Why 58,914 Americans Live Here (And How You Can Too)

What if I told you that $2,000 a month, just 2,000, could buy you a high-rise apartment, worldclass healthcare, and perfect spring weather year round. And what if that life was just a 3-hour flight from Miami? Welcome to Colombia, the retirement haven 60,000 Americans have already discovered, and you probably haven't even considered. In this video, I'll show you exactly how to move here legally, affordably, and stress-free because I've done it myself. This is the Freedom Files guide to retiring earlier, affordably, and stress-free in Colombia. We're covering everything from the visa you'll need to the cities or pueblo where you'll want to live, how much you'll spend each month, what to expect with health care, and what it actually feels like to live here, having lived here myself for 5 years, and even purchase property here. But first things first, why would you even move here in the first place? In short, Colombia is not the country it used to be. Yes, the 80s and 90s were rough thanks to a a little character we all know, but we'll refuse to mention on this channel out of respect for the Colombian people. They don't like it when we talk about it. But fast forward to today, and Colombia is one of Latin America's fastest growing economies with modern infrastructure, a a thriving and big expat community, especially in Medigene, where I've been based for the last four years, and some of the best healthc care in the region. In fact, 58,914 US citizens have already made the move. So the question is, out of the 196 other options, why are they choosing Colombia? I'll give you four reasons. And number four, cost of living. So your retirement income goes much farther here. In top tier cities like Medigene, which is the city of eternal spring, or Bogotaa, which is an Indian mega city, $2,000 to $3,000 a month covers rent in a modern furnished apartment with mountain views, groceries from local markets, really high quality private health care, dining out weekly, transportation, and even a maid or gardener if you want it. Number three, healthc care. Now, here's where it gets wild. Healthcare. Colombia consistently ranks among the top health care systems in Latin America and famous for its cosmetic surgery and medical tourism industry. Medigene specifically has worldclass private clinics and hospitals, many with English-speaking doctors and costs 50% lower than in the US. All right. Number two, climate. Because the country is located on the equator, Colombian cities don't really have seasons, just rainy and dry times throughout the year. Medigene isn't called La Prima, a city of eternal spring for nothing. You can expect 70 to 80° F all year long. No AC, no heating bills, just sunshine and moderately fresh air. If you enjoy fall weather more, the capital city of roughly 12 million people, Bogotaa has you covered. And if you're more of a beachgoer and enjoy an ocean swim every day, Kartahena, Barancija, Santa Marta, they're all affordable and really hot and humid year round. Now, last, culture and community. So, Colombians are a very, very warm, friendly, and proud people. Whether you're learning salsa in Kali, sipping coffee in Sento, or joining expat meetups in Medigene, you'll feel welcomed. With almost 60,000 US citizens now and plenty of other foreigners in the country, there's never an expat gathering far from where you are. But on the other hand, if you come to Colombia to escape Western attitudes, you certainly can. And I feel this way sometimes, too. All right, so let's get practical and talk about three ways you can move to Colombia legally. Good news, you have several different options, but one I do not recommend. Let's get into it. First, the pensioner visa. This is by far the most popular visa for a pensioned retiree. The pensioner visa is an M migrant visa. If you have a monthly pension or social security income of about $1,000 or more, you can qualify. This visa is valid for up to 3 years, renewable, provided you maintain that visa and continue meeting the same requirements that you qualified for in the first place. Plus, it leads to permanent residency in just 5 years, citizenship 5 years thereafter. In order to apply, you'll just need to prove your income with some documentation translated in a field. Provide a clean FBI background check if you're from the United States, and get private healthcare insurance. Local and international policies are generally accepted. A new stipulation of this visa though is that you don't drain the government's coffers. So you can no longer qualify with a public health insurance policy in Colombia. But again, this is not an issue for most people. Private healthcare plans in the country are extremely affordable. We'll talk about this later in the video. And really high quality. This visa does not require you to buy property or make a local investment. It's just designed for people like you, retirees with reliable monthly income. Okay. Number two, the investor visa. What if you want to invest in the country or buy a home? Well, you can obtain residency at the same time. Kill two birds with one stone, right? If you invest at least $90,000, all cash in Colombian real estate, you can apply for an investor visa. Again, this is an M migrant visa, which can also lead to permanent residency and citizenship on the same path as that pensioner visa. I myself got this visa after I bought a 3-bedroom, 1,200 ft² brand new apartment in a high-rise here in Medigene for roughly 110,000. I told you life is really affordable here. Here's the trick, though. One stipulation of this visa is that you get those funds legally certified when they enter the country. Otherwise, you'll buy a property and not qualify for residency. That's just a complete nightmare situation and I've heard it a lot. So, let us know if you're interested and the Freedom Files can guide you through the process. All right. If you're not quite ready to retire, or maybe you still have remote income from freelance work, online businesses, or even rental properties, Colombia's digital nomad visa is worth a look, too. Here's how this visa differs. The income requirement is just $900 