Trip Reports Argentina Versus Colombia to Retire

[earlyretirement]

It is amazing the goofy info on this thread. L.A. or D.C to Buenos Aires is $375 one way...It could not be any cheaper. $3000 a month? Rocoleta or Parque 93.....no problem. Argentine people are KNOWN to not be really friendly....Colombians are VERY friendly. Use THIS https://www.globalproductprices.com/Colombia/apple_prices/ to compare prices of most countries and remember that the Argentine prices are at the official peso. (I left Buenos Aires 6 months ago....I am in Colombia right now.....I leave for San Jose C.R. in 2 weeks)

It just depends on time of the year. Where do you see LA for. $375 per way? I'm looking at November to go down and all flights around $1,000 round trip and that's going on LATAM. We never have cheap flights from West Coast. If you can plan far ahead of time it's better but my last trip it was a few weeks out and was crazy expensive. But do a search from EZE to many west coast cities in December and you will easily see some $2,000 US round trip flights in coach.

I'm not sure when the OP is planning to come to the USA. Presumably around the holidays to visit family? It's always been crazy expensive when I've gone down around then. I usually always fly airlines from the USA and it's expensive.

I agree $3,000 a month is easily enough to live in Buenos Aires.You don't need to spend crazy amounts on rent. I do think $500 to $600 for a really nice place is going to be tough in Buenos Aires but outside of the city for sure you can do it.

Colombia IS a poor country but stuff there isn't as cheap as you think it would be. I find food to be expensive. Utilities are expensive compared to Buenos Aires. Electricity is expensive there. Argentina is cheap because of the crazy inflation if you have dollars you're golden.

 

[OdGreen]

I'm ok with a pretty basic place.

 

[earlyretirement]

I'm ok with a pretty basic place.

Just be aware of the rental situation in Buenos Aires right now. They are almost at a state of 0 supply. Crazy for a city of 3 million people, there are only 700 properties on the market for a conventional rental right now. Everyone and their brother will be raising rates and pushing listings to Airbnb.

 

[RonnieHot]

I agree that this is a very bad time to move to Argentina.
Just when so many people seem to have gotten the impression that it's the ideal new home.

 

[OdGreen]

Just be aware of the rental situation in Buenos Aires right now. They are almost at a state of 0 supply. Crazy for a city of 3 million people, there are only 700 properties on the market for a conventional rental right now. Everyone and their brother will be raising rates and pushing listings to Airbnb.

Yea, that's crazy. Maybe it will bring down the cost of Airbnbs, haha

 

[earlyretirement]

Yea, that's crazy. Maybe it will bring down the cost of Airbnbs, haha

Yeah actually many owners are trying their hand at Airbnb. The local laws are crazy forcing owners to lock up rentals for 3 YEARS in pesos so many are just sitting empty vs. renting them out. You're right this should bring Airbnb prices lower and lower as more people list.

I agree that this is a very bad time to move to Argentina.
Just when so many people seem to have gotten the impression that it's the ideal new home.

Actually if you have Dollars it's ok. True the locals are suffering but you're insulated to an extend just having dollars. Prices of things are going up in pesos but in relative terms (US dollars) things are much cheaper. My HOA fees in every other country keep going up and up and up. My HOA fees in Argentina are less now then they were 10 years ago.

 

[QuiloBa]

I wish to address Barranquilla that was raised.

It is too hot for me. Very little high culture.

On the plus side- it’s a real working city and has a certain charm. Restaurants are pretty good. No tourists toots.

In Colombia, if you like heat, and don’t heat high culture, you could do a lot worse.

 

[OdGreen]

I wish to address Barranquilla that was raised.

It is too hot for me. Very little high culture.

On the plus side- it’s a real working city and has a certain charm. Restaurants are pretty good. No tourists toots.

In Colombia, if you like heat, and don’t heat high culture, you could do a lot worse.

When I was in Colombia I was talking to this guy in my hiking group and I asked him where in Colombia was the best place to live. He said Barranquilla and every time I hear the name I think about that guy.

