Living well in MEDELLIN Colombia on a low budget, our monthly costs | RETIRE EARLY, EXPATS, NOMADS

[@Kilcrops1985]

Paying $2 for a coffee in Colombia is no bargain, that's insanely expensive

[@miguelalvarezmartinez3012]

Yeah, you're right

[@edisongil1222]

Not really, most places in Laureles and El Poblado charge $2 USD for a cappuccino

[@soulspirationgoddess]

Well Where I live it’s like $6.50 minus the tip so I’ll take it 😂

[@kevtorry]

Calma had a quick shot of their prices at 0:54, was 7.4 COP about 1.80 USD

[@germansalazar5480]

What a lovely couple ! So glad you’re happy in Colombia ! I hope you enjoy every second in our country !

[@RobandTali]

Thank you 😊 😍

[@melissareece8656]

My daughter moved from NYC to Medellin 2 yrs ago..I just got back from visiting her for a month. Loved it! Im only 55 but she keeps trying to convince me to retire early and move there..lol. Loved going jet sking in Quatape and fell in love with Jardin too. ❤

[@RobandTali]

So pleased you loved Medellin… there are great benefits to retiring early!!!

[@hardstyle8184]

Yes… I’m from Los Angeles… went there for a week last December 2024… end up staying there until April. I didn’t want to leave. The city has a unique energy to it. It’s just so awesome and I can’t wait to get back there again and I plan on living there. This video just got me yearning to get back down there

[@RobandTali]

@hardstyle8184 we hope you get to live there again

[@melissareece8656]

@@hardstyle8184 Im from California too! I wish I could have stayed 4 months...but going bcak again in the spring 😁

[@RobandTali]

Enjoy your trip back, hopefully you can find a way to stay longer

[@Ohcrapswithdavid]

$1700 is way too much for Laureles. Great content though

[@luicastillo8630]

Not only are they being charged too much but, in the process, they are making it more difficult and unaffordable for future visitors. The landlord is taking advantage of this couple, 1000%!!

[@mikelugo848]

I was there 2 weeks ago and a big problem is foreigners are being charged way too much in renting

[@Livselexir79]

Please 3.000 dollar is not in any way low budget

[@muchit3629]

Paying $1,800 a month in a place where the minimum salary is like $300 a month means you paying a whole year salary for just two months of rent. Maybe they are using an Airbnb which would be like $60 a month but definitely was surprised when they came to that. May have missed something.

[@gds7777777]

Their increase cost of living for all the locals to by overpaying

[@muchit3629]

@@JamesD-iw6pr What do you consider basic logic. I just said $1,800 a month rent is equivalent to half a year salary on minimum wage. Lets bring that to the US, Mcdonalds pays say $15 a hour and at 2,080 hours a year that is a little over $30,000 annual salary on minimum wage so half a year of that is $15,000. If a Saudi or Emirati national came to the US and paid $15K a month for an apartment would that be considered low or high. Most people with basic common sense would say that is expensive. The only basic logic lacking is yours because youtube is for the masses not elites. Also, you say there is no such thing as a universal low or high budget, economic statistics are created based on local economic realities. Why do you think a lot of cities and citizens are pushing back and enacting restrictions on foreigners who use income arbitrage to push local rent prices high. It has happened in Portugal, Spain and many other places.

[@samuelwilliams7331]

1800 on rent was pretty surprising.

[@Dud-in9iu]

They are 100% getting gringo priced. A local would pay max $1,000/month for the same. The owner saw that they are the classic foreigner gringo and took advantage of them.

[@AhmedAhmed-uj2dq]

You do know the average salary in the country is like $500 a month right?

[@ianpatrick23]

Thank you so much for this amazing look into life in Medellin

[@RobandTali]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@christopherpaul9319]

Nice video. Maybe they meant they paid $2 for coffee ☕️ AND croissant 🥐. Or $2 for 2 coffees. Obviously they are paying for an Airbnb at that price (@$60/night). Normally that place would be $600 to max $800 per month. The $4 beer was steep too. But the place was geared more toward foreigners. It surprises me how expensive the gym memberships are. $23 is not cheap. LA Fitness runs a promotion for $24/mth in the USA for nationwide membership including a guest. $34/mth normally with nationwide guest pass so they are getting ripped off there as well at $23 each per month. They could easily be living for less than $2,000 USD month for same quality of life in Medellin without skimping.

