Downsides Of Living in Colombia | We Asked Expats!

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We recently published a video where we asked Expats about their 3 Pros of living in Colombia. We wouldn't be How To Expat if we wouldn't have asked about the Cons too! Colombia is a beautiful country but just like every country, it comes with some bad sides. We asked the same Expats again about their 3 biggest Cons.
The Biggest Disadvantages Of Living In Colombia
We asked way more Expats about the Pros and Cons than we show in our videos. Something's for sure, everybody perceives Colombia differently! But still, there are some things most of the Expats pointed out.
The following points are the most mentioned ones when we asked about Colombia's Cons:
Bureaucracy (getting things done fast)
To many motorcycles
Hard to get around with only English
Pollution (Especially in the bigger cities like Medellin and Bogota)
Traffic
We did our best to show you different approaches and aspects of what you might not like about life in Colombia. And don't forget, those are all personal opinions, there's no right or false to personal opinions, but different approaches and experiences.
Don't hesitate to contact us with any Expat questions you might have. No matter if you've got questions about Medellin, Bogota, Santa Marta or Colombia in general. We would love to support you on your journey
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ABOUT THIS CHANNEL
This Channel's missions is to help and educate Expats, soon to be Expats and travelers.
In order to simplify their Expat and travel journey abroad.
We provide information, especially for Latin America.
Are you planning to visit or even relocate to Panama, Colombia or Ecuador?
No matter where in Latin America you'd like to relocate to, we'll provide you with all the needed information you need, in order to get around safely and to settle down.
#HowToExpat #Colombia #ConsOfColombia

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9 сен 2024

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Комментарии : 216

@HowToExpat 5 лет назад

You want more real practical information about Expat-Life? DOWNLOAD OUR FREE E-BOOK NOW: how-to-expat.com/the-real-deal-e-book Real practical information we gathered through our trips and while relocating to Colombia.

@guillermohernandez4000 3 года назад

I am From Colombia and I drive an 18 wheeler in Texas. When I go to Colombia Relatives had offered me their cars so I can drive while I visit. I have never taken the offer. I prefer to take a Taxi or even a Public bus. Driving there is too Crazy. :-)

@skipstreet 4 года назад

I can not believe someone complained about the language differences.

@RolandeMusic 3 года назад

Yeah, no offense to that guy but he didn't seem that smart. I grew up in America too, and we all learned Spanish starting at age 12 in middle school. Most middle schools and high schools teach Spanish, and there are entire parts of towns in Spanish (areas where lots of Mexicans live). It's probably the easiest second language to learn if you're american, so it's weird he'd move there without learning any of it.

@piotrjeske4599 3 года назад

@@RolandeMusic and in my school we all learned German and French, there is zero Mexicans or Latin America people here, there is more Australians and Poles here.

@RolandeMusic 3 года назад

@@piotrjeske4599 Damn where are u from? Australians? lol. I'm from Milwaukee and Chicago, and like a third of the population is hispanic here. We have Polish people too though.

@piotrjeske4599 3 года назад

@@RolandeMusic US territory of Guam.

@RolandeMusic 3 года назад

@@piotrjeske4599 Oh okay, I guess that makes sense. Most places I've been in the continental US have tons of hispanics. I've been to small towns in rural Iowa that are 50% hispanic; which means most people are exposed to Spanish speakers on a daily basis. Literally the only place I've been that didn't have many hispanics was Ohio and some states in the deep south (Alabama and Mississippi).

@theewill1483 4 года назад

Good to hear some perspectives. Making my decision to relocate there even stronger. IMHO these are basic gripes to anywhere in the world, so dealing with them in a generally happy country sounds perfect to me.

@hiiij9638 4 года назад

Colombia has become safer than before. Yes traffic is bad. Yes you can get mugged hut that's if you show off your phones in the street and dress like you're rich just blend in . Corruption is everywhere lol

@christianguzman6510 2 года назад

Is safer then before but is still unsafe...why because here you commit any crime and if you have money you dont do jail time

@Teabagonyou 2 года назад

Yea no country is more corrupt than America.

@joselassalle5906 2 года назад

3:17 availability of weapons!? Is he joking? Coming from USA where guns can be bought like groceries!?

@jimmyfloyd2028 5 лет назад

Another good video. I agree about the pollution. Even though I was only there 8 days, the pollution was very noticeable, especially downtown.

