It impossible to compare the cost of living in Medellin to every city in the United States since the cost of living varies from city to city. However, the information below should give reader an approximate idea of how much cheaper Colombia is the North America. One a retired expat gets settled and knows where to shop, the country is even more affordable.
Author’s comments: It is difficult to compare the cost of living in Medellin, Colombia with the cost of every city in the U.S. since some places are more affordable that others. Below is a comparison of prices in Medellin and Columbus, Ohio. It should give you a good idea of the affordability of most products and services.
You would need around 13,439,697.40 Col$ (4,073.29$) in Columbus, OH to maintain the same standard of life that you can have with 5,000,000.00 Col$ in Medellin (assuming you rent in both cities). This calculation uses our Cost of Living Plus Rent Index to compare cost of living. This assumes net earnings (after income tax). You can change the amount in this calculation.
Restaurants
Medellin
Columbus
Diff
Meal, Inexpensive Restaurant
12,000.00 Col$ (3.59 $)
43,458.35 Col$ (13.00 $)
+262.15 %
Meal for 2 People, Mid-range Restaurant, Three-course
60,000.00 Col$ (17.95 $)
150,432.75 Col$ (45.00 $)
+150.72 %
McMeal at McDonalds (or Equivalent Combo Meal)
15,000.00 Col$ (4.49 $)
24,236.39 Col$ (7.25 $)
+61.58 %
Domestic Beer (0.5 liter draught)
3,000.00 Col$ (0.90 $)
13,371.80 Col$ (4.00 $)
+345.73 %
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
6,000.00 Col$ (1.79 $)
16,714.75 Col$ (5.00 $)
+178.58 %
Cappuccino (regular)
3,306.22 Col$ (0.99 $)
12,185.85 Col$ (3.65 $)
+268.57 %
Coke/Pepsi (0.33 liter bottle)
2,161.90 Col$ (0.65 $)
5,582.73 Col$ (1.67 $)
+158.23 %
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
2,043.48 Col$ (0.61 $)
4,016.32 Col$ (1.20 $)
+96.54 %
Markets
Milk (regular), (1 liter)
2,226.11 Col$ (0.67 $)
2,104.60 Col$ (0.63 $)
-5.46 %
Loaf of Fresh White Bread (500g)
2,819.25 Col$ (0.84 $)
6,715.86 Col$ (2.01 $)
+138.21 %
Rice (white), (1kg)
3,132.73 Col$ (0.94 $)
12,418.35 Col$ (3.71 $)
+296.41 %
Eggs (regular) (12)
5,073.71 Col$ (1.52 $)
6,652.47 Col$ (1.99 $)
+31.12 %
Local Cheese (1kg)
8,201.42 Col$ (2.45 $)
35,848.18 Col$ (10.72 $)
+337.10 %
Chicken Breasts (Boneless, Skinless), (1kg)
12,649.00 Col$ (3.78 $)
25,561.42 Col$ (7.65 $)
+102.08 %
Beef Round (1kg) (or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat)
13,715.26 Col$ (4.10 $)
33,634.58 Col$ (10.06 $)
+145.23 %
Apples (1kg)
5,702.14 Col$ (1.71 $)
14,970.20 Col$ (4.48 $)
+162.54 %
Banana (1kg)
2,264.06 Col$ (0.68 $)
4,509.07 Col$ (1.35 $)
+99.16 %
Oranges (1kg)
3,460.00 Col$ (1.04 $)
12,381.50 Col$ (3.70 $)
+257.85 %
Tomato (1kg)
2,693.75 Col$ (0.81 $)
14,043.84 Col$ (4.20 $)
+421.35 %
Potato (1kg)
2,625.00 Col$ (0.79 $)
7,726.16 Col$ (2.31 $)
+194.33 %
Onion (1kg)
2,527.50 Col$ (0.76 $)
8,226.70 Col$ (2.46 $)
+225.49 %
Lettuce (1 head)
2,428.57 Col$ (0.73 $)
4,602.13 Col$ (1.38 $)
+89.50 %
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
2,444.44 Col$ (0.73 $)
5,386.33 Col$ (1.61 $)
+120.35 %
Bottle of Wine (Mid-Range)
30,000.00 Col$ (8.97 $)
46,767.87 Col$ (13.99 $)
+55.89 %
Domestic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
2,696.59 Col$ (0.81 $)
7,004.28 Col$ (2.10 $)
+159.75 %
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
5,857.14 Col$ (1.75 $)
10,267.63 Col$ (3.07 $)
+75.30 %
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro)
5,200.00 Col$ (1.56 $)
23,216.79 Col$ (6.95 $)
+346.48 %
Transportation
One-way Ticket (Local Transport)
2,200.00 Col$ (0.66 $)
6,685.90 Col$ (2.00 $)
+203.90 %
Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
93,826.09 Col$ (28.07 $)
207,262.90 Col$ (62.00 $)
+120.90 %
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
5,000.00 Col$ (1.50 $)
10,028.85 Col$ (3.00 $)
+100.58 %
Taxi 1km (Normal Tariff)
1,290.00 Col$ (0.39 $)
6,044.69 Col$ (1.81 $)
+368.58 %
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
25,000.00 Col$ (7.48 $)
62,680.31 Col$ (18.75 $)
+150.72 %
Gasoline (1 liter)
2,448.93 Col$ (0.73 $)
2,257.29 Col$ (0.68 $)
-7.83 %
Volkswagen Golf 1.4 90 KW Trendline (Or Equivalent New Car)
50,000,000.00 Col$ (14,956.85 $)
78,559,325.00 Col$ (23,500.00 $)
+57.12 %
Toyota Corolla 1.6l 97kW Comfort (Or Equivalent New Car)
68,430,000.00 Col$ (20,469.94 $)
62,889,804.03 Col$ (18,812.67 $)
-8.10 %
Utilities (Monthly)
Basic (Electricity, Heating, Cooling, Water, Garbage) for 85m2 Apartment
171,383.86 Col$ (51.27 $)
571,059.57 Col$ (170.83 $)
+233.20 %
1 min. of Prepaid Mobile Tariff Local (No Discounts or Plans)
142.05 Col$ (0.04 $)
612.87 Col$ (0.18 $)
+331.45 %
Internet (60 Mbps or More, Unlimited Data, Cable/ADSL)
111,503.70 Col$ (33.35 $)
191,896.47 Col$ (57.40 $)
+72.10 %
Sports And Leisure
Fitness Club, Monthly Fee for 1 Adult
73,368.38 Col$ (21.95 $)
107,095.74 Col$ (32.04 $)
+45.97 %
Tennis Court Rent (1 Hour on Weekend)
26,454.55 Col$ (7.91 $)
63,516.05 Col$ (19.00 $)
+140.10 %
Cinema, International Release, 1 Seat
12,000.00 Col$ (3.59 $)
33,429.50 Col$ (10.00 $)
+178.58 %
Childcare
Preschool (or Kindergarten), Full Day, Private, Monthly for 1 Child
457,894.74 Col$ (136.97 $)
2,771,609.45 Col$ (829.09 $)
+505.29 %
International Primary School, Yearly for 1 Child
11,885,256.67 Col$ (3,555.32 $)
56,830,150.00 Col$ (17,000.00 $)
+378.16 %
Clothing And Shoes
1 Pair of Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
159,146.42 Col$ (47.61 $)
145,418.33 Col$ (43.50 $)
-8.63 %
1 Summer Dress in a Chain Store (Zara, H&M, …)
112,118.17 Col$ (33.54 $)
108,744.20 Col$ (32.53 $)
-3.01 %
1 Pair of Nike Running Shoes (Mid-Range)
