About CaliRay

Status:

Expatriate  

Gender:

Male

Currently Lives:

Colombia

Citizen Of:

United States

Some Forum Posts:

Colombia: Best SA Country to Establish Residence?:

As a retiree in my early 70's and having been living in Colombia for over 7 years, I find no fault with my original decision to settle here. Generally the Colombian people are friendly and helpful toward gringos like me. Who knows how long it will continue, but the recent depreciation in the Colombian peso vs the USD has made a huge difference. I have been completely satisfied with both the cost and quality of the health care I have received. I have a very nice apartment that would cost me a minimum of 3 or 4 times the amount in the U.S. Finally, I agree with some others familiar with and appreciative of the movie starlet appearance of so many women here. Going to the shopping malls and viewing the eye candy is quite different from the experience of going to your average Wal-Mart.

Colombia: Health insurance:

I have experience with only Comfelnaco for health insurance. I have been pleased with it. I live in Cali so access may be better here than in less urban locals. Three years ago I had to have a heart stent replaced. The procedure went perfectly. The operating room was equipped with modern equipment and the doctor was U.S. trained. I have some experience as I worked as a bio-med in a major hospital for nearly 15 years. My out of pocket cost for this was the equivalent of one month's insurance premium, at the time less than $100 U.S. Since then, my insurance has risen slightly and the currency exchange rate is not as good, so my monthly premium is now about $105. Try getting anything remotely as good in the U.S for the cost. Hope this helps.

Ukraine: Housing:

@mermanjohn Your statement that food costs would be $800/month floored me. I could not find a cost comparison for my city, Cali, Colombia vs Dniprovetrosk, but for Kryvyy Rih, the closest city in the cost comparison chart, local food costs for most items are considerably less than in Cali where I spend about $250 for 2 people eating on the local economy. It's true I don't eat out often because a good dinner for two costs at minimum $30 U.S. Here;s the link I used if this site allows link posting. http://www.numbeo.com/cost-of-living/compare_cities.jsp?country1=Colombia&country2=Ukraine&city1=Cali&city2=Kryvyy+Rih

Date Joined:

6/25/2010

Total Posts:

7

Posts/Day:

0.00