The Cost of Living in Colombia is Shocking...

[@pandemicdistresssiren1042]

This is exactly what I want to know. I was looking at the expat community in carteñega now interesting again in Mellidjin

[@dmoscow]

FYI, Sura Health Insurance costs are by age and plan. Clásico last year was around $100 a month (Conversion was better then now. Conversion now would be around $115 when you pay the whole year upfront.). Because I'll be living there permanently this year, I'm getting the top plan Global and its around $166 (year paid upfront) per month but the Global plan is much better. Along with EPS it's around $200 per month for the best insurance by far (you can choose your Dr. etc.) In the States I pay $700 a month and it seems as if nothing is covered.

[@robertjackson3779]

Thanks for the breakdown.

[@DondiniMontefusco]

If you have Global-Sura, why do you also need EPS?

[@dmoscow]

I need to pay EPS because I have an investor visa. It's the law. Plus, I want to receive the Residency visa in the future.

[@AKJoel]

True - the cost of the insurance goes up considerably depend on age.

[@andrewgee7819]

Can you get American medication in Colombia ? I know this might be tough.

[@TheBlackAmbassodor]

Great video 👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾 thank you

[@AKJoel]

Thanks for watching! Glad you enjoyed it 👍🏾

[@jonshearer8579]

Great info!

[@AKJoel]

Glad it was helpful Jon!

[@Travelinlad]

Hey Joel. Another very informative vlog. As I informed you before I'm moving to Medellin next month. Would be great to meet you.

[@AKJoel]

Awesome mate, excited for your move! As Andrew & I are extremely busy we only offer meetups as a paid service - you can find our options here medellinmasterclass.com/book-call/

[@mascode1]

Nice video Joel! great info.

[@AKJoel]

Glad you enjoyed it mate!

[@kentcovington]

Good stuff, thanks, AK!

[@AKJoel]

Any time! Glad ya enjoyed it Kent!

[@edwardmille8879]

I lived in Medellin in barrio Santa Monica I would have a great lunch for $3 My rule is to avoid any place gringos go you'll be paying a lot more for a lot less.

[@JWinch]

Delivery: at some small places, the cost of delivery is free. Like at a supermarket, or a laundry place. I also had my bed delivered for about 2$. 2 or 3$ to get my fridge delivered and carried up the stairs.

[@AKJoel]

Yeah crazy huh!! I feel sorry for those guys carrying the fridge up the stairs though, you don't have an elevator mate?!

[@JWinch]

It was just one flight of stairs. This was not in a building with an elevator.@@AKJoel

[@juanvaldez7633]

Costs with SURA are largely dependent on which version of it you have; if you are willing to settle for the Basic EPS SURA plan, it can actually be far less expensive than $100 U.S. per month (in fact, I'm currently paying 150mil COP for my plan, or $37 U.S. per month at current exchange rates). Other more comprehensive offerings like the Plan Complementario and 60+ plans are correspondingly more expensive, and also have age-related provisions attached to being eligible for them. Another option is simply paying out-of-pocket for private providers, with costs typically running about $32-$50 U.S. per visit - I've done this on several occasions to avoid the wait times and other hassles involved with SURA...

[@Ryan-ul7dy]

Which visa do you have? I've been told it's 12.5% of your monthly salary for visa type M holders. It's the same for local employees but that comes mostly out of the employers pockets.

[@juanvaldez7633]

I am now on my 2nd (M) pensionado visa. I believe the correct formula is 12.5% of 40% of the monthly gross income that you declare. However, like many things in Colombia, your actual costs may be less depending on which SURA agent you work with. I originally was assigned an agent who did everything by the book and ended up paying way more than a friend whose income was substantially higher. So I complained to SURA about it, and another agent re-worked my account so I was paying a lower amount that was much more in line with what my friend is paying.

[@MotivatedActionGroup]

I ate the Menu del Dia in Spain and Portugal while walking the Caminos. It was always great and priced about twice as much as Columbia. Still inexpensive.

[@AKJoel]

Nice! Yeah twice the price of here is still only $8 haha

[@maximizemoney5694]

Slight correction: You don’t need a Cedula or a visa to get SURA. I have it on my US passport no visa 👍🏻.

[@AKJoel]

Yup great point, we just double checked that! Gonna be making a video all about insurance requirements soon 👍🏾

[@kimberlyp.p]

Lmao 4K nuggets for $3 is hilarious but I’ve seen 50 nuggets for $5 in the US which is literally the same garbage for a low price. I’m in Cartagena and folks say it’s the most expensive city in the country. I’m like where?? But I understand the situation for locals is a lot tougher

[@JWinch]

AKJoel your video reminded me that I am still hoping to see that list of countries where it showed how cheap the cost of living in Colombia was compared to other countries. It wasn't shown in the links on that video. If you have a moment to find that link, please post.