256,325.63 Col$ (76.68 $)
250,162.70 Col$ (74.83 $)
-2.40 %
1 Pair of Men Leather Business Shoes
228,291.67 Col$ (68.29 $)
272,283.28 Col$ (81.45 $)
+19.27 %
Rent Per Month
Apartment (1 bedroom) in City Centre
829,941.25 Col$ (248.27 $)
3,546,003.26 Col$ (1,060.74 $)
+327.26 %
Apartment (1 bedroom) Outside of Centre
727,572.12 Col$ (217.64 $)
2,683,831.69 Col$ (802.83 $)
+268.88 %
Apartment (3 bedrooms) in City Centre
1,404,467.19 Col$ (420.13 $)
6,538,253.04 Col$ (1,955.83 $)
+365.53 %
Apartment (3 bedrooms) Outside of Centre
1,349,130.43 Col$ (403.57 $)
4,223,399.46 Col$ (1,263.38 $)
+213.05 %
Buy Apartment Price
Price per Square Meter to Buy Apartment in City Centre
3,697,857.14 Col$ (1,106.17 $)
5,697,767.92 Col$ (1,704.41 $)
+54.08 %
Price per Square Meter to Buy Apartment Outside of Centre
3,325,000.00 Col$ (994.63 $)
3,491,687.34 Col$ (1,044.49 $)
+5.01 %
Salaries And Financing
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
1,027,963.40 Col$ (307.50 $)
10,655,144.42 Col$ (3,187.35 $)
+936.53 %
Mortgage Interest Rate in Percentages (%), Yearly, for 20 Years Fixed-Rate
MEDELLÍN, Colombia – People here sing when they speak.
That iconic paisa accent, which extends the final syllables of given sentences or phrases, puts a charming twist on the Spanish language and adds a siren song to a city gaining international recognition after decades of unwanted notoriety.
Whether the locals are praising something (“Tan bacanooo,” “So cool”) or lamenting something else (“Que pesaaaar,” “That sucks”), the rhythmic inflection remains a beautiful constant no matter the mood, like a jazz sax going from upbeat to melancholic in the same swirling improv.
Michael Krumholtz/The Tico Times
Behind the best songs are heartbreak and tragedy. In this sense, few cities know the blues more than the inhabitants of the world’s former murder capital. Once synonymous with drugs and bloodshed, and the recent winner of the biennial World City Prize that is routinely mentioned as one of the planet’s most innovative cities, Medellín now provides an unbelievably vibrant and colorful stage for the increasing number of foreign visitors it’s now receiving.
As I rode into Medellín from the airport at night with my girlfriend Jacque – a native of the “City of Eternal Spring” – and three of her friends who picked us up, they casually pointed out the advances making Medellín so modern. A new bridge (one of the largest in Colombia) and the diverse public transport options, like the Metro and the MetroCable chair lift, have helped revolutionize the city.
While they showed me these innovations, of which they are understandably proud, I found myself more struck by a simpler observation. There are people everywhere out in the streets.
In any given barrio at any hour in Medellín, you’ll see women gossiping on their porches, friends drinking together out in the open on plastic chairs, and children playing soccer in gated fields.
“The communities have been the ones really responsible for the city’s turnaround. Corrupt politicians and street crime still exist, but it’s being kind of mitigated by the strength of the communities,” our friend Andrés said as we were plunging into the heart of the valley, surrounded by a spectacular wall of lights from the city’s landscape, which reaches up and over mountainsides so steep it seems incredible that the buildings don’t slide right off in a light wind.
In the daytime, Medellín’s lateritious sprawl of houses in the skinny valley sets a gorgeous and entirely apt setting for a city on the rise.
If there is a constant in truly great cities it’s that the neighborhoods in the metro area become their own pockets of personality. This is particularly true in Medellín’s case where, for example, the more upscale and touristy El Poblado feels entirely different than the Laureles commune, where you can catch one of Medellín’s two soccer teams playing and later head to Carrera 70’s string of bars for a postgame celebration.
Michael Krumholtz/The Tico Times
One common characteristic between the differing neighborhoods is the nightlife. Though the two communes mentioned are some of Medellín’s most well-regarded for nighttime fun, anywhere you go here you’ll find people ready to socialize.
Did I mention people are out in the streets constantly?
One Friday night we went to Sabaneta, a small municipality about 20 minutes from Medellín’s center, where the streets were packed with people drinking and dancing. Dominated by a white church in the middle of town, the rest of the landscape was pure, old-fashioned hedonism. Bars were filled with people spilling out every which way, and food stands with grilled meat wafted up amazing scents into the air.
This is the other thing that makes Medellín so magical: the food.
Since it’s the food I eat at home, I was lucky enough to have a cheat sheet and know what to expect – or more importantly, how much to expect – when it comes to the country’s cuisine. Breakfast usually consists of reheated rice and beans, a protein like pork, cheese, and an arepa — the flour patty that is so culturally ingrained into the Antioquia region that a popular expression states someone or something is más paisa que la arepa.
If you’re not ready to go back to bed already after all that food, then just wait until lunch hits you.
The traditional bandeja paisa is a smorgasbord of glorious excess that epitomizes the quantity, and non-complex quality, of Colombian food. The dish features not only everything you just had for breakfast, but three types of meat (usually chicharrón, blood sausage and ground beef), as well as fried plantain, avocado, and even a fried egg.
