It's an exciting city that offers a lot to do. The visa and entry requirements for expats are somewhat different and include a couple of subcategories. Ken Adams is a disabled Vietnam veteran living in Thailand. Be patient. Its hard to find a greener city than Medellin. You cant compare rural Mexico to urban Colombia. An apartment in the centre of Mexico City would cost approximately 1,050 per square metre. That said, I do see myself spending at least two to three months living in Mexico within the next year, probably in Playa del Carmen during the shoulder season when prices are lower, and there arent as many tourists. Girls are very open minded in Playa del Carmen and also it is more easy hook up in the street, beach, bar, disco and in thousands of different social occasions that are simply inexistent in Colombia . Ransom is paid, but victims never come back, their remnains found decapitated, dismembered, and those parts are found stcocked in freezers, in houses of very posh neighborhoods.. It also has a nice year-round climate. Backstreets and non touristy areas. He's travelled and worked in more than 50 countries so far. Sorry for my bad English ? A PROVEN factnot just speculations ! Not the tourists. I have a feeling if I delved into Mexicos regional cultures, Id enjoy them to an equal degree. So many Expats even indulge in a more extravagant lifestyle by hiring house help, for example. Also, there is a peculiarly large amount of Dutch, Spanish, Italian, Brazilian, Jewish, and German communities. The soft, lilting tones of the dialect is just one of the many things you can look forward to when moving to Colombia. Wow !!! If youre moving to Mexico from North America, most (if not all) of your electronics will still work. A small to medium furnished apartment in Mexico City might cost about $500 US a month. Crimes , medellin and Colombia too much unsafe , very dangerous in comparison with Mexico. You will be informing the Internal Revenue Service(IRS) about your departure. After that, you need to apply for a permanent residency visa. Colombia is still unsafe and socially unstable These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. From October through to March it's warm during the day - anywhere from 65-80 degrees Fahrenheit (18-27C). If you dont know this, its because you arent in with the crowd, or wealthy Mexicans. It is what you need to enter Mexico legally. Moving to or from Mexico? The country is bordered by Panama, which divides the two bodies of water, on the northwest, by . In the latter case the company should assist you in getting the visa but they will have to prove . Equifax's . Sohaving said that, visit southern Mexico city and neighborhoods like La Condesa, Pedregal, Lomas de Chapultepec, Perisur, Satelite, Bosques de Echegaray, etc The nightlife there is cooler and hotter (at the same time) and more fun and with more hot girls than anywhere ive ever experienced in the US. This category doesnt apply to me, since I work for myself. Where? Guide to picking the perfect International Removal company, Click here to get a quote from our recommended Expat Health insurance providers, Non-Lucrative Visa Spain >> Easy 2023 Guide, Spain Digital Nomad Visa >> New 2023 Guide, US Expat Taxes Guide How to make it easier, Healthcare in Spain >> Public & Private Care Guide. This visa lets you live and work in Mexico for up to one year. Mexico: In law, a person with a criminal record for DUI from the past 10 years is not permitted to enter Mexico, though anecdotally speaking, people do visit Mexico with DUIs due to the fact that Mexican authorities do not have access to Canadian criminal record databases. The CEPE (Curso de espaol y cultura mexicana para extranjeros) offered by the Universidad Nacional Autnoma de Mxico (UNAM) has a great reputation. Oh, and just in case youre having avocado cravings, fret not, because routinely youll find the local grown fatty fruit just about everywhere, some the sizes of small watermelons, to help get your guac on, or a particularly huge piece of toast! Because Mexico is so close to the U.S.A., many potential residents will . It's . Lived in Both, 6 years in Playa del Carmen Mexico , 5 years in Medellin, Colombia. Not what you would expect going off American Media and pop culture. High season in Playa is December to April (Americans and Canadians), then June/July for Europeans. Submit your porting request through the OpenPhone app. I even so a brush fire along a highway on the way to Guadalajara. Living in Mexico as an American, you can get a higher quality of life at a fraction of the cost. Vamos! These were the main customs regulations when moving to a different country. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. Im mainly talking about the Weather and Scenery points. Mexico has perfect weather and better food, the nightlife is great if you avoid tourist areas. As long as your license from your home country is current, you can use it to drive legally in Mexico. . TIP 3. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website. The truly fun and classy clubs and bars are for the high society of Mexico. Relocating to a new country takes time and planning. Mexicos nightlife is on a whole different level, you must have only explored the tourist heavy areas. Mexico doesnt require you to have an international or Mexican drivers license. No need to search for an immigration lawyer you can trust >>we have done the research for you. ), Family Unity (your common-law partner or spouse is a temporary or permanent resident in Mexico. Colombia. Most American Expats find the cost of living in Mexico to be lower than in the US. Prove a monthly tax-free income greater than USD$2,170 during the past six months. However, because the cost of living in Mexico is 66% less expensive than in the United States, the lower wage shouldn't have too much of a burden on expats' lifestyles. Its too close to be exotic, or so I thought. Tip: Whether youre looking to save money for a vacation, or extended travel, its possible to manage travel funds with separate current accounts. Really? American Expats will feel right at home in Mexico when it comes to familiar US brands. Well help you find the right mover at the best price. COL Luis Sinisterra (Juan Cuadrado) 49th min. I didnt talk to many (any) Mexican girls, let alone go on dates, but from looks alone, I have to give this category to Colombia. 2 Summary of the things to know before moving to Mexico. I.e the logic is that if a guy is over 50 and unmarried, there must be something wrong with him. If you move to Bogot or any city if the interior, you will find cold, gray days and lots of rain with temperatures between 40 and 60 degrees Fahrenheit. For the most part, I just do not want to live in the USA right now. I much prefer to see a place firsthand, and then decide if its somewhere Id like to spend more time. Overall Id say Mexico is FAR cheaper than Colombia in almost every respect. Now that the safety concerns of decades past have mostly been eliminated, Colombia is a compelling country to move. This is a country that sent aid to Europe after WWII, and used to be one of the richest countries in the world. What was your experience as an expat there? Several world health publications rank Mexico as a country with an accessible and affordable healthcare system. Re: Moving to Morelia, Michoacan.. You cannot work (legally) in Mexico without a visa. Peace with Colombias FARC would be good news, but I think most tourists face a greater threat from common street criminals. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. When a newcomer asked if Colombians are friendly, one expat answered, "There are friendly people everywhere in this country. You'll be asked to upload your phone bill from the current provider. I am an Expat , Italian expat , I have lived 4 years in Colombia and 6 in Mexico , another 2 in Ecuador (the worst place in Latin America yes .. forget Ecuador). Let me know in the comments below! If I were to live in Playa del Carmen, Id have to accept much hotter temperatures, and air conditioning. Mexico vs Colombia final score Goals: MEX Alexis Vega (penalty) 6th min. Of course, trouble can happen even in paradise, and when it comes to ongoing drug wars that have plagued Mexico for years, the violent murders that have happened in the country remain in the back of every persons mind who steps foot in the country. You may be able to apply when you are already in Mexico, but only in specific cases, including families and spouses of residents. Using the retirement Mexico visa means you are not allowed to engage in any paid employment. Thanks for introducing yourself. I am taking a 2 week trip in February and have narrowed it down to Colombia or Mexico. Like the story? AND, THIS IS NOT JUST IN THE AREAS YOU MENTIONED, JAKE. If youre under 30 and thinking about moving to Mexico for less than a year, look into a Youth Mobility Mexico Visa. Mexico is safer than the news makes it seem 2. Expats moving to Colombia long-term should purchase International health insurance to access the best hospitals and care. Every street has music, i can say music and God move colombia. If you're moving to Colombia from the USA, you can opt for American, Delta, United, JetBlue, and Spirit, that currently