The best places to live when you retire | Colombia Country Brand (2024)

Wondering where to retire abroad? Looking for the best place to live as a pensioner? Colombia is one of the best countries to retire, according to the Global Retirement Index. The index, published by US platform Global Living, puts Colombia at number six in the world for pensioners, thanks to its biodiversity, climate, cost of living and the warm, welcoming nature of its people, among others.If you’re considering retiring to a foreign country, here we consider the best reasons to retire to Colombia.

More and more pensioners are retiring to Colombia, according to the United States’ Social Security Administration, which sent 6,704 retirement checks to expat pensioners in Colombian cities in 2017 alone. That’s an 85% increase on 2010, with Colombia now home to one of the highest numbers of retired expats, second only to Mexico when it comes to countries with pensioners.

If you’re looking for the best places to retire, we recommend these three options in Colombia:

The cost of living in Medellin

The Antioquia capital is an excellent place to enjoy your retirement, thanks to the city’s affordable cost of living, and the fact it enjoys a cosmopolitan spirit in an extremely pleasant climate. The price of housing and the vast array of recreational options in Medellin are two key reasons why foreign retirees prefer to move to Colombia, according to the Nuevo Herald,, part of the Miami Herald group, with the sample including pensioners who had previously taken their retirement in Ecuador and Panama.

The serenity of Colombia’s celebrated coffee cultural landscape

After Medellin, the charming towns and cities of the Colombian coffee region are some of the best places to live as a pensioner and some of the most popular choices among retired expats, according to Brad Hinkelman, a Canadian investor who founded the firm Casacol five years ago to facilitate foreign investment in Colombian real estate.

Check out: Be seduced by Colombia’s coffee cultural landscape

Small cities from the region such as Pereira, Manizales and Armenia have a climate similar to Medellin’s but offer a more relaxed vibe for retired expats looking for a calmer way of life. The people in this area are known for their kind and welcoming nature. There are plenty of opportunities to explore the region thanks to the ease of travel around by car.

Discover enticing Antioquia and Colombia’s delicious Coffee District

Living in Bogota: Soak up the culture

“Colombia has something for everyone,” says retired Briton Owen Rothwell, who has lived in Bogotá since 2013. Some pensioners considering where to retire will seek out sunshine and will opt for something at sea level. Medellin is right in the middle but, for me, Bogotá’s climate is perfect. I don’t like too much heat. Bogotá feels like spring for me all year round.”

Bogotá is a lively city with a vast cultural offering, ideal if you like to get out and about and enjoy theatre, cinema, music, art and more. The capital is known for its museums and restaurants with cuisines from across the globe. There is something new to do every single day.

Check out: Bogotá’s fantastic vegan and vegetarian restaurants

Are you ready and excited to retire abroad and move to Colombia? Visit the Colombian government’s website for more information on securing the temporary visa, TP-7, for expat pensioners.

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