Colombia Expat Forum

Living at the Paisa Pace

Post New Topic

PM's Friends Profile

elpdiver

8/14/2019 13:40 EST

So I spent 3.5 weeks living in Medellin as a local might...just to see if it would/could work for me.

I often have commented that I am a low maintenance dude; but, wanted to put it to the test briefly.

My niece moved out of her apartment and moved in with her mama for the duration. We were living in Doce de Octubre as she lives. She is a Registered Nurse and works in Poblado and owns ( along with the bank) her own home.

Home is very basic and was purchased for 30 mm pesos. It consists of two rooms with a bathroom in between. There are precisely three lights in her whole third floor apartment, no heating and no a/c. There is a small stove/oven and no refrigerator and she uses her mother's kitchen below.

It is a third floor apt and the stairs are very narrow and flex a lot under the gringo's weight. The street is very steep and taxis cannot make the grade most of them.

I did enjoy my time there; but, if living there full time would have to gringoize it a small bit. She does own the rights to the roof and expansion so I could make do very well there.

She has no fan and I resisted temptation to purchase one as that would drive her electrical cost up after I left. It was very warm from noon to four in the afternoon. Evenings were very nice as the apartment catches a good breeze and sleeping under a blanket and open windows was very nice.

One thing that was a big surprize to me was the preternatural silence during the night. It was as if there was a huge sponge soaking up the sounds after eleven p.m. until the first busses started their regular grind around 7 a.m.

Yeah, I can be happy here I am sure. I would have to find more space to have a hobby or diversion and I am afforded "protection" under the aegis of my sister in law who is beloved locally and pays no vacunas.

More stories to follow

ELP

Post a Reply

00 Report abuse abuse

Expatriate Health Insurance Get a quote for expat health insurance in Colombia.	International Moving Companies Moving to Colombia? Get a moving quote.
Mail Forwarding to Colombia Mail Forwarding to Colombia.	Expat Tax Expat Tax Preparation, Expat Tax Professionals

Join Today (free)

Join Expat Exchange to meet expats in your area or get advice before your move. It's FREE and takes 1 minute!

Expatriate Health Insurance

Get a quote for expat health insurance in Colombia from our partner, Cigna Global Health.
Get a Quote

8 Expats Share What It's Like Living in Colombia

Expats in Colombia talk about what it's really like living there - deciding where to live, the pros and cons and more.

Expats in Colombia talk about what it's really like living there - deciding where to live, the pros and cons and more....

9 Best Places to Live in Colombia

Here are the 9 best places to live in Colombia according to expats living in Colombia. Expats share why they love living in each city, the climate, cost of living, social activities and more. Don't overlook the comments about heat and humidity in some coastal cities - while these conditions are ideal for some expats, they're oppressive for others.

Living Abroad: Digital Nomads in Medellin, Colombia

Expats in Colombia have taken full advantage of this South American nation's miraculous comeback after decades of chaos. Digital nomads have also found there way to Medellin, its second largest city, for a wide variety of reasons.

An Expat Shares What it's Like Retiring in Medellin, Colombia

A retiree in Medellin talks about loving life in Medellin - it's been a great change of pace for him and his wife. He says that while some expats live on $1,500 per month, others live in $3,000.

A retiree in Medellin talks about loving life in Medellin - it's been a great change of pace for him and his wife. He says that while some expats live on $1,500 per month, others live in $3,000. ...

An Expat Talks about Moving to Cartago, Colombia

An expat in Cartago, Colombia has found a little bit of heaven living in Colombia. He appreciates the much lower cost of living and admits he lives like a king in Colombia for $2,000 a month. He advises others moving to Colombia to bring only the necessities and buy furniture there.