[@heathermcclean7408]

Such a beautiful city! Thank you for upload-- great content! I used to live in Costa Rica for several years... planning a move to Medellin in 2025 (with my 100lb dog and cat!!) XoXo

[@RobandTali]

We hope the move goes well and you and the crew enjoy living there too

[@hardstyle8184]

Provenza y Poblado ciudad. I really fell in love with the city

[@RobandTali]

Almost everyone we have met who has lived in Medellin has loved it too

[@MiLLzyGoDdaMn]

How much money do you spend a month

[@Jimmyhickey90]

I imagine youre paying so much for rent because it was furnished. But anybody looking to live in Colombia on a budget, you can live very comfortably on 1500 per month in any city thags not Medellin/Cartagena

[@RobandTali]

Yes, it was furnished and listed in airbnb. Thank you for sharing the information on other areas of Colombia

[@JuanGArangoTV]

Hope you are still there. WIll love to move there in the coming months.

[@RobandTali]

@@JuanGArangoTV enjoy your move… we are in Bali at present

[@davidkyle2073]

Awesome to discover your video this morning from our new apartment in Laureles. I experience the budget expenses a little different than yours but appreciate your experience. Be great to meet you guys some time. How long are you here?

[@RobandTali]

Thank you, we are traveling around the world and have left Colombia, but will definitely return. We hope you enjoy your time in Laureles, how long are you staying?

[@joeE-kt8of]

expensive if you comparing to southeast asia

[@MauricioGarcia-ow5pt]

it is not just the money is the culture, some Asian countries are cheap but the culture is completely different and boring...

[@jorgegarcia-qs2tp]

They are paying the gringo prices. Cost of living is much cheaper.

[@AveGuy1]

Do the locals try to rob or kill tourists?

[@RobandTali]

We didn't experience any issues and everyone we met was friendly. Like any big city we were conscious of who was around us and did not go to a dangerous suburb. I have read that the dating scene can be dangerous with news reports of people getting drugged, robbed or killed

[@gregstephens2339]

@@RobandTali I have been all over Colombia. Don't wear bling and get drunk with strangers.

[@alfonsoparrado3112]

How noisy is laureles? Can you sleep at night?

[@RobandTali]

Hi, where we stayed was quiet and peaceful, no problems sleeping at night. Most of the nightlife in Laureles is around carrera 70 which will obviously be noisy at nightime.

[@Ellisdurell]

$250 a month on the sting out and drinking is hard to do coming from a western lifestyle. It’s definitely gonna take time to adjust.

[@courtenaymckee7491]

Welcome to Medellin!

[@RobandTali]

Thank you, such a welcoming and inspiring community

[@maxx0531]

Love your energy, guys - you're fair dinkum legends! ;)

[@RobandTali]

Thank you

[@neilpalmer7023]

Hi Guys , Just came across your vlog, love your laid back style and detailed info. Not sure if you’ll respond as this vlog is 3 months old ? I liked your apartment in Laureles can you share more info. Was it an AIRBNB , and if so can you share more details of the name of the site please , Tks.

[@RobandTali]

Thank you. We found the apartment on Airbnb. Here’s the link for the listing www.airbnb.com/slink/j1FSCRQ8

[@Theobroma-p3n]

Only $35 for coffee? You coffee amateurs!

[@RobandTali]

😂

[@CARACAS1]

The bulk of your expenses is the accommodations...definitely very expensive because you are tourists

[@karenhancock8553]

Fantastic video. Can't believe how inexpensive it was. Thanks for showing us such a great variety of things to do, yummy food and experiences. Looks like a terrific quality of life at low cost

[@RobandTali]

Thanks Karen, glad you enjoyed the video :)

[@christopherpaul9319]

Maybe they meant they paid $2 for coffee ☕️ and croissant 🥐. Or $2 for 2 coffees. Obviously they are paying for an Airbnb at that price. Normally that place would be $600 to max $800 per month. The $4 beer was steep too. But the only place was geared more toward foreigners. It surprises me how experienced the gym memberships are. $23 is not cheap. LA fitness runs a promotion for $24/mth in the USA for nationwide membership including a guest. $34/mth normally with nationwide guest pass so they are getting ripped off there as well at $23 each per month. They could easily be living for less than $2,000 USD month for same quality of life in Medellin without skimping.

