Prepared for: Alex Lennon (age 51)
Business: Dynamic Devices (www.dynamicdevices.co.uk)
Date: January 2025
This guide provides comprehensive recommendations for purchasing land, building a home, and establishing a base in South America that supports:
- Remote work for your embedded systems consultancy
- Lower cost of living for retirement planning
- Access to world-class diving opportunities (where applicable)
- Easy travel connections to the UK for family visits
- Warm climate and quality of life
- Safety and security for expats
For discussing with your friend:
- DISCUSSION-GUIDE.md - Complete discussion guide with all key points
- QUICK-COMPARISON.md - One-page comparison table for quick reference
Start here for easy discussion!
This guide is organized into the following sections:
- Brazil (Jundiaí/São Paulo) - ⭐ You're already here! Good safety, reasonable costs, friend connection
- Paraguay - Lowest costs, no foreign income tax, friend's recommendation
- Colombia - Best diving access, digital nomad friendly
- Ecuador - Stability, US Dollar, established expat communities
- Costs & Budgeting - Detailed cost breakdowns, monthly/annual budgets
- Work & Income Analysis - UK consultant rates, work hours needed, retirement planning
- Safety & Security - Safety ratings, areas to avoid, security best practices
- Visa & Residency - Visa options, residency requirements, application process
- Comparison Resources - Cost of living, GINI index, quality of life comparison websites
- Numbeo Analysis - Detailed Numbeo data analysis and how to use it
- Action Plan - Step-by-step timeline, key questions, resources
| Country | Monthly Cost | Work Hours/Week* | Safety Rating | GINI Index** | Diving Access | Tax on Foreign Income | Current Location |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brazil (Jundiaí) | $2,000 | 4 hrs | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Good | 52.9 (High) | ✅ You're here! | ||
| Paraguay | $1,300 | 2.5 hrs | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Good | 42.9 (Moderate) | ❌ None (travel required) | ✅ No tax | |