As someone who has lived in Colombia for 11 years continuously, you can take my advice or not. Expats should think twice before living in small towns in Colombia. 

Economic and social factors have caused Americans to seek new homes abroad more than ever before. In 1999, the Department of State estimated that there were between three and six million Americans living abroad. In 2016, that same agency estimated that the number had rise to 9 million, a pretty big increase in only 17 years. This is being called the American Diaspora. [1]

Colombia is listed as one of the top 10 countries hosting American non-native populations and that popularity is only going to continue to grow in spite of increased restrictions by the Colombian visa authority (La Cancilleria).

Which begs the question, where are these Americans moving to in Colombia? The short answer is that they are mostly moving to major cities like Medellin, Bogota, Pereira, Cali and Cartagena. However, there is a latent curiosity about small towns, or pueblos for these new arrivals. 

It is our stance here at Coffee Axis Travel, that newcomers should avoid living in small towns in Colombia and we are going to explain why.

We can already visualize the scathing comments of criticism that this will engender, and of course that is part of the process. But, there are some extreme downsides to living in small towns that we want YOU our dear and valued reader, to be aware of…

Why Expats Should Avoid Small Towns in Colombia

In a nutshell, we are not culturally prepared for the way Colombians in small towns think – and their attitudes towards Americans especially. 

Here are some basic facts regarding the arrival of foreign residents in small towns in Colombia: 

1. Americans are All Rich: Due to Hollywood, tv shows and even past indicators, the perception in Colombia like many Latin American countries, is that Americans are all rich. And in a sense they aren’t wrong as we have enjoyed a really high standard of living compared to the average Colombian. Examples include the wide ownership of cars, houses and luxury items like electronics or name brand clothing. Even middle to lower class houses in the US have better quality electric wiring, plumbing and amenities compared to their South American neighbors. 
2. Low levels of Education: While there have been dramatic increases in overall levels of reading, maths etc, the mentality of the average Colombian – in a small town especially is extremely low. Their view of the world can often be resentful and even a bit hateful due to a lack of employment opportunities, fair wages and education.
3. Low wages and income opportunities: We discovered during our three years living in Viterbo, Caldas (population 12,000), that the average monthly wages were between 600,000 to 800,000 cop per month or lesss, which is $200 USD or less – falling below the national minimum wage set by the government. Due to outside arrivals, the average rent spiked from 400,000 cop or less per month up to 700,000 or 800,000 inside the township (where we were living) per month, which can quickly suck up the monthly earnings of local employees. 
4. Increasing crime rates: With income disparities and lack of opportunity, comes the attraction of theft and petty crime. Over the last couple years the security situation in Colombia has declined due to economic factors, and in many cases small towns are falling victim. Breaking and entering, assault and street crimes including grand theft auto are on the rise in many small towns in Colombia. 
5. Cultural Conflicts: While city inhabitants are a little less surprised by the arrival of foreign residents, many small towns are still new to the idea of foreign arrival. We have a very different way of viewing the world around us and even how we relate on an interpersonal basis. Small towns in Colombia have a very high tolerance for loud music, neighbors who smoke, beggars, druggies, and in some areas, all night parties. You can’t complain to your landlord and have the problem fixed as easily as it will be taken care of in the city. 

At this point those foreigners who are still in their honeymoon phase are probably foaming at the mouth, throwing things and ranting about the person who dares to speak negatively about their beloved Colombia. The ones who have been here a while are nodding their heads or thinking back to their own experiences. Both responses are A-OK. 

But what about rural housing communities or condominiums?

In every situation there is always a population that is relatively immune to these social and economic problems, and they are definitely the ones who live in rural gated communities or bubbles insulated by security guards and money. 

In Colombia, it is a family tradition to go to the farm or condo on the weekends. From the poorest to the richest, the weekend tradition is to leave the city on Saturday/Sunday and return for the workweek. As a result there is a massive industry that revolves around the rental of these farms or “fincas.” 