@dilmerfandino 2 года назад

But not in cartagena or barranquilla.

@nathanbraundscheidermann7647 3 года назад

Next year I go to live in Colombia, i'm colombian but my family is German. I love my country 🏵🇨🇴🌺❤🦜

@HowToExpat 3 года назад

Grüsse nach Deutschland!

@porridge57 5 лет назад

I love Medellin! I'm here now for two months. And all these are very good points. I have to chuckle at the comment about "extreme changes in the weather." I'm just gently teasing, in a light-hearted way, but Medellin has some of the most consistent weather I've ever experienced. Of course, I'm from Arizona, where the temperature can rise and fall by 18 degrees celsius over the course of one day. All the best to you all!

@HowToExpat 5 лет назад

Thanks a lot for the comment. Haha yes in Medellin that would be kind of weird to say😅. She is talking about Bogota 👍

@Ramsefall Год назад

It's interesting to see how many ex-pats choose Medellin as their destination. I get it, though--when I moved there in '05, that was my primary destination after arriving to Bogota. Lo and behold I found Bogota to have so much to offer and literally started encountering truly great people on day one that it seemed more sensible to stay, explore and establish myself there rather than going to Paisa country. After nearly traveling the entire country over a 7-year span and experiencing some fantastic spots, aside from the traffic the capital city remains my favorite. Thanks for sharing all the ex-pat insights in your video!

@SLFinSF 2 года назад

I've just watched 3 of your videos and will watch more of them. Want to thank you very much for these. It's always difficult trying to find information that you can trust about another country -- because most people are trying to market to you and will only present the positive aspects. I haven't been to Colombia, so don't know for sure, but yours seem quite measured and thoughtful. So -- thank you!

@catbernstein8628 5 лет назад

Great information, as with the other videos. Even though I'm just planning a short visit, I have found the Expat videos have given me a little "sneak peek" of Colombian culture, and offered a much different perspective on Colombia than the information a tourist-oriented business might give. The devil is always in the details, and it is fascinating to hear about them.

@HowToExpat 5 лет назад

Thanks a lot, glad you can benefit from the info even as a traveler :)

@mariabaier3080 Год назад

The USA is not safer than Latin countries where you do not have mass killings at shopping centers, schools, churches, supermarkets, airports, hotels, concerts, sports events, universities There too many guns around and too many crazy people doing the constant killings. Drugs abund and road range are increasing. In Washington DC you can get shot for no reason. Many people are leaving the capital because of crime, the cost of living and fear of extremists like the ones who assaulted the Capitol and killed several people. Police get murdered all the time. Sad 😔

@GuillermoRodriguez-gu3oq 3 года назад

To survive in Colombia book smarts is not enough you need street smarts.

@deanbrunton4377 3 года назад

Nobody reads books, so that makes sense.

@captainlouis5593 2 года назад

Basic common sense works too, just like anywhere else in the world.

@travelingman9763 4 года назад

Thank you both for your honesty! I'm in thailand retired and it seems that compared to many other places...I'm lucky as heck! I drive, have a beautiful 29 year old Cambodian GF who rnds daily with me, eat out daily all meals, drive to see Nature on motorbike and far away enough from a City but close enough to drive to Bangkok in 4 hours. Covid actually made loud noisy people more quiet!

@RickySterling 2 года назад

As a Los Angeles lifer born in the early 80s, I feel like the Bane of traffic & smog when people from other cities complain about it. You merely adopted traffic and poor air quality. I was born in it, molded by it. (As he coughs from early onset lung disease.)

@CapitanJusticia 4 года назад

Driving issues? Colombian road trip are amazing because of the spectacular scenery!

@deanbrunton4377 3 года назад

But moving at 10km per hour? Please.

@davegarmendia1717 3 года назад

Agreed, green everywhere, beautiful mountains.

@rickhall8119 3 года назад

The lack of quiet. They blast their music at all hours and every day.

@spanishhere7131 2 года назад

You're right guys, I'm from Medellín, I love my city and I tell my Spanish students about how wonderful my country is, but traffic and pollution is a big problem.🙄

@davisurdaneta1426 3 года назад

I have visited Bogota and Medellin, the Pollution in Bogota is 2x worst than Medellin. I got sick after 2 days Bogota due to air quality. When you go to Monserrate viewpoint, you could see how bad the smog is in Bogota.