offer direct flights. [redacted] Though there are some towns in Jalisco with very beautiful girls. But the rest of Colombia is very, very inexpensive. Why limit yourself? The card can be applied for 1 one, two, three or four years. The girls there are insanely hot. Great thread. Huge problems ? Whats your next step in moving to Mexico? Youll need some simple documents to begin the process, including: Some of the biggest and most reputable banks in Mexico are BBVA Bancomer, Banorte, Citibanamex, and Banco Santander. Overall, its a close call, but Im giving the edge to living in (Medellin) Colombia. $0.67/one-way ticket. At least not compared to what you get in Colombia with the mix of beaches, mountains, and jungle. Here in Lake Chapalas area State of Jalisco, in Mexicos west/center area, and this is just as a single example, those freezers with their horrifying, macabre contents, have been found in our own neighborhoods, as well as casas de seguridad (houses where kidnapped victimas are kept ) just NEXT DOOR (literally !) (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Copyright 2023 Eureka Expat! Playa del Carmen wins hands down. a) avoid panic b) Not to scare tourists away. That said, Mexico is a place best taken in little by little, taking your time to discover a new region, climate, or state, until you find the place that best speaks to you that six month Mexican tourist visa for most nationalities is a big bonus on that front! After four years of living in Mexico, you can apply for permanent residency. And getting your paperwork sorted is the next essential step. Mexico is huge, and the climate, economy, and residents vary by region and by city. He's an owner and founder of Where Can I Live, a company created to help you share in the joy and opportunity of living abroad. Expats in Colombia offer insightful tips for those moving to Colombia. Id say this was a good assessment having lived in Mexico and traveled a lot to Colombia. This post seems a tad biased. To the degree possible, I always recommend paying for travel (or anything) in cash, versus credit. Minus the tequila, I still cant stand the stuff. to To apply to be a temporary resident, the length of your stay should be around six months. But purely based attractiveness theres no comparison. Perhaps the latter are more accessible because they generally speak fluent english and dating foreigners doesnt carry a stigma for them as it does in Medellin. 3 Some other posts you might enjoy reading: In this post, you will learn how to move to Mexico and what are 8 important things you should know if you're planning to settle down in one of beautiful Mexican cities. We have 5 rivers to water ski in, the best mountain bike trials, clay tennis courts all over town, waves are only 2 hours away and we are getting a surfing pool with 10 foot waves soon, we are ranked as having the highest female population..better than NYC. I arrived in Puerto Vallarta, and traveled across the country, mostly by bus, to Cancun. Note about income requirements: Mexico is making the transition from Minimum Salary (MS) to Unit of Measurement and Updating (UMA) for calculating economic solvency. First steps upon planning a move to Mexico Contact the Canadian Revenue Agency First thing first, you have decided to make a move to Mexico, so inform the relevant authorities. This post was written by Dave and brought to you byLloyds TSB. Asylum seekers walking together as a "caravan" are temporarily detained from entering a highway in the state of Oaxaca, Mexico by Mexican law enforcement officials. Tie. Its interesting too hear what people who have lived in both countries think. The answers to those questions will decide the type of Mexico visa you need. I got to meet the kids from the suburbs and expensive neighborhoods. Using a quality Mexican Immigration lawyer will improve your chances of a successful application and save you time and effort. That doesnt make where I do choose to live any better or cooler than where anyone else calls home. Almost always sunny, never too hot, never too cold, almost no pollution. I would like to take my scuba open water certification which I could probably do in either country. The average person earns less than $8,000 USD per year. At least not compared to what you get in Colombia with the mix of beaches, mountains, and jungle. Leggings x 2. I ate an amazing meal at Pujol, a restaurant in Mexico City recently ranked #17 in the world. Requirements for American citizens Americans, for instance, can usually get the FM3 visa fairly easily. This category is a slam dunk for Mexico. 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