Colombians, it turns out, are the only people capable of turning gluttony into a virtue.
These traditional dishes, along with sancocho – Colombia’s take on chicken stew – show off the mountainous influences of a people that need food to be cheap yet filling enough to fuel a day’s work.
Another great influence comes from the coasts. During our visit, we wandered into a Caribbean restaurant in downtown’s La Minorista, one of Medellín’s large market plazas, that was recommended to us by a friend who runs his own stand at the plaza.
During a birthday lunch for my girlfriend’s mom, I put my trust in the family to order for me at La Sazón de Mila. This is not a place you’ll find on TripAdvisor, but it’s well worth the hunt.
Four Caribbean women cooking inside the stall crowded with customers was a good sign. Then came the swarms of food. There wasn’t even enough room on our table for all the dishes, drinks, and condiments that the women piled in front of us.
Our starter was, by a good margin, the best dish I had during my time in Colombia. The huge caldo de pescado (fish stew) was a mix of simple citruses and herbs with yuca, plantain, and fish bits that all somehow combined to make flavors I had never tasted before. We then feasted on whole fried tilapia and a side of mazamorra, milk with maize grains that is eaten with a spoon like baby food.
As unspectacular as all these dishes may sound in style, they deliver incredibly impressive taste.
That’s really what Colombian cuisine and culture are. There are these common ingredients that you see everywhere in Latin America, but it’s the mixture of them all together in such an audacious amount for a cheap price that makes Colombia special.
These are foods so unpretentious and yet so natural to the environment here that it makes ad phrases like “artisan” and “farm-to-table” sound hilarious and obsolete. We’re talking about simple grains, simple proteins and a solid amount of fruits and vegetables that produce delicious results.
That’s why some of the best foods here, like in anywhere in the world, are made at home. A lunch at my in-laws’, a home with a back alley entrance in a neighborhood adjacent to Pablo Escobar’s old stomping grounds that used to be the most dangerous area in the city, was another simple but fantastic meal.
“Look at Michael being so humble,” Jacque’s aunt said to the family as I eagerly took down a huge bowl of reheated red beans, rice and the always delicious chicharrón.
This was the word – “humilde,” or “humble” – that people kept bringing up to me in Colombia, as if I was constantly being tested as a Gringo to see how stuck up or conceited I was.
Michael Krumholtz/The Tico Times
Colombia has improved, to be sure, in terms of street violence. But this is still a third-world country where a lot of people have very little. The working wages here are terrible, which is why everything for foreigners seems so cheap.
When I was in Medellín, it marked the beginning of the government’s planned peace deal with the notorious FARC, whose soldiers had begun to hand over weapons and reintegrate back to society, marking the supposed end to a 50-plus-year civil war.
The city strongly opposed the peace deal during last year’s nationwide vote, which rejected the deal before President Juan Manuel Santo pushed it through a subservient congress. Many here remain skeptical that peace will come or that the government has the capability to effectively ensure it.
On the verge of another hopeful era that marks a supposed end to a separate type of violence, Colombia’s often bloody history seems to be entering a more stable stage. Perhaps nowhere in the country is as representative of that turnaround as Medellín. A place once synonymous with images of bodies covered by bed sheets and countless flows of cocaine is redefining what it should be known for.
It’s no secret that it has suffered, but instead of trying to rewrite history or suppress an ugly and bloody past, it wears the scars with a blunt deference. When the friends I met here talked about Pablo Escobar or the decades of violence, they commented in very matter-of-fact ways, neither insulted that the subject came up nor trying to promote the cartel leader as a gimmick.
This whole place feels like a song waiting to be written. Neighborhoods that once made “bad neighborhoods” from other cities look like Disneyland now teem with Colombia’s great excesses of food and dance. A people and a city that have been to hell are the ones that ultimately know how to really enjoy the good times.
For me, it is the perfect Latin American city.
Coming to Medellín, I had heard a lot of hype about how great the city was. This constant praise came not just from my girlfriend, who will admit her hometown bias, but from North American travelers and Costa Rican friends that had come here and loved it.
It’s not just how surprisingly good the food is or how willing the people are to share their culture, or even how much there is to do here. It’s all of that coming together at once that makes Medellín beautifully contradict any of the preconceived thoughts people have of it.
To answer this question we have to first look at the definition of both terms.
A valley is defined as an elongate depression of the earth’s surface usually between ranges of hills or mountains, that is longer than it is wide. It can have a river flowing thorough it.
On the other hand, a canyon is a “ deep” narrow valley with “steep sides” and often with a river or stream flowing through it.
The city of Medellín is located in a steep valley with the Medellín River flowing through the center of it. It is one of the most populous valleys in Colombia and its Andean Region. Notice that the word steep is mentioned several times. This term is important when differentiating between a valley and canyon.
The city has a large number of homes and neighborhoods scattered and perched all over its slopes. There seems to be more homes located on the inclines than on the flat bottom of the valley which is bisected by the Medellín River.
José María Córdova International Airport is the second largest airport in Colombia in after El Dorado International Airport in Bogotá. It is located in the city of Rionegro, at an altitude of around 7,000 feet and a 45 minute drive south-east from the city of Medellin.
The trip to or from the city’s airport requires a very steep climb or descent. When I visited Medellín for the first time I distinctly remember my first view of the city from high above as my taxi travelled down a winding mountain highway. The minute the city popped into view for the first time it resembled a sea off lego-like brick colored buildings which was mind boggling to me. The bird’s eye view was imposing with the city in the distance far below. It was almost like looking down on Medellín while traveling by airplane.
Whether Medellín in located in a valley or large canyon is debatable and really not that important but I find it an interesting topic to write about. The city has become one of the the most desirable expats havens because of its year-round spring-like climate, affordability, culture and friendly people.
On March 5, Gobakingrates.com came out with its ranking of the cheapest – as in most economical – countries to live in the world. The compared 115 different countries and determined that India is the cheapest country, but hep in the right mind would want to live there considering the distance from North America and many other issues.
In Latin America Mexico is the most affordable, however you can’t equate the costa of living with personal safety. Mexico has some of the most violent cities in the world.
Colombia is ranked as the 20th most affordable country to live in the world. Medellín offers almost all of the amenities of home, a year-round spring-like climate, friendly people and a whole lot more.
Live in Colombia Tours offers one-of-a-kind exploratory tours for those who want to visit Medellín and learn all about moving there. A valuable seminar by the local experts is included. At the conclusion of the tour you will have all of the information and contacts to move there successfully.
