Ecuador vs. Colombia 2023-24

I live in Ibarra, Ecuador, but I know Medellin and Quito.

If I had to decide where to live, either in Medellin or in Quito,

I would not have to think about it for one second,

Medellin to me is ten times better than Quito.

@el_mungo Why so?

Members, whether it is Quito versus the Paisa capital or

another city you like in Colombia, please tell us

your comparisons.

Some possible comparisons include...

Traffic, pollution, healthcare options and quality, entertainment,

dating, banking, apartments and homes and their amenities,

weather, transportation, cost of living, communicating with

the locals in whatever language, acceptance of foreigners,

airports, restaurants, food and beverage, ordering shipments

or products.

cccmedia in Quito

@el_mungo

But you prefer living in Ibarra, Ecuador, rather than either Medellín or Quito, right?

In Colombia, you have a health insurance mandate and are subject to taxes on your world wide income (theoretically). Actually, there may be an health insurance mandate on post-2017 "residents" in Ecuador. I deflect to others.

There was an article on the unmentionable website IL listing the top five climates in the world. I think Colombia and Ecuador tied for 2nd place behind Portugal. Based on anecdotal evidence, I think Colombia deserves to be ahead of Colombia since you have cities with big stores averaging in the mid-70s fahrenheit.

I think Colombia deserves to be ahead of Colombia

since you have cities with big stores...

    -- N. Barley

---

The first part of the above citation merits clarification.

@cccmedia

Oops. I think Colombia should be ahead of  Ecuador on the climate ranking list. I consider Colombia to be closer to the ideal of eternal spring with good shopping.. I can't think of a city in Ecuador that qualifies, except for maybe Ibarra with a Supermaxi. I wasn't overly impressed with Ibarra, however, the times I would ride the bus 45 minutes from Cotacachi to shop at the Supermaxi.

@joint2joint

The climate, the infrastructure, the people.

I hate going to Quito, I love visiting Medellin.

@Coxhere1

I live in Ibarra, but this has other reasons.

I could imagine moving to Medellin (or its surroundings)

but never to Quito.

After spending lots of time in both Ecuador and Colombia, Colombia beats Ecuador hands down in almost every category. The cost of living is less. Colombia is more diverse and of course much larger than Ecuador. I find Colombians much more receptive to foreigners and therefore much friendlier. The person who posted that traveling between Colombian cities is dangerous and shouldn’t be attempted. You obviously haven’t travelled in Colombia. With exception to a handful of locations, Colombia is a great country to explore by bus.  And some very comfortable and modern buses too.

Medellin or Quito ? There is no question.  Medellin is by far a better place to live than Quito. Better climate, more things to do. Lots of markets and availability of fresh food.

Nighttime caution.

Warnings against intercity travel in Colombia must be

followed if traveling in a car after dark. Patrols are

inadequate and the bad guys know it.

Daylight experiences on the roads or in cities give

foreign travelers no idea how scary it can be to

travel deserted roads at night when guerrillas

are at large and eager to prey.

cccmedia

Isn't this Expat Ecuador?  I don't understand all the comments about Colombia or why they got started.  Isn't there an Expat Colombia for Colombia comments?  Shouldn't comments glorifying Colombia be posted at Expat Colombia?

@Coxhere1 For people like me, who are considering retiring in South America, I find this subject fascinating and very helpful. I don't read post on every subject here, and you don't have to, either.

I would like to thank the original poster on this subject. I have been considering Ecuador, Columbia, Peru and Panama, as retirement destinations. I recently spent 3 months in Lima and am visiting Columbia for an extended period next week.

Hello eveyrone,

Following reports that we have received, we would like to inform you that we have moderated some inappropriate messages.

Thank you for your understanding.

Mickael

Expat.com Team

In deciding the most important question in front of them --

where they and their family should relocate -- Expats

naturally and logically have to make comparisons

between countries.

Ipso facto, the topic of this thread, 'Ecuador versus

Colombia', is a valid subject for comments, opinions

and even subjective posts.

Attempts to chill speech are counterproductive to

the purpose of Expat.com forums.

cccmedia, member, Expat.com experts team

@cccmedia  I made my decision to live in Ecuador and in Quito by reading articles OUTSIDE of Expat Ecuador.  I wasn't even a member of Expat Ecuador when I was researching and reading articles that compared Ecuador and Quito to other world locations.  If it's okay for all and everyone to post subjective opinions about other locations in the world in comparison to Ecuador and to Quito, then I, too, have the right to express my subjective opinions.  My opinions aren't "chill" in regard to anyone else.  If they are, then I can say that others' opinions that Ecuador and Quito aren't the best places to live "chill" me.  I have the right to post my opinion that living in Quito, Ecuador is by far the very best place in the world to live.  If my opinion were that another place is better than Ecuador and Quito, then I'd be living in that other, better place!

