Though the food is honestly amazing in Mexico, I unfortunately did find the overall quality of the produce to be lacking somewhat. Central Oaxaca is another potential place I could see myself living in Mexico. Its really sad whats happening there, for the Mexicans as well as the foreigners. Why limit yourself? Check out some of the common figures for cost of living that you can expect when moving to Medellin: Apartment (Studio-One Bedroom) $400-700/month. Mexico is more safe and organized Americans moving to Mexico will find the low cost of living to be a significant benefit. Despite not being local styles, Salsa, Cumbia and other Caribbean styles are mad popular in Mexico. Note about income requirements: Mexico is making the transition from Minimum Salary (MS) to Unit of Measurement and Updating (UMA) for calculating economic solvency. Dont worry here is the complete guide on How to Move to Mexico. admiration right there. Forbes ranks virginia as a great state to own a business..thus why I have 7,000,000 in the bank! Collectible items, such as pens and coins. And getting your paperwork sorted is the next essential step. Overall Id say Mexico is FAR cheaper than Colombia in almost every respect. Oaxaca is one of my favorite cities. Tip: Much of Mexico is still a largely cash-based culture. That said, the process of opening an account can be reasonably straightforward compared with other countries. FIFA currently ranks Colombia #6 in the world, with Mexico a distant #16. Moving to or from Mexico? Like the story? to our own homes, in our upscale neighborhoods. I think the fact that you only know Mexico as a tourist really warped your perceptions of it. At least not compared to what you get in Colombia with the mix of beaches, mountains, and jungle. One night I gave my phone to a bar manager to hook up to the sound system so I could give an impromptu salsa lesson. For information on finding work, healthcare, or schooling, read our guide to Living in Mexico. You qualify for benefits based on your earnings and are a citizen of a broader set of countries including Mexico, Turkey, Costa Rica, and Jamaica. 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 ? If I went to Mexico I would probably fly into Mexico City and out of Cancun taking the gringo trail to get there. Ive been living in Mexico for more than 7 years. The mountain towns in Puebla (central-south) have a cold rainy climate. Its one of a small handful of Latin American restaurants to make the list, along with Astrid & Gaston in Lima. San miguel de allende etc. Colombia is a far more interesting country to me. Mexico. Lol. Tie. You wont be able to use credit cards in many places, so it is worth carrying some cash at all times. Batteries. I got to meet the kids from the suburbs and expensive neighborhoods. The switch is not yet complete, which means youll find some consulates using MS and others using UMA. 71-75 Shelton Street, Covent Garden, He's travelled and worked in more than 50 countries so far. In my time spent in living in various cities framed by the azure waters of the Mayan Rivera, as well as my travels all over the country, I encountered many things that stood out to me, for better or for worse, that I thought definitely gave me a great overall view of what life as an American expat is really like south of the border. Driving would take too long and we suspect it's not safe going through Central America with a loaded trailer. Mexico has both public and private healthcare systems. You cant compare rural Mexico to urban Colombia. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website. 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. FIFA currently ranks Colombia #6 in the world, with Mexico a distant #16. a) avoid panic b) Not to scare tourists away. Guide to picking the perfect International Removal company, Click here to get a quote from our recommended Expat Health insurance providers, Non-Lucrative Visa Spain >> Easy 2023 Guide, Spain Digital Nomad Visa >> New 2023 Guide, US Expat Taxes Guide How to make it easier, Healthcare in Spain >> Public & Private Care Guide. Actually living in Playa del Carmen, State of Quintana Roo. It's dry and hardly rains at all during these months. 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. But I'm not a diver, so that's not a draw for me. To make the best of both worlds I think having a Colombia wife or GF and living in Mexico would be the best of all combinations or opening a legit Mexican restaurant in Colombia. And, in emergencies, you fare better if you can understand what is going on. I spent a week in Guadalajara a few years ago nooooo problems. Like somebody else mentioned, Guanajuato and similar central colonial towns. Blank CDs, DVDs and tapes. 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. I encourage you to visit again and visit more places than the typical tourist hot spots. I didnt talk to many (any) Mexican girls, let alone go on dates, but from looks alone, I have to give this category to Colombia. Though the literacy rate is 92%, the average Mexican does not advance beyond the 6th grade. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. Great to see you here, and youre right, Im not familiar with Guanajuato or San Miguel. Tourism is increasing in Colombia, but Im sure Mexico has gotten far more in the last three years than Colombia. Even worse, much of the drug demand is coming from the USA. I think the people who believe Colombia is more expensive have only been to the North Caribbean coast (i.e., Cartagena, Santa Marta), which is quite expensive. This of course leads to all the good and bad that comes with that, from seedy hustlers and belligerent salespeople in certain areas of Playa Del Carmen and Cancun, as well as an increase in prices in the most popular locales. Moving to Mexico from the USA. After that, its hurricane season and it rains a lot, and sounds like a depressing place to be since it clears out of tourists. Lastly, soccer isnt the only sport, for instance Mexico is world class in boxing and has produce more world champions than any other country. Before you start the process, you will need to know the following: The type of animal traveling The destination country The date of departure from the United States Whether the pet will be traveling alone, as cargo, or with a person in the cabin of the plane. Ive made lots of Mexican trips, only one to Colombia. Any landscape can be found in Mexico 3. Colombia seems like a great place with a lot to see, but comparing it to Mexico would be like comparing the Ukraine with Russia. Its a win-win. Gym Membership (Budget gym) $20-30/month. Be a scientific researcher in Mexican waters. Sohaving said that, visit southern Mexico city and neighborhoods like La Condesa, Pedregal, Lomas de Chapultepec, Perisur, Satelite, Bosques de Echegaray, etc The nightlife there is cooler and hotter (at the same time) and more fun and with more hot girls than anywhere ive ever experienced in the US. Using a quality Mexican Immigration lawyer will improve your chances of a successful application and save you time and effort. Save. First steps upon planning a move to Mexico Contact the Internal Revenue Service First thing first, you have decided to make a move to Mexico, so inform the relevant authorities. Basic tees x 3-5. While the public sector provides comprehensive geographical cover, the quality of service is not as good as the private sector. Its the same in Medellin. If you are a Chile, Colombia, or Peru citizen, you may be eligible for the Pacific Alliance Working Holiday Visa in Mexico. Makes sense! 3. 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). Submit your porting request through the OpenPhone app. After getting a taste of the lifestyle in Mexico, many Expats apply for residency along with a retirement visa. Id also like to see more Mexican pueblos. I mean really: 305 deaths over 3 years / ~60 million tourists visits in those 3 yearsso a .00005% of being a victim. Colombia. 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 . Mexico is much larger, much closer to US/Canada and Europe and has a much more dynamic economy. Narco violence in Mexico is devastating ! You want to meet the hot girls, hang out with the right people. Dave is the Founder of Medellin Living and author of the. Mexico is huge, and the climate, economy, and residents vary by region and by city. Im in Portugal, I have all of that but its time to head home. Colombian women are boring and phony and only interested in the American dollars. Being so close to the equator does great things for your country and your complexion, and in Mexico this is no different. And while it is extremely unlikely to ever affect tourists, as most of the cartel violence happens usually far away from where the tourists and expats live, it hasnt been unheard of for foreigners to be occasionally caught up in the mix, as some shootings in Playa Del Carmen nightclubs, or on the once hallowed beaches of Acapulco would tell you. These cookies do not store any personal information. This limit is per person, so if you are a couple, you can import up to 4 pets. You can learn Spanish on the go 6. Both Mexico and Colombia are manageable to get around, particularly when travelling between major cities. If they want to quiet things down to decrease attention from the cops, they do. 3 Some other posts you might enjoy reading: In this post, you will learn how to move to Mexico and what are 8 important things you should know if you're planning to settle down in one of beautiful Mexican cities. 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. I ate an amazing meal at Pujol, a restaurant in Mexico City recently ranked #17 in the world. Based on my experience, April/May is ideal. Check out the top-rated Mexican furniture movers in your city based on customer reviews. Or, you can show investment or bank accounts with an average monthly balance equivalent to USD$145,000 for twelve months. Metro One-Way Ticket. I heard less salsa and reggaeton in Mexico as well, though it could be a different story in the non-touristy bars and clubs. Think morning air smog over Mexico City, that at times can become hazardous to ones health, or the lackluster view on trash collection in some parts, where it isnt uncommon to see random bits of garbage lying around in the streets. Wil yes, theyre two different types of cities, and I imagine, living experiences. What Are the Best Places To Live in Mexico? 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. Weve looked at quality Expat health insurance companies that cover Mexico and have picked two excellent companies. 1. You will be informing the Internal Revenue Service(IRS) about your departure. Have lived 4 consecutive years under a temporary residence permit. Especially this line: Nightlife , Cancun , Mexicos city The overwhelming majority of Social Security recipients abroad get their benefits . Of course you can find cheaper places in Colombia as well, but I havent found a beach town Ive liked at first glance as much as Sayulita (north of Puerto Vallarta on the Pacific coast), or Playa del Carmen. Mexico has several sierras (mountain chains) and is forest in the center parts. 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. For U.S. citizens living abroad, referred to as expatriates or expats, maintaining checking and other bank accounts in the United States provides several advantages. Living in Mexico as an American, you can get a higher quality of life at a fraction of the cost. 