I'm not a big fan of the heat though. I would much rather have the cold, even very cold with snow etc. than live in a very hot place. This is one of the reasons I've been reconsidering living in South East Asia as it's very hot there. I haven't completely ruled it out yet though. If you mostly stay in doors during the day and go out at night it's somewhat manageable, but still pretty crappy.

 

[earlyretirement]

When I was in Colombia I was talking to this guy in my hiking group and I asked him where in Colombia was the best place to live. He said Barranquilla and every time I hear the name I think about that guy.

I'm not a big fan of the heat though. I would much rather have the cold, even very cold with snow etc. than live in a very hot place. This is one of the reasons I've been reconsidering living in South East Asia as it's very hot there. I haven't completely ruled it out yet though. If you mostly stay in doors during the day and go out at night it's somewhat manageable, but still pretty crappy.

Southeast Asia is awesome if you don't mind the heat for retiring and want to live an affordable life. I don't like high heat and humidity either. And I was never into Asian women. So that ruled it out for me. If it wasn't so hot I'd think about moving there with my wife for part of the year. It's dirt cheap and the food is amazing. I'm still blown away how good and cheap the food is in Bangkok. Such warm and friendly people. But no way I could deal with that heat and humidity.

I'm going to Bali in a few months as I heard it's nice there and also very affordable.

 

[GatoNeko]

Sure, since we brought wife material into the mix I think all countries are worth discussing. I've been all over Mexico and dated a lot of girls there too. I have permanent residency in Mexico too. Mexico is by far the easiest country to get permanent residency in. I did it myself without a lawyer. It was very easy.

You start the process in the Mexican consulate office in your nearest USA city (I did mine in Santa Ana in Orange County, California). You have to either have a bank statement showing $210,000 US for the past 12 months in a row. Or show income via pension or can be rentals via real estate of $5,186 US dollars per month.

Then you go to Mexico to finish the process. Was really easy. I did it 5 years ago and I can get my Mexican passport now if I wanted. I was amazed how simple it was. They have this email system that keeps you informed of every step of the process. Once I went to give them the application it only took 2 weeks. I couldn't believe it! (This outlines the process if you're interested - https://consulmex.sre.gob.mx/sandie...s/g_7a_Permanent_Resident_Visa_Retirement.pdf

The down thing is Mexico has gotten really expensive. I own a few properties there and it's expensive now as the Mexican peso has shifted and gotten really strong so the US$ doesn't go that far there now. All my rentals are in USD and expenses are in pesos. That worked when it was 21 pesos to $1US but it's about 17 :1 now.

Mexican girls are ok. Guadalajara has the most beautiful girls in Mexico, IMHO. The best thing about Mexico is the food. By far the best country in Latin American for food in my opinion.

Hi earlyetirement. I want to ask some questions as I have been investing in mexican PR and you are the one with first hand experience.
Is that such an easy process as you said, any other implications after arriving in Mexico? How long do I need to be in Mexico (months per year) to keep PR? Do Méxican immigration keep track of leaving from land border? I mean I can just walk pass the mexican border control, but US entry record is linked to Mexican immigration?
Thanks.

 

[earlyretirement]

Hi earlyetirement. I want to ask some questions as I have been investing in mexican PR and you are the one with first hand experience.
Is that such an easy process as you said, any other implications after arriving in Mexico? How long do I need to be in Mexico (months per year) to keep PR? Do Méxican immigration keep track of leaving from land border? I mean I can just walk pass the mexican border control, but US entry record is linked to Mexican immigration?
Thanks.

Yes, it's very easy. HOWEVER, if you don't speak Spanish it will be impossible for you to do it yourself. I recommend you check out this company - https://www.yucatanexpatriateservices.com/category/resident-services if you don't speak Spanish. They can help you. They have great reviews online and they I talked to Adriana when I was going through the process. I determined after an initial consultation that I could do it myself. The only thing I used her for was she prepared some forms for me to fill out to bring to Guadalajara to finish the process. That was a big help.

