色花堂

What part of Colombia are you interested in?

What type of weather do you like, hot and muggy or cool and rainy?

Where do you want to live聽 big, meduim.or smalll city聽 pueblo or finca?

Near the sea or up in the mountains?

Do you speak Spanish? Do you have to llive nesr English speakng expats?.Whats your budget?

Need a lot聽 more info.to narrow.your search down a bit.

@Catfish27

Yes, it's always a good idea to visit for some weeks and "get a lay of the land" before making the permanent jump.

Questions:

1. How long will your initial/exploratory visit last?
2. Which cities and towns do you plan to visit?
3. What's your lifestyle... what do you do for work (if any), for fun, and for relaxation?
4. What's your monthly budget for overall cost of living (every expense minus unforeseen stuff)?
5. How's your Spanish (both input and output)?

Thanks for the responses. Here are a few details, followed by a possible "deal breaker";

-Visit will last probably a month.

-I have basic Spanish skills but plan to take courses in Colombia.

-I like the idea of a temperate climate, little need of air conditioning or heating.

-Probably mountains, but sea or even jungle if it ticks a lot of other boxes.

-I would like to be able to do without a car.

-My monthly budget would be about $2500 a month.

-I would need decent wi-fi.

-Small town, will consider city

Finally, a question that I fear might be a deal breaker.

I am currently dependent on a drug called Effexor for depression.聽 I would like to wean off the drug over the course of a year or two in Colombia, but I don't know if I can get the drug in Colombia.聽 I also fear that this situation might affect my ability to get a pensionado visa.

Thanks!

In Colombia the drug is called Efexor, just one "f" (generic name: venlafaxine).聽 You can get it almost anywhere, but you do need a prescription - any doctor would be happy to write you one, with an inexpensive office visit and payment in cash.聽 With the prescription you can buy it on-line as well as in brick-and-mortar pharmacies.

Do a search for

colombia efexor

Your medical treatment status should not affect your getting a pensionado visa in any way.

@Catfish27

Dont mention.anything about depression or drugs on the visa and get a Colombian doctor to give you聽 the health ok..dont let on you are depressive

You can get the drug here , but you would pay out of pocket.Pensionada visa cant go on EPS and anyway聽 it is reallly hard to get any drugs approved through EPS now with Petro screwing up the system, even more than before.

From your climate and budget discussion, EJE cafetera would probably be best choice ( Manizales, Pereira,Armenia)

But like the "trolls" on the other site ( yours truly being one of them). said, it would be highly recommended if you come down and travel for a few months on Airnb or other short term.rental聽 聽and stay in different cities before you decide to.move and where to.move.

Good luck

@OsageArcher

If I amnot mistaken they require a doctors聽 ok for physical and mental.health in Colombia

You can check the Cancilleria site to verify

He should do his medical.appointment in Colombia and not let on about the drug or depression and worry about that after he gets his visa

@Catfish27

-Visit will last probably a month.

Hmmm this is likely the "bare minimum". I suggest 3 months. Things move slowly here, much slower than us Developed Nation folks are accustomed to. You'll need a lot more time than 1 month.

-I have basic Spanish skills but plan to take courses in Colombia.

This is good, though I'd strongly suggest starting TODAY with self-directed learning using multiple methods (apps, podcasts, etc). Message me directly and I can tell you how I went from A0 to B1 of Spanish without yet hiring any tutors or enrolling in official courses (though I will need to do so in order to make that leap from B1 to B2 and higher). Basically, Spanish-language learning should be your 2nd job starting now 馃槄

-I like the idea of a temperate climate, little need of air conditioning or heating.

Like someone else said, you might like Medellin, despite the frequent rain and very high levels of gentrification. If you don't mind heat, then try Cali area. I personally don't like Medellin (rain is the least of my reasons, haha) but it is popular especially as an "initial soft-landing pad" - there are many foreigners there, and therefore lots of local businesses that know how to work with us.

-Probably mountains, but sea or even jungle if it ticks a lot of other boxes.