@joint2joint

Hi joint2joint - similar for me. My fiancee (a Colombiana) and I are considering purchasing a property in Colombia likely on the north coast (near Cartagena/Barancilla/Santa Marta) but am interested in where you are visiting.  Where will you go to visit in Colombia? 

Also, if there is an Expat forum for Colombia I'd be interested in it.  A few years ago I purchased a lot near Bahia de Caraquez in Las Olas but that doesn't seem to be happening - so, I'm continuing to look at other areas.

Many thanks and good luck in your travels!

Dear High Plains Drifter,

There certainly is an Expat.com forum for

Colombia.

One way to get to that forum's welcome page

is to Google...

   expat.com colombia forum

  -- cccmedia, designated Expat.com expert

      for the Ecuador and Colombia forums

Thanks so much - greatly appreciate your help!

@pbolen99

I agree with you 100%.  I have spent a lot of time in both Ecuador and Colombia, and in my opinion Colombia is the more desirable of the two countries. 

@Coxhere1

Why does that trigger you ?

@joint2joint

Perhaps if you are visiting Colombia, you should know how to spell it.  It’s Colombia, not Columbia

¨I have spent a lot of time in both

Ecuador and Colombia,

and in my opinion, Ecuador is the

more desirable of the two countries.¨

   -- pbolen99

-------

Please elaborate.

cccmedia in Medellín

Where in South America are Expats heading?

Cuenca, Ecuador, is still a hot  topic among prospective

Expats looking to stretch the North American dollar and

avoid wintry weather up North.

According to an article dated April 27, 2023, at the

Cuenca HighLife website, Cuenca is widely considered

the best place in the world for retirement.

For many years, Panama, Costa Rica and parts of Mexico

have been considered destinations of choice worldwide,

according to this e-published Expat roundup.

Now those countries are still popular for Expats,

as are other places that the article describes as not having

been on Expat radar until fairly recently.  These include

Belize (where a Creole-style of English is often spoken),

Guatemala, Peru and Ecuador.

Patricia Bibb moved with her husband -- both artists

in their 60s -- to Lake Atitlan, Guatemala.  They had earlier

lived in Georgia and the Palm Beach, Florida, area.

She is amazed by the beauty around Atitlan (ah-teet-LAHN).

"It's as beautiful as Hawaii," says Patricia.

  ---

Source... www.cuencahighlife.com in an article titled

Latin America has become the new Sun Belt

for multitudes of North American retirees

Where in South America are Expats heading?Cuenca, Ecuador, is still a hot topic among prospectiveExpats looking to stretch the North American dollar andavoid wintry weather up North.According to an article dated April 27, 2023, at theCuenca HighLife website, Cuenca is widely consideredthe best place in the world for retirement.-@cccmediaCuencahighlife went deep into its archives for that one:https://www.csmonitor.com/World/Americas/2013/1201/Why-US-baby-boomers-are-retiring-in-Latin-America

In Colombia, the Coffee Zone capitals are getting

attention from prospecitve Expats due to

safety factors (you can ride the intercity highways

at night without fear), the mild climate and high-quality

shopping malls.  The elevation in Armenia and

Pereira is about 5000 feet. Manizales is about

2000 feet higher.

At 3100 feet, the Northern city of Bucaramanga,

Colombia, is a few degrees warmer, still much

milder than the lowland and coastal cities.

It is known as the city of parks .. and has a

Beverly Hills vibe in its upscale sectors including

Sotomayor.

Spanish is still a must-know language around

these cities .. as Expat enclaves, if there are any,

are small and scattered.

Some towns outside Medellín offer slightly

cooler weather than the Paisa capital.

An MDE real estate guy mentioned La Ceja

(the eyebrow) as one such town.

cccmedia

.
At 3100 feet, the Northern city of Bucaramanga,
Colombia, is a few degrees warmer, still much
milder than the lowland and coastal cities.
It is known as the city of parks .. and has a
Beverly Hills vibe in its upscale sectors including
Sotomayor.


-@cccmedia

When, you stay in Buca, do you have an air-conditioner in your room/airbnb, or wish that you had one?

I always stay at hotels with pools in Buca,

all of which have A/C in the guest rooms

to my knowledge.

Listings at booking.com typically tell whether

a property "cuenta con tal amenidades."

I have stayed at the Holiday Inn at

Cacique mall which has a rooftop pool

and bar and an unmarked elevator that

goes from the hotel lobby to the mall's

underground garage.  From there, take

the escalator up to the shops.

This route is convenient on hot days

and when it is raining..

My favorite hotel in Buca is Dann Carlton

Bucaramanga in Sotomayor district,

which also has a rooftop pool and is closer

to several table-games casinos and two

other large malls.

