Retire in Colombia
To retire in Colombia most people use the Pensionado visa: a lifelong pension of 3 minimum wages, 5,252,715 pesos a month in 2026. Prices run at about 41% of the US.
What it takes, what it costs, and where retirees settle, from Colombia's law and official data. Checked on Oct 7, 2026.
- Retiree visa
- From COP 5,252,715/mo (about $1,580) A lifelong pension paid monthly by a government or a private pension fund, of at least 3 t…. Cancillería; Decree 1469 of 2025. Checked Oct 7, 2026.
- Price level
- ~41% of the US Household consumption, 2025. World Bank. Checked Oct 7, 2026.
- Tax on a foreign pension
- 0% up to a cap Foreign pensions exempt up to 1,000 UVT a month. Tax Code art. 206; PwC Tax Summaries. Checked Oct 7, 2026.
- Travel advisory
- Level 3 of 4 Reconsider Travel. US State Department. Updated Mar 30, 2026.
- Health spending
- $644/person Per year; US $13,473. World Bank. Checked Oct 7, 2026.
- US tax treaty
- None No income tax treaty with the US. IRS. Checked Oct 7, 2026.
Do you qualify?
The Pensionado visa is a Migrant (M) visa for anyone with a lifelong pension from a government or a private pension fund of at least 3 times Colombia's monthly minimum wage: 5,252,715 pesos a month in 2026. It lasts up to 3 years, does not allow work, and after 5 years as a holder you can apply for a Resident visa.
Pensionado visa: documents and feesRetiring in Colombia, topic by topic
Visa
Pensionado visa requirements
Documents, government fees and the other routes to residency.
Healthcare
Healthcare for retirees
The hospitals retirees use, what insurance covers, and Medicare abroad.
Money
Banking, pensions and tax
How US, UK and Canadian pensions reach a local bank, and what you report at home.
Budget
Cost of living
Official prices and a budget built from your own rent.
What it costs
Household prices in Colombia run at about 41% of US levels. Rent is the line nobody publishes officially, so the cost of living page builds your budget from your own rent; food starts from the official basket.
Build your budgetOfficial minimum food basket, per person, per month, 2025
DANE. Checked Oct 7, 2026.
Where retirees settle
Medellín
- Capital of Antioquia, about 2.5 million people (2018)
- 1,405 m above sea level
- Hospital Pablo Tobón Uribe, JCI accredited
Bogotá
- Capital, about 8 million people (2024)
- 2,582 m above sea level
- LaCardio, JCI accredited
Cali
- Capital of Valle del Cauca, about 2.5 million people (2018)
- 1,018 m above sea level
- Fundación Valle del Lili, JCI accredited
Cartagena
- Bolívar Department, about 915,000 people (2020)
- On the coast, 2 m above sea level
Wikidata; Hospital Pablo Tobón Uribe; LaCardio; Fundación Valle del Lili. Checked Oct 7, 2026.
Colombia compared
- El Poblado vs Laureles vs Envigado
- Colombia vs Ecuador for Retirement in 2026
- Merida vs Medellin for Retirement in 2026
- Mexico City vs Medellín for Retirement in 2026
- Chiang Mai vs Medellín for Retirement in 2026
- Medellin vs Cuenca Retirement 2026
- Bali vs Medellin for Retirement in 2026
- Cebu vs Medellín for Retirement in 2026
More guides on Colombia
Visiting Colombia first
Most people spend a few weeks in Colombia before they apply for anything. Two things to sort out for that trip:
Kiwi.com
Flights to Colombia
Compare routes and dates before a scouting trip.
Airalo
eSIM for Colombia
Mobile data from the day you land, without a local SIM.
Partner links: we may earn a commission if you book, at no cost to you. How this works.
Retiring in Colombia: questions
Can I retire in Colombia on Social Security alone?
Yes, if it pays at least COP 5,252,715 (about $1,580) a month: a state pension paid for life meets the Pensionado rule. A comfortable life usually needs more; build a budget from your own rent on the cost of living page.
Is Colombia safe for retirees?
The US State Department rates Colombia Level 3, reconsider travel.
Do I pay tax in Colombia on my pension?
No, up to a high cap. Colombia taxes a pension only on the part above 1,000 UVT a month (52,347,000 pesos in 2026), and since the 2022 reform that applies to pensions from abroad, if you meet the conditions to draw a pension under Colombia's Law 100 of 1993. US citizens still file a US return.
How do I retire in Colombia from the US?
Most retirees use the Pensionado visa: a lifelong pension of at least 3 minimum wages, 5,252,715 pesos a month in 2026, with a $56 study fee and a $279 visa fee. Social Security can be paid straight into a bank in Colombia.
Where do retirees live in Colombia?
Mostly Medellín, at 1,405 m; Bogotá, the capital, at 2,582 m; Cali, at 1,018 m; and Cartagena on the coast. Each of the first three has a hospital accredited by Joint Commission International.
Can I retire in Colombia and keep my pension tax-free?
Largely yes. Colombia taxes a pension only on the part above 1,000 UVT a month (52,347,000 pesos in 2026), and this applies to pensions from abroad if you meet the conditions of Colombia's pension law.
