Moving From Canada to Colombia — My Experience Living in Medellín and Ibagué
Moving to Colombia – have fun telling your family you are off to foreign lands. Will you get all the questions of concern from everyone you know? Yes – Good thing for me, everything worked out. Let us jump into it.
Updated on June 22, 2026 by the good looking guy in the picture, me – Trev.
At 39 years old, I decided to leave Toronto, Canada and take a chance on something completely different. Let us talk about living life, in a geographical arbitrage kind of way.
Like many people, I had spent years working, saving money, and trying to build a stable life. Canada gave me opportunities, but over time I started feeling curious about what life could look like outside of the country. I wanted better weather, lower living costs, more freedom, and honestly, a new experience.
After spending a few months of researching living in Colombia online, reading expat stories, and watching videos about Medellín, I booked a trip.
Originally, the plan was simple.
I would spend three months in Colombia, explore the country, improve my Spanish, enjoy the weather, and then probably head back to Canada.
That never happened.
Landing in Medellín for the First Time
I still remember arriving at José María Córdova International Airport outside Medellín for the first time.
After landing, I took the airport bus down toward the city. As we drove through the mountains, I remember looking outside the window and seeing beautiful green hills, fincas scattered throughout the countryside, and views completely different from Toronto.
That first drive into Medellín was one of the moments where I realized:
“This place feels different.”
The weather was warm, people were friendly, and the energy of the city immediately stood out to me. Coming from Toronto winters, waking up to sunshine almost every day honestly felt strange at first. In Canada, I was used to gray skies, cold mornings, and months where you barely wanted to go outside. Medellín immediately felt more alive and social simply because people were outdoors all the time.
Thinking About Moving to Colombia?
Relocating to a new country is a major decision, and everyone’s situation is unique. After living in Colombia for more than six years, I’ve learned a lot through firsthand experience and would be happy to share what I’ve learned.
If you’re comparing cities, planning your budget, or looking for practical advice before making the move, you can request a personalized one-on-one relocation consultation.
Living in Medellín as a Canadian
Yes, readers, I love food. During my first month in Medellín, I stayed at a hostel near Estadio, one of the most popular neighborhoods for foreigners, digital nomads, and travelers.
The hostel cost me roughly $300 CAD per month, which honestly shocked me compared to Toronto prices.
Back in Canada, paying that little for accommodation in a major city would be almost impossible.
One of the things I enjoyed most about the Estadio area was the social atmosphere. Back in Toronto, life often felt more individual and routine-based. In Medellín, it felt easier to meet people naturally. During my first few weeks, I made friends from different countries, started playing soccer with locals and expats, and spent time exploring Medellín neighborhood by neighborhood.
For many foreigners moving to Colombia, Medellín becomes the first stop because of the climate, nightlife, affordability, and strong expat community.
The city is surrounded by mountains, the metro system is modern and clean, and there is always something happening.
The Food in Medellín
These food pictures are making me hungry btw – One thing that quickly stood out to me was the food. Pilar and I would go out for lunch constantly, sometimes almost every day. Lunch culture in Colombia is completely different from Canada. Instead of quickly grabbing fast food or eating alone at work, meals felt slower and more social.
In Medellín, Pilar and I were constantly going out for lunch or trying new restaurants. Colombia has a huge variety of affordable meals compared to Canada.
Some of the local foods I enjoyed included:
- Bandeja paisa
- Arepas
- Empanadas
- Grilled meats
- Fresh fruit juices
- Colombian bakery food
- Menu del día lunches
One of the best parts about living in Colombia is that eating out regularly can still be affordable.
In Canada, restaurant prices add up quickly. In Medellín, it felt much easier to enjoy daily life without constantly worrying about spending money.
Meeting Pilar
A few weeks after arriving in Medellín, I met Pilar.
Yes, that photo was taken in Comuna 13.
At the time, my Spanish honestly was not very good. I made plenty of mistakes trying to communicate during my first months in Colombia, but people were usually patient with me. Over time, living in Colombia every day slowly forced me to improve.
At the time, I had no idea that she would eventually become my wife.
We connected quickly and started spending more and more time together. After a couple months of dating, things moved fast.
We eventually moved into an apartment together in Envigado, one of the most popular residential areas near Medellín.
Our apartment cost around $500 CAD per month, which again felt extremely affordable compared to rental prices in Toronto.
Envigado quickly became one of my favorite areas because it felt safer, calmer, and more residential while still being close to everything.
For foreigners researching where to live in Medellín, areas like Envigado, Laureles, and Estadio are popular options depending on budget and lifestyle.