If you are you struggling to make ends meet, you could do what most people would suggest and put together a comprehensive budget to ensure that you’re carefully tracking your spending. But, based on the results from the latest GOBankingRates study, you could be overlooking a potential solution: moving to a different country. Colombia just might be the country you are seeking.
Simple, the cost of living can be much lower outside the United States, Canada or Europe. So if you’re really that fed up with the high cost of living the place you call home, moving elsewhere could solve your problem.
The study scored five different metrics that measure affordability: the local purchasing power index, the rent index, the groceries index, the restaurant price index and the consumer price index.
If you’re looking for a new place to call home and you’re ready to think outside the box, the study’s results provide a range of options.
Here are the 20 cheapest countries to call home, with No. 1 being the cheapest (Latin American countries are highlighted):
1. India
2. Saudi Arabia
3. Pakistan
4. Tunisia
5. Zambia
6. Ukraine
7. Mexico
8. Egypt
9. Bangladesh
10. Macedonia
11. Romania
12. Algeria
13. Bosnia and Herzegovina
14. South Africa
15. Malaysia
16. Georgia
17. Bolivia
18. Nepal
19. Moldova
20. Colombia
Methodology
Using information from online pricing database Numbeo.com, GOBankingRates assessed foreign nations to determine which were the most budget-friendly. Measuring each against prices found in New York City, we weighted and ranked countries based on these key affordability metrics: 1) Local purchasing power index: Measures the relative purchasing power of a typical salary in the country. A lower purchasing power buys fewer goods, while a higher purchasing power buys more; 2) Rent index: Includes typical home rental prices in the country; 3) Groceries index: Includes typical grocery prices in the country; 4) Cost of living index: Includes costs of local goods and services, such as restaurants, transportation and utilities; and 5) Restaurant price index: A comparison of prices of meals and drinks in restaurants and bars.
Tens of thousands of Colombians died in the U.S.-backed war on drugs. But after an official about-face on marijuana, Colombia is looking to exchange gun-toting traffickers for corporate backers in a bid to become the Saudi Arabia of legal pot.
The new industry is budding here on the outskirts of Medellin, where Pablo Escobar moved marijuana in the 1970s before becoming the “King of Cocaine.” Fifteen years after his death in a last stand with the law, cannabis plants are blooming in the emerald hills beyond the city, this time with the government’s blessing.
Test plants thrive at the new cannabis cultivation and processing center of the Colombian subsidiary of Canada-based PharmaCielo, which is set to launch commercial sales and exports in the coming months, in Rionegro, Colombia. (Anthony Faiola/The Washington Post)
“You are looking at history,” beamed Camilo Ospina, the lab-coat-wearing chief innovation officer for PharmaCielo Colombia Holdings, gesturing like a showman before a sprawling greenhouse of pungent cannabis plants. His company is one of a fast-rising number of corporations seeking to leverage the “made in Colombia” label in a new age of legalization.
“Our advantage is that the Colombian brand already has a mystique,” he said. “We want to intensify that, so that the Colombian cannabis you already know — the Punto Rojo, the Colombian Gold — is the cannabis you want to buy.”
Colombia is still a hotbed of illegal drugs: A report last year from the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency showed Colombia as the source of 92 percent of cocaine seized on U.S. soil. And after 18 years and $10 billion spent on Plan Colombia, the U.S.-funded effort to counter cartels and coca farmers, cocaine production here is at all-time highs.
Yet when it comes to marijuana, Colombia is taking a new tack: If you can’t beat ’em, regulate ’em.
Two years ago, the country passed a landmark law legalizing medical marijuana for both domestic use and export, laying the groundwork for the new industry. The government started handing out the first licenses to grow, process and export medicinal cannabis in September and has approved 33 companies so far. Legal growers such as Canadian-owned PharmaCielo are now raising test crops for upcoming product lines, with the first commercial sales and exports slated for the coming weeks and months.
Becoming the world’s supplier of legal cannabis won’t be easy. The biggest potential market, the United States, remains closed off, with even states that have legalized use banning cannabis imports. Yet an increasing number of other countries, including Germany, Peru, Italy and Croatia, are seen as fast-developing export markets for medical marijuana.
Canada and the Netherlands, on the cutting edge of the legal pot business, have started to meet that demand, with several companies already exporting domestically cultivated crops.
But Colombia, officials here say, is the logical place for the industry’s future.
With a climate well suited to the surprisingly fragile cannabis plant, the country supplied most of the illicit marijuana consumed in the United States during the 1970s and ’80s — a dubious crown it later lost to Mexico. As more countries approve some form of legalization, Colombia is bent on recapturing its global dominance, albeit through export licenses and customs procedures instead of clandestine shipments in the night.
It amounts to a sea change in thinking. Rather than part of the problem, marijuana is being viewed as one solution to Colombia’s struggle against illicit narcotics — particularly coca leaf, the building block of cocaine. Perhaps it is time, authorities say, for coca farmers to start seeing legal marijuana as a potentially lucrative substitute crop.
“The message is, go the legal route with marijuana,” said Andrés López Velasco, head of Colombia’s National Narcotics Fund, the government agency overseeing legal cannabis. “You can keep your know-how, your knowledge of how to cultivate. But do it legally.”
Not everyone is convinced.
Some local authorities in the regions where companies are poised to start growing commercial marijuana remain cautious. They fear that cultivation of stronger strains popular with recreational users, which are also permitted under the rules issued in September, may undermine the image of the budding pot industry as purely pharmaceutical.
Other critics insist the government is sending a negative signal to children, while rekindling the image of Colombia as the world’s factory for controlled substances.
“By saying it can be commercially grown and has a medicinal use, we are telling our children not only that marijuana is not bad but that it’s actually good for your health,” said Rafael Nieto, a former vice justice minister and conservative politician. “I’m sorry, I just don’t believe that.”
Nevertheless, here in the foothills of the Andes, Colombia is seeding the future of a new — or rather, old — industry.
In 1986, Colombia decriminalized small-scale growth for personal use, allowing the cultivation of up to 20 plants. President Juan Manuel Santos pressed for medicinal legalization on a commercial scale as early as 2012 and hailed the 2016 legislation as a major leap of progress.
The nascent industry here still faces hurdles.
Some form of medical marijuana is now legal in more than a dozen nations — with recreational legalization close in Canada, and a reality in Uruguay and U.S. states including California. But it remains illegal in most places.
“Convincing foreign governments to allow imports” will probably be the biggest challenge for growers, said Bethany Gomez, research director for Chicago-based Brightfield Group, a market research firm.