a month, one of the lowest thresholds in the entire world. You heard that right. If you're making even a modest online income, you can qualify. is valid for up to 2 years, but does not currently have a path to permanent residency or citizenship like the two visas that I mentioned before. Here's what nobody tells you. This is absolutely a temporary solution and not what the Freedom Files recommends for Americans trying to establish a life abroad. I know people who get this visa just to see if they like life in Medigene or Bogotaa and Cartahena before committing to something more permanent. And for $900 a month, it's one of the most accessible pathways in Latin America. But permanently, you're out of luck after 2 years and have to upgrade your visa to one of the earlier options. Let us know if you're interested and we can walk you through the application process, help you avoid the common mistakes, and make sure it's the right fit for your goals. All right, let's talk about health care, the thing that most retirees worry about overseas. More good news. You don't have to worry. and Colombia. Their health care system is ranked number 22 in the world, which is higher than the US by many measures. Many clinics operate on a pay as you go system. And there are insurance companies that do not deny coverage based on age. And with a premium private health care plan that costs about $1 to $120 a month, you have access to private hospitals, bilingual specialists, and cuttingedge treatment at obviously a fraction of the price that you would pay in the US. So, let's talk about cost of living. Here's what a typical monthly budget looks like in Medigene, which is one of the most expensive cities here in Colombia. Rent for a one-bedroom apartment in a gray area, I would say about $600 to $1,000 a month, depending on how luxurious it is. Groceries on a monthly basis is about $150 to maybe $250. Utilities and internet, $50 to $100. healthcare and that includes insurance or just cash visits. I would say about $50 to $200 a month and that's the premium premium plans. Dining out maybe three times a week you can expect to pay about $150. Transportation that's considering the Ubers, the DDS which is a Chinese Uber metro systems in the more advanced cities in Colombia about $50 extremely affordable transportation. And then finally, miscellaneous. I would budget maybe another hundred to maybe $300 a month, which brings you to about $1,500 a month all in. Your monthly budget is about $1,500 in Colombia for everything you need. Obviously, you can go way above that. You can go way below that. But if you're talking about getting access to a life that you desire, that you earned for so many years in the United States, $1,500 to $2,500 is really what you're looking at there. So, where to live? Let's break down a few cities you'll want to consider. Bogotaa. If you love big city life with an international feel, Bogotaa is for you. Great museums, fine dining, major cultural events make Bogotaa a really dynamic place to live. Definitely Columbia's most cosmopolitan, most sophisticated city. Similar to like a Washington DC type city, almost two miles in the sky. All right. Medigene, expat favorite. I'm not sure what I would compare this to in the United States. Maybe Austin or Los Angeles with kind of a Midwest vibe. Perfect climate, safe neighborhoods like El Pao and what Kandas called the world's top neighborhood to see. Lales excellent healthcare, lots of social life and the Pises are a beautiful welcoming industrious people compared to the rest of the country. All right. Pereira, Armenia, Manisales. This area is called the Ehe Cafeo, the coffee triangle. Smaller cities with a a slower pace, great scenery, mountainous scenery, and really affordable living. Perfect for nature lovers. And it's becoming a bigger draw with expats lately. Santa Marta, Barancija, Cartahena. These are all beach towns for retirees who want a coastal life. Hotter, way more humid weather, but stunning views and a lively Costeno culture is what they call it. Let me know in the comments which Colombian city you would live in. Medigene, Cartahena, Ehe Cafeo, that coffee triangle. I read every reply and I'll answer your questions there. All right, taxes. But there's one catch I need to warn you about. Colombia taxes residents on worldwide income only if they spend more than 183 days per 365day period in the country. And the tax rates are not friendly. They're a flat 35% for foreigners. The US does not have a tax treaty with Colombia, but based on your finances and your setup, you may qualify for the foreign earned income exclusion in the United States or the foreign housing credit, which can knock off cumulatively about $126,000 per person per year. Don't wing this. Talk to a Freedom Files tax advisor who understands international living, global tax planning, all that kind of stuff. So, let's recap. Why retire in Colombia? $1,500 a month is more than enough. Legal visa options and pathways to permanent residency and citizenship are pretty straightforward. Colombia has worldclass affordable health care, similar weather year round, spring in Medigene, fall in Bogotaa, summer in Kartahena, a vibrant culture, a huge variety of fruits, welcoming people, and you can finally stop stressing about money. Look, you don't have to keep grinding in the US just to maybe afford retirement one day. You don't have to accept that aging means downsizing your dreams. Why? Because there's a better life waiting for you and it's not some fantasy. It's in Colombia. So, the real question is, are you ready to live better sooner? If you're even thinking about retiring abroad in the next 5 to 10 years, Colombia should be on your radar. And not just for the lifestyle, but because the visa laws and costs are changing fast. We help Americans like you every day build their dream life overseas, both much earlier and more easily than they ever expected. You can schedule a freedom consult and we'll show you how to move to Colombia without stress or confusion. Or you can download our free 162page ebook. I don't know why this is free. On how to retire earlier and live better abroad. Talk to you next time. [Music]