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Post by scumbuster on Dec 28, 2015 6:12:23 GMT -5
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Post by barrumundi on Dec 28, 2015 8:52:18 GMT -5
"Let’s be honest. Retirement abroad is not for everyone. A totally new environment. Distance from relatives and long-time friends. Culture clashes. Health care issues. Language barriers. But it’s also possible to enjoy a higher standard of living at a lower cost in foreign locations of natural beauty, appealing culture and great charm."
I don't agree with this part: "also possible to enjoy a higher standard of living"........but an interesting article.
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Post by Deleted on Dec 28, 2015 10:25:51 GMT -5
Colombia's EPS is supposedly 1.6 billion USD in debt due to corruption---
A higher standard of living---depends on what one considers a higher standard of living---
Eating arepas and avocado is not a higher standard of living --- (no different than eating tamales and avocado in Texas)
a 250,000 peso a month rental apt is not a higher standard of living
Good beef in Colombia costs the same as in the states --- Typical Colombia beef is tough as rawhide-- even using a good steak knife dulls the blade and still remains a chore --
Good salami is imported ---
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Post by gallito on Dec 28, 2015 12:30:38 GMT -5
"good salami is imported"
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Post by Deleted on Dec 28, 2015 18:06:31 GMT -5
Any good food in Colombia is imported, even fruit like grapes, apples and oranges. And that only Uruguay accepts expats in their national healthcare system is not true at all. Colombia and Costa Rica does too, and who knows how many other countries. Interesting that Australia and New Zealand has such ridiculous requirements for retirees.
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Post by barrumundi on Dec 28, 2015 18:13:45 GMT -5
Also USA does not have a pensioner visa.
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Post by Deleted on Dec 28, 2015 19:12:22 GMT -5
Most people retire in Third World countries for economic reasons, others because of relationships. It doesn't make economic sense for the great majority of North-Americans or Australians to retire in overseas First World countries except maybe Spain.
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Post by suba on Jan 2, 2016 12:58:30 GMT -5
These surveys are nothing more than space fillers. Finding good original content is the bane of all editors nowadays and so anything with nice pics, a bit of editorial that means the editor doesn't need to commission a photographer and a serious journalist, is used regardless of the nonsense actually promoted.
How does one define "best" for Gods sake? Best to me (coming from a cold climate) could be a beach in the Caribbean, best to an Aussie is probably as far away from a beach as possible. It's all nothing more than personal preference until you define "best", best value, best five star restaurants, best hookers, best skiing, best in terms of isolation, best casinos, best schools, best beer... and so on and so forth.
Nothing but cheap content for lazy editors.
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Post by elexpatriado on Jan 3, 2016 8:29:51 GMT -5
Colombia's EPS is supposedly 1.6 billion USD in debt due to corruption--- A higher standard of living---depends on what one considers a higher standard of living--- Eating arepas and avocado is not a higher standard of living --- (no different than eating tamales and avocado in Texas) a 250,000 peso a month rental apt is not a higher standard of living Good beef in Colombia costs the same as in the states --- Typical Colombia beef is tough as rawhide-- even using a good steak knife dulls the blade and still remains a chore -- Good salami is imported --- Well Colombia may not be cheaper than the Southern US, but WAY cheaper than in Canada. would be paying 2 and a half times the rent I am paying in Canada for this Estrato 6 furnished apartment in any major city in Canada, where I would be unemployed (because there is no work) and frozen (because the climate sucks). And a meal in the best restaurant is still half of what it costs in Canada. Taxis and buses one third the cost. Air flights, less than half,apples to apples, if you book ahead.Domestic services about 20%, dentistry 20%. Healthcare costs here, but you dont have to wait in line.And it will only get worse in Canada with all these Tax and Spend Socialist government the "useful idiot" voters seem to want to elect.
