Santa Marta Colombia Pros and Cons | Living In Santa Marta

[@HowToExpat]

Which is the best country for you? 🌎 Free Country Test 🌎 www.how-to-expat.com/expat-country-test/

[@6789uiop]

Outstanding vid! Subbed and liked. Santa Marta is my new focus of research. I worry that my 2 quarters of college Spanish might not cut it. Everything else is a great fit.

[@michaelcooke8665]

Santa Marta looks pretty cool what's the real estate like compared to Medellin?

[@gogysmorocho5590]

Do you have the contact for an agent down there?

[@benksy96]

I'm in Santa Marta now. What you say is true... less tourist trap (aside from downtown) but a little more run down. Lots of poverty & beggars around the town centre. Cheaper too.

[@luisjaimegonzalez4592]

I love Santa Marta. Moved here 6 months ago and totally agree with you in the sense that if you are a nature person this city is the perfect place. Regarding the cons, totally agree with the infrastructure and the lack of English knowledge. Thanks for the video

[@FRANCESCORE1982]

hi Luis! I'm planning to move there but I'm worried about internet speed. Did you experienced any issues with it?

[@GangeHrolfr]

I'm wondering too@@FRANCESCORE1982

[@shemusmcquillaide]

Santa Marta sounds quite good. If I have to relocate to Colombia, I will defintely keep it in mind and thats on the basis of this video alone, thank you very much for bringing it to my attention.

[@jayhuang7747]

Dam, those places look so familiar. Live there for 8 years and finished high school there.

[@jeffreyfell4418]

I'm a fan of Santa Marta .. I think you guys were smart to set up shop there. The infrastructure issue you mentioned will be non-existent in 5 years.

[@Ckfree]

Nothing changed haha

[@jeffersonbroady]

Sam, Another great video. Thanks for showing different parts of Colombia, definitely a very diverse country.

[@leonardbritt8945]

Will visit in November but my impression from various KZbin videos was that Santa Marta is not quite as developed as Cartagena. Parque Tayrona has some beautiful beaches though one needs to schedule a yellow fever vaccine prior to going. Even though your videos are oriented toward potential expats, there is still relevant info for tourists.

[@mjmoore777]

Good job Sam in presenting that, I think Santa Marta is a good find and worthy of people checking it out.

[@mikelejeune344]

Always very helpful and informative Sam... from an aspiring expat, I appreciate.

[@rcpeter2023]

Great info and advice, I have always been curious about Santa Marta being Caribbean born.

[@gnolan4281]

Sam, Santa Marta does look like a lovely town. Your comment about its not being overly developed for tourists would attract me. The thing about Medellin I find so compelling is the quality, price and availability of health care. I don't need to travel for medical tune-ups. In just a few minutes I can be at a world class hospital. Still, Santa Marta would make an ideal vacation.

[@justinajones3000]

@g nolan. SM is ideal for vacations, but forget about medical. You have to move in the upper tiers to find a decent doctor. Took me 3 months of asking around to find an optham. surgeon I can trust.

[@gnolan4281]

@@justinajones3000 In less than 5 minutes from my Medellin digs I can walk to a superb dentist, dermatologist, physical therapist and two well stocked pharmacies. Two highly respected hospitals are a short taxi ride away. I walked about 15 minutes to a clinic to get my free COVID vaccinaton.

[@thesilversurfer1071]

@@gnolan4281 Do you know if thats only in Medellin? I love Medellin but am considering Barranquilla to move to because they have a beach and I would like to be close to the water and at a good price, Medellin doesnt have a beach but that medical benefit sounds awesome.

[@gnolan4281]

@@thesilversurfer1071 I understand about the beach being attractive. In my particular case, for 3 decades I'd lived a few minutes from Miami Beach so had quenched that desire often. Temperatures in the Colombian Caribbean basin cities are always a bit too hot and humid for me. Even Miami has a cool season but not Barranquilla. I could take it when I was young because I always contrived to live near breezy Biscayne Bay but for retirement I like Medellin because although the tropical vegetation is nearly the same as South Florida's, the altitude above sea level is the same as Denver Colorado's so it's a lot cooler. You ought to consider a month or so in both places before deciding.