@rocioramirez2817 3 года назад

Every big city has pollution. Medellin has a lot of trees and the trees are the longs of a city.

@dilmerfandino 2 года назад

Barranquilla and cartagena have no pollution

@davegarmendia1717 2 года назад

Loved the Australians comments, and the comment on Motorcycles

@scottmeyer4917 5 лет назад

Really good video. Always helpful to have a "360" view of life in Colombia.

@HowToExpat 5 лет назад

Thanks 😁

@ralphlozano9177 Год назад

Those folks from Chicago, complaining about seeing firearms in Colombia making it quite obvious why they left Chi-raq. There is a good reason why many Latin American countries don't have a daily dose of weekend shootings in their larger cities. I'm sure this couple fleeing from Illinois can tell you why.

@shagwellington 5 лет назад

She's so gorgeous.

@powprankz702 5 лет назад

Happy to see this channels growth and hopefully the growth of your business too keep up the good work guys and keep the videos coming

@HowToExpat 5 лет назад

Thanks so much!

@fortnitegod502 3 года назад

@@HowToExpat hi do you you visa options for people in the uk?

@johneBGood Год назад

Good information, as a Canuck here for 17 years, security is much better now, especially in Medellin than it was when I arrived. Pollution is a concern in the larger cities and that is why I like to live in smaller places as I have compromised heart and lungs. Many people are moving out of Medellin and moving to Rio Negro especially now with the tunnel, a 20-minute drive. Gringo pricing is a concern especially in Cali at this time, do not use your credit card!!!!! The new leadership may be causing some issues as they are talking with ELN and FARC and now in Bogota, people are being killed, cut up and placed in plastic bags and left on the street. But you can live a very simple and wonderful life here on a budget of less than $500 USD for a single person. The language will be an issue, especially in smaller towns or Bogota. However, in Ocaña even the moto-taxis greeted me in English. Just thoughts from a very old Canuck.

@mariabaier3080 Год назад

The plastic bags , recently duscovered by the police are used by members of de Venezuelan gang of criminals called El Tren de Aragua or train who came to Colombia to rob, kidnap and to kill. It's unfortunate and of of serious concern Colombia is a host country of so many emigrantes who brought so much crime and social unrest

@rolandboerhof9391 Год назад

I'm from Amsterdam, spoiled by a lack of traffic noise and pollution, so Medellin sounds like a big NO for staying a couple of months

@alfredom877 3 года назад

The smog is a deal breaker for me.

@angelramos6975 Год назад

Cant wait to visit Colombia

@Ralphie_Boy 4 года назад

*My only problem I dread is getting into calling or answering a phone call, the first thing I hear is QUE, although I get that reaction once in a while in person my Spanglish or a New York Rican sound gets a smile and patients the cell will have my wife play the role of cell phone operator for a long time to come!* 📲🤣

@trepidity23 2 года назад

Question: I am looking at internet service providers in the area, and the speeds available are pretty slow. Are there any fiber providers?

@dilmerfandino 2 года назад

Yes there are fibers providers

@Jamminn555 5 лет назад

Love your videos! And this is excellent as well. Very well presented. And you are a wonderful couple!

@HowToExpat 5 лет назад

Thanks so much for that nice comment :D

@MrJrweir 2 года назад

The growth of a developing nation, somethings are going to be good, and somethings are going to be bad. Live in NYC, live in the greater Miami or Washington D.C. then talk about traffic, the adaptation of the new culture, possibly the hardest thing to do.....

@erichaynes7502 3 года назад

I'd recommend going down to Colombia for 6 weeks, take their 4 week beginner Spanish class for $390. You'll probably have a very good time. Maybe then plan to live there 6 months out of 1 year, which is what your Visa allows.. but to live there year round is really next to impossible without so many MAJOR headaches.

@Letsgetit138 3 года назад

Great videos. I like the politely stubborn concept in the other videos. Very real

@mikeperez1676 3 года назад

Thank you ! helpful Video !

@HowToExpat 3 года назад

You're welcome!

@davegarmendia1717 3 года назад

Like that everyone expresses that the quality of air. Interesting, loved the comment from the woman from Chicago! Motorcycles , motorcycles, motorcycles. She is right on, motors are very prevalent and drive recklessly. Day or night always dangerous.