Consider Bogota (mountain area) but be aware that it's usually rainy AND cold (altitude). And it's an international city with many people from different parts of the world, so in general the people are "colder" (attitudes - think New York City). Lots of culture though (especially art and history), and a larger variety of international tasty cuisine than any other city/region. For sea life... your only real option is the Atlantic/North Coast (more on that later). I'd avoid jungle areas entirely, because of the risk of being caught up in narco/gang activity.

-I would like to be able to do without a car.

Uber and InDriver are popular with most expats and tourists. Most cities have lots of public bus transit as well, though the systems are often not self-explanatory, so you have to do some research and maybe a little trial and error. Depending on the neighborhood where you live/stay, you'll find most cities quite walkable (but not at night... please avoid this if possible).

-My monthly budget would be about $2500 a month.

You can live VERY well on that budget. Especially in Cali area. In Medellin, not so much. Wherever you go, try to haggle and pay LOCAL prices. Try not to overspend... locals can pick up on that very quickly and proceed to overcharge -or even rob - you at any opportunity. Especially in tourist-heavy places like Cartagena, or gentrified places like some parts of Medellin. I'm making life work for me in Barranquilla for about $2K/month

-I would need decent wi-fi.

Almost no AirBnB or hotel here lacks strong WiFi. Even if it might be intermittently down, you'll be OK. Even if you don't have WiFi, your local Tigo or Claro mobile plan will have more than enough data to tide you over. Usually about 18 GB a month, for about $10 (such numbers do NOT exist in the dUSA, haha)

-Small town, will consider city

Here is my list of broad generalizations regarding cities, based on MY experience. Quick self-description: middle-aged, single, nerdy, honest, zero-drama, low-budget, fairly fit Nigerian-American dual citizen software developer and Certified ESL tutor who isn't into dancing, drugs, or nightlife). By the way, if I sound somewhat negative in my descriptions below, PLEASE FORGIVE ME... my brain is damaged by long-term chronic depression and Complex Trauma (but I am working on it). Point is: Take my "report" with a huge grain of salt.

Interior: Bogota

Cold weather, cold people, a bit expensive. Lots of culture, art, political events, nerdy events, etc. Tons of traffic, more "cosmopolitan" and open-minded people. I've been there once, and I might consider visiting again. I found an AMAZING Indian restaurant, and I wanna go back.

Interior: Medellin

Gentrified to h3ll and back, tons of sex workers (higher quality, I heard), prominent criminal element, foreign sexpats, drug-seekers, and reckless "passport bros". Also lots of expat support, more English-speakers, broad-ish variety of cuisine. I visit once in a while, though I avoid the sex/party hotspots, and I keep my head on a swivel.

Atlantic/North Coast: Cartagena

Major tourist spot, and technically the most expensive city in the country, due to clueless/dollar-happy tourists flooding in and out, and the aggressive vendors who do their best to drain every single dollar possible. The beaches are the literal opposite of calm. It has a lot of history, and some culture. Great place to visit for a couple of days, enjoy the "tourist energy", and then leave.

Atlantic/North Coast: Barranquilla

This is considered "the smelly crappy armpit of Colombia". Basically nothing to do here but eat, dance, sleep around, and gossip. Few expats are here, and most of them are NOT nice nor supportive people. This is where single lonely expats come to die alone, or non-party/mature couples "retreat" to enjoy the fantastic (low) cost of living, quiet life, and absence of "Medellin nonsense". The locals are VERY close-minded and suspicious of foreigners. The dialect of Spanish spoken here - all over the north coast - is "Coste帽ol", and it's basically gibberish to the majority of Spanish language-learners AND most other Colombians! This city has fairly developed infrastructure, all things considered. Lots of good hospitals and schools. And compared to all the major cities of the country, Barranquilla is one of the most budget-friendly. If you like the north coast life, going between Cartagena and Santa Marta is just an inexpensive 2 hour bus ride in either direction.

Atlantic/North Coast: Santa Marta

I have visited this place just a few times. It's not as developed as Barranquilla, but it's great for tourists who are into water/beach-related activities. Cost of living is slightly higher than Barranquilla (due to the tourism).

Pacific/West Coast: Cali

I've visited and stayed in Cali many times, with my longest stay being 1 month. Their Spanish is not as easy to understand as that of Medellin or Bogota, but it's 10x better than getting your ears hellishly violated by the Coste帽ol dialect. There are more black and brown people in the Pacific/West coast of the country, which makes it socially safer/better for folks like me. The cost of living is comparable to Barranquilla. I plan to move to Cali or Palmira before May of 2025.