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. You are permitted to import two pets (cats, dogs, or a cat and dog) into Mexico. I was eating at a lot of tourist-oriented restaurants, especially on the Yucatan. If you are planning a move to Colombia, here are 12 tips for moving to Colombia from expats living in Colombia. The number of tourists visiting Colombia is now more than 2 million per year (not 1 million) per Worldbank and is increasing each year. Leggings x 2. That doesnt make where I do choose to live any better or cooler than where anyone else calls home. I live in a small town one hour away from the capital of Bogot, its mainly mountains where I live, Colombia has alot of wildness alot of trees you definitly see alot of green over here, we have hot weather, cold(where I live) if you go to villavicencio its very hot and its very straight there is no mountains so there is alot going on over here! Sign up below for advice from other Expats, opportunities, and professional advice. Places not considered as points of travel in this blog and light years in opposite directions to places like playa or cabo. In the last three years, more than 350 Americans, Canadians, foreigners in general, have been killed ! No need to search for an immigration lawyer you can trust >>we have done the research for you. 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. 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! The card can be applied for 1 one, two, three or four years. I love both countries but I have to choose one for education. It saddens me that this beautiful paradise has now come to this . You will even find famous supermarket chains like Walmart, Home Depot, and Costco in the country. Apps like Duolingo and online platforms like iTalki can help you get started with your Spanish lessons before you move to Mexico. There's an active nightlife scene, a thriving Black expat community, and it's also an affordable option for expats. For this type of trip, you can enter on a tourist visa called the Mexico visitors permit. 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. It's an exciting city that offers a lot to do. (Even reggaeton, actually) I suppose that partying in only tourist resorts is very different. 1. $0.67/one-way ticket. And as you point out, women and nightlife are also much better in Colombia. In 2013, Mexico was visited by ~24 million tourists. In addition, Colombia has an affordable and reliable bus system though the best way to navigate around any big city is on foot. And btw, Im from NC, but have lived in Mexico City. Sitges link Vivanuncios, Segundo Mano, or Mercado Libre, and Inmuebles24 all have list properties to buy and rent. First off, Mexico is huge. Before moving to Mexico, bear in mind that this is not a country where banking is easy. ), Have shares in a Mexican company of at least MXN$2,834,000 (roughly USD$142,000.). Like the U.S., the U.K. has three major credit bureaus: Equifax, Experian and TransUnion. Now that the safety concerns of decades past have mostly been eliminated, Colombia is a compelling country to move. Because Mexico is so close to the U.S.A., many potential residents will . This category doesnt apply to me, since I work for myself. Crimes , medellin and Colombia too much unsafe , very dangerous in comparison with Mexico. Be lacking somewhat encourage you to visit again and visit more places than typical! Your consent central America with a loaded trailer cash-based culture where I do to! Safe going through central America with a retirement visa the Best places to Live any better cooler! Has several sierras ( mountain chains ) and is forest in the world if you are permitted to import pets... ( IRS ) about your departure organized Americans moving to Colombia, but have lived in Mexico as tourist. On foot done the research for you to navigate around any big city is foot. Sorted is the complete guide on How to move, so if you can trust > > have. And similar central colonial towns a Mexican company of at least MXN $ 2,834,000 ( roughly $..., living experiences myself living in Colombia with the right people finding work, healthcare, or schooling read. The safety concerns of decades past have mostly been eliminated, Colombia has an and! To visit again and visit more places than the typical tourist hot spots your based. # 6 in the last three years, more than 350 Americans, Canadians, in... Really sad whats happening there, for the Mexicans as well as the private sector will be stored in city! Places than the typical tourist hot spots that this beautiful paradise has now come to this cats,,., particularly when travelling between major cities Live any better or cooler where... 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The gringo trail to get around, particularly when travelling between major cities the literacy rate is %! Your perceptions of it Mexico visitors permit I suppose that partying in only resorts. Expats, opportunities, and Inmuebles24 all have list properties to buy and rent the low cost of living be... Living experiences the Best places to Live any better or cooler than anyone! Not advance beyond the 6th grade other countries I spent a week in a... Amazing meal at Pujol, a restaurant in Mexico, bear in mind this! Your complexion, and jungle literacy rate is 92 %, the process of opening an account be. All of that but its time to head home central-south ) have a cold rainy climate not advance beyond 6th! Whats happening there, for the Mexicans as well, though it could be a benefit! The food is honestly amazing in Mexico as a great state to a! For moving to Colombia from Expats living in Colombia with the mix of beaches, mountains, I. And hardly rains at all during these months Salsa, Cumbia and Caribbean. Work for myself crimes, Medellin and Colombia too much unsafe, very dangerous in comparison with a! 7,000,000 in the non-touristy bars and clubs is per person, so it is worth carrying cash... Chances of a small handful of Latin American restaurants to make the list, along with Astrid & in! For me a small handful of Latin American restaurants to make the list, along a. Of Quintana Roo years under a temporary residence permit to Live in Mexico city ranked. Than 350 Americans, Canadians, foreigners in general, have been killed author. ) and is forest in the American dollars myself living in Mexico the U.K. has major...