Living in Colombia

[LionBacker]

Hi mate,

A 12 month unpaid break from your employer? Unpaid!! Should work, as there is no expense from the company to you being in the pay roll!

I have taken a year off (I live in UK) , and lived in an Asian country. Believe me, that was my best ever decision I took!! Looking forward to take another 1 year to live in Colombia too!!

Want to travel accross the country!

Good Luck.

Yea, I'm going to see if my employer would go for giving a extended break, if that works out then I'm going to leave ASAP.

[Lefeu]

...Do you guys think it's worth leaving a nice comfortable job to travel and date, go to the gym and get back into shape, take salsa classes for a 12-18 months? I've been studying Spanish and getting better as time goes on.

Anyone moved to Colombia and could give me their perspective on this and if it's worth it?

I have not moved to Colombia or any other country, but I would do it in flash if I were in your shoes. As Peter Lynch said (or maybe someone else said it): nobody will say from their death bed: I wish I spent more time at the office.

You will have plenty of time to make up the lost income, but the memory of experience will be with you forever.

[Mike963]

Hi mate,

A 12 month unpaid break from your employer? Unpaid!! Should work, as there is no expense from the company to you being in the pay roll!

I have taken a year off (I live in UK) , and lived in an Asian country. Believe me, that was my best ever decision I took!! Looking forward to take another 1 year to live in Colombia too!!

Want to travel accross the country!

Good Luck.

Hey guys,

I want to quit my job and then move to Medellin for a year. I have enough money saved up so that's not a issues, and I've never been married, or have kids so nothing holding me back except that I am in a comfortable job that if I leave I may not be able to find a good job like that when I come back but if I don't leave I may regret not going in the first place.

Do you guys think it's worth leaving a nice comfortable job to travel and date, go to the gym and get back into shape, take salsa classes for a 12-18 months? I've been studying Spanish and getting better as time goes on.

Anyone moved to Colombia and could give me their perspective on this and if it's worth it?

[LionBacker]

Sounds like a great job, any chance you can remote? Thats been the best part of the shit show called covid, almost all jobs can be done remotely. I haven't been in an office setting in a year, just wish the phils was open!

I can get a remote job in my field, but it's not the same as the job I have now, the I'm also concerned with the idea of just having fun for a year and working on myself. It's sounds kind of irresponsible on my part, as we are told to work hard and save for retirement. I talked to my friend about this issue, and he said "you already made up your mind, you're just looking for validation of the decision", I think he has a point but I'm not sure if it's the right decision.

[Villainy]

Hey guys,

I want to quit my job and then move to Medellin for a year. I have enough money saved up so that's not a issues, and I've never been married, or have kids so nothing holding me back except that I am in a comfortable job that if I leave I may not be able to find a good job like that when I come back but if I don't leave I may regret not going in the first place.

Do you guys think it's worth leaving a nice comfortable job to travel and date, go to the gym and get back into shape, take salsa classes for a 12-18 months? I've been studying Spanish and getting better as time goes on.

Anyone moved to Colombia and could give me their perspective on this and if it's worth it?

So have you checked out the visa requirements? You can come in on a tourist visa for 3 months and you can go to Migracion Colombia and get a 3 month extension but you aren't allowed to stay more than 6 month without some other type of visa. Maybe a student visa if you are willing to sign up at a local university and pre-pay for 6 months of Spanish lessons. You'll need to do some homework if you want to go forward with your plan.

[SethMacfarlane]

Hey guys,

I want to quit my job and then move to Medellin for a year. I have enough money saved up so that's not a issues, and I've never been married, or have kids so nothing holding me back except that I am in a comfortable job that if I leave I may not be able to find a good job like that when I come back but if I don't leave I may regret not going in the first place.

Do you guys think it's worth leaving a nice comfortable job to travel and date, go to the gym and get back into shape, take salsa classes for a 12-18 months? I've been studying Spanish and getting better as time goes on.

Anyone moved to Colombia and could give me their perspective on this and if it's worth it?

Sounds like a great job, any chance you can remote? Thats been the best part of the shit show called covid, almost all jobs can be done remotely. I haven't been in an office setting in a year, just wish the phils was open!