[@thesilversurfer1071]

@@gnolan4281 Thank you for this comment. I'm from Florida also so I understand what you mean. I did not know that Barranquilla doesnt get the cool season like Miami gets. This is great information and I think I will take your recommendation before deciding. Medellin gets hot but like you mentioned, at least you do get your cool breeze and that helps a lot. I love Medellin, so I will need to visit Barranquilla before deciding. I know I dont want to deal with too much humidity on a regular basis, if I am living there.Thanks again.

[@kardensmi7]

Thank you. Very helpful

[@CSMtnBabe]

Loved this video. I am subscribing to your channel. Well done. Thanks!

[@HowToExpat]

Thanks!

[@exstock]

I grew up in Santa Marta in the 80s--I loved it there! It's wonderful to see what it looks like today. Pretty similar, actually, except there's tons more cars now than there were then, and MUCH fewer motorcycles. (The lack of cars back then wasn't so much because of infrastructure; it was more because the layers of bureaucracy and the bribes required to actually get one were out of the range of what most could handle.) Oh, but you left out one huge pro--THE FOOD--and one huge con--it's still a pretty dangerous place for norteamericanos, even though it's much safer now than when I was a kid. But hey, how many people get to learn how to thwart motorcycle jackings by the time they're 6? ;)

[@HowToExpat]

Thanks for sharing! We would have loved to see the Santa Marta from back then. Take care

[@Isaac5123]

Thank you for your input. As I don't want to be living close to the beach are there any rental houses a bit further back and also higher in altitude?

[@exstock]

@@Isaac5123 Wish I could help you, but that was a long time ago! I do remember plenty of dwellings further up, but I couldn’t tell you if they were of a quality you might be interested in. However, I expect there’s plenty to choose from-and rentals are definitely common-so you’ve got a good shot!

[@Isaac5123]

@@exstock thanks anyway

[@DE5337]

@@Isaac5123 minca, bonda

[@johnjohng668]

Bien dicho. Me gusto mucho el comentario. Gracias.

[@michaelmoik8377]

Do you have information on broadband internet speed in Santa Marta (Download/Upload)? Gracias

[@nicholasgaspard4876]

Have you ever been to Cancun or playa de Carmen, it is not expensive to live there at all

[@TheUnitedSardines]

How about renting a house with a garden instead of an appartement?

[@stevebbuk9557]

¿Podría darme más detalles sobre qué tan graves son los cortes de energía y qué tan confiable y rápida es la velocidad de Internet? ¿También dónde encuentro sitios inmobiliarios? Tengo dificultades para encontrar apartamentos para comprar. Could you give me more details on how bad the power cuts are and how reliable and fast the internet speed is? Also where do I find property sites? I'm having difficulty finding apartments to buy.

[@patriciaperez4799]

Love 💕 Santa marta👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻🇨🇴🇨🇦🥰🥰🇨🇱

[@jeffb5166]

All the pretty places they show are Rodadero (near Santa Marta). Santa Marta is dirty, congested and the beach is gross. Minca is getting too congested too. Tayrona is not worth it, save your time for the lost city tour. People were nicer in Santa Marta than Cartagena, and we felt safer, but . . . it's not a beach destination. Rodadero is ok for a day on the beach. He says no traffic, but there definitely is!

[@NicholeRojas-r8i]

I went to Taganga Beach and it was clean, quite and beautiful! K really enjoyed there... The beaches that you mentioned are always full of people.

[@jeffb5166]

@@NicholeRojas-r8i ? I don't mention Taganga, and I only mentioned one beach, Rodadero, and I don't think its a beach worth going to. The whole area is skippable really.

[@cheapAl0]

SM, as mentioned in the video, is still a very Colombian tourist town, rather than a foreigner tourist town. There are dozens of beaches between Santa Marta and the airport that you can't find out about unless you live there. Many much better than Rodero.

