• About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms
  • Unsubscribe
No Result
View All Result
Live and Invest Overseas
FREE REPORT
BEST PLACES TO RETIRE
*No spam: We will NEVER give your email address to anyone else.
  • HOME
  • COUNTRIES
    • Top Destinations
      • Panama
      • Portugal
      • Colombia
      • Northern Cyprus
      • Belize
      • Spain
      • Mexico
      • France
      • Indonesia
      • Vietnam
    • Browse All Countries
    • Best For
      • Retire Overseas Index
      • Health Care
      • Cost of Living
      • Investing in Real Estate
      • Editor’s Picks For Retirement
      • Establishing Residency
      • Starting an Online Business
      • Single Women
      • Playing Golf
  • BUDGETS
    • Super Cheap ($)
      • Cuenca, Ecuador
      • Chiang Mai, Thailand
      • The Philippines
      • Las Tablas, Panama
      • Granada, Nicaragua
    • Cheap ($$)
      • Algarve, Portugal
      • Medellin, Colombia
      • Boquete, Panama
      • Carcassone, France
      • Buenos Aires, Argentina
    • Affordable ($$$)
      • Abruzzo, Italy
      • Barcelona, Spain
      • Las Terrenas, Dominican Republic
      • Puerto Vallarta, Mexico
      • Costa de Oro, Uruguay
    • Luxury On A Budget ($$$$)
      • Ambergris Caye, Belize
      • Paris, France
      • Panama City Beach Area
  • Real Estate
  • ARCHIVES
    • Living & Retiring Overseas
    • Raising A Family Abroad
    • Foreign Residency & Citizenship
    • Offshore Diversification
    • Our Latest On Coronavirus ⚠️
  • Making Money
    • International Real Estate
    • Banking
    • Employment
    • Investing
  • CONFERENCES
  • BOOKSTORE
Live and Invest Overseas
  • HOME
  • COUNTRIES
    • Top Destinations
      • Panama
      • Portugal
      • Colombia
      • Northern Cyprus
      • Belize
      • Spain
      • Mexico
      • France
      • Indonesia
      • Vietnam
    • Browse All Countries
    • Best For
      • Retire Overseas Index
      • Health Care
      • Cost of Living
      • Investing in Real Estate
      • Editor’s Picks For Retirement
      • Establishing Residency
      • Starting an Online Business
      • Single Women
      • Playing Golf
  • BUDGETS
    • Super Cheap ($)
      • Cuenca, Ecuador
      • Chiang Mai, Thailand
      • The Philippines
      • Las Tablas, Panama
      • Granada, Nicaragua
    • Cheap ($$)
      • Algarve, Portugal
      • Medellin, Colombia
      • Boquete, Panama
      • Carcassone, France
      • Buenos Aires, Argentina
    • Affordable ($$$)
      • Abruzzo, Italy
      • Barcelona, Spain
      • Las Terrenas, Dominican Republic
      • Puerto Vallarta, Mexico
      • Costa de Oro, Uruguay
    • Luxury On A Budget ($$$$)
      • Ambergris Caye, Belize
      • Paris, France
      • Panama City Beach Area
  • Real Estate
  • ARCHIVES
    • Living & Retiring Overseas
    • Raising A Family Abroad
    • Foreign Residency & Citizenship
    • Offshore Diversification
    • Our Latest On Coronavirus ⚠️
  • Making Money
    • International Real Estate
    • Banking
    • Employment
    • Investing
  • CONFERENCES
  • BOOKSTORE
No Result
View All Result
Live and Invest Overseas
No Result
View All Result
Home Countries Colombia

Will Life In Medellín, Colombia, Check Your Boxes?

What’s Not To Like About Medellín?

Kathleen Peddicord by Kathleen Peddicord
Jan 30, 2022
in Colombia
0 0
0
Important main road of Medellin, Colombia

Adobe Stock/Luis Echeverri Urrea

221
SHARES
3k
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

As we finalize the speaker invitations for our first in-person Colombia event in two years, I’ve been thinking back on good memories of this wonderful country.

I continue to be surprised by the reactions I get when I tell people I have a home and spend time in Medellín, Colombia…

But now in a good way.

A few years ago, friends and family expressed fear, concern, and disbelief when I mentioned Medellín.

Today I hear admiration, curiosity, and even a little envy.

Medellín has come a long way in a short time. No other city has evolved from the most dangerous in the world to one of the most highly acclaimed in the span of a generation.

The second-largest city in Colombia, Medellín was founded in 1616 by a Spaniard named Francisco Herrera Campuzano who constructed a small indigenous village (poblado in Spanish) in the area now known as El Poblado.

In 1810, Colombia won its independence from Spain, but Spain didn’t officially recognize this until 1819. Meanwhile, the city became the capital of the Republic of Gran Colombia (including what is now Colombia, Venezuela, Ecuador, and Panama) in 1826.