@robcochran9372 3 года назад

Smog? Not enough restaurants? No home comforts? traffic? Cut me a fucking break, trying living in NYC or LA and paying 10 times as much

@robcochran9372 3 года назад

@Mystichrome Gaming That's the plan

@satony9969 5 лет назад

Great video. And I enjoy your vids. Quick question, is there anybody out there that knows if Sprint cell phone service is in Medellin ? I have a IPhone X will I have any problems? Thx.

@HowToExpat 5 лет назад

I would surely get a local sim like tigo or claro

@davidcisco4036 5 лет назад

4:42 "extreme change in weather, up and down, up and down" in Bogota ? Where it never freezes and it is never hot ?

@HowToExpat 5 лет назад

Haha yes of course this is relative. The thing in Bogota is, if you are outside in the morning many people wear a jacket, around 12PM a sweater, around 2 a t-shirt and then the same way back in the afternoon. That's what she meant. And that pretty much throughout the whole year

@skipstreet 4 года назад

I never noticed any smog in Bogota. That would be a plus.

@Patrick-xv8uv 3 года назад

@@skipstreet I was there for a week in March and it was awful. My eyes started burning as soon as I landed and my lungs started to hurt around the end of the second day.

@skipstreet 3 года назад

@@Patrick-xv8uv I was not there for a long period so maybe that's why I didn't notice it. Although I was there for over 24 hours. That's where the US Embassy is.

@item6931 5 лет назад

Are there 'satellite' cities around Medellin that are basically independent with most of the usual conveniences? I'm used to living in smaller cities not far from the major city and just visit when needed.

@HowToExpat 5 лет назад

That's what I thought too. I want to give you 2 tips. 1. A latin american city feels 3x smaller than a US city. 2. The best satellite city would be Rionegro (a little cooler than Medellin) or Pereira (although far). I had the exact same plan as you described but are happy now inside of the city. Hope it helps. Sam 😉

@item6931 5 лет назад

@@HowToExpat Great info! Thanks!

@item6931 5 лет назад

@@HowToExpat Quick question. I really like the look and location of Rionegro. It looks fairly affluent though, is it expensive?

@HowToExpat 5 лет назад

No the opposite. It's cheaper than Medellin. Around 30% cheaper. I love the area there but for me it's a little far still (although a tunnel who should be finished in a couple of months will cut travel time) and it's too cold for me. Otherwise I would live there 👍

@domirican81 5 лет назад

Item69 ... I lived in Rio Negro for 6 months. I grew up in a small city in Virginia, so Rio Negro was like home and I loved it. My gf was bored there so we moved back to Medellin. I would retire in Rio Negro if I could.

@jamesjdoolin Год назад

Cons: #1. Food is not so good compared to the United States, especially beef/steaks.... Little variety and vegetables are hard to find... that goes for restaurants or the grocery store. #2. Traffic sucks and there are no rules. #3. Things move at a VERY slow pace. When someone tells you 5 minutes it really means an hour and if they say "tomorrow" it means sometime this week. And if they say next week its probably never gonna happen. #4. Homeless people and beggars on the street are EVERYWHERE in Poblado/Provenza which is the nice part of town , you cant walk down the street or eat on a patio without being asked for money at least once every 3-4 minutes. Poblado/Provenza is where most tourists are. #5. Street Vendors are annoying and the ones with the boxes around their necks selling candy or cigarettes are usually selling cocaine/weed/etc. #6. The noise level is always high, motorcycles, car horns, street vendors with amplifiers, street rappers with boom boxes, and MUSIC, MUSIC, MUSIC turned up at every restaurant, bar, club, and business all next door to each other as if it were a competition to see who can be the loudest. You will want to make sure your hotel/Airbnb is at least 2 blocks from the nearest club/bar or busy street if you like sleeping at night. Quiet time is from 5 to 5:15am Mon. thru Wed. #7. and finally the people in general are not motivated to work. Work ethic is poor in case you are planning to hire people or do business. On the plus side a full time employee makes only $250-275 a month minimum wage so you can hire 3 or 4 people to do the job of one person. This list is for Americans who are use to a Walmart/Target and a few grocery stores within 10 minutes of their house, who work at least 40 hours a week if not 60 hours a week, who value peace and quiet, and are not use to beggars approaching every 5 minutes. James from Dallas & Miami (and Miami could do better with some of the things on this list) In fact, this list could be about Miami 🙂

@intrepid5144 2 года назад

I've been to Brazil, Sao Paulo mainly, and you couldn't pay me enough to try to drive there. LOL However, on our vacation on Ilhabela Island, I did the driving, and it wasn't too bad. You just have to constantly look-out for the Motorbikes!