[@perezarmstrong6067]

Rodadero is part of Santa Marta, that's my city I have no idea who told you it isn't but is it. It's not like Palomino or another suburb around, it's just as part of Santa Marta as Taganga and Bonda are. Yes, Santa Marta is dirty, but it's still beautiful, it's a third world country man what can we do, the touristic parts are well kept and the downtown is finally becoming clean and beautiful too. I'm honestly proud of the change it has had since I was a little girl living there, I'm sorry you didn't enjoy it, not everyone can like every part of the world haha.

[@perezarmstrong6067]

Also you're completely right about the traffic I'd rather walk from Rodadero to downtown than go on car, traffic is crazy, too many cars in that small of a city.

[@robbwood6824]

I am here in Santa Marta

[@6789uiop]

How is the corona?

[@scottgeen3062]

Hi robb wood am from new Zealand like to visit Santa marta can't speak Spanish will I struggle and are there plenty of girls thank you Scott

[@robbwood6824]

@@scottgeen3062 just have Google translator with you. Plenty of women, but the best are in Medellin!

[@scottgeen3062]

@@robbwood6824 thank you robb for your advice like seafood as well from Scott new Zealand

[@Verysimpleinvesting]

Hi Rob 👋 I’m planning to stay is Santa Marta for 2-4 months. What’s the average cost of apartment. I don’t need anything fancy. Thank you in advance 👋😊

I liked this video a lot! Thanks for showing so many informations! Best wishes from Brazil.

[@ExpatMoneyMoves]

Great insights in to Santa Marta, I love the way you made comparisons to Cartagena, it made it easier to contextualize for me as I have never been there.

[@jeffc7309]

good overview

[@michelfilion5482]

Very good review.,thanks

[@skyhawk2311]

DAMN GOOD video. Truly appreciate it.

[@HowToExpat]

Thanks a lot!

[@Ocean245]

Great video my do you have video on Bucaramanga?

[@AtomicusPrime]

Thanks man. Great helpful video.

[@medict7]

hi, my friend..what about with art in Santa Martha? Thanks!

[@benksy96]

Do you have a Barranquilla video??

[@HowToExpat]

Unfortunately not. We never had the opportunity to visit.

[@greggdiggins2943]

I just bought a hostel in Santa Marta but i am trying to get a flight!

[@justinajones3000]

@Gregg Diggins I live here and don't think Tourism will bounce back until 2023. Hope you got a great deal on that hostel.

[@LM-cl6ys]

Does Amazon deliver directly to addresses in Santa Marta?

[@HowToExpat]

Yes

[@teekayrezeaumerah]

1500$ ?? Wtf ? Are you saying it’s more expensive than life in Europe ? I was checking out apartments and it’s barely 4/500$ a month, what are you doing with the extra 1000 bucks ?

[@andrevandermerwe7326]

$1500...all costs included....apartment, groceries, utilities, etc....total monthly living cost...I live in Barranquilla and visit Santa Marta quite often.

[@6789uiop]

Some things cost more; good computers, cars, phones, western food ... that's actually a low total expenses for a good standard of living if you look at the condos for rent.

[@teekayrezeaumerah]

Andre Van der Merwe yeah, I pay less than that in FRANCE, SPAIN, GERMANY..1500$ is surprisingly high for a developing country.

[@teekayrezeaumerah]

billytheweasel wow that’s a LOT for a developing country. With that kind of spending I’m staying in a developed country with free medical care and better job opportunities

[@davidsantiagoesquivelovied780]

@@teekayrezeaumerah Colombia is a developing country and yet has a better healthcare than the USA, Canada and Germany. About work I think that it is more complicated

[@kengaroo120]

How is the dengue fever and mosquitoes problem.

[@davidsantiagoesquivelovied780]

For that there is the excellent healthcare that the country has, being the best in America above the USA and Canada. In addition, this disease can give you in many tropical countries and even in the north.

