Cost of Living in Armenia Colombia S7V1

[@TheGoodwolfe]

Well I understand your reluctance to do these, but still appreciate it and found it very informative. I am tentatively planning on moving to Armenia in late spring myself, and I have found all of your videos since arriving there very helpful as well. I recently found a site with details about acquiring the M11 retirement visa, which was incredibly helpful too. I also appreciate you sharing your honest experiences with us.

[@carminsalgado5532]

Very informative and appreciated, thanks.

[@grancolombia1]

Glad it was helpful!

[@mynickname4884]

Another great no nonsense video, Loren. We arrive in Cuenca next week, but are keeping our eyes on Armenia. We need to get better with Spanish.

[@Indicesproptrader]

So glad I found this channel

[@hjander]

I'm glad your reached a compromise - i.e., providing pricing now and then. I found it interesting; however, absent a dramatic economic event an annual update would be welcomed. A similar title a year from now would help your viewers/subscribers to track/search for annual updates from Armenia. Nice video!

[@reuvencohen8999]

thanks for video !

[@ajaris10]

Sitting on my couch watching your videos.. I haven't lived in Armenia for 25 years so it is cool to hear how much cost of living is if we ever retire there.

[@porridge57]

Thank you for doing a cost of living video, even though you don't like to. Speaking for myself, I really want this information. I am seriously considering making Colombia a part-time home. I am in Medellin right now researching the possibilities. I love Medellin, but am starting to think that I am more a small city person than a large city one. I am going to visit Armenia and Manizales next month.

[@FallofftheMap]

Oh hey, it's the guy that dropped an ever so slightly trollish comment on my Manizales video and then got pissy when I shut him down. I was just browsing and realized I clicked on your vid. I dig this video and how informative it is. I do not understand why you chose Armenia though. It was my least favorite of the cities in the coffee triangle due to the drug/homeless epidemic in the downtown area.

[@grancolombia1]

I wasn't pissy, and you didn't shut me down. You were wrong and unable to reassess and admit it. People like you that blow in for a few weeks and back out and somehow know it all simply arent worth arguing with, since it will never end. You will always need to be right. I make mistakes, and when I do I own up to them. You remain in your ignorance bubble. I was actually trying to help you because I greatly admired the quality of your videos. I watched several. However, now that I know what is behind them. I won't bother, not will I comment further on them. You want to believe earthquakes are a big problem in Manizales, or that there is no good internet, that's fine. I honestly do not care what you choose to think. it is just a shame that you misrepresent the truth to others. But then again so do some others. I don't think yours was out of intention, but rather you based on your impression and a few internet articles and you dug in refusing to think there may be more to it. I chose Armenia for reasons you will never know because of your propensity to make instant judgments. You think something is one way and it becomes your truth. I can go to any city and find what you found if you know where to look. There is much more to the story, but hey, you don't live here so it doesn't matter. Manizales is my second favorite city in Colombia. I neither defend it or protect it. I prefer reality. I also study topics on the internet for videos, but only to frame some questions, as I learned long ago they tend to be inaccurate. I then review the topic with a number of locals to get there take on it, compare it to my experience, and then filter in any internet info that fits. It is never my first source. So let this be the end of our interaction.

[@FallofftheMap]

@@grancolombia1 ok then. Anyway, nice vid and good luck on your channel. I guess we simply agree to disagree on what constitutes a history of seismic activity and what qualifies as poor internet connectivity.

[@WoodyReyes]

Thank you for the great information. Also, is it hard to get a drivers license? I don’t read in Spanish.

[@grancolombia1]

I will answer it on today's Coffee Time LIVE 11 AM

[@larrylaudig5197]

I absolutely love Armenia! The climate is perfect. I am seriously considering retiring and living there. My beautiful wife is from Cali, Colombia, and I love Cali, but it is hot there.

[@grancolombia1]

Yeah if you see my other videos you know I am no fan of Cali at all. And hot is one of the reasons. I would never care to live there. I have been so many times, and am always in a hurry to leave. But if you are from there, there is no place like home.

[@larrylaudig5197]

My wife is from Cali but I am a Hoosier from Indiana and now a Texan. Do you like Manizales? Thank you!

[@grancolombia1]

Manizales is awesome. I lived there a while and did a number fo videos there. I talk about it alot.

[@larrylaudig5197]

Thank you! Just became a subscriber. God willin, I will be retired in ten years and will retire in colombia. I will check out your other videos!

[@jacobishelley851]

Awesome vid

[@papaxxbear]

Brand sneakers sold on the street or in small shops are mostly copies , if you want the originals you gotta go to "centro commerciales" where you find most big stores. Don't know about american prices but its usually in the same range as western european shops. Cheers

[@grancolombia1]

actually, you can tell the copies and the shop people are pretty upfront about it at least in Armenia.