@tahiti1 2 года назад

My cons - supermarket queues, traffic pollution (understandable given that Medellin in a valley) and biggest con, ever increasing number of whingeing gringos always complaining and making little effort to become fluent in spanish or integrate.

@nameless1724 2 года назад

how is the girl @ 2:00 able to walk around with gold on her neck? isnt that dangerous to do in Colombia

@Xcerptshow 4 года назад

4:27 That is how the audio should sound.

@omarcarosi6564 4 года назад

Thank you for all you do.

@shagwellington 5 лет назад

They have the same issues with motorbikes in Vietnam. It's nuts. The gun thing is definitely a con. Be easy to get robbed or shot. Getting Gringoed. Need to speak Spanish.

@guillaumefrancois3942 5 лет назад

Did you get shot at?

@rslashreddit_ 2 года назад

i plan to visit medellin later this year, hopefully it goes well. I wasnt sure if i should hire like a tour guide or assistant or some such to show me around when I go.

@Michael-s2p3p 3 года назад

The biggest con for us is the relative scarcity of green places to visit in the city, especially if you have a dog. The second biggest con for us is that marijuana is still illegal. My wife is a paisa and we live ok with the delays and inconveniences of the culture.

@claudiaregresiones 3 года назад

Ojalá y el alcalde vea estos comentarios y hagan algo yo soy paisa pero vivo en New York y cuando fui fue muy estresante el tráfico demasiadas motos

@dilmerfandino 2 года назад

Es mejor impulsar el transporte público como el metro.

@RiverPlaid 5 лет назад

Great video🌸

@davenebennett6058 3 года назад

I would love to live here

@jaimeletemps 3 года назад

You are from switzerland !

@jesuslazalde9245 3 года назад

What do yall do for a living where yall can live their?

@nyerling5723 Год назад

Traffic is terrible in every big city in the world.

@dareasonx24 3 года назад

What do you do to make money

@eddieBoxer Год назад

All countries has good and bad, show me a perfect country and I'll move there.

@Goodie1120 3 года назад

I have family in Cali but I’m skeptical of going because people are struggling with the pandemic and I’m 6’5 I would stand out so bad 😩 I am half colombian

@mrscarface6438 2 года назад

What’s an expat , if your living in colombia 🇨🇴 makes you an immigrant, no ?

@royking7298 3 года назад

I can't imagine why anyone would leave Switzerland to go to any 3rd world country. Everyone wants to get INTO Switzerland and can't. Like me!

@Sam66305 3 года назад

Cost of living for one. For the most part, Colombia is a beautiful and peaceful country offering a lot of European benefits. It's the reason there are a ton of American ex-pats relocating there.

@mr.b9597 2 года назад

3rd world? That would be inaccurate Medellin was actually rated the most innovated city in the world in 2013.

@exblvr8859 2 года назад

Obviously no one goes to Colombia to earn Colombian salary. Some people have fixed income from their home countries and they look for cheaper places to live on it.European and North America men both gay or straight move to Colombia to find love.

@johncouch7785 3 месяца назад

Switzerland was one of the most beautiful countries I have visited. It also ranked N° 1 in boring.

@BookerT1 2 года назад

How is the water quality in colombia?

@HowToExpat 2 года назад

At the coast it is not drinkable however, in Medellín most people drink the tap water, including us. I guess it depends mostly on where in Colombia you'll be staying.

@gymee425 3 года назад

extreme changes in weather????? disregard that! obviously shes never lived in extreme weather places!!

@Sixz89 5 лет назад

Isn't a European license valid in there? I drove around a lot in there, just with my Dutch license. Or does it change when you are not a tourist anymore?

