Expat Community > Colombia

Aldrich317
Joined 2013
Posts: 8

Full-time Retirement in Country versus Part-time Retirement

10 years ago

Hi,

I am looking into retiring in a couple of years and am exploring several potential international venues for either fulltime or part-time retirement. Medellin is one of the places I’m considering, based currently solely on online research about the country and city, its culture and other desirable amenities. I am planning a visit sometime mid-2014 to get a live perspective, and ‘si me gusta’, a longer stay down the road.

At least initially, I would consider splitting my retirement time between Colombia and the U.S., perhaps 6 or so months in each. Alternatively, I may opt for 3-4 month-long stays in each country.

For those who currently do this, how do you avoid or minimize overlapping cost of living expense? For example…

Housing. In my research, it appears year-long leases are the norm in Medellin, and anything shorter than 6 months hard to find. What are the best alternatives for finding housing for the situations I describe above? I would be looking for furnished apartments in the $1000-1,300 range, in safe desirable areas, offering desired amenities like good views, reliable cable and internet services, and good location. Some questions…

• Is it possible and practical to keep an apartment year round and sublet when out of country?
• Are there apartment rentals by the day, week, month available? How difficult to find, based on my criteria above?
• For unfurnished apartments, are there reliable and cost-effective furniture rental companies, as buying seems impractical if going back and forth 1-3 times annually?
• Are hotels a practical alternative in this situation? Are there good ones in my price range ($40-50 per night) that meet most of my requirements?

Healthcare. Is it advisable and more cost-effective to purchase an international health care policy that covers you in both countries (Colombia and U.S.), or to purchase and cancel policies in each country for the duration of time to be spent in the country (assuming one will split time in 6 month intervals, and not travel back and forth more often)?

Thanks in advance for your input.

Aldrich317
Alan

Cigna Global Health

Get a quote in 2 minutes from our partner, Cigna Global Health.
Get Quote

Cigna Global Health

Get a quote in 2 minutes from our partner, Cigna Global Health.
Get Quote

Living in Colombia Guide

Expats in Colombia discuss the pros and cons of living in Colombia. From the Colombian people to driving to taxes and more. As challenging as it can be, expats in Colombia clearly find that there is a lot to love about a country that is a surprising expat hot spot.

Colombia Forum
Join our Colombia forum to meet other expats and talk about living in Colombia.

Contribute
Help other expats and newcomers by answering questions about the challenges and adventures of living in Colombia.

Best Places to Live in Colombia

If you're considering a move to Colombia, here are the 15 Best Places to Live in Colombia in 2023.

Healthcare in Colombia

Our guide to healthcare in Colombia covers public and private healthcare in Colombia, hospitals, vaccinations, prescription medications and more.

Cost of Living in Colombia

Expats offer insight into the cost of living in Colombia.

Moving to Colombia Guide

With its bustling cities, beautiful beaches and friendly Colombians, Colombia is an increasingly popular destination for expats of all ages. Expats in Colombia offer insightful tips for those moving to Colombia.