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Post by gallito on Jan 3, 2016 18:26:07 GMT -5
elexpatriado "Well Colombia may not be cheaper than the Southern US, but WAY cheaper than in Canada. would be paying 2 and a half times the rent I am paying in Canada for this Estrato 6 furnished apartment in any major city in Canada, where I would be unemployed (because there is no work) and frozen (because the climate sucks). And a meal in the best restaurant is still half of what it costs in Canada. Taxis and buses one third the cost. Air flights, less than half,apples to apples, if you book ahead.Domestic services about 20%, dentistry 20%. Healthcare costs here, but you dont have to wait in line.And it will only get worse in Canada with all these Tax and Spend Socialist government the "useful idiot" voters seem to want to elect" Yes,most of this represents the views of many expats who are eager for a change especially males.Back home they're just another old fart.They come from broken marriages;kids couldn't care less...they don't see themselves sitting in a mall playing keeno and wasting retirement in a boring environment.Canada has a lot going for it,nature,lifestyle and quality of life but its winters are not easy on the bone.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 3, 2016 23:17:42 GMT -5
I basically like living in Colombia, you can pick your climate and it's a man's world here unlike the States where some mouthy woman has more rights than you do and can cause you all kinds of grief. The general dishonesty of the Latinos gets to me some times and I became a very distrusting and cautious person and their capacity for noise gets on my nerves too. I also miss my guns and being able to go to the range practicing, but for me the positives out-way the negatives here. If only my kids and 3 year old granddaughter weren't so far away.
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Post by gallito on Jan 3, 2016 23:55:18 GMT -5
Leaving family behind is tough that's what holds us back.If you're alone it may make it easier.
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Post by elexpatriado on Jan 4, 2016 15:16:12 GMT -5
elexpatriado "Well Colombia may not be cheaper than the Southern US, but WAY cheaper than in Canada. would be paying 2 and a half times the rent I am paying in Canada for this Estrato 6 furnished apartment in any major city in Canada, where I would be unemployed (because there is no work) and frozen (because the climate sucks). And a meal in the best restaurant is still half of what it costs in Canada. Taxis and buses one third the cost. Air flights, less than half,apples to apples, if you book ahead.Domestic services about 20%, dentistry 20%. Healthcare costs here, but you dont have to wait in line.And it will only get worse in Canada with all these Tax and Spend Socialist government the "useful idiot" voters seem to want to elect" Yes,most of this represents the views of many expats who are eager for a change especially males.Back home they're just another old fart.They come from broken marriages;kids couldn't care less...they don't see themselves sitting in a mall playing keeno and wasting retirement in a boring environment.Canada has a lot going for it,nature,lifestyle and quality of life but its winters are not easy on the bone. What the Foch is Keeno?When I am back in Canada I am either skiing (usually the back country steeps) , rock climbing, high altitude mountaineering or something similar when I am not visiting my family. Keano, tiddly winks, curling,shuffle board, even golf? They can push me off a cliff before I am at that stage. I love Canada, but cant afford to live there, dont like the Politically Correct bullshit politics and general " feeling of entitlement" society, and of course, no young hotties running around willing to date a sagggy balled, wrinkly assed old fart.
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Post by elsoachuno on Jan 4, 2016 15:19:54 GMT -5
I read a recent blog written by a retired couple who visited Colombia last December.They gave an itemized list of expenses. Colombia, on $39 USD per day;47 day total; ($2,250 USD) for the two.That figure includes all food, travel, accommodation, booze, and entertainment.
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Post by scumbuster on Jan 4, 2016 15:42:11 GMT -5
I read a recent blog written by a retired couple who visited Colombia last December.They gave an itemized list of expenses. Colombia, on $39 USD per day;47 day total; ($2,250 USD) for the two.That figure includes all food, travel, accommodation, booze, and entertainment. That sounds pretty good. The hotels must have been pretty cheap. That probably was a good portion of the $39 a day.. on dividing $2250 by 47 days it comes out to $47.87 a day.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 4, 2016 16:07:46 GMT -5
Living on a fixed income per month works if one is disciplined enough to do so --however if one's partner is a wife ---that discipline soon becomes irrelevant-
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Post by Deleted on Jan 4, 2016 18:35:14 GMT -5
Created new thread
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Post by elsoachuno on Jan 4, 2016 18:47:28 GMT -5
I read a recent blog written by a retired couple who visited Colombia last December.They gave an itemized list of expenses. Colombia, on $39 USD per day;47 day total; ($2,250 USD) for the two.That figure includes all food, travel, accommodation, booze, and entertainment. That sounds pretty good. The hotels must have been pretty cheap. That probably was a good portion of the $39 a day.. on dividing $2250 by 47 days it comes out to $47.87 a day. Here's a breakdown for accommodations;seems pretty decent and I like the fact that they took a gamble and couchsurfed. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Accommodation: We stayed with couchsurfing hosts while in the city of Medellin. This was for several days when we first arrived in Medellin, and for several days before we departed. But we had a difficult time finding suitable couchsurfing accommodation during our travels while in Colombia. So we stayed in hostels and inexpensive hotels. Always with a private bedroom, but sometimes shared bathrooms and common areas. So while our couchsurfing was free, we paid for 39 nights. Total cost was $995 CAD ($725 USD) for our accommodation. An average of $25.50 CAD ($18.60 USD) per paid night. If you include the free couchsurfing nights, our average cost for accommodation was $21.10 CAD ($15.40 USD) per night.