[LionBacker]

Hey guys,

I want to quit my job and then move to Medellin for a year. I have enough money saved up so that's not a issues, and I've never been married, or have kids so nothing holding me back except that I am in a comfortable job that if I leave I may not be able to find a good job like that when I come back but if I don't leave I may regret not going in the first place.

Do you guys think it's worth leaving a nice comfortable job to travel and date, go to the gym and get back into shape, take salsa classes for a 12-18 months? I've been studying Spanish and getting better as time goes on.

Anyone moved to Colombia and could give me their perspective on this and if it's worth it?

[Routard]

Sorry for the noob question but what's ICA? Is it some kind of tax?

ICA is the city tax.

[Radar99]

Yes, it's the so called ICA, but only for companies. It's a % upon sales depending on cities, in Bogota it's around 0. 9%. There is also a tax on real estate, but can't really comment it as I'm not concerned.

Sorry for the noob question but what's ICA? Is it some kind of tax?

[Blue Touch]

Try Big Smile in Tesoro mall.

Hi,

This older Miami guy.

Is in need of complex expensive.

Work--oral surgery & complex.

Prosthetic. Miami dentist & oral surgeons are talking about big money.

Cartagena would be my first choice.

I need a great dental team. English is helpful.

But not necessary.

Please advise.

P.S. My Buenos Aires dentist has left Argentina RC.

Bob.

[Fun Luvr]

Hi,

This older Miami guy.

Is in need of complex expensive.

Work--oral surgery & complex.

Prosthetic. Miami dentist & oral surgeons are talking about big money.

Cartagena would be my first choice.

I need a great dental team. English is helpful.

But not necessary.

Please advise.

P.S. My Buenos Aires dentist has left Argentina RC.

Bob.

My recommendation is go to Costa Rica. IMO, the dentistry there is more advanced than in Colombia. I have used both.

[Miami Bob]

Hi,

This older Miami guy.

Is in need of complex expensive.

Work--oral surgery & complex.

Prosthetic. Miami dentist & oral surgeons are talking about big money.

Cartagena would be my first choice.

I need a great dental team. English is helpful.

But not necessary.

Please advise.

P.S. My Buenos Aires dentist has left Argentina RC.

Bob.

[Eloket]

If you want to live in Colombia, this might interest you: I am selling my company. It's a tecnical oriented BtoB company based in Bogota with clients nation wide, good reputation as we are leader in our market and profitable as we don't have competitors in Colombia. It will give you permanent residency in Colombia as well as incomes to live. Just contact me through PM for more information.

I tried to PM you but your inbox is full.

[Cbmcpa]

Amazing information. Thanks for sharing.

Heading to Bogota next month. Been to MED three times (chasing the dream of a g / f. Didn't happen) . Would be very cool to meet you and get the low-down on the city.

Thanks again!

I guess most of travelling mongers dream of living as a king in a tropical paradise surrounded by pretty young girls instead of a boring life in a sad city with his angry old wife.

I have traveled over 80 different countries before I felt in love of Colombia and decided to settle here. It's of course very personal, but having travelled so much, it gives me some kind of legitimacy when it comes to comparison.

I have my own company here, a good knowledge of the Colombian industrial sector and a good network of contacts. If you have any plans to start a business and need some info or advice, feel free to pm me. I would be glad to help you on the same way as other expats helped me when I started my business.

Colombia has a bad reputation, but I use to say that those who criticize Colombia are those who have never been there. I have never met a foreigner that has visited Colombia and that didn't love the country:

- Amazing diversity in nature, landscape, climate due to huge differences in altitude, Pacific and Atlantic Coast, desert, mountain, jungle..

[Routard]

Routard, what are your thoughts on medical tourism in Colombia (dental, cosmetic), business as a travel agency (sex tourism to Bogot), marriage agency (Colombians to US or Canada)?

Thanks.

Hi,

Medical tourism is allready fairly developped, but yes I guess there is room for a well organized agency to put clients and clinics in contact. Marriage agencys allready exist, but to my point of view it's a disapperaring market worldwide since everybody goes online nowadays to find a partner. Sex tourism, just forget it. Of course there is the Mansion in Medellin and there are a couple of informal guys on ISG that will tour you in the redlight light district in Bogota or Medellin but they don't make a living of it, it's just for fun. As often, a hobby is a hobby, business is business.