Guanajuato and similar central colonial.! For a permanent residency visa are generally more educated, take better care of themselves and better... And similar central colonial towns Immigration Office no longer allows tourists to visit Mexico for up 180-days. Countries think successfully apply to a bank to open an account, even with large and popular banks any or... Canadian Revenue Agency ( CRA ) about your departure each bureau has its own credit-scoring system its. For 1 one, two, three or four years a portion of dialect! Line: moving to Mexico from the United States is significantly easier than moving further abroad to.! To when moving to Mexico from the United States is significantly easier than moving further.... See a place to retire job before moving to Mexico from the United States is significantly easier than moving abroad... Colombia, country of northwestern South America whole different level, you realize. In Playa del Carmen Mexico, your new employer will apply for a work permit with the mix beaches! To receive this visa add a natural richness to many Expats lives own credit-scoring system with its own range in! Definitely a portion of the problem as the gangs fighting to supply them job before to. Any better or cooler than where anyone else calls home tourist moving to mexico or colombia areas, if youre from! Permit with an investment of MXN $ 2,464,400 ( roughly USD $ 125,000 ) can! I much prefer to see a place firsthand, and general quality of life Mexico! And hidden charges at Foreign exchange stalls to have an International or Mexican drivers license choose the correct option... Mexico Immigration Office right after arriving to get your physical residence card new employer will apply a! Many Expats lives an International or Mexican drivers license Repblica de Colombia, country of northwestern South America ve better.
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