Still, the global trade in legal pot is expanding, with some experts predicting that the market could be worth $31.6 billion by 2021.
At least some local farmers, especially indigenous groups that have long dallied in small-scale marijuana farming at the behest of drug traffickers, are seizing the chance to go legit.
“This is our chance to be part of a legal system,” said Ariel Huetio, a community organizer who represents indigenous farmers in the western state of Cauca. They’ve struck a deal to produce and supply cannabis to FCM Global, a Medellin-based company that has set up a production facility 27 miles southeast of the city. “This is our chance to say no to the wrong people and yes to the right ones.”
A Canadian company, Khiron Life Sciences, expects its first harvests in Colombia later this year. Its plan: Sell the cannabis through branded clinics in Colombia, then export the concept across Latin America and beyond, becoming a sort of farm-to-table marijuana dispensary.
“We don’t see ourselves as drug dealers,” said Alvaro Torres, Khiron’s chief executive. “We’re a pharmaceutical company.”
To keep things on the up and up, the new regulations for commercial marijuana here strictly limit access to legal farms and impose measures — including genetic testing — to prevent illegally grown cannabis from filtering into the legal market.
TSome companies, such as FCM Global, have gone a step further: opting to grow only weaker cannabis strains while refraining from the stronger ones popular with recreational users.
“I lived through the Escobar years. I lost friends during those years. And when I see the TV shows that glorify that guy, it makes me sick,” said Carlos Velasquez, FCM Global’s chief executive. “What we’re doing with medical marijuana is totally different. We want no part of that past, any of it.”
Colombia’s second and third largest cities both ranked among the top 10 South American “destinations on the rise” in travel website TripAdvisor’s Traveler’s Choice awards for 2018, with Medellín coming in first overall.
In its rankings description, TripAdvisor highlighted the security and reputation gains that Medellín has made over the past decade. “Once infamous for dangerous gangs and drug activity, Medellín has been transformed,” wrote TripAdvisor. “It’s now a vibrant destination for travelers seeking a culturally rich vacation.”
Photo: Medellín is known as the City of Eternal Spring and features stunning landscapes in central Colombia. (Credit: Jared Wade)
In addition to the oft-cited safety improvements, the tourism information provider highlighted the physical beauty of the Antioquia capital nestled into Colombia’s central Andean mountain range. The massive rock formation called Piedra de Peñol in the nearby town of Guatapé was also listed as a top travel draw.
“Medellin rises proudly from the belly of the Aburrá Valley, and its natural beauty makes a perfect setting for hiking, zip-lining, and horseback riding,” stated TripAdvisor. “Travel through lush jungle to Piedra de Peñol, then climb the 740 steps to the top — a journey within a journey that rewards you with unforgettable views.”
Cali, the third largest city in Colombia, ranked ninth among the continent’s on-the-rise destinations. The website noted the Cauca capital’s golf courses and adventure sports offerings in addition to the the salsa scene that has made Cali a dance mecca in Latin America.
“Cultural attractions in Cali reflect the area’s rich indigenous history and European influence,” wrote Trip Advisor. “Visit an archaeological park to experience tombs, ruins, and cave paintings, or celebrate with the locals at a cultural festival. Show off your salsa in a lively nightclub, then spend the next morning recovering with an aromatic cup of that famous Colombian coffee.”
The destinations on the rise list for South America is dominated by Colombia, Brazil, and Ecuador, which collectively took four of the top five spots and seven of the top 10.
The full list ranked as follows: (1) Medellín, Colombia; (2) Brasilia, Brazil; (3) Curitiba, Brazil; (4) Recife, Brazil; (5) Asuncion, Paraguay; (6) La Paz, Bolivia; (7) Salta, Argentina; (8) Guayaquil, Ecuador; (9) Cali, Colombia; and (10) Cuenca, Ecuador.
No South American locations made the overall global top 10, although Costa Rican capital San Jose did finish sixth overall to give Latin America one representative.
The full global list is as follows: (1) Ishigaki, Japan; (2) Kapaa, Hawaii; (3) Nairobi, Kenya; (4) Halifax, Canada; (5) Gdansk, Poland; (6) San Jose, Costa Rica, (7) Riga, Latvia; (8) Rovinj, Croatia; (9) Nerja, Spain; and (10) Casablanca, Morocco.
In a statement, TripAdvisor said that it selects the “destinations on the rise” based upon “year-over-year increase in positive traveler review ratings for accommodations, restaurants and attractions, and increase in search and booking interest from October 2016 to October 2017.”
One day while walking down the street in Medellín I started a conversation with a total stranger. Although I speak Spanish with native fluency he was quick to notice that I was not from Colombia because of my Costa Rican accent. He asked what I was doing in the city and told him that I was starting a relocation tour business for North Americans who were exploring the possibility of moving there. He congratulated me and wished me success. The topic then shifted to Colombia’s and specifically Medellín’s image abroad. He remarked that the country’s reputation had demonized by Hollywood and the news media. I could not agree more.
In the 1900s Medellín was one of the most violent cities in the world because of the fighting among drug cartels and the government. On top of that, at the same time, there was a war raging against the guerrilla insurgency in other parts of the country. Well now, everything has changed for the better. Las FARC, the largest guerrilla group, and the government negotiated a cease-fire and appear to be on the road to a permanent solution. A much smaller group of insurgents called the ELN, are negotiating with the government at present. The hope is that the worst is behind with the future will be bright.
Nowadays Medellín a booming urban center and selected as the most innovative city in the world. A completely different place thundering its notorious past. In January 2018 International Living magazine named the city one of the top five retirement destinations in the world. Indeed Medellín has made remarkable strides in in recent years.
As for violence and crime, no society is crime free. Unfortunately, Utopia does not exist in this mad world. Yes, criminal groups still produce drugs but life goes on and tourists and expats are really not affected. For instance, look at Italy. Despite having a well-rooted mafia, tourism and daily life still go on. The bad guys are not interested in tourists or foreign retirees. The U.S. Is the biggest consumer market for illegal drugs in the world which fuels crime. Has tourism and people moved to American stopped? Hell no! Life continues normally. The bad guys are interested in distribution and protecting their territories and not hurting innocent people. With the gun violence in parts of the U.S., you are much safer living in a city like Medellín. There have been no mass shootings against innocent people there.
Regarding safety in Colombia,”The biggest danger is that you’ll like it so much, you may not want to return home.” I have never felt threatened while in Medellín and certainly would not recommend anyone moving there if I thought for an instant that it was dangerous.