[@justinajones3000]

It's here, but if you wear the right repellent you'll be safe. I had dengue when I lived in Brazil but never here. I did however have Chikengona (2014) and Sika (2015) but they mild compared to dengue.

[@viajerozz]

Thanks for good information as usual! Just wondering what your impression of crime level is there vs , say, Cartagena. I wasn't on the beach in Cartagena 10 minutes before witnessing a purse snatching. I am thinking there might be less of that in Santa Marta as it is not so heavily touristed?

[@HowToExpat]

Good questions. I personally felt safer in Santa Marta than Cartagena. I think that the high influx of tourists is part of why the safety of your belongings is more "in danger" in Cartagena. Santa Marta has also more local tourists which also makes a big difference.

[@6789uiop]

Check out crime and rental comparisons on numbeo.com. I use it for many countries.

[@michaelrichmond3315]

How do you get there? Fly to barranquilla and drive?

[@HowToExpat]

There's an airport in Santa Marta, you can directly fly there.

[@seanslattery6366]

The bus from Barranquilla to SantaMarta is about 10$ or less . Confortable bus and Nice 1- 1.5 hour ride .

[@MiC-T]

I think the lack of English speaking is a PRO. Sounds like Santa Marta is pure Colombia. Me voy.

[@Karakulak1071]

también lo creo

[@J.D.Vision]

Can you still live confortably there on $1,500 passive income a month still in 2022?. How's inflation? I'm a single 45yr old man, getting priced out of my home town, and looking for alternatives.

[@plumbingmaster3982]

it seems all youtubers not talking about 35 percent tax on your social security you have to pay to colombia!....mencioned it..very important!!!! not for me i changed my mind to retire in colombia

[@jeffreygonzalez9797]

Any good weed in Santa Martha?😅

[@devbachu7072]

Is it hot like Barranquilla

[@seanslattery6366]

Yup . But the mountain is 30-40 minutes away and comfortable

[@BOGOTAROCKSTAR]

U mean immigrant destination?

[@scottgeen3062]

What girls like Medellin

[@imayokimuhammad7526]

I'm tired of seeing concrete.

[@imayokimuhammad7526]

I want to get out of here this is not living. USA katy texas

[@imayokimuhammad7526]

They us trapped here with there economic system and they create laws to take our wages.

[@imayokimuhammad7526]

I have been in this country for 30 years and unable to move my foot to the left or right and it is because they want it that way.

[@johnjoseph3667]

Any idea how many times in this 12-minute video you said LET'S SAY? Sometimes two LET'S SAYS in the same sentence. It's LET'S SAY a meaningless filler like YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN. Frankly, people who overuse fillers like LET'S SAY in their speech patterns tend to either LET'S SAY lack confidence (nervous/uncomfortable) or intelligence. I have seen enough of your videos to LET'S SAY know that's not the case but it nonetheless nerve-wracking as hell to hear so many times LET'S SAY in one short video. LET'S SAY never adds nada to any sentence or idea. Pls accept this as a friendly suggestion, not LET'S SAY as criticism. Gracias por todo.

[@johnjohng668]

John Joseph so very painful to read what you wrote. It stung. He is young and I enjoyed his talk. I am a teacher and am a stickler for proper speech, but I found him articulate and fluid. English is obviously not his first language, so be kind and give him a break. Ok. Have a beautiful day, friend.

[@johnjoseph3667]

@@johnjohng668 if no one points it out it's an easy thing to get in the habit of...like people who say YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN all the time which drives many folks crazy. I like their vids & yes his English is very fluid & fluent just pointing out so hr can improve. YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN? :-)

[@Alan-jz5ls]

Sometimes it's better off to shut up. It's evident that English is not his first language and this video is not meant for grammar nazis like you to deviate from the topic to point out bullshit that has nothing to do with Colombia

[@lemonlime5865]

I listened to the entire vid and did not pick up on that until I read this silly rant. KMA.

[@MiC-T]

You're off your meds bro. Go away.