Pacific/West Coast: Palmira

This small town just is northeast of Cali, and is very close to the airport. I liked my 2-week stay there. It's definitely not as expensive as Cali (which itself isn't too expensive either), but it's fairly developed, and I can probably buy/build property there in an affordable yet SAFE neighborhood.

I imagine that you'll want to "base" in a major city, travel around to a few others, explore smaller towns, so that you can make a better decision later when you do decide to move permanently. That's why I suggested that 3 months not just 1.

As far as Effexor... all the cities and towns have pharmacies all over the dang place, LOL! Chances are you can find what you need. In fact, I just did a search on Rappi (the most popular delivery app here), and yes multiple pharmacies carry Efexor (I couldn't attach the screenshot, but if you DM me I can show you). You can get it delivered, no prescription, expensive doctor visits, or other red-tape BS required. Or just walk over to a nearby pharmacy to buy it yourself. Here is a link to some pharmacies selling Efexor via Rappi:

Like I said, feel free to message me privately, I'll be happy to share my Colombia travel/lifestyle/expat journal with you.

Cheers!

PS: since I too suffer from crippling chronic depression, I might try Efexor too! What side-effects do you have while using it?

to add to ChineduOpara's excellent post, you might try Manizales or Armenia:聽 Smaller cities in the coffee region.

As previously stated.聽 One month is not sufficient to get to know Colombia.聽 Its highly recommended to stay in one city for 1 month, then move to another for 1 month, then another for 1 month.聽 Or...even move around one larger city for several months.

Whatever you decide: Rent, don't buy...even if you think you will be here long term.

Thanks, everybody, for the detailed input.聽 Still going through it.聽 The coffee district sounds and looks good (based also on YouTube videos).

Regarding Effexor, I don't recommend it, as it is possibly the hardest drug in the world to stop taking -- at least after long-term use.聽 My plan is to get off the drug slowly but surely, ideally with help from native plant medicines, etc.

Psilocybin mushrooms work wonders for depression -- check out the online work of Paul Stamets, tho' as far as I know, it's only legal in parts of Mexico and I do not have sufficient income to get a long-term visa there.

I'll post further shortly when I get a little more time.

My experience is you can get any drug youcwant in Colombia withoutxa prescription.

Dont know about anti depresants

@ChineduOpara

My partner and I聽 are planning to move to Medellin as soon as he sells his house and our cars, hopefully by May. I REALLY appreciate all the info you have provided, and it corresponds to our impressions, just based on what we have been able to glean from the internet. We did visit Medellin for ten days recently and believe this will be the best place for us , at least to start. We are adventurous and are making this move with the understanding that we may need to change direction if things don鈥檛 quite work out as planned. We have sufficient resources to live in a luxury apartment- A/C is a necessity!

Thanks again for your willingness to help other expats!

Jim

@ChineduOpara
My partner and I are planning to move to Medellin as soon as he sells his house and our cars, hopefully by May. I REALLY appreciate all the info you have provided, and it corresponds to our impressions, just based on what we have been able to glean from the internet. We did visit Medellin for ten days recently and believe this will be the best place for us , at least to start. We are adventurous and are making this move with the understanding that we may need to change direction if things don鈥檛 quite work out as planned. We have sufficient resources to live in a luxury apartment- A/C is a necessity!
Thanks again for your willingness to help other expats!
Jim - @plzdnr

I am so glad you found the information useful! Sounds like you picked a good "landing spot" for you and your partner. Try to stay in a place that's NOT in El Poblado ("gringo bubble") 馃槅 so that you can get more exposure with the real Colombian culture. I hope you guys visit smaller towns too

And most of all, I hope you guys stay safe, healthy, productive, and blessed in your new phase of life. Cheers! 馃憤馃徑

First forgive me as it's not my intent to hijack this great conversation but just had to add my perspective/experience/thoughts of life in Colombia as an expat (born and raised in Los Angeles, California) but first my hat's off to ChineduOpara on his summary he posted on November 22, 2024!

