Retiring in Colombia

If you are looking for an interesting location where you can spend your retirement, retiring in Colombia can be one of the best decisions you can make. While the decision to call this South American country home may not seem like the first pick, if you retire to Colombia you’ll see the country in a whole new way and will learn to appreciate everything it has to offer its residents. Below are just a few examples.

Quality Health Care

When choosing a place to retire, you have to think about more than the proximity of the beaches. Health care is going to be a critical part of that decision unless you plan to fly back to the United States or your original country every time you need to see a physician. When you retire in Colombia, you have the option of purchasing affordable health care (the costs are about half what they are in the U. S.), and you will have access to all of the countries’ medical facilities.

Contrary to what you might imagine about the medical field in Colombia, the major cities have some of the best advancements possible. People from all over the world even travel to Bogota to have low-cost but high-quality surgical treatments. This is a clear advantage to retiring in Colombia.

Affordable Living

When compared to other retirement areas, retiring in Colombia is quite affordable for most people. Housing prices are quite reasonable. Renting is the best idea when you first arrive in the country so you can get a feel for the area and decide where you would want to put down permanent roots. The highest class apartments in the cities run about $1,000 USD a month but you get good square footage for those prices. If you’re willing to live in a smaller apartment or a less fabulous neighbor, you can find rent for half that price.

Dining out can be as cheap as $4 to $50 for two depending on how elegant of a meal you want. Public transportation and taxis are an affordable way to get around the cities but if you want to buy your own car you may end up paying higher prices than in the United States.

Friendly People

If you are going to retire in Colombia, be prepared to make friends fast. Most people are shocked by how friendly Colombians are and how willing they are to accept foreigners into their circles of acquaintances. Plus, the country overall has great respect for the older generations and treat them as full-fledged members of society not burdens which tends to happen in the United States. You’ll also find a lot of highly educated people in the country who you can talk to about any topic.

Plenty of Activities

Between meeting the people and experiencing everything the country offers, you may sometimes feel as if retiring in Colombia doesn’t offer you much time for relaxation. You can try things you’ve never dreamed of doing before, such as snorkeling or wind surfing. You can also find favorite activities such as playing golf, tennis, and other sports. Whatever you loved to do for recreation in your old home, you can still do when you retire in Colombia.

Language

Do keep in mind if you think about retiring in Colombia that Spanish is the country’s national language. If you don’t know Spanish before moving, you should make a point of trying to pick up the language. While some people will know English or other European languages, you’ll have a better chance of being happy, meeting people, and doing business effectively in Colombia if you know the language.

Perfect Environment

If you love the hot and humid weather of the southern United States, don’t retire in Colombia. However, if you are interested in experiencing great weather almost daily then retiring in Colombia might be the right choice. In Bogota, for example, you’ll have temperatures of around 68 degrees Fahrenheit as highs and 50 degrees Fahrenheit as lows. That means you’ll be enjoying spring and fall weather all the time. Plus, you’ll have views of some of the most beautiful and natural surroundings in the world. Ecotourism has become a huge industry in Colombia and one visit will show you why.

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