It is huge and its one of the most biodiverse countries , more so than Colombia and it has 9 out of the 11 climates of the planet. Without looking up stats, I think its safe to say such places would have much lower homicide rates than Medellin. My husband and I are heading to Medellin for the first time in July, but I have been to Mexico several times. The overwhelming majority of Social Security recipients abroad get their benefits . Tie. 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). Please keep Medellin Living going. The girls there are insanely hot. Weather.I like Medellin but I do not like the winter in Medellin.No one write about this.But there are more than 6 month of daily rain in Medellin .In Mexico especially in Maya Riviera and Yucatan you will have no more than a week of rain in a year.Girlshave you ever seen Guadalajara girls??? To qualify, you must be between 18 and 30 years old. If you dont meet the income requirement for permanent residence, you can enter the country under a temporary visa for retirement. The low cost of basic necessities like fresh produce and even luxuries like eating out is often more affordable in Mexico. If I were to live in Mexico, Id be staying in either a beach town, or central Oaxaca. And even if you somehow manage to wake up one Taco Tuesday, and decide youre feeling the urge to change things up a little, Mexico is well positioned geographically to not only be a great gateway to many of the other nations in Latin America, but also is often only a few hours flight away from the United States too. This should go without saying, but Mexican food is truly the food of the gods, and despite how good those Mission style tacos from San Francisco might be, they got nothing on the taquerias here in the land of the luchadores. 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? Lol. Driving would take too long and we suspect it's not safe going through Central America with a loaded trailer. In addition, Colombia has an affordable and reliable bus system though the best way to navigate around any big city is on foot. 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. Because Mexico is so close to the U.S.A., many potential residents will . Peace with Colombias FARC would be good news, but I think most tourists face a greater threat from common street criminals. You can make lots of close friends I dont want to be on a beach the whole time, but definitely a portion of the time. Well-known American and international brands are readily available in Mexico. I met up with a friend of a friend there, and she mentioned that one of the reasons theres not a lot of serious crime in Guadalajara (drug violence) is thats where the cartel leaders live, and they dont want a war in their backyard. The big differences I can resume are these : 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! Mexico's main industries are food and beverages, tobacco, chemicals, iron and steel, petroleum, mining, and tourism. Music: not a specific category, bit Colombia wins easily (though I do enjoy mariachi). You can generally wait until you get to Mexico to open a local bank account. admiration right there. Expats moving to Colombia long-term should purchase International health insurance to access the best hospitals and care. I think the fact that you only know Mexico as a tourist really warped your perceptions of it. Overall Id say Mexico is FAR cheaper than Colombia in almost every respect. I dont like it at all.ghetto. 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! Nice to hear Oaxaca has a good climate. I.e the logic is that if a guy is over 50 and unmarried, there must be something wrong with him. Relocating to a new country takes time and planning. Its too beautiful a coastline to resist, theres still so much I can do, and the food is amazing. Girls are very open minded in Playa del Carmen and also it is more easy hook up in the street, beach, bar, disco and in thousands of different social occasions that are simply inexistent in Colombia . You were paying gringo prices all the way, which is never a good thing. what can i say we love to dance and have a good time. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. First off, Mexico is huge. Make my way up to San Gil, then up to Santa Marta, Cartagena, Medellin, and back to Bogota. You'll be asked to upload your phone bill from the current provider. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. Nightlife , Cancun , Mexicos city You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. Mexico. Tip: Much of Mexico is still a largely cash-based culture. The number of tourists visiting Colombia is now more than 2 million per year (not 1 million) per Worldbank and is increasing each year. Automobiles, boats, motorcycles, unless your client is a diplomat. You cant compare rural Mexico to urban Colombia. 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. Playa del Carmen, for example, barely has a salsa-specific bar. Oaxaca: I love this city. Columbia, almost one million. Interesting post. 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. ), Have shares in a Mexican company of at least MXN$2,834,000 (roughly USD$142,000.). I desperately want to move, to either Colombia or Mexico (or 3rd place Italy). You may be able to apply when you are already in Mexico, but only in specific cases, including families and spouses of residents. In the latter case the company should assist you in getting the visa but they will have to prove . 1. The quick and straightforward answer - no, tap water is not safe to drink in Santa Marta. If your spouse has a Mexican grandparent or grandparent who is a permanent resident, you can live in Mexico. This shouldnt be too challenging if youre flying in since your stuff will likely arrive after you. In a nutshell, the top reasons for moving to Colombia include: a growing economy, stable government, universal education, and near universal health care. 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 Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. For information on finding work, healthcare, or schooling, read our guide to Living in Mexico. We suggest getting quotes from these two companies as a start. Below I put "the average" for plans to pack for moving abroad for a year. You can check out the actual cost of living in your chosen part of the country. I feel Colombia is safer, but idk. 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. An apartment in the centre of Mexico City would cost approximately 1,050 per square metre. That said, though air quality can leave a lot to be desired, there are also plenty of places further up-field from the major population zones (instead of Guadalajara, think Lake Ajijic for example) that are perfectly clean and environmentally clean it seems to be a major rule of thumb that if you stay a little bit away from the crowds, and closer to nature, things seem to truly be healthier, and more down to Earth, pardon the pun! Not the tourists. You just went up 10 points in my list. Alastair has lived in South Africa, the United Kingdom, Australia and Spain. FIFA currently ranks Colombia #6 in the world, with Mexico a distant #16. Have you or loved ones ever lived in Mexico? I encourage you to visit again and visit more places than the typical tourist hot spots. There is no American spillover, like youd see in Mexico or Costa Rica. I am taking a 2 week trip in February and have narrowed it down to Colombia or Mexico. I have my opinions on all of them, just as you do on Medellin. 71-75 Shelton Street, Covent Garden, manage travel funds with separate current accounts, Todo Lo Que Quieres Es Bailar Jorge Villamizar, Strolling the Stalls at Medellns Farmers Markets, Where to Buy Sustainable Clothes in Medelln, The Ultimate Guide to the Museo de Antioquia. Mexico has several sierras (mountain chains) and is forest in the center parts. If things dont happen exactly the way (or speed) you are used to, getting frustrated wont help. Note about income requirements: Mexico is making the transition from Minimum Salary (MS) to Unit of Measurement and Updating (UMA) for calculating economic solvency. By far the most common choice for people moving abroad is a complete door to door moving service. ), Own property in Mexico of at least MXN$5,668,000 (roughly USD$280,000. and FARC is encouraging, but like you said, the trouble is really just from basic street criminals something you dont really worry about in Mexican Riviera. These were the main customs regulations when moving to a different country. Vamos! In the past three years, 305 Americans have been murdered in Mexico while only 15 Americans have been murdered in Colombia. Migrants used mostly to be retirees: osteopathy clinics are abundant in Lake Chapala. Of course, trouble can happen even in paradise, and when it comes to ongoing drug wars that have plagued Mexico for years, the violent murders that have happened in the country remain in the back of every persons mind who steps foot in the country. 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