Throughout the 19th century, Medellín was recognized as a dynamic commercial center mostly exporting gold. Soon it became famous for its coffee, which you may know from the country’s native son, Juan Valdez.

Family Friendly

Central square in Medellin, Colombia
Adobe Stock/mehdi33300

Colombians treasure and respect their families. Most activities and living spaces are designed for families to spend time together.

In the Medellín area you’ll find high-quality international schools, many children’s activities including a zoo and botanical gardens, kids’ events at local malls like go-carts, bouncy parks, ice skating, and one of the world’s most impressive displays of lights at Christmastime.

Medellín is also a pet-friendly city. You’ll find public parks where dogs can run and play, excellent and inexpensive veterinarian services and grooming facilities, dog walking services, and dog washers who’ll come to your home.

Shopping malls and restaurants usually welcome dogs, especially those with open-air dining. Most apartment complexes have dog-walk areas within the secured grounds, and pet owners are responsible, and you don’t see stray animals in the streets in the city.

Convenient And Accessible

The metro in Medellin, Colombia
Adobe Stock/Luis Echeverri Urrea

Medellín’s international airport offers non-stop passenger flights to 23 destinations in 7 countries, including Madrid, Spain, along with Miami, Orlando, and Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, and New York.

Once you get here, you don’t need a car. You have many easy, inexpensive, and safe options for getting around, depending on your needs and budget.

Medellín has the only Metro system in Colombia, which includes timely trains, light-rail Tranvía (similar to San Francisco’s cable cars), Metrocable cars suspended high above the valley, outdoor escalators traversing the mountainsides, and numerous bus lines.

The average bus fare is 2,875 Colombian pesos. That’s about 73 cents.

Overall, this city’s public transport systems are the cleanest and best-maintained I’ve used anywhere in the world.

Get Your Free ​Colombia Report Today! ​​​

Learn more about ​​​Colombia ​​​and other countries in our FREE, daily Overseas Opportunity Letter​​​​​​​​​. Simply enter your email address below and we’ll send you our FREE REPORT – ​​Colombia: The World’s Next Top Retirement & Investment Haven

It’s difficult to narrow Medellín’s list of positives, but here’s a start:

  • Friendly—both locals and expats…
  • Low real estate prices (but increasing yearly)…
  • Colombian culture: the paisa traditions, music, and dance, plus many holidays…
  • Lifestyle options: join an expat group, live like a local, or a combination…
  • Arts and entertainment: museums, theaters, symphonies, cinemas, etc….
  • Dining: from Colombian típico restaurants to molecular gastronomy and everything in between…
  • Shopping: small tiendas to big box stores and huge shopping malls…
  • Modern grocery stores similar to Whole Foods or farmers’ markets for the freshest choices…
  • Transportation—the best in Colombia…
  • Overall cost of living: extremely reasonable, even in the most expensive areas…

On the other hand, here are some challenges to consider:

  • Governmental bureaucracy, including residency visa requirements, taxes, and setting up utilities…
  • Language: Spanish is the official language, but we notice more English spoken every time we return. Still, a basic understanding of Spanish will improve your experience…
  • Pollution: Because the city is located in a valley, air pollution can be an issue. The leaders are addressing the problem but need to do more…
  • Noise: Loud music and noisy trucks and buses can be irritating…
  • Traffic: With millions of people, the traffic can be bad. Again, the city is addressing the problem, but with Medellín’s geography, traffic can be difficult…
  • Construction: Both a pro and a con—building means growth, but it also means noise, dust, and inconvenience…

Is Medellín The Place For You?

Only you can answer this question, but Medellín will check your boxes if you:

  • Appreciate modern conveniences and state-of-the-art infrastructure, especially in the medical arena…
  • Enjoy big-city living and all the amenities that come with it and can tolerate noise and traffic…
  • Like to interact with friendly locals and you’re willing to learn some Spanish if you don’t already speak the language…
  • Are comfortable with a small but tight-knit expat community…
  • Have patience and a sense of humor…
  • Enjoy a variety of foods at reasonable prices…
  • Prefer temperate weather year-round, without extreme conditions…
  • Appreciate a clean, green, walkable living environment…

Medellín is not for you if you:

  • Want a small-town or Spanish-colonial atmosphere, although each barrio has a small-town feel within the bigger city of Medellín…
  • Hate high-rise living (although other options exist for your consideration)…
  • Refuse to learn Spanish…
  • Are easily frustrated especially when people don’t follow through…
  • Need four distinct seasons…
  • Hate city traffic and noise…

Medellín offers an easy transition for your overseas adventure. This is a first-world city, with every modern convenience you could require or expect and a distinctly different and friendly culture in a South American location only three hours from the States.