Why We Left Medellín for Ibagué
After about a year of living in Medellín, Pilar and I started talking about trying a different part of Colombia.
Her family was originally from Ibagué, the capital city of Tolima, and I was curious to explore more of the country beyond Medellín.
A lot of foreigners only experience Medellín, Cartagena, or Bogotá.
But Colombia is much bigger than that.
We decided to move to Ibagué together.
At the time, Pilar already had a daughter named Juanita from a previous marriage, and we were starting to think more seriously about family life and long-term plans.
Living in Ibagué, Colombia
Moving to Ibagué ended up being one of the best decisions we made.
Compared to Medellín, Ibagué has a slower pace, lower cost of living, less traffic, and a more local Colombian feel.
Adjusting to the slower lifestyle actually took time for me. Coming from Toronto, I was used to constantly being busy and moving fast. In Colombia, especially outside Medellín, life can feel much more relaxed. At first it almost felt strange, but after a few years I started appreciating it much more.
One of the biggest advantages is affordability.
Housing prices, restaurants, transportation, and day-to-day expenses are noticeably cheaper than Medellín.
Curious how the numbers compare with home? See my breakdown of the cost of living in Colombia vs Canada, with rent and monthly budgets in Canadian dollars.
The weather in Ibagué is also one of the things I enjoy most.
In my opinion, it is almost perfect.
It is warm without being overwhelmingly hot like some coastal cities, but also not cold like Bogotá.
Another major advantage is location.
Ibagué is only a few hours from Bogotá by car, which makes access to El Dorado International Airport relatively easy for international travel.
The city is also close to Colombia’s coffee region, which makes weekend trips and road travel around the country much easier.
Food in Ibagué and Tolima
Tolima is known throughout Colombia for traditional dishes like:
- Tamal Tolimense
- Lechona
- Colombian soups
- Fresh fruit juices
- Grilled meats
- Bakery foods and local snacks
Food culture in Colombia is one of the reasons many foreigners enjoy living here.
But as you can tell, I am a huge burger guy.
Fresh ingredients are easy to find, restaurants are affordable, and lunch culture is a major part of daily life.
Even years later, Pilar and I still regularly go out to eat and explore different restaurants.
Building a Family in Colombia
Not long after moving to Ibagué, Pilar and I got married during COVID.
Around this time, I was also experiencing a completely different kind of daily life than what I was used to in Canada. Raising kids in Colombia felt more community-oriented and family-centered. For a couple years, we even had help from a houseworker, which made life with young children much easier and more manageable compared to what many families experience in Canada.
Around this period, our family started growing quickly.
Today, we have two boys together, Daniel – Dani and Mateo Axel – yes Axel, like the Guns and Roses guy – who are now five and four years old.
Living in Colombia changed my life in ways I never expected. A pretty dramatic statement, but the truth, nonetheless.
What started as a short trip turned into a completely different future.
Instead of returning to Canada after a few months, I built a family, created a new lifestyle, and experienced a side of life that I probably never would have discovered if I had stayed comfortable back home.
Cost of Living: Canada vs Colombia
One of the biggest reasons many foreigners look into moving to Colombia is cost of living.
While prices have increased in recent years, Colombia can still offer a significantly lower monthly cost compared to cities like Toronto or Vancouver.
Some of the differences I personally noticed included:
- Lower rent prices
- Lower restaurant costs
- More affordable transportation
- Affordable domestic travel
- Cheaper healthcare and dental services
- Better weather year-round
Of course, moving abroad is not only about saving money.
There are challenges too.
Learning Spanish, adapting to cultural differences, dealing with immigration paperwork, and building a new social circle all take time.
But overall, living in Colombia gave me a lifestyle that felt more balanced and enjoyable.
Is Colombia Right for Everyone?
Probably not.
But for remote workers, retirees, entrepreneurs, digital nomads, and foreigners looking for a lifestyle change, Colombia can be an incredible option.
Cities like Medellín often attract attention online, but places like Ibagué, Pereira, Bucaramanga, and Manizales can also offer excellent quality of life with lower living costs.
Every city in Colombia has a different personality.
That is one of the reasons I built the Colombia Cost of Living Simulator on this website.
I wanted people to better understand how different lifestyles and cities can dramatically change your monthly expenses.
Planning Your Move to Colombia?
Moving to another country can feel overwhelming, and every situation is different. If you’d like personalized advice based on my experience living in Colombia for over six years, I’d be happy to help.
Whether you’re deciding where to live, creating a realistic budget, or simply want to ask questions before making the move, you can request a one-on-one relocation consultation.