And, to be fair, if you are looking for a quiet rural life, you will probably find exactly what you are looking for in these communities. Pool access, BBQ kiosks, children’s play areas and dog walking parks are only a few of the conveniences that are found in the common areas of condominiums. 

You are not alone! Did you know that we offer consulting services that can help you make these decisions? Click Here to learn more about our VIP Expat Lifestyle Tour and Consulting Services!

The main thing for living in a condominium, is to choose your environment and neighbors very carefully. Some condominiums allow loud music, parties and weekend rentals which will most definitely disturb your peace. Others have strict rules that prohibit short term rentals, loud music and anything that breaks the silence of quiet living. 

Another precaution is to know what is nearby. How far are you from police/medical services? How close are you to indigenous communities? Robberies and break-ins can plague condominiums which are isolated or badly positioned. In some cases the police will not arrive until hours later. That can be a serious issue if something untoward happens to your little slice of paradise. 

Our Experience with Small Towns in Colombia

Due to economic factors coming out of the pandemic and its lockdowns etc, we decided to move to a small town in order to save on the cost of living and recoup our losses. In short, it worked until it didn’t. 

The upside was the cheaper cost of living, everything from coffee to rent was a third or less than what we were paying in the city. We even had the luxury of buses that left every 15 minutes for Pereira – and hour and a half away. 

Downsides included beggars, fake friends and boredom. There are many things that can be really crappy and uncomfortable when living in small towns in Colombia. 

In many small towns the same 4 or 5 people will come around and harass everyone on the plaza for coins, cigarettes and coffee. These beggars are a combination of extreme druggies who are physically incapable of living a normal life, to elderly who are given some things by their families but turned out into the streets to go find some means of support by their own families. Most towns DO have social services that provide meals and health services to these people – giving in to their desires only sustains the problem and the addiction. 

After a few months living in Viterbo, we began to realize local perceptions of us. As a woman, I was advised to avoid getting involved in relationships with local men because they are all “interesados” or coming at me with selfish intentions. During the 3 years I had two brief relationships. The better of the two was a man who was self employed – but he drank too much and worked pretty much non-stop. The worst was someone who claimed honorable intentions but in the end, only wanted to get papers to go to the US.

That initial advice was dead on, neither relationship was worth the heartbreak that ensued. There were even many situations where men came to me in the street and straight up offered me money to marry and get them papers so they could immigrate. 

Fake friends – or people who will use you for what they can get. This is a segue for the topic of dating because not everyone is interested in romantic relationships – some only want a few good friends. In small towns, image is always an obsession. People spend their tiny lives worrying what everyone else will think of them. Which leads to people who will be your friend – but only if it benefits their image. Usually having an American friend is something to brag about. Take your time getting to know people – create healthy boundaries. 

The last straw was ultimately, boredom. You can only go to the same 5 coffee shops, and 2 or 3 restaurants, before your interest runs dry. We came from bigger cities which have shows, opera, theater, concerts, weekend events, the symphony and so many other attractions to entertain locals and tourists alike on a year round basis.

Colombian restaurants are not known for changing menus and variety – in fact, once a menu is agreed upon by the owners it may be years before anything is ever changed or re-created. Even the coffee shops and bakeries had the redundancy of alway making the same breaks, pastries and desserts year round. 

Conclusion

If you come from a small town background, and this environment suits you – be our guest. But even on a cultural level, Colombia can have its challenges, especially for newcomers. When you take that leap to go live in a small town, do your homework – take a lot of time to get to know the issues, and make sure you have local friends who watch your back. 

Even so, we do not recommend small towns in Colombia for 90% of foreign residents who come here to stay. The litmus test to deciding is having a deep understanding for how Colombians see the outside world, and a really high level of tolerance for behaviors that may make you uncomfortable or even disturb your lifestyle. 

Expats really should think twice before living in small towns in Colombia!

Sources: 

1. Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emigration_from_the_United_States