Sincerely,
Kathleen Peddicord signature
Kathleen Peddicord
Founding Publisher, Overseas Opportunity Letter

Tags: 'Expats In Medellin''Real Estate In Medellin'ColombiaCost Of Living In Medellinlife in medellinLiving In MedellinMedellinmove to medellinRetire in Medellin
Share94Tweet53
Kathleen Peddicord

Kathleen Peddicord

Kathleen Peddicord has covered the live, retire, and do business overseas beat for more than 30 years and is considered the world's foremost authority on these subjects. She has traveled to more than 75 countries, invested in real estate in 21, established businesses in 7, renovated historic properties in 6, and educated her children in 4.

Kathleen has moved children, staff, enterprises, household goods, and pets across three continents, from the East Coast of the United States to Waterford, Ireland... then to Paris, France... next to Panama City, where she has based her Live and Invest Overseas business. Most recently, Kathleen and her husband Lief Simon are dividing their time between Panama and Paris.

Kathleen was a partner with Agora Publishing’s International Living group for 23 years. In that capacity, she opened her first office overseas, in Waterford, Ireland, where she managed a staff of up to 30 employees for more than 10 years. Kathleen also opened, staffed, and operated International Living publishing and real estate marketing offices in Panama City, Panama; Granada, Nicaragua; Roatan, Honduras; San Miguel de Allende, Mexico; Quito, Ecuador; and Paris, France.

Kathleen moved on from her role with Agora in 2007 and launched her Live and Invest Overseas group in 2008. In the years since, she has built Live and Invest Overseas into a successful, recognized, and respected multi-million-dollar business that employs a staff of 35 in Panama City and dozens of writers and other resources around the world.

Kathleen has been quoted by The New York Times, Money magazine, MSNBC, Yahoo Finance, the AARP, and beyond. She has appeared often on radio and television (including Bloomberg and CNBC) and speaks regularly on topics to do with living, retiring, investing, and doing business around the world.

In addition to her own daily e-letter, the Overseas Opportunity Letter, with a circulation of more than 300,000 readers, Kathleen writes regularly for U.S. News & World Report and Forbes.

Her newest book, "How to Retire Overseas: Everything You Need to Know to Live Well (for Less) Abroad," published by Penguin Random House, is the culmination of decades of personal experience living and investing around the world.

Related Posts

Panoramic View Of Street By Buildings In Bogota, Colombia
Colombia

Bogotá, Colombia

by Live And Invest Overseas
February 22, 2023
0

Bogotá, Colombia Bogotá, Colombia Everything You Need To Know 2023 Bogotá, the capital of Colombia, is the largest city in...

Read more
Payment of utilities for electricity and water: receipt, bills and a calculator.

Worried About Soaring Utility Costs?

October 2, 2022
Medellin, Colombia to the left and Cuenca, Ecuador to the right

Expat Life In Medellín, Colombia Vs. Cuenca, Ecuador

August 16, 2022
Sunrise on the Monte Gordo beach, Portugal

Rent Cost: Comparing U.S. Markets Vs. Overseas Markets

July 28, 2022
Small tropical island at Barrier Reef with paradise beach in Belize

10 Of The Best Places To Live Or Retire In Latin America

July 1, 2022
Porto, Portugal

Where (And Why) Should You Buy Property Overseas In 2022?

June 15, 2022
Panama City, Panama to the left and Medellin, Colombia to the right, comparison

Comparing Panama And Colombia: Living, Retiring, Investing

June 3, 2022

Start Your New Life Today, Overseas ...

A world full of fun, adventure, and profit awaits! Sign up for our free daily e-letter, Overseas Opportunity Letter, and we'll send you a FREE report on the 10 Best Places To Retire In Style Overseas Today.

LIOS Resources


  • New To LIOS
  • Ask An Expert
  • Media Center
  • Contact Us
  • FAQs

Quick Links


  • Best Places To Live
  • Best Places To Retire
  • Finding A Job Overseas
  • Real Estate

Sign up for our free daily e-letter, Overseas Opportunity Letter, and get your FREE report: The 10 Best Places To Retire Overseas In 2023

  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms
  • Unsubscribe

© 2008-2023 - Live and Invest Overseas - All Rights Reserved.

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Countries
  • Budgets
  • Archives
  • News
  • Events
  • Bookstore
  • Newsletters
  • About Us
  • Members Area
  • Contact Us

© 2008-2023 - Live and Invest Overseas - All Rights Reserved.

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In

Download your FREE report on

The Best Places To Retire In 2023

New Year, New You, New Life Overseas

Sign up for FREE and learn how to live the good life on a modest budget, find bargain property, and more. Plus, check out our free report on the 10 BEST PLACES TO RETIRE.

RETIRE OVERSEAS AND LIVE LIKE ROYALTY