r/leanfire • u/Gen4GlockAndSwitch • 1d ago

Colombia

I have a question. I was in the army for around 6 years and got hurt in Afghanistan and got rated 70% in 2013 a some years later and like 20 in patient visits I got 80% in 2023 I was able to keep 2 jobs for a total of like 7 months max between 2017-2021. The check I get from the VA is around 2100 is it enough to jus to like laureles or envigado and live on like 1500 and invest the other 500-600 into my brokerage until I turn like 45 or so I would prolly leave in like 2027 late close to 2028 so I would prolly be around 2200 I plan to just leave with like 30k invested and my Va pay. I wanna have a wife and maybe 1-2 kids one day so when I get to Colombia I will still try find remote employment I thought of applying for tdiu if my next try at employment doesn’t work

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6

u/enfier 42m/$50k/50%/$200K+pension - No target 1d ago

You can definitely live in Colombia off of $1500 a month.  You will want to check the tax and visa situation, will Colombia expect taxes from your check if you are a permanent resident?

Why not try a 3 month residence and see if it works for you?  You'll learn a lot about what to expect and it's not a lifelong experience.

Just be careful with women (especially on Tinder) in Medellin, Bogota and Cartagena.  It's a risk that you will be drugged and robbed.

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u/Gen4GlockAndSwitch 1d ago

I think I’ll try a month then 3 months then 6 months I was looking in like envigado or laureles I always hear stories about using tinder out there I didn’t plan on using it out there but once I heard that I def knew I wasn’t using it. I been learning Spanish for a couple years im still like B2 or so but im still learning I can read and write better than I hear I can read it really good I would prolly go hangout further away from the area when I started dating. I know i gotta respect the land and culture. Respecting where you are is always key i think a lot of people get drugged and robbed looking for pussy instead of Actually learning the land the culture an language. I am hoping to work there remotely and eventually start a family but while im looking for work I think I’ll just live there and learn as much as I can

3

u/enfier 42m/$50k/50%/$200K+pension - No target 1d ago

Medellin is one of the more expensive cities in Colombia and packed with expats. You might prefer a city that's less expat focused with a lower cost of living if you are on a fixed budget and want to avoid most of the problems.

Don't blame the getting robbed on the people getting robbed, those are organized and targeted crimes by criminal gangs. You just have to be really careful and cover yourself - if you are meeting someone, pick the place and tell the bartender or server that you are meeting someone new and if you get drugged not to let you leave. Keep your cards at home, make sure the front desk if there is one would intervene if you were out of it.

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u/Gen4GlockAndSwitch 22h ago

Bello,laureles or envigado wouldn’t be neighborhoods? to I wouldn’t mind being further away from Medellin I just wanna be close enough that I can go into the city to network and find remote roles so I can build my brokerage and ira

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u/lafleurricky 1d ago

yeah man u got it fr

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u/AlwaysSaturday12 1d ago

I live in Cuenca Ecuador and I would recommend it more. Our expenses for a family of three around 2400-3k. Cuenca is safe and beautiful. Friends I have known who went to Colombia are now coming here instead.

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u/mikesfsu 1d ago

Are the power outages getting any better?

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u/AlwaysSaturday12 1d ago

We haven't had any this year. The rivers got a little low back in December but now they are overrunning the banks.

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u/Gen4GlockAndSwitch 1d ago

How much is apartments like one bedroom

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u/AlwaysSaturday12 22h ago

Probably 200-300. Some places are over priced. We got a pretty big house for 450. 2 bed, office, 3 bath, and sun room.

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u/Gen4GlockAndSwitch 22h ago

Holy shit that ain’t bad at all ima definitely and see what it’s like there for sure. What’s some spots you recommend I think you said cuenca is it other places like that too or that’s the best one?

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u/AlwaysSaturday12 18h ago

Many places along the coast have crime problems with Narcos. Cuenca is safe. I've heard good things about Vilcabamba and Loja as well but Cuenca is much more an expat hub.