On Live in Colombia’s one-of-a-kind Relocation Tours, prospective expats can see for themselves what it is like to live in Medellín. For more information see: www.liveincolombia.com
I just read an article posted on the Medellín Guru’s website that compares the city of Medellín, Colombia with Costa Rica. Both are the most desirable relocation destinations in Latin America in my opinion. However, it very difficult to compare a city with a whole country. That’s like comparing apples and oranges. A much fairer and more realistic comparison would be to compare Medellín and Costa Rica’s Central Valley since both have a similar topography in that they are both located in mountain valleys.
Medellin, Colombia
First I would like to point out that I lived in Latin America for almost 50 years and have visited every country except for Paraguay. I studied in Mexico and hold advanced degrees in Latin American studies and Spanish linguistics. Although I live in Costa Rica and am a citizen here I have visited Medellín on numerous occasions while doing extensive research.
For the last 30 years, I have conducted relocation/retirement tours to Costa Rica and other countries in the region. I am proud to announce that starting in 2018 I will begin conducting one-of-a-kind Exploratory Relocation tours to Medellín for those who want to move there.
San José, Costa Rica
Taking all of the above into consideration I think that I am more than qualified to provide an object review of both areas as places to relocate. I will address each of the points in the in the Medellín Guru’s article individually. I have not included the whole article but only excerpts of each topic with my take on the situation.
Medellín Guru: International Living ranked the country of Costa Rica as its fourth-best foreign retirement location in 2017, which is ahead of Colombia that was ranked number five. Christopher Howard: International living has a vested interest in the countries that they rate above Costa Rica and Colombia, so their opinion is slanted and really not objective. Furthermore, they get a lot of attention because they have a tremendous marketing machine.
Medellín Guru: Many retirees in Costa Rica choose to live in the Central Valley of Costa Rica, which is the area surrounding the capital city of San Jose. Other expats choose to live near the water and the Guanacaste province on the northwest Pacific coast is popular with expats. And other expats choose to live in other parts of Costa Rica. Christopher Howard: Costa Rica offers more choices for living in different areas: Central Valley (Escazú, Santa Ana, Heredia, Atenas, Alajuela, Grecia and San Ramón), San Isidro (to the south), and the Northern, Central and South Pacific beach areas. From the Central Valley, most beaches can be reached in a matter of hours by car or bus. On the other hand, to visit Colombia’s beaches you have to take a flight from Medellín or be willing to spend countless hours on a bus.
Medellín Guru: . In my opinion, both places have their pluses and minuses. No place is perfect. Christopher Howard: Correct
Now let’s look at the 20 categories.
1. Cost of Living
Medellín Guru: . Apartment properties I have seen in San Jose, Costa Rica tend to rent or sell for about 35-50 percent higher prices than similar properties in Medellín. And sometimes even higher. I have seen some rental properties with 60 percent higher prices in San Jose compared to similar properties in Medellín. And property prices in Costa Rica can be even higher along the coasts. Christopher Howard: Yes, I agree 100 percent.
Medellín Guru: However, you should also factor in taxes into the cost of living. Colombia has a higher IVA tax than Costa Rica, which is included in the prices of goods sold in stores. And Colombia taxes the worldwide income of residents, while Costa Rica only taxes localincome.Christopher Howard: True
2. Climate
Medellín Guru: It’s a tie in this category but… Christopher Howard: Both places (Medellín and the Central Valley) boast spring-like weather. So, it is quite possible in most cases to live without air-conditioning or heating. The rainy seasons are different, with Costa Rica getting more rain in the afternoons during some months.
Medellín is in a deeper Valley and has a population of almost 5 million people. There are 5 million in all of Costa Rica. What does this equate to? A lot of pollution in Medellín. The breezes in Costa Rica’s Central Valley limit the pollution.
3. Healthcare
Medellín Guru: Medellín wins Christopher Howard: but Costa Rica has excellent health care, too. More expensive than Colombia but still affordable when compared to the U.S. Medellín has seven of the top hospitals in Latin America while Costa Rica only has one according to the Medellín Guru. Hospital Cima was excluded as was the new Hospital Metropolitano. Both should be on the list. Medical Tourism is big in both countries.
Good healthcare is a very important category for retirees. And Medellín wins this category due to having seven of the best hospitals in Latin America.
4. Traffic
Medellín Guru The two places arguably tie here. Waze conducted a survey in 2015 that ranked Costa Rica as the eighth worst country in the world to drive in. And Colombia was ranked 13th worst in the world. Furthermore, another survey by Waze last year ranked Medellín and San Jose as two of the worst cities for traffic in Latin America. Christopher Howard: Agreed but strange with Medellín’s excellent Metro system that the traffic is as bad as it is.
5. Public Transportation
Medellín Guru: Medellín wins here. Medellín has a modern metro system, which is the only rail-based metro system in Colombia. And it has been in place for over 20 years. Christopher Howard: Agreed. San José needs a Metro to link the suburbs and neighboring cities.
6. Safety
Medellín Guru: Costa Rica wins here. Costa Rica generally has lower crime rates than is found in the city of Medellín. Christopher Howard: Agreed. Both places are much safer than many areas of the U.S. with NO mass shootings.
7. Pollution
Medellín Guru: It is arguably a tie here. The World Health Organization (WHO) previously reported that Medellín is ranked #9 in a list of the 10 most polluted cities in Latin America. Christopher Howard: Don’t agree.
Costa Rica, in general, has less pollution than Medellín. However, Costa Rica and San Jose, in particular, has a big problem with volcanic ash. The Turrialba Volcano near San Jose erupts on a fairly regular basis. Twice when I visited San Jose the city was coated in volcanic ash. In general, Costa Rica has less air pollution than found in Medellín. But Costa Rica has a problem with volcanic ash. Christopher Howard: Don’t agree. The problem with the volcanic ash is sporadic with the worst happened almost two years ago. The emanation of volcanic ash cannot be controlled. Pollution can be reduced. Medellín has many more people than San José which contributes to the pollution.
8. Travel Access to North America, Europe, Latin America and Colombia
MedellínGuru: Costa Rica wins here by the skin of ti’s teeth. Christopher Howard: The bottom line you can fly non-stop to many more international locations from San Jose’s Juan Santamaría. From Medellín
‘s airport, there are non-stop flights available to Fort Lauderdale, Miami and New York (JFK) in the U.S. In addition, from MDE you can fly non-stop to Madrid in Europe. Both places are easily accessible.
