Colombia vs Puerto Rico… Why Did I Choose Puerto Rico?
Okay… so if you’ve been around for a while, you already know this… I’ve said many times that Colombia is my favorite place I’ve ever visited. And yes that list includes Puerto Rico. Naturally one of the biggest questions I get is: “If Colombia is your favorite… why did you choose Puerto Rico?” And honestly? It is a fair question. So today, I want to break it all down from the emotional choice to stay on the island to how it makes sense logically for my life right now. Let’s get into it.
1. Puerto Rico Is in My Blood
First things first — I’m Puerto Rican. My grandpa grew up on this island in the artsy neighborhood Río Piedras before moving to Florida to train race horses. That’s where he met my grandma. There they started baking up our family and eventually ended up moving to Southern California to train race horses there.
My grandpa passed away from diabetes three years before I was born, so I never got to meet him but I’ve always felt close to him in spirit. Since I was little, I wondered about him, his life on the island and what it would feel like to stand where he once stood. Living on this island has always been a dream of mine and I actually tried before, it just didn’t work out for very long.
So after a few years of traveling the world, I told myself If it’s meant to happen, it’ll happen. And here we are! If you’ve been following my Life of Nami series on YouTube, you know my first year here was not easy. But despite all of that… it’s very clear now. This was meant to be.
San Juan, Puerto Rico
2. The Logistics: Puerto Rico vs. Medellín
Now that the emotional part is out of the way, let’s talk logistics…
Housing-wise the prices are actually pretty similar. In Medellín, you can still find cheaper places than San Juan, Puerto Rico. I was paying about $600 for a two-bedroom and that was after negotiating it down. However, the water was never hot and it wasn’t in the best part of the city even though I never felt unsafe.
Anywhere with better standards and a better location? You’re looking at $750 and up. That was a year ago in 2024-2025 so realistically, it’s probably higher now.
In Puerto Rico, a similar place is more like $850 especially in the city. But if you’re patient or willing to look outside the city, you can find bigger places sometimes a whole house with land. On top of that… my sister is here and we share our housing costs which gives us way more flexibility and space financially.
This leads perfectly into my next point…
3. My Sister, Our Kids + a Home Base
My sister’s job is here, our babies are here and this is where we want to raise them. This is where we felt called to build a home.
Once we decided to really figure it out, things started falling into place. Not effortlessly, we definitely had to fight a little for the choice (watch my vlogs to truly understand) but once we moved into our current house and started integrating ourselves, it felt right.
Now people love to say “There’s not a lot of work here if you don’t speak Spanish.” And honestly? You should be learning Spanish. It’s the language of the island. You should also come here with your own income if possible.
A lot of people in the diaspora want to reconnect with their culture. People of Puerto Rican descent and locals should always get first pick when it comes to jobs — just like anywhere else in the world. That said, especially in San Juan, it’s not impossible to find work while learning Spanish. You just probably won’t be making a ton of money at first.
For my sister — she’s a new mom. What she makes here at minimum wage is still more than she’d be making in Colombia and before moving here, she was only working part-time so it kind of evened out in the beginning. Within a few months, she found a better job with better pay and has been living her best life since.
For me?
I’m a photographer, a travel trip host, and an overall creative. My audience is here, there’s a lot of creativity on the island so I feel inspired.
No matter where I travel temporarily, I want my home base to be in Puerto Rico so naturally the weight leaned towards San Juan.
4. Environment & Lifestyle Matter to Me
Now listen…. Colombia is big, lush and insanely beautiful. Medellín is one of the greenest cities I’ve ever experienced. But… no beach. Yes you can fly to Santa Marta. Yes it’s cheap and easy but it’s not the same.
Puerto Rico has everything and it’s within a 4 hour distance.
Jungle
Mountains
Rivers
Desert-like areas
Remote islands
The entire island is only about 100 miles wide. In a two-hour drive, you can be somewhere completely different. When I lived in Costa Rica, specifically the small beach town of Puerto Viejo, I learned that a small and compact environment only works for me if there’s a LOT to do and there is so much to do here on the island.
No the infrastructure isn’t perfect and people joke about the island turning into Atlantis. But GUYS… it’s Puerto freakin’ Rico! I don’t need perfection, I need access to nature, ease of travel and inspiration and I need the beach. I grew up in California an hour from the beach, 30 minutes on a good day. I was in the ocean from sun up to sun down as a baby. Being able to say “Let’s go watch the sunset” at 5pm… and walk 15 minutes to the water? That will never get old.
5. Parenting, Childhood and Nervous System Peace
This part is huge but subtle. I started asking myself not just where I wanted to live but where I wanted my child’s nervous system to grow. I’m raising Wilder in a travel-based, nature-centered way. Puerto Rico fits that in the natural way we:
Grow up outside, not just inside buildings
Have the opportunity to touch dirt, rain, ocean and trees daily
Experience a slower pace that doesn’t rush childhood
Exist in a multigenerational culture where kids are welcome everywhere
This decision was never just about me, It has always been about the life I’m building for us.
6. Visas & Stability (aka Thailand PTSD)
Another huge reason was visas.
I have a little bit of visa PTSD after Thailand. When you live internationally without residency or citizenship, you have to understand your life can be uprooted at any moment. Rules change, renewals get denied, you can be fined and even detained. I have friends in Colombia who lived there for years paying taxes, insurance. Doing everything the right way and still struggled with renewals.
In Thailand, the same year I basically got kicked out was the year they started blacklisting people for visas the country itself was issuing. I’ve heard horror stories of people buying property and then not being allowed back into the country.
Despite the challenges, I do plan on getting residency and citizenship elsewhere in the future but that takes time, money and patience. Right at this moment, I want stability.
7. Diaspora Healing & Identity Reclamation
Coming back to Puerto Rico wasn’t about beaches or social media. It was about returning and getting to know the island as a home, seeing the island for what it really is and healing the generational distance from where my family started. Living here feels like reclaiming something that has always been a part of me.
8. Proximity Without Disconnection
This one’s underrated. Puerto Rico is close enough to the mainland for emergencies or family but far enough to still feel like living abroad. It’s truly the best of both worlds. You get a rich culture with a community that is still intact and a people that are fighting to keep it that way.
9. Everything Else Is Basically the Same
A lot of things are similar between the two cities. The salsa, the availability of fresh fruit, good food, rich culture, a variety of different experiences across the board, nature and an overall vibe you cannot get our of your mind once you experience it. The major difference? This island is my blood.
Puerto Rico isn’t perfect. There are power outages, infrastructure issues, slower systems and moments where you have to advocate for yourself even in times of extreme struggle. But at the end of the day, I was ready to settle down somewhere. Puerto Rico called me and I decided to answer.
If you’ve ever felt pulled toward a place you can’t fully explain… You get it. 💛
