Thinking about being a Digital Nomad in Colombia?
There are many reasons why Colombia is emerging as the go-to travel destination for digital nomads. Before the dreaded C-Word, people have been flying, driving, and even boating to what’s now beginning to feel like the ‘Promised Land’ for Digital Nomads. However, when you get here from where you were coming from. You will realise that this Shangri-La is not the hidden secret you might have thought it was.
In fact, according to immigration Colombia has been experiencing large waves of immigration from other Latin American countries, Europe, East Asia, and North America over the past five years.
Why is it so popular to be a Digital Nomad in Colombia?
With top quality of life, improvements in security, and economic opportunities Colombia is a top contender for Digital Nomads. Added to that is the fact that the international airports in all the major cities (Medellin, Bogota, Cartagena and Cali) have direct flights from major U.S cities, making access in and out of Colombia super easy. AND there are clear paths to securing a long-term visa
You may even start to feel – not like you’re discovering a Mecca – but more like you’re the last to find out about that secret your older siblings have been keeping from you.
It’s human nature to want to dissect and analyze how Colombia transformed from the conflict-ridden zone to the heartbeat of Latin America that it is now. After a decades-long war, the dedication of an entire country to rebrand the image and attract more wholesome visitors has started to turn things around. But what makes Colombia, especially Medellin, so unique for Digital Nomads?
In this post, we will be touching on three key elements and one bonus element to explain why cities like Medellin are exceptional cities for Digital Nomads.
The top reasons for being a Digital Nomad in Colombia are:
- Cost of Living
- Easy access to International and domestic flights
- The Opportunity to explore the second-most biodiverse country in the world
- Infrastructure
Cost of Living
It is no secret that Digital Nomads want to save in certain areas of life to traverse the globe more often.
One of the best parts of Colombia is that you, even in the metropolitan cities like Medellin or Bogota, can live great on a lower budget compared to other cities like New York and London. Although you would be surprised by some of the prices for a 3-bedroom penthouse duplex in El Poblado. Don’t get me wrong – you can find someone to rent you a place above market value; for the most part, you can grab a steal of a deal in Laureles which is very close to the nightlife and restaurant zone of La 70 for $600.00.
Save on Food
On your first day, take a walk around the Barrio in search of restaurants catering to locals. You’ll find that they all offer a menu of the day that consists of Rice, some soup of the day (usually frijoles), and your meat choices, like beef, pork, or chicken. Although some people enjoy cooking their meals themselves, we highly recommend the menu del dia.
If you’re lucky enough to be visiting Cartagena, you may even see fish on the menu, which is always a nice treat.
Inexpensive drinks with friends…
The farther you go from the ex-pat/tourist centres, the cheaper things will be. Imagine having 2×1 beers with your amigos when beers are only 50 cents. In Colombia, that is an actual possibility. The nightlife in cities like Medellin is second to none. There are 5 principal zones to party in Medellín: Lleras, Barrio Colombia, La 33, La 70 and Las Palmas.
The most popular, by far, is Lleras. Each zone corresponds to a different budget, so whatever the state of your bank account, you’ll find somewhere to party.
If you want American style music go to Lleras. For the best reggaeton, try Barrio Colombia, and for Salsa – head directly to La 70.
Easy access to International Flights…
If you are a Digital Nomad launching off from Miami, you might be thrilled to know that you can fly DIRECT from home to the Jose Maria Cordova International Airport in under 4 hours. If you book your flight in advance, you’ll be surprised at how much you save on your airfare.
Suppose it’s your first time in Colombia. We suggest stopping into Cartagena first and passing through the Walled City for some coastal excitement. Otherwise, go directly to your final destination and save the trip to Cartagena for a weekend getaway, which leads us to the next point.
Inexpensive Domestic Flights…
With over 20 airlines like Viva, Avianca, and Latam operating in Colombia, it’s easy to understand why flights around the country are so reasonably priced. You can get from Medellin to San Andres for less than $100.00 on ViVa Air.
Explore the biodiversity
Colombia’s location is fantastic.
The country is located at the tip of South America, and it is characterized by a wide distribution of animals and plants due to the varying environmental conditions of each region and the development of the continents over time. One thing that Digital Nomads in Medellin like is to explore all that this region has to offer.
Additionally, Colombia is surrounded by three huge mountains, which split the country into five natural regions: Andes, Pacific, Caribbean, Amazon, and the Llanos (plains). These regions offer an impressive range of climates and beautiful landscapes at varying altitudes. If you’re a bird watcher, you’d be thrilled to know that more than 1,920 bird species are to observe. Not your scene? There are 528 types of mammals and 1,521 species of fish that exist in the country.
Infrastructure
Transportation and Getting Around…
When you think of the benefits of being a digital nomad in Medellin, or the lifestyle in general. The ease of public transportation is a must mention. Most nomads and ex-pats tend to rely on transportation apps like Didi, InDriver and even Uber, which are all reasonably easy to use. But, you can save a lot by taking the Metro to popular spots. It is much easier than you’d think! If all else fails, you can always ask one of the Bilingual support transit guides for support.
Although this only touches on some of the benefits of living in Colombia as a digital nomad, the beautiful thing is that if you decide to take that lead, you will discover a whole host of other advantages.