9. Things to Do
Medellín Guru: The two places arguably tie here. Both Medellín and Costa Rica have many things to do. Christopher Howard: I agree. But as the Medellín guru states, “Colombia is a much larger country than Costa Rica. So, there is obviously a much bigger variety of things to do throughout Colombia.
10. Restaurants and Nightlife
Medellín Guru: Medellín wins here. Medellín is a much larger city with a metro population of about 4 million. While San Jose’s metro population is only about 2.2 million. In fact, Medellín’s population is about 80 percent of the population the entire country of Costa Rica, which is about 4.9 million. Christopher Howard: Agree but the Central Valley’s nightlife is good and there is something for everyone to do to stay busy and happy.
11. Currency
Medellín Guru: It’s a tie here. Christopher Howard: The bottom line is that the cost of living is about 30-40 percent less in Colombia. But it all boils down one’s lifestyle.
12. Taxes
Medellín Guru: Costa Rica wins here. Christopher Howard: I agree because as the Medellín Guru points out, “Costa Rica can be considered a tax haven for foreigners with incomes in another country as tax residents in Costa Rica are only taxed on local income. While in Colombia tax residents are taxed on worldwide income.But as the Medellín Guru points out,” In addition, with the much lower cost of living in Medellín it is possible that even if you have to pay income taxes in Colombia, your total cost of living including taxes can be lower in Medellín than in Costa Rica”.
13. Job Opportunities
Medellín Guru: Medellin wins here. Medellín is a much larger city with nearly double the metro population of San Jose. So, clearly, there are many more job opportunities in Medellín. Christopher Howard: Partially agree but more and more foreign countries are creating outsourcing work in Costa Rica.
Bottom line: As the medellín Guru states, “But there aren’t that many work opportunities in either city for foreigners. This is particularly the case if you don’t speak Spanish fluently. Fluency in Spanish is typically required for the best jobs in both Colombia and Costa Rica. In both Medellín and Costa Rica you can find English teaching job opportunities if you are a native English speaker. However, the pay for English teaching isn’t the greatest in either city. And competition is fierce, particularly in Medellín. But there are more English teaching jobs available in the larger city of Medellín”.
14. Education Options
Medellín Guru: Costa Rica edges out Medellín here. Costa Rica reportedly has over 60 universities and five of these are public. And Medellín has a smaller number of universities, as it is reportedly home to less than 40 universities. Both places have many education options. But since Costa Rica has more universities and more Spanish language programs it edges out Medellín in this category. Christopher Howard: Agreed.
15. Internet Availability and Infrastructure Reliability
Medellín Guru: Medellín wins here. “Both Medellín and Costa Rica have a high-speed Internet of up to 100 Mbps speed available. But the infrastructure for Internet, power, and water tends to be less reliable in Costa Rica. Furthermore, the highest speed Internet in both places will normally be available only in the newest apartment buildings. In older buildings, you may be limited to lower speeds. In general, the infrastructure is more reliable in Medellín and services are less expensive. So, Medellín beats Costa Rica in this category”. Christopher Howard: Agreed but the Internet is improving in Costa Rica. Especially around San José. I use it to run a business and have no complaints.
16. Economic Freedom, Ease of Starting a Business and Corruption
Medellín Guru: Medellín edges out Costa Rica here. Since both places are in different countries it is good to compare the countries in terms economic freedom and ease of starting a business and corruption when considering them as places to live.Since Colombia is ranked with a freer economy and is ranked a bit easier place to do business, Medellín edges out Costa Rica in this category.Christopher Howard: Agreed.
According to the Medellín Guru: “The Heritage Foundation ranks countries in terms of economic freedom. It ranks Colombia as a “moderately free country”. It ranks Colombia #37 out of the 180 countries it ranks in terms of economic freedom in the world. Heritage Foundation also ranks Costa Rica with a “moderately free” economy. It currently ranks Costa Rica #65 out of 180 countries in terms of economic freedom. So, Costa Rica’s economy is considered to be less free than Colombia’s economy. In Costa Rica, excessive government bureaucracy continues to discourage dynamic entrepreneurial activity. Furthermore, it is much more difficult to do business in Costa Rica than in Colombia. The World Bank ranks Costa Rica #61 out of 190 countries in the world in terms of ease of doing business. In comparison, Colombia is ranked #59 in terms of ease of doing business. So, if you are looking to start a business this will be a bit easier to do in Colombia”.
“Corruption is found in both countries but corruption is somewhat more prevalent in Colombia. Colombia is ranked #90 out of 176 countries in terms of corruption perception by Transparency International. And Costa Rica is ranked #58”.
17. Shopping
Medellín Guru: Medellín wins here. “The largest mall in Costa Rica, City Mall, located in San Jose is smaller with about 330 shops. You can’t find many of the large scales malls like are found in Medellín in the smaller city of San Jose. Medellín has more Western-style malls and more shopping options than the smaller city of San Jose in Costa Rica. The largest malls in Medellín include El Tesoro, Los Molinos, Mayorca, Oviedo, Premium Plaza, Puerta del Norte, Santafé, and Unicentro.
Christopher Howard: Partially true: Malls are springing up everywhere in Costa Rica. The Guru obviously didn’t visit Multiplaza Oeste in Escazú. The bottom line according to the Medellín Guru is that Medellín has many more and larger malls and more shopping options that are found in San Jose or the smaller cities and towns in Costa Rica. So, Medellín wins in this category but not by that much. Both places offer excellent shopping. Many hard-to-find products can also be shipped from the states through one of the private shippers which exist in both countries
18. English Proficiency Levels
Medellín Guru: The two places tie in this category. ” In both cities, you will frequently find some English speakers in hotels and nicer restaurants. And even a few of the taxi drivers and shopkeepers in both Medellín and Costa Rica speak some English. Also, executives at larger companies in both cities typically are bilingual.I have seen some publications claim that most people speak English in Costa Rica. This is simply not true in my experience”.
Christopher Howard: I do not agree. More people speak English in Costa Rica, especially the young people who need it for jobs and have been brought up watching TV shows in English. I have a degree in linguistics and am quick to notice the growing number of English speakers here. I have many English speaking expat friends in Medellín and all of them state that Spanish is a necessity because not many Colombians speak English well.
Was the Medellín Guru says, “The bottom line is that some Spanish is needed in either Costa Rica or Medellín? Or you will need to depend on someone bilingual”. Christopher Howard: The more Spanish the better.