The pools at Holiday Inn and Dann Carlton

are both climatized seven days a week.

cccmedia

This thread is pretty lively! I never considered Colombia over Ecuador, mainly for its cocaine and drug trafficking rep.  For those of you living in and loving Colombia, can you expand on how the drug trade affects the quality of life there?

Nobody has solicited me for purchase

of illegal drugs during my half dozen stays

in Medellín, always staying in Poblado.

The only scam I recall was at a club in Armenia,

Quindío. A chica  was acting unusually

friendly towards yours truly.  She got me

to order a bottle of liquor for consumption

by her table of friends, and she then disappeared

for the night before the bottle arrived.

cccmedia

@wlabarge "can you expand on how the drug trade affects the quality of life there?"  You mean the building craze and luxury cars? Like Brickell in Miami?

I am half joking and i know there are many innocent victims of the drug trade. But it is a reality in the world. Most of that is near the border and i believe the burden is heavy. In Medellin the biggest worry is pickpocketing so far me in 5 years. I guess i could get mugged but i dress like i am going to home depot and keep a low profile. Medellin has the most pros for me and i travel alot. I split my time with Costa Rica because i dont want to be a tax resisdent. I am considering visting Cuenca as an alternative to Costa Rica which by the way has seen an economic influx of the dirty money. Imagine the poverty here without it, Controversial but if they could tax it. they obviously cant stop it, this post will probably get censored

Medellín with its glamorous facades,

modernization and history of cartel activity

is naturally a magnet for some drug trade

to pass thorugh. Downtown may be a

particular magnet for drug activity.

The party zone around Parque Lleras,

likewise.

Bogotá as the capital, financial center

and major transportation hub is a

non-zero drugs city.

Ipiales and other small cities along

the border with Ecuador have been

where cartels have operations.

Ecuador is a crossroads between

the worldwide leaders among

cocaine producers Peru and Colombia.

cccmedia

If I were to choose a city to live in Colombia

where drug activity is relatively low to

moderate, I am choosing Bucaramanga,

Santander.

Smaller than the national capital and

the Paisa capital and -- like them -- situated

away from the coasts, Buca is not a natural

draw for major drug trafficking IMO.  At

3100 feet altitutde, Buca has mild

temperatures, rainfall in an acceptable

range and scores of parks.  Plus fine

shopping malls, casinos and variety

of restaurants.

cccmedia

@cccmedia I believe if your not in the game it literally has no impact on my daily life so it not a worry for me.

Now if it brings violence then the anty is upped, Pickpockets are the most common. In over 30 years of traveling living in Latin america

i havent been mugged but i am preparred, i have an old phone and about 100$ in Cop i would gladly turn over in return for my safety.

If i am out at night its in Envigado, Not a worry at least today.

@pbolen99 actually if you googled that the locals spell it with a U  . Historically the U is correct.

@dawnburwell  I did Google it, and I did not find anywhere that referred to Columbia as being correct.  In fact, there were several articles in Spanish as to explain why some (read Americans) misspell the country's name by inserting a 'U' in it.

@cccmedia Thanks for this tip. I looked up the city and it's beautiful. I would have never found out about it otherwise.

@cccmedia

I realize this post is from 2023 but the tax laws for foreign residents in Ecuador have changed in 2024. I'm not a great resource for the details but maybe someone with a better head for these details might want to chime in on these changes.

Regarding Ecuador vs. Colombia...I'm in Cuenca and have been for 8 months. As you know (but others may not), Ecuador has been experiencing unusual droughts and the government has not taken the necessary steps to fix the issues (maintaining or building hydroelectric dams, etc. It's complicated).

As a consequence, we are experiencing blackouts on a daily basis that started again today. The last one was three months ago and lasted three months. The new one started today and they are not saying how long it will continue.

These blackouts happen every day but with weekends, it can be iffy. They last anywhere from 2-4 hours a day and rotate during different times during the day for each area. You can check the website to find out your schedule for the next day. We have no electricity during that time and although businesses with generators can function, many cannot or simply function without them.

Since I have been here and with this current round of blackouts (that may be another three months), I will have spent nearly half my stay in Ecuador experiencing blackouts.

I'm considering a move to Colombia only for this reason. I love Cuenca but for me, going without electricity for 2-4 hours a day (but still paying my full electric bill each month) isn't fun. Everyone has their tolerance level and it's individual but unless I'm dealing with war rationing, going without electricity every day is not something I want to live with.

So, if it's Colombia vs. Ecuador, people should consider that this situation with droughts in Ecuador. It is not necessarily going to go away. There are many factors involved and many opinions (El Nino, climate change, etc.,) as to what is causing it but but going forward, unless Ecuador experiences more rain and the government builds more hydroelectric dams, these blackouts will be the "go to" solution for the government to conserve water. This is a crisis in Ecuador that has been brewing for a long time.

I guess for me, I would have to say Colombia for 2024.