[@papaxxbear]

@@grancolombia1 Yeah i only made a bus stop in armenia but wanna explore for sure. Bought a colombian football shirt in bogota and to be honest i couldnt see the difference. You went straight to armenia to live or you first explored other places before u actually decided to live there? Cheers from belgium

[@grancolombia1]

I lived in Pereira about 16 years ago, and the past few years I was coming in from Ecuador checking out places all over. Of course been to all the major cities and most of the minor ones. I actually don't have personal knowledge of this topic. My niece who was born here is the one that dragged me out to go with her as she bought. We spent all day. She first checked the malls. But that was more for reference. Her mom used to live in Armenia and she called her for info. We then went to the main walking commercial area, again checked this out in about 6 stores. She then went to the "Centro" area with the small stores. I lost count of the places there. She was showing me what to look for. I am sure in large cities the copyright laws are ignored. But here, it seems that either they were marked, obvious, or the salesperson would say. We say a ton of Nike knock-offs. But I could see the difference right away and most had slightly altered logos. She has a tennis shoe collection and seems to really be hell-bent on only buying the best. She ended up buying a pair of Pumas and a pair of Nike. I also saw she was pretty good at bargaining. Personally, I would just go for cheap, but she bypassed all those. She did make a hell of a deal on the 2 pairs she bought.

[@grancolombia1]

I put on over 6 miles that day according to my phone and it was almost all going to various stores. And I hate shopping.

[@grancolombia1]

i knew i wanted to end up living in Armenia because when i lived here some years ago, it was my favorite place and I spent most weekends there. But I also lived in Manizales for a few months last year. Never been to Barranquilla or Santa Marta though.

[@drecavaco]

Very informative

[@junh4562]

Hi, I enjoy listening to ur channel.I am living in Vancouver,Canada. I planned to retire in Cuenca 2021( visited once to check), but horrified with farming using grey water. Thank you so much for your information.Now, I am researching more about Columbia. How is Armenia farming? Can We get organic produce in Columbia? by local Armenian?

[@grancolombia1]

I would suggest seeing Cuenca anyway. Just be aware of the issues, As for Colombia, I have had no issues here at all. not once have I been ill from food. And they have actual legal standards. No greywater. There is some chemical use in some farms, but no international illegal type. In general, they are very careful. You should read a comment I wrote to someone last night on this video: kzbin.info/www/bejne/jWipfmCogtiNaqM

[@charlesdavis7461]

This was great , people like me that want to know costs are cost conscious and just need to see if they could afford to live there. People with money I'd think would not ask since it is of little consequence. I know you have good taste in housing and furniture and those prices were more than reasonable. Oh, you said the lady with the knives looked new, well since I think you would be new also, see if you can do as well as her lol.

[@grancolombia1]

The minimum requirement on a retirement visa is $800 a month, and anyone can live here for that if they budget. If they came with a few thousand to set themselves up, and got 800 each month or more they can live OK. I currently am having to live on 900 and doing ok, i just cant travel yet. In a few weeks. When I first came down to SOuth America 3 years ago, I was making about $4k a month. Its been an adjustment

[@grancolombia1]

Lady with the knives?

[@charlesdavis7461]

@@grancolombia1 She was juggling what I called knives, maybe they are called something else.

[@charlesdavis7461]

@@grancolombia1 Ouch, that is a big adjustment. All my best.

[@grancolombia1]

Ahhhhh the machete. Got it!

[@fao831]

Great video

[@PretzelKid]

Hi, good stuff. How did you decide to stay in Armenia as opposed to Medellin? Or a bigger city? Expats in Armenia?

[@grancolombia1]

Expats in Armenia?... i dont know what that means. but ive done many videos on why I live here. check them out.

[@Charlieperez714]

Great video, makes me wanna buy a apartment

[@bananapatch9118]

Good information. Do you personally find Armenia to be roughly the same cost as say Cuenca, Ecuador ? Why did you choose Armenia out of all the places in Colombia ? Thx

[@grancolombia1]

It is considerably less money to live in Armenia. Maybe up to 40% less. I explained a number of time in various videos actually as to why, but basically I used to come here on weekends years ago, and love the area. Having seen most of Colombia, it suits me the best.

[@meinkapu9899]

My heart goes out to the people of Venezuela.

[@chadmodeste2758]

Definitely. There's a lot of Venezuelans in my country too. Anytime I could help, I help.

[@RM-lg2cm]

Hi! Just one thing you didn't mention the cost-- medical insurance. Please. Thanks

[@grancolombia1]

I have a number of times actually. But it depends on a lot of things. Basic around 37. But if you haven't seen that you have missed a lot of videos.

[@THEGREAT18M]

I would like to visit Armenia , if not by 2021 due to covid restrictions, 2022. Could i contact you for any other helpful tips for a nice trip?

[@grancolombia1]

Sure, but what covid restrictions are you referring to?

[@anthonyvence8029]

When you say you live by Bolivar do you mean by Bolivar Plaza? I am traveling to Armenia in October and am looking for a good area for air bnb.

[@grancolombia1]

Bolivar is the avenue. It is from Centro 14th all the way to north end of town, and where everything is located.

[@anthonyvence8029]

@@grancolombia1 Thank you. I like your videos!

[@jorgenj1]

What about health insurance

[@grancolombia1]

Watch the health insurance videos

[@danifigueroa5023]

Hello my name is

[@nadirrabah6756]

$300 a week over there? (Maybe that's the "median income) I have a friend there that makes $300 a month (minimum wage over there)

[@grancolombia1]

So one friend is what people make? too funny. You dont have a clue yet you comment. I know people in the USA that were unemployed, therefore the "median" income is zero dollars. People don't live on the so called minimum wage. Considering there are almost no gringos in Armenia, who do you suppose buy all the condos and drive all the new cars? Spare me the peanut gallery analysis. You cannot even get a visa on under 800 a month. That is because any less and you would be a burden on people here, with no family to pick up the slack. Last hing I will say is that people dont get paid in dollars here.