@HowToExpat 5 лет назад

As soon as you get your residency your drivers license won't be accepted anymore. As a tourist you have nothing to worry about :)

@davidd6635 5 лет назад

Kinda weird, Ok to drive as tourist, but not as resident. Guess they want some money. But, 20 HRS?!!! This is an Irritation for me, as I want to have my own drive.@@HowToExpat

@HowToExpat 5 лет назад

@@davidd6635 completely agree.

@juandavidrestrepoduran6007 4 года назад

@@davidd6635 Once you become a resident or a citizen, the logical thing is that you get your local documents. Is it real that you had to take a test again tho? Anyways I think the 20 hour thing is definitely wayyyyyyy laxer than in other countries.

@williamhutchison5969 2 года назад

@@HowToExpat Maybe it's changed from three years ago but this answer is wrong. Once you have ANY visa, your home country visa is invalid and you need to go through the process to get a Colombian one.

@chrisawelch 2 года назад

My 3 cons... 1) Traffic, traffic is hell in Medellin. There is no way I will ever drive there. Basically... EVERYONE has the right of way. So, watch out! hahaha. As a pedestrian, you have to be careful. And it can be frustrating. 2) No air conditioning. At least not in the Airbnbs I stay in. I really miss AC when I'm there. It makes me want to go home some days when I have no AC. 3) Grocery shopping. I like to cook, a lot. When I go out, I expect and want 100% Colombian. But when I'm at home, I want to cook like I always have. And it's difficult finding things I'm used to... Ribeye! Forget it. The closest thing I've found is a Pecho. Like a ribeye with the toughness of a NY strip. Also, NY strip... forget it. hahaha. All the different types of cheeses and meats I like to have for sandwiches, nope. If you are used to microwavable meals as a way to diet and portion control, forget it. You cook everything. Which I'm used to now since I've gone low carb. That's it. 1) I get used to it, try to time my outings. 2) buy a big effective fan or two. 3) Keep trying more grocery stores. I stay there every few months for a month at a time. I plan on buying a home there so I can stop using Airbnb and actually leave my things there and make flying easier and have things there that make me feel comfortable. So each time I go, I try new stores now. Some things get better. I finally found where to get a decent selection of salad dressings.

@insuchaway Год назад

Regarding number 3... Is oatmeal/almond milk available at the grocery stores you've frequented?

@chrisawelch Год назад

@@insuchaway oatmeal yes. Almond milk, I don't know. But I'm about to start using it in shakes... So when I go in December, I'll be looking for that.

@insuchaway Год назад

@@chrisawelch Thank you for the information; food is my number one concern traveling anywhere.

@IvanDSaboya 7 месяцев назад

Chris, in Bogotá we dont need to use AC.. have you been here yet? The climate is cool, but very unpredictable sometimes maybe.

@chrisawelch 7 месяцев назад

Yes, almond milk. I've seen it at a few stores recently.

@vapeusaandexpatrelocation8418 3 года назад

Well my cons from Colombia are a bit different. I am from US but with Puertorican blood jijiijiji. So I came 9 yrs ago, I do speak spanish so no problem comunicating but since my accent is boricual in Colombia I just a gringo en espanol jijijijijij so prices do hike when I talk that is one con. Renting now you just place on CD 3 months rent and buala but when I got here I need it a Colombian with a paid house to co-sign with was very dificult at the time. Credit in Colombia is very hard to obtain, I am a military US pension plus another 2 pensions(yes I do make good in here or any country) but that dont matter since is US money not Colombian so I have to create a bussiness to have credit and file incom tax in here jajajajajaj. I do have car (have bought 4 new cars since 2011) but is not easy do do so unless you can proof income inside the country. Last con well I am military and most of my life from the south (North Carolina) and owning a weapon is a pain, an finding a shooting range is hard but not imposible, I reside in Pereira and there is a range here jijijijijijijijijij but I only have a traumatic pistol which is good for 25 meters and below jijijijijiijiji.

@NickDemski 4 года назад

You shouldn't sit in front of an antler because it makes it look like you have one antler LOL

@carlosgomez-ct6ki 2 года назад

Colombia has never had dictatorships as the other countries in the region.

@dremunoz2600 2 года назад

I have family in Colombia and speak the language for the most part however its the poverty that is frustrating. About 40% of Colombians live below the poverty line or close to it, creating a situation where so many people are trying to sell you shit you don't want or need. When I was in my dad's hometown the number of street sellers was ridiculous. There were guys with vests loaded with cell phones selling phone time. On the flip side there's also a lot of "matenidos" with their hand out. If I ever want to retire outside the US I'd probably move to a small town.