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Post by flynnflanagan on Jan 4, 2016 20:18:50 GMT -5
A crock pot is hard to find in Colombia. If you can get one , do so, it's great for cooking thoes tough cuts of meat. I just did a lomo fino de cerdo (not a tough cut) and made pulled pork. Came out great.
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Post by caliconnection on Jan 5, 2016 12:48:11 GMT -5
I can tell you one place that is not good for foreign retirement: London! I've just got back, and it was more than a little expensive. Might be better for those of you with US$'s. Great time though - but not too good for the bank balance.
Mainland Europe was a little cheaper. All nice places to visit, but I wouldn't want to live there.
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Post by caliconnection on Jan 5, 2016 12:59:47 GMT -5
I always figured $1 million (Canadian $'s) for a comfortable retirement in Colombia. $200,000 to buy some property to live in, and then $800,000 invested for cash flow. I'd probably give up on the idea of ever traveling to Europe again, but would like to travel extensively throughout South America in retirement.
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Post by caliconnection on Jan 5, 2016 13:29:57 GMT -5
Leaving family behind is tough that's what holds us back.If you're alone it may make it easier. That was the toughest part about coming to Canada for me.
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Post by gallito on Jan 5, 2016 13:46:15 GMT -5
I think some of us would miss the perks of living in N. America;skiing,boating...you may actually miss the 4 seasons if you move close to the equator.
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Post by caliconnection on Jan 5, 2016 16:52:34 GMT -5
I think some of us would miss the perks of living in N. America;skiing,boating...you may actually miss the 4 seasons if you move close to the equator. For sure I would. Even though South America would be a great retirement option it's not my first choice.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 6, 2016 0:10:25 GMT -5
Retirement visa income requirements
$2133 for Spain $2000 for Belize, Mexico, Venezuela, Brazil $1500 for Honduras, Dominican Republic, Uruguay $1000 for Guatemala, Costa Rica, Panamá, Peru, Chile $ 850 for Argentina $ 800 for Ecuador $ 600 for Nicaragua $5000 - a one time bank deposit for Paraguay only. Bolivia - No minimum, bank statements for last 6 months to show sufficient income. Cuba - not recommended, complicated and expensive, can't own property, only in Cuban wife's name. Colombia - 3 x Colombian minimum wage, about US$ 700 at present
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Post by barrumundi on Jan 6, 2016 6:53:11 GMT -5
Good list. What is it for Colombia?
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Post by scumbuster on Jan 6, 2016 7:01:57 GMT -5
So is Argentina low because of the strong dollar? I always heard Argentina was expensive..
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Post by Deleted on Jan 6, 2016 7:44:42 GMT -5
Good list. What is it for Colombia? 3 x minimum wage, barru, 689.455 x 3 = 2.068.365 pesos : 3000 = US$ 690 at present exchange rate. After spending hours on this list, how could I forget Colombia... I would not equate these requirements with living expenses as they usually vary greatly from village to capital. Also some countries are trying desperately to attract retirees with low requirements while others have higher income requirements to keep out the NMG's.
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Post by elexpatriado on Jan 6, 2016 7:58:46 GMT -5
I think some of us would miss the perks of living in N. America;skiing,boating...you may actually miss the 4 seasons if you move close to the equator. Foch he 4 seasons.I go back for 6 weeks a year, more than enough.
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Post by elexpatriado on Jan 6, 2016 8:04:14 GMT -5
Retirement visa income requirements $2133 for Spain $2000 for Belize, Mexico, Venezuela, Brazil $1500 for Honduras, Dominican Republic, Uruguay $1000 for Guatemala, Costa Rica, Panamá, Peru, Chile $ 850 for Argentina $ 800 for Ecuador $ 600 for Nicaragua $5000 - a one time bank deposit for Paraguay only. Bolivia - No minimum, bank statements for last 6 months to show sufficient income. Cuba - not recommended, complicated and expensive, can't own property, only in Cuban wife's name. Colombia - 3 x Colombian minimum wage, about US$ 700 at present CG, Can you tell me , what is the requirements for a Retirement visa in Colombia? Do you have to be over 65? Does it have to be from a Government or from a Private Company? Can it be from privateinvestment? I currently have a Rentier Visaand the minimum requirement is way higher. I dont like showing the Colombia Government ow much income I make.
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