Life Abroad in Latin America

A very general idea what it can look like living abroad in Central or South America & what it means for your lifestyle.

Last week I started this new mini series on living in regions around the world with life abroad in Southeast Asia. This week I want to dive into Latin America, my first home abroad.

In case you missed last week’s, I just want to issue a small warning that this will be very general and based on my personal experience. While for the most part everywhere speaks Spanish, there are still big differences between cultures, cost of living, and day-to-day life.

Don’t think of this as the golden rule but instead a general idea into what your life living in this region could look like.

Let’s dive in.

The General Vibe

Parts of the Caribbean are sometimes included when referring to the region, Latin America, but for today’s purpose let’s stick with Mexico down to Chile. From my travel experience, the Caribbean is completely it’s own and while Spanish is sometimes spoken, the culture and way of life might differ too much to lump it into this piece.

Specifically, I’ve lived in Ecuador (2013-2015) and Panama (2015-2016), with a handful of months spent in Guatemala, Peru, Colombia, and Argentina. My in-laws are also Colombian, with all of Raf’s family still calling that country home (and giving us the perfect excuse to visit).

Generally, I’d describe Latin America as energetic. Not so much in terms of how physically active the people are but for the vibrancy everyday actions involve.

Voices are loud, streets are colorful, and music never seems to turn off.

It’s actually something both my husband and another Colombian friend of his complain about in Europe. I love when I open my balcony door on a Sunday and not a single noise reaches me. For them, it’s terrifying. Where are the street vendors? The friends playing on the corner? Or the neighborhood speaker that never seems to turn off?

That’s actually a real thing.

My neighbor in Ecuador proudly brought home a new speaker one day. One of those massive ones often found in clubs or karaoke joints. They put it on their patio, angled to the street, and never turned it off in the 2 years we lived next to each other. They kept the tune of our barrio and I was the only one that was surprised.

With the exception of a few mountain towns, a moment of silence is rare in Latin America but the rhythm will somehow find a way to creep in until you’re swaying along with it.

Other than the energy, you’ll also realize that most people are curious. If you don’t look like you belong, you will get attention. People will stare, point, and ask you questions you might feel are too personal. It’s not an attack on you, it’s genuine curiosity.

From my experience, the level of English is really low across the region. Doors will open up to you if you speak Spanish and are willing to answer questions with kindness. Especially in smaller towns, getting to know your neighbors will be crucial. Next thing you know you’ll be dancing the night away with them, grateful for that neverending music.

The General Job Market/Internet Access

I’ll be honest: the job market isn’t great for foreigners. There are some opportunities to teach English, work in hospitality, or work for international companies but true paid positions (especially ones that sponsor your visa) aren’t so common.

This isn’t to say there aren’t opportunities, there are. You just have to work a little bit harder to find them.

I went to Guatemala on a language program, studied abroad in Argentina, lived in Ecuador as a Peace Corps Volunteer, volunteered in Peru, and worked as a tour guide in Panama.

Truthfully, my work as a tour guide was paid but was “under the table” and didn’t provide a visa.

While it’s certainly possible to get hired as an English teacher, if you want to ensure a visa and a good salary, I’d opt for teaching at an international school instead, so long as you meet those requirements.

The quality of internet will depend drastically on where exactly you move. Cities will have better signal than rural areas. In my experience though, the internet still isn’t that great when compared to other parts of the world. You should be fine with basic remote work but if you deal with heavy files or spend all day in video calls, you’ll want to do some research on the best internet provider.

The General Visa Routes

I mentioned border runs in last week’s piece on living in SE Asia. Here, border runs are just as common. A lot of people pop into the region and slowly work their way around, moving on every 3 months or so, or do a border run and heading right back to their adoptive home the next day.

While the system isn’t quite as impressive as in SE Asia with numerous companies ready to offer their service, it’s still as common.

If you have a legitimate job, you should be able to get a work visa. From my experience, it’ll take a lot for a company to want to sponsor you but it’s not unheard of.

There are a handful of countries in Latin America that currently offer a digital nomad visa of some sort. If you work online and want to move to this region for longer than a tourist visa allows, look into:

• Argentina Digital Nomad Visa

• Belize Long-Stay Permit

• Brazil Digital Nomad Visa

• Colombia Digital Nomad Visa

• Costa Rica Rentista Visa

• Ecuador Rentista for Remote Work Visa

• Mexico Temporary Residence Visa

• Uruguay Digital Nomad Visa

For more details on each, start at #29 on this article.

The General Cost of Living

Generally, Latin America is considered affordable. Of course, keeping in mind that cities and popular hubs will be more expensive than smaller and less-known destinations.

You can easily make life here super expensive, as you’ll find plenty of international restaurants, high rise condos, and luxury shops in any of the big cities, just like you will in your home country. That said, most would say you’ll get more bang for your buck here.

Now it’s time for my typical disclaimer: please don’t only move abroad because of the promise of a lower cost of living. While this can certainly be a perk, you’ll need some other motivators - like genuine curiosity and an eagerness to live in said culture - than just how it’ll affect your bank account.

Anything Else to Add?

This is a very general look, based on my 1st hand experience of living in Central and South America. While there’s so much diversity in the food, landscape, and specific cultures here, this is a blanket look into the region.

If you’ve lived anywhere in Latin America and have something to add, drop it in the comments!