@mariabaier3080 Год назад

Emigrants from Venezuela to Colombia are creating social unrest, crime have risen, begging on the streets, stolen cellular, mugging is everywhere. Most of these emmigrants do not want to work.. the venezuelan government took care of them so they are not accustomed to work. Medellin is the preferred city for those people to live.

@dremunoz2600 Год назад

baier - that's a real shame. It's not supposed to be that way. Now you have Petro that promised the world and is walking back on many of his promises.

@zackbog 3 года назад

i hear alot of complaints about bad air but some of the places these people come from is worst

@dilmerfandino 2 года назад

Barranquilla and cartagena have a good air

@bertoalhotarugo3251 4 года назад

Colombia vs phillippine expat

@mannyc.2039 4 года назад

100% agreed with all expat. Even though I am Colombian but living outside Col. every time I travel to Colombia I see a lot problems to resolve in many aspects. Like most of the Latin American countries , corruption and lack of education make these Countries not a good choice to live.

@CapitanJusticia 4 года назад

But they are living happily there, unlike you.

@Sam66305 3 года назад

Every single country has problems to work on. Do you see systemic racism and mass school shootings in Colombia? Do you think corruption doesn't exist in the U.S.? Exactly

@exblvr8859 2 года назад

Yes, but Colombia is cheap, has good climate.

@dugrober Год назад

Driving boring? What a joke. Drive here in Germany, and you see nothing except for Bayern. It is paradisiac there!

@LonskiBig 4 года назад

...:stability"...it wasn't always like that.....

@TheMichaelangelo11 3 года назад

What is a expat? Clear definition?

@sjacobs310 3 года назад

Awesome video. Where in switzerland are you from 😊

@HowToExpat 3 года назад

Zurich 😊

@mariabaier3080 Год назад

Very, very expensive country to live . One if the highest in Europe . Beautiful and civilized but the climate is a no,no.

@migeeel9158 5 лет назад

But luckily i’ll be back in the us in four days

@sccrdude082 4 года назад

It blows my mind that no one mentioned sexual tourism. It is so obviously in your face now as compared to five years ago. I guess some would consider that a pro though?

@PurpleMusicProductions 3 года назад

Uhm yes sir that would definitely be considered a pro.

@Sam66305 3 года назад

@@PurpleMusicProductions Phew good thing there isn't any sex trade problems here in the U.S. Now if you will excuse me I am going down the street to the building with all the fluorescent lights to get an Asian Massage.

@randymillhouse791 2 года назад

I plan on retiring in Bucaramanga. And don't call me Shirley!

@404housepizza3 2 года назад

upside of living in Medellin 404 house pizza..best NY STYLE Pizza

@Goodie1120 3 года назад

You have so many Volcom shirts hahah

@elalbert2475 3 года назад

muchas quejas de las comidas colombianas

@meowmeow1733 Год назад

03:21 "Weapons".....this is my biggest fear about this place. This more then anything makes this place scream "3rd world" to me.

@keithrichard391 4 года назад

I almost got shot by a security guard@ Airport..his gun went off accidentally:)

@HowToExpat 4 года назад

Scary..

@shagwellington 3 года назад

My gosh, she is so cute!

@williamhutchison5969 2 года назад

If you're talking about the girl in the green sweater, I hope you are looking at the other two, she is cute, she'd be a nine in North America but she's about a five here. Trust me, I've lived in Colombia for twelve years, eights and up are everywhere.

@ralphlozano9177 Год назад

In my humble opinion, Colombia is home to the most beautiful women in the world and as a confirmed bachelor who loves to smell and pick beautiful flowers it may become impossible to maintain my bachelorhood for very long. ❤😘

@michaelcooke8665 3 года назад

Try living in Vancouver b.c you'll wish you were in colombia

@tonylogan4092 5 лет назад

Medellin is not Colombia, but rather is just a tiny section of it. Other places in that country are totally different from there, and many of them I think I would be much more comfortable than in Medellin.

