Where can your pension take you?
Compare 20+ destinations across cost of living, healthcare, climate, and visa-friendliness — then run our wizard to find your personal top match.
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Cuenca is the cheaper of the two: about $1,300/month for one retiree versus $1,500 in Medellín, a gap of $200/month (2026 editorial estimates). The main retiree route is the Migrant Visa (M-11) — pensioner category (from COP 5,250,750/month) in Colombia and the Pensionado Visa (from $1,446/month) in Ecuador.
| Medellín, Colombia | Cuenca, Ecuador | |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly budget — single | $1,500 (Numbeo) | $1,300 (Numbeo) |
| Monthly budget — couple | $2,100 | $1,800 |
| Rent (one-bedroom, single budget) | $700 | $500 |
| Main retiree visa | Migrant Visa (M-11) — pensioner category | Pensionado Visa |
| Minimum income | COP 5,250,750/month (Cancillería de Colombia) | $1,446/month (Ecuador Ministry of Foreign Affairs) |
| Path to permanent residency | Resident Visa (R) after 5 continuous years on the M visa | Permanent residency after 21 months of physical residence; naturalisation after 3 years of permanent residency |
| Foreign pension tax | Depends on pension type / treaty | Not taxed |
| Healthcare rating | 8/10 | 7/10 |
| Safety rating | 6/10 | 7/10 |
| Visa friendliness | 8/10 | 10/10 |
| Climate | mountain | mountain |
| English | Limited — local language helps | Limited — local language helps |
| Expat community | Large expat community | Large expat community |
| Last checked | Aug 9, 2026 | Jul 5, 2026 |
How to read these labels: Official requirement restates a rule published by a government authority; Editorial estimate is our 2026 budget model for one retiree; Editorial summary condenses official tax rules; Editorial rating is our 0–10 score. “Checked” is the date our editors last reviewed the figure. Rules change — confirm with the authority before you apply. Full methodology
Tax in Colombia: Residents are taxed on worldwide income; treatment of a foreign pension depends on its type — confirm with a binational accountant before relocating.
Tax in Ecuador: Ecuador does not tax foreign pension income.