Suggest that Jim reads this post again and again and let it marinate as it is so spot on in every detail that it is something I could have written and coming from myself who has been exploring everywhere in Colombia since my first 5 month extended visit/stay in Bogota starting in November 1990 so 35 years now exploring every city and seaside village and pueblo and park in Colombia, with 15 years exploring Medellin/Antioquia and 10 years living full time in a small pueblo on the extreme north end of the Aburra valley of Medellin, again I am humbled by ChineduOpara general summary of Colombia and it's cities/regions and culture/history and nuances.

To reinforce what has already been said and implied here are my bullet points of what makes for a successful and content expat in Colombia:

1. Rent for the first few years, never buy on impulse. It took me years to understand the various regions, my desired lifestyle, the different cultures of Paisa/Costenos/Calienos/Rolos/etc. and finally after years found an apartment under construction in a small pueblo far away from the hustle/crime/pretentiousness/drug & sex scene/bars and noise party scene all too prevalent in many neighborhoods of Medellin including Poblado. I purchased off of plan/under construction 8 years ago and over these past 10 years have developed local paisa friends that enhance my life exponentially.
2. Learn as much Spanish as you can, be humble, smile, dress and act unpretentious, show kindness and you will be rewarded in wheel barrows full of friendliness and authentic respect by Colombians, no not in Poblado but in the pueblos. After 8 years in my apartment I can't barely take 15 steps outside my apartment without 4 or 5 greetings from my neighbors, when I return drive into my peublo coming back from an afternoon of shopping in Medellin I must stop at the corner and talk and laugh with my Colombian friends, it's incredible.
3. I can't comment on depression as I have been blessed with good overall health and mental stability, despite major trauma in my life, but can say that I now eat healthy, exercise daily, no sodas or processed food of any sort, the result is that over the past 10 years I have gone from a stressful career mess of a guy who was 295 lbs to now 220 lbs, travel often, next to zero stress, live a very modest and humble life, what a contrast to what I was and had in my professional life in Newport Beach CA just a decade ago, heck my own mother doesn't recognize me as I am centered, calm, peaceful and for the first time really enjoy my life.
4. I have owned business, fincas, motorcycles, cars here in Medellin in the past 15 years and now scaled back in the past about 8 years to myself solo in my paid for apartment, motorcycle, car, etc. I have zero debt and live very modestly. As an example I can and do live on what my brother pays for his one car lease payment back in Los Angeles (AUDI with lease/gas/insurance/depreciation), let that sink in.
5. To Jim - A/C is not needed here in Medellin unless the purpose is to reduce noise (again choose very carefully where you live) or provide some air circulation to reduce air pollution which can be an issue depending on just where you decide to call home. I have intimate knowledge of know every barrio/municipality/pueblo in the complete Aburra valley of Medellin and can say that over the course of a year there are about 10 days in a year where I think "wow would be nice to have an air conditioner in my apartment today". Also will depend on the type of building construction and it's orientation N-S-E-W.

Hope my somewhat random comments and thoughts/suggestions/experiences you will find useful to you on your journey.

@South American Voyager

Thanks for the support! Your post reinforced my belief that I'll probably do better in a small pueblo, away from the locura. I hope to achieve this when I get to Cali/Palmira area later this year. Though, I haven't taken "Medellin outskirts" (Girardota, for instance) off the table completely. I know at least one US expat who lives there happily with his bilingual Colombian wife, and they built a VERY nice house together. Wherever I go, I hope to build something - or heavily remodel an existing building - because that seems to be literally the only way I'll be able to get a reasonably-designed place.

My biggest challenge ahead of all that, is actually my immigration status. I still don't feel comfortable investing the $70K or so required to buy & build, without having an M visa. My only real options are the Marriage Visa, or the Business Owner visa... both of which are fraught with their own challenges (though the former - marriage - is obviously quite riskier than the latter 馃槃). I'll have to figure something out soon, because I can't keep being on Digital Nomad visas... it's not cost-effective, and in fact when I apply for my 3rd one, I might get denied, based on what I am seeing and hearing from others and the government/migration.

Anyway... thanks again, and remain blessed. Cheers!

@Catfish27

Hola, Brian. Are you already in Colombia. If so, which city are you living in?