[@AKJoel]

It's this link: www.numbeo.com/cost-of-living/rankings_by_country.jsp Australia #11 and USA #12 most expensive countries in the world lol 😅

[@JWinch]

Thanks for the link@@AKJoel. I have to return to the expensive USA in order to reapply for a Colombian visa. In Boston where I lived last, an average unfurnished studio rented for $3000/month. I hope your visa challenges never get to that stage where you have to return to Australia to reapply for your Colombian visa.

[@AKJoel]

WOW $3000 a month! Mate that's crazy. I'll never get to that stage where I'll have to move back to Aus. I'm prepared to just stay in Colombia 6 months of the year on a tourist visa and live the rest of the year in Brazil.

[@living_global]

@akJoel Im in same boat 3k a month to maintain visa is not that bad . Say u only need 2k for expenses stick the other 1k in the bank banks here pay 14-15 currently interest let it sit and grow thats a great rate !

[@JWinch]

@@AKJoel Then don't risk applying for a regular visa because a denial may mean you cannot for any reason even for just 1 hour enter Colombia. I have read the law and it is unclear so I am waiting to hear from the good lawyer about this.

[@benchoflemons398]

Idk, maybe it’s because you’re Australian but I don’t find things ridiculously cheap as an American. Other than housing and services, it’s not too different.

[@AKJoel]

What about Uber and food? When I was in the States just getting Uber Eats from Chipotle was $25 including delivery 😂

[@Whole.Phantom]

What health care options exist for those who don't have a cedula?

[@AKJoel]

Correction: You can actually get Sura without a cedula 👍🏾 also well have a video covering all the options soon.

[@Whole.Phantom]

@@AKJoel is there any option that just covers services for emergency room or hospital care? That way I could just self pay for non urgent visits to the doctor?

[@kraigrichard7043]

About free delivery for food... How much does one tip? ... Health care on those of retirement age must be more eh? And lastly, as I read it, this seems worth mentioning, a retirement person still has to contribute to Medicare. Is that the deal do you know?

[@AKJoel]

You can tip whatever you want. Tipping isn't a thing in Colombian culture, it just started cos Americans came here and decided to tip lol and yes the $100 a month is for Andrew who's 42. The older you get the more expensive it gets. Well make a full video covering insurance options soon 👍🏾

[@robertjackson3779]

We use Indrive

[@AKJoel]

inDrive is great but some Colombians have told me they don't use it cos it isn't considered that safe.

[@robertjackson3779]

@AKJoel o wow. Interesting to know. My first time hearing that.

[@vinz300000]

​@@AKJoelyes Uber is safer. But InDrive is cheaper

[@Gierboo]

$48 dollars to fly around Colombia and in the states that cost a 20 minute Uber ride lmao 😂🤦🏻‍♂️

[@benchoflemons398]

You can get domestic round trip flights for less than 48 bucks in the USA. I’ve seen 9 dollars round trip

[@AKJoel]

Haha that's crazy 😂

[@stevenrodriguez3058]

@@benchoflemons398cap

[@DeenAli-w8o]

Thanks for this video 🫡such great info

[@tanweerahmed6861]

No one should be housing, medical insurance is covered by governments in many countries as in Canada for me , so don’t apply to everyone

[@AKJoel]

Canada gives you medical insurance abroad?

[@tanweerahmed6861]

@@AKJoel yes but limited coverage

[@sartajaziz5930]

The problem is as more and more sex tourists come to Colombia, the prices will increase and are increasing. Young men are watching the nightlife videos on youtube and are dying to get here. Trust me, its going to get a lot worse.

[@AKJoel]

Yeah the sex tourist KZbin scene sucks, but hey what can you do!

[@kimberlyp.p]

Lmao 4K nuggets for $3 is hilarious but I’ve seen 50 nuggets for $5 in the US which is literally the same garbage for a low price. I’m in Cartagena and folks say it’s the most expensive city in the country. I’m like where?? But I understand the situation for locals is a lot tougher

[@kurrwa]

maybe stop be ignorant and local prices and stop paying in USD 😂People getting paid monthly what you can make in a week or even in one day

[@AKJoel]

Yeah for Colombian standards Cartagena is very expensive (in the tourist areas) but nothing compared to the US lol

[@kurrwa]

@@AKJoel nothing compares to California for sure if you are making 200k per year of course every other country going to be cheap for you