Why Medellín?
Close to the U.S.
If you want to travel to the U.S. for family this is much easier and cheaper to do from Colombia than from other countries in South. And it is much less expensive than traveling from Europe or Asia. Also, it’s only about a three-hour flying to U.S.
Climate
The Medellín weather and climate was one of the main things that originally attracts everyone to Medellín.
Medellín has a comfortable climate that is consistent year-round due to being located at near the equator. The city’s average annual temperature is 72 °. The average temperature in the city typically only varies by about 1° during the year.
The climate makes it possible to live without air-conditioning or heating.
Good and Inexpensive Medical Care
The World Health Organization (WHO) ranks Colombia’s health system as #22 out of 191 countries it ranked. This is ahead of the U.S. (#37), Canada (#30), Germany (#25) and Israel (#28).
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Medellín has nine of the top 58 hospitals in South America, according about 40 percent of the best hospitals in South America are found in Colombia. In Medellín it is possible to have access to world-class healthcare at a fraction of the price compared to healthcare prices in the U.S. Prices for healthcare in Colombia can be considerably lower than the costs found in the U.S.
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It’s possible to find costs that are from 50 percent to even over 70 percent less expensive. Many Colombians residing in the U.S. wait until they return back to Colombia for dental work since it is so much cheaper than in the U.S. Health insurance is also relatively inexpensive in Colombia in comparison to the U.S. and Europe.
You Can Drink the Water
In several of the bigger cities in Colombia like Medellín, Bogotá and Pereira the tap water is safe to drink. Unlike many other South American countries.
Delivery Services
Getting things delivered is very inexpensive in Medellín. Most restaurants and drug stores in Medellín offer home delivery services. You can also find many other types of places that offer delivery services including some grocery stores, laundry and dry cleaners, butchers, veterinarian services, doctors and many others.
Good Metro and Inexpensive Public Transportation
It is quite possible to live minus a car in Medellín. Reportedly the majority of expats living in the city do not have a car. Medellín has extensive bus routes in the city with inexpensive fares as well as very inexpensive taxis.
Medellín has a modern metro system, which is the only rail-based metro system in Colombia. The Medellín Metro is a comprehensive and inexpensive system.
Diversity of Colombia
Colombia is the second most biodiverse country in the world, after Brazil. Colombia has a diversity ranging from snow-capped mountains to beaches, thick jungles to vast plains. Also, Colombia is the only South American country bordered by two oceans.
Friendly and Welcoming People
In my experience in over seven years living in Medellín, if you make the effort, and take the time, Paisas and Colombians are generally friendly and welcoming. In many cases they will go out of their way to help you and make you feel welcome in their country. Paisa’s are proud of Medellín and Colombians are proud of their country.
Family is Important
Colombians are very family-centric. Family is very important to Colombians – they celebrate holidays with large family gatherings. They are also able to depend on families when times get rough. In Colombia people tend to work to live and spend time with their family and friends. In the U.S. we tend to live to work.
Music and Dance
In Medellín, it is possible to dance Salsa any night of the week. But in Colombia the music isn’t just about Salsa. The country has a rich music and dance culture with many other types including Bambuco, Champeta, Cumbia, Currulao, Mapalé and Vallenato. Colombia is culturally rich and a diverse country, and its dance and music reflect this.
The Exotic Fruits of Colombia
Being the second most biodiverse country in the world, there is a very wide variety of exotic fruits to be found in Colombia.
Many of these you can’t find in the U.S.
An Innovative City
Medellín has a history of innovation. In 2013, Medellín was named the most innovative city in the world by a competition organized by non-profit Urban Land Institute and sponsored by Citi and the Wall Street Journal.
Medellín beat out 200 cities in this competition including the other two finalists New York City and Tel Aviv. In this competition, Medellín was praised for its parks and libraries, as well as the city’s infrastructure which includes a giant escalator and cable cars. These allow the residents of the poor neighborhoods on Medellin’s steep hillsides to more easily commute to the city center, in the valley.