Here is the address I went to in Guadalajara to apply:

Alcalde No. 500 4° Piso Palacio Federal, Col. Centro, C. P. 44280 Guadalajara, Jal.

Their office hours are Mon-Fri from 9 AM to 1 PM.

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Checklist of documents to take to Immigration for the “canje” procedure:

Original and copy of passport (the original is just to compare with the copy; they will give it back to you the same day).

Copy of the resident visa stamped in the passport. (You get this from Mexican Consulate office in USA).

Original of the FMM document (the one you will receive at the airport marked as canje for 30 days).

Letter requesting the resident card.

Online form requesting the change of document to permanent resident card.

Formato básico (basic form).

Payment of immigration fees for the card. You must go to a bank to do this payment with a form the Immigration officer will provide to you when you submit your documents. (The payment will be done by you).


Dues to Immigration for each procedure

Permanent resident card: $4,828.00 pesos. (I paid this back in 2018 but it could have changed today the amount).



_________________

If you speak Spanish then I don't think you'd need to pay anyone other than maybe just Adriana for an initial consultation to get the forms. Let me see in my files if I still find the form. If so, I'll post it here so it will help you and possibly others.

I speak Spanish so I did it myself. As mentioned, you have to start the process in the USA. But once you get to Mexico, you can't leave Mexico again until you get the Permanent Residency card. (Or at least I was told if you do leave it can complicate things). It only took me 2 weeks to get the PR card once I applied. I applied in the Guadalajara office which was very easy. The toughest thing was finding a place that had those funky small photos.

You don't have to spend any amount of time there in Mexico to keep the card. It's impossible for them to keep track when you cross the land borders when you leave. Only when you enter again. For example, AFTER you get your PR card you can just go to Tijuana and cross back into the USA without doing anything with your Mexican Permanent Residency card. Entry to USA is NOT linked to your Mexican PR card. I just enter with my Global Entry card.

I don't live in Mexico full time. I just always like to get Permanent Residency once I start buying real estate in a country. I like to have the same rights and privileges vs. locals. And in many countries you can't open a bank account without getting permanent residency.

It was all very easy in Mexico and as mentioned, I did it myself. I did it several years ago and was the best decision I ever made. I think anyone that can easily qualify for this for Mexico should do it ASAP. They could change the laws so I'd do it now while it's relatively easy.

It just comes down to having enough money in the bank. Just make sure the name on your bank statement matches exactly the name in your passport. They were sticklers about that. I actually had to go back to the Mexican Consulate office because the first time my middle name wasn't on my bank statement. So make sure before your appointment in the USA at the Mexican Consulate, your name matches exactly from Passport to Bank Statement.

Mexico just wants to make sure you won't be a drain on society so they want to make sure you have enough money to retire down there. I hope that helps.

PS. I found the forms that I needed to fill out and bring with me. It was these attachments. Just make sure you bring 3 copies of "infantile" sized photos. There is a place right near the government office in Guadalajara that did these photos. It was VERY frustrating as I had these photos done in USA but the size was a little off. They have to be exactly that size. There was only 1 place I found near there that would do it.

The lady was REALLY nice at the Mexican office as she told me to come back but she said I could skip the line (I waited 2 hours to get to the front of the line). So I went to do photos again and then skipped up to the line. Go early in the morning right when they open.

 

[earlyretirement]

one thing I forgot to mention that was also a bit frustrating. Once you get to the front of the line and turn in all the documents they will give you a little ticket. You do NOT pay for the resident card there. It was a pain but you have to go to the bank (there was one 2 blocks away). And you have to pay for that fee and then once you do, you have to come back to that office to show them you paid.

So all in I think I was there 3 hours because I turned everything in. Then got to the front of the line. Then they said the photo wasn't the exact size they needed. Then she told me where I could go for that. I had to get photos, go back go finish. Then I had to go to the bank and come back. I didn't have to wait again in line once I paid. You go straight to the front of the line. But it still takes time.