[@intramotus]

Great video -

[@RobandTali]

Thank you, we hope it’s helpful

[@eduardomaciasplaschinski]

Hello Tali, Rob, many thanks for sharing your experiences and detailed information. I have 2 quick questions. How was the internet at the apartment and mobile? Do you have speeds and was there any downtime? Regarding your apartment, could I contact them directly and perhaps save the 3rd party booking fees? Any other good places to stay we can contact? (I guess that's more than 2 questions 😅) . Cheers!

[@RobandTali]

Happt to answer more than 2 questions 😊 internet was very good in the apartment and our mobiles. No down time. We were able to stream Netflix and upload our KZbin videos. Here is the link for our airbnb: www.airbnb.com/slink/jKCPQhuC

[@RobandTali]

We mostly use airbnb for stays over a week

[@eduardomaciasplaschinski]

Awesome. Thanks to you both. Enjoy.

[@jasielgarcia5398]

This guy is getting gringuito prices. You require negotiating finesse to live with a truly low budget in medellin. They need to dominate spanish and they can bring that cost down easily by 1,000 per month.

[@Actlikeyourdreams]

Cheerz from Auckland New Zealand 🇳🇿 YOU THE MAN 🫵😎 Gosh Im Jealous need to Visit Medellin 🇨🇴🇨🇴🇨🇴 Enjoy God blessings ☝️

[@RobandTali]

Thanks. Hope you get to visit one day :) We also loved the coffee region around Salento, a must see !!

[@orlandomodeno7567]

You have to 👀 Colombian national team play ⚽️ while in Colombia. Nothing like it because 🇨🇴 people are so passionate about their ⚽️.

[@RobandTali]

Yes that would be amazing ⚽ 🎉

[@thibpen]

Gentrification Af

[@Bobster0007]

wow nothing cheap about living there.

[@devildog3799]

Yes, as a couple, the way to move to Colombia. Not as a single middle aged man 💀

[@truebrit3578]

More nonsense from the ‘Sell overpriced apartments to Gringos’ industry. On food costs $550 for two for a month? Double that. Anything imported is expensive, tinned tomatoes for example $6 a can, good bread - not from a factory -$5 and all those fresh healthy fruits? Because transportation is so difficult much of the produce is not in good condition by the time it arrives at the supermarket and rarely lasts long. Pork is cheap, chicken fatty but not much more than the US, beef so expensive they now put tags on it at the supermarket to stop it being stolen. My experience, ten years in Medellin and my wife’s family have a farm. Of course you could eat like a local, a diet that results in some of the highest colon cancer rates around.

[@malin7919]

Appreciate the video but this is the place where the odds of getting kidnapped or robbed is extremely high. Travel advisory for Colombia is level 3 which means reconsider travel.

[@RobandTali]

Thanks. Yes safety is super important and always a priority consideration for us and checking the government travel advice is a must before travel as situations can change. We found the UK government advisory site useful as it has a breakdown of higher risk areas to avoid within Colombia. www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/colombia. To share our experience and hopefully help people wondering about safety, we felt safe in the areas of Medellin we lived in and the places we visited. People are getting on with their lives and enjoying the lifestyle and there are many foreigners in the areas where we were. Like in any large city, being alert to what is happening and who is around you is important.

[@jeffschueler1182]

Hmmmm, I’ve lived here in Medellin for a year and a half with nary a problem, and I live far away from the gringo areas. Perhaps there is a correlation?

[@jeffschueler1182]

@@JamesD-iw6pr Exactly. These videos refer to those who come here to party, consume cheap drugs and indulge themselves sexually. The vast majority of us come to Medellin to live in peace and harmony and to respect our new culture and behave ourselves.

[@snakeeyes5638]

​@@jeffschueler1182I love your response ❤ Much respect 🙏🏾

[@Dud-in9iu]

Most of the problems involve men trying to get drugs or sleeping with prostitutes. Western media leaves that part out when they report crimes b/c they want to steer people away from Latin America.

[@natalias8305]

They looks silly