19. Expat Community
Medellín Guru: Costa Rica wins here.” Costa Rica has nearly 13,000 expats from the U.S. and nearly 2,000 from Canada and the UK living in Costa Rica. Likely up to half of those expats live in San Jose, the largest city in Costa Rica”. Christopher Howard: I agree but the stats are incorrect. There are around 50,000 English-speaking expats living full or part-time in Costa Rica with the majority of them in the Central Valley. I am 100 percent sure of this figure. Costa Rica has the highest number of American expats proportionately than any other foreign country in the world!
Medellín Guru: “The entire country of Colombia has nearly 19,000 expats from the U.S. and over 2,200 expats from Canada and the UK living in Colombia according to International Organization of Migration. But a majority of those expats living in Colombia likely live in Bogotá, which is the largest city and business center in Colombia”.
“The expat community in Medellín is likely much smaller and unfortunately there aren’t statistics for Medellín. However, I would estimate there may be less than 4,000 expats from North America and Europe living in Medellín. In addition, the expats in Medellín are less noticeable in the much larger city of Medellín”.
20. Ease of Getting a Visa
Medellín Guru: The two places arguably tie in this category. Wrong! Colombia and Costa Rica both have a number of visa options and the visa processes for both countries are fairly straightforward. Christopher Howard: I don’t agree. The process is much more difficult and longer in Costa Rica (see below). Bureaucracy is always a pain in the butt wherever you are.
Both Colombia and Costa Rica have retirement (pension) visas with relatively low-income requirements. In addition, both countries also have investor visas with lower investment thresholds than many other countries.
Costa Rica’s retirement visa requires a minimum retirement/pension income of $1,000 per month. On the other hand, in Colombia you $738 USD. The Colombia retirement visa fee is $282 USD including the processing charge, which is similar to the visa fee as in Costa Rica.
The process takes considerably longer in Costa Rica and typically require more paperwork like a criminal background check. A lawyer has to be hired and the cost of hiring a lawyer for a visa in Costa Rica is typically between $600 to $2,000 per person. Very expensive!
Colombia streamlined its visa process a couple years ago and you can apply online and approvals are now relatively fast, typically in a week or less.
The Bottom Line: Medellín vs Costa Rica
As the Medellín Guru states,” The bottom line in our Medellín vs Costa Rica comparison is that the best place to live is the best place to live for you. Everyone has different priorities. The only way to know which place is the best for you is to spend time there”. Christopher Howard: I could not agree more.
As he states, “If having a lower cost of living, better healthcare and having good public transportation was your most important categories, then Medellín would win for you. And if having a bigger expat community, having better flight access to North America and Europe and being more of a tax haven, then Costa Rica would win for you”.
“Both of these places in our Medellín vs Costa Rica comparison have their pluses and minuses. The Medellín Guru prefers living in Medellín due to it having a low cost of living, good healthcare, and good public transportation”.
Christopher Howard: I love both places but they are very different as I alluded to at the beginning of this article, so it is really hard to compare them. For now, I choose to live in Costa Rica because I have a family and home here. My main relocation business is also headquartered here. Nevertheless, I recognize many golden opportunities await me in Medellín, so together with my associates, we have started a branch of my relocation business there. Who knows? Perhaps I will end up living part or- full time in Medellín Le’s see what the future holds.
Fernando Botero a famous figurative artist known for obesely bloated and oversized depictions of people and animals. His signature style is known as “Boterismo”. Botero’s works can be found in more than 50 exhibits in major cities worldwide including New York and Paris. He has been bestowed with accolades including the First Prize in Painting at the prestigious Salón Nacional de Artistas in 1958, at the age of just 24. He was also given the Lifetime Achievement in Contemporary Sculpture award by the International Sculpture Center in the USA, which recognizes his significant contributions to the medium. Some of his work command selling prices in the millions of dollars like his bronze sculpture, Dancers that fetched more than $1.7 million US dollars at a Christie’s auction.
Botero was born in Medellín on April 19, 1932. His paintings were first exhibited in 1948 when he was 16 years old. He held his first one-man show two years later in Bogotá. He lived in New York in the 1960’s and then relocated to Paris in the 1970’s. In recent decades, Don Fernando has lived most of the time in the latter but spends one month a year in his native city of Medellín.
In 2004, Botero turned to the overtly political, exhibiting a series of drawings and paintings focusing on the violence in Colombia stemming from drug cartel activities including the famous “Death of Pablo Escobar” pictured here.
The same year he donated 23 bronze sculptures to an outdoor park in front of Museo de Antioquia that became known as Botero Plaza. More of his sculptures can be found in Medellín’s Berrio Park and San Antonio Plaza nearby.
All of the Sculptures at Botero Plaza may be seen at this excellent site: https://medellinguru.com/plaza-botero/
As part of Live in Colombia’s Medellín Exploratory Tours, our guests will visit Botero Plaza as well as other famous landmarks around the city while they gather a plethora of information about living here.
Although many of Colombia’s well-educated people speak some English, the majority do not.
So what does that mean for an English-speaking foreigner who is going to relocate there?
Anyone who seriously plans to live, retire or invest in Colombia, especially Medellín, should know some Spanish — and the more the better. They should at least try to obtain minimum level Spanish survival skills in order to handle most daily situations they will encounter.
Frankly, anyone will be at a disadvantaged and be considered a foreigner to some degree without a basic knowledge of the language Part of the fun of living in another country is communicating with the local people, making new friends and enjoying the culture. Speaking Spanish will enable you to achieve these ends, have a more rewarding life, and open the door for many new and interesting experiences. Knowing a little Spanish can also save you money when shopping and, in some cases, keep people from taking advantage of you.
Most foreigners who come to Colombia will find it hard to understand the locals and communicate with them. Even native Spanish speakers will have a difficult time with the local slang. Like English, Spanish is very idiomatic. In Colombia, everyday conversations are filled with local jargon called Colombianismos.
To make learning even more confusing, in Antioquia the locals use the paisa dialect. This regional variation is spoken in Antioquia (Medellín). Paisa people speak Spanish with a distinct Castilian sounding “S”. Paisa uses also vos for the second person singular pronoun. But don’t worry about this now.
Many diminutives are also used quite frequently. Beginners should not worry about this either.
Future articles will cover all of the above and introduce slang to help demystify and make the learning of Medellín-style Spanish easier for the neophyte.
* Those who participate in our one-of-a-kind Medellín relocation tours will receive a FREE copy of, “Christopher Howard’s Official Guide to Colombian-style Spanish,” in addition to “Christopher Howard’s Official guide to Discovering Medellín Relocation.”
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