So just plan on going for a few hours. There is a room and it was absolutely packed with Americans going through the same process. Most of them didn't speak Spanish so they had a guide there that was with them that was handling everything. I think Adriana from the website above offers that service as well. I'm not sure. But it was easy enough to do it myself minus the issues with the photos.

You can research online and see where are the best cities to do this. I did it in Guadalajara but there might be better cities. But for me it couldn't have gone easier. And they give you this URL link where you can check the status. And they ask for your email address and they keep you updated of the status. I kid you not! Within 2 weeks after applying I already got an email notice saying my Permanent Residency card was waiting to be picked up.

It was more high tech and efficient than even the USA where it took 3.5 months to get my daughter's passport renewed. Very organized system there in Mexico. I went back to the same address to pick it up. No problems at all. I was in and out in 25 minutes this time with PR card in hand.

I've recommended to friends to get their permanent residency card in Mexico. A few did but they hired people to help them. I qualify next year to get my Mexican passport if I want. I have to take some test but I haven't hassled with it just like I haven't hassled to get my Argentina passport even though I would easily qualify. Maybe in the future.

I hope this information helps you and anyone else considering getting Permanent resident card in Mexico. Mexico is an amazing country and one that I look forward to spending more time in. I purchased a few properties there and they have been amazing investments. Real estate has shot up there over the past several years.

 

[GatoNeko]

Thank you, earlyetirement. I will definitely start the process as soon as I get back to Canada. I also looked up the Mexican embassy website, that just lists the requirements you already mentioned. Only difference is I need to make appointment with email so hopefully not much delay. As far as I can see it should not matter if I am not quite old enough (-+50) to be retired, right? I speak decent Spanish and have mexican friends to help me if needed so I will do the process myself. Thanks again for taking time for replying my question.

 

[earlyretirement]

Thank you, earlyetirement. I will definitely start the process as soon as I get back to Canada. I also looked up the Mexican embassy website, that just lists the requirements you already mentioned. Only difference is I need to make appointment with email so hopefully not much delay. As far as I can see it should not matter if I am not quite old enough (-+50) to be retired, right? I speak decent Spanish and have mexican friends to help me if needed so I will do the process myself. Thanks again for taking time for replying my question.

Yes, for Canada you just make appointment via website to get appointment then I believe you go into the Consulate office for your appointment and the same process after that.

No, age has NO bearing at all on the retirement visa. As long as you meet (a) enough money in the bank; OR (b) you can show you make $X each month to meet the criteria. Nothing else matters. I got this in my 40's and they don't care how old/young you are. Mexico wisely makes it easy as they figure if you're retiring there you will be spending money there and will be good for their economy.

Yes, if you speak decent Spanish you could probably navigate as long as you know where to go and what to do (which I already explained in detail - that was the tough thing for me). All of these forms is what I had to fill out. If you have a friend that can go to the office in Mexico you can EASILY navigate it without paying a lawyer. All the folks at the Guadalajara office were really patient and great. Even after I was so frustrated with the photo issue, they were kind and let me cut back in line once I found the smaller photos. I highly recommend that office.

Remember, once you apply you can travel anywhere else in Mexico and just come back to Guadalajara once it's done. I'd guess it takes about 14-20 days. You have to come and pick it up in person.

Let us know how it turns out. Mexico is an amazing country to be a permanent resident in. Also, once you have your RFC (Permanent resident card) you can also invest in their CEDES (government treasuries program - https://www.cetesdirecto.com/sites/portal/inicio). I bought a ton of pesos when it was 22 pesos to $1 US. Then bought some CEDES. Now I just keep rolling over the 28 day CEDES (1 month). They are paying almost 11.5% interest now . So if you're really planning on retiring in Mexico you might want to consider putting some into their treasury program. I like to stay diversified. And it's a guaranteed peso income every month without doing anything. Obviously you have currency risks but I assume you will keep bulk of your savings in US$ or Canadian $.

It ended up being a GREAT call because the peso went from 22 pesos to $1 uS down to under 17 pesos the other day so I've made money on both sides.

Good luck.