@HowToExpat 5 лет назад

Agree It's what you are looking for, but this video is actually about the whole (sure let's say the most common expat spots) Colombia. We interviewed people from Cartagena, Bogota and Medellin and even our comments at the end are regarding Colombia in general. I hope that came across like that. I really like Pereira and Santa Marta too.

@Sam66305 3 года назад

@@HowToExpat The "Eje Cafetero" (including Pereira, Manizales, and Armenia) is unlike any other place in Colombia and where my family is from. You should spend some time there. The landscapes alone are worth the trip.

@HowToExpat 3 года назад

@@Sam66305 We have actually been to the "Eje Cafetero" it's beautiful and lush. We unfortunately did not go to Manizales but Armenia and Pereira. Next time when we go back we surely have to go to the thermal pools/bath!

@Sam66305 3 года назад

@@HowToExpat It's unfortunate you missed the Termales of Santa Rosa. There are actually two. Go to the one that has the hotel, it's a little more exclusive. However, the scenery is more beautiful at the other. Manizales is a unique city with the climate of Bogota and the hills of San Francisco. I also wouldn't miss Salento for its artisan crafts. There is so much to see in this region you could spend a lifetime there. I plan on retiring there so if you want to do a video on the location I would love it. Thanks for all your fine work.

@HowToExpat 3 года назад

@@Sam66305 Thanks for the recommendation, we will surely do that the next time we visit. Take care!

@stevenparadise5932 4 года назад

Asian food Hmmm

@Kozette007 2 года назад

Language barrier in a Spanish country 😧

@zzospreyzz55 3 года назад

Lol Chicago people afraid of seeing guns. This is the definition of irony.

@vkx1940 4 года назад

I’m dying at someone from Australia saying a con is corruption and inequality. Look in a mirror first😂

@johnnino2755 4 года назад

As a Colombian American who has been to Australia a few times on business .. I can tell you your comment is one of the most ignorant I have ever seen on here .. you can’t compare the levels of corruption , poverty and crime between Colombia and Australia .. the latter is a first world country and the former isn’t ... the only thing Colombia has on Australia is the women .. they are hotter in Colombia 😬

@Regalman 2 года назад

An aussie talking about inequality. LMAO

@plos2765 Год назад

All these different videos about Columbia have been great because it's made me know not to go there which is probably a lifesaver. No Santa Marta, no Cartagena, no Medellin, etc. No thanks

@casebeth 2 года назад

There's plenty of transport.... It's real first world problems to whine about the driver's license.

@mikeg3281 3 года назад

It is very dangerous even in the good place, technology sucks, corruption, no laws, traffic is a free-for-all, choice of products is poor, very out dated

@rocambole93 2 года назад

nobody talks about high tax rates

@williamhutchison5969 2 года назад

There are literally no taxes here, what the hell are you talking about. ??There is VAT only, 19%, and that's buried in the sale price of everything.

@rocambole93 2 года назад

@@williamhutchison5969 im not talking about the sales tax, im talking about the income tax even foreign like US social security

@williamhutchison5969 2 года назад

@@rocambole93 I don't know anyone here that pays income tax to Colombia, I doubt with income of social security only that you would meet the threshold and you would have to be flagged some way for it even to come to the country's attention. In any event, like Canada, I am Canadian, there are tax treaties and the payment in one generally gets credit in the other. Your best source though for accurate info would be a bilingual accountant here. You might also be able to research the level at which tax kicks in using the internet.

@inolvidable. 5 лет назад

Why does this channel always highlight the negative when the positive side of Colombia absolutely far exceeds the negative? There is not perfect country, and Switzerland is not exception. Perhaps, it is more secure, but boring; it will never have the ambient and countrysides that Colombia does. Her face's gestures are as if everything was disgusting. Maybe, you don't want to encourage others to immigrate to Colombia because you want it for yourselves. I bet that you come back to Switzerland, and will miss Colombia like crazy, with all the possible issues.

@HowToExpat 5 лет назад

I appreciate that you want that Colombia has a good image. We too. We have about 100 videos where with 50 of them we say how much we love Colombia, and about 4 where we speak about the downsides. We even made a video where we talk about why we love Colombia more than Switzerland. So if you look through our channel more you will find that ;)

@viajerozz 4 года назад

@@HowToExpat I've watched many of your very good videos and they were all very positive. This is the first one that discusses the cons and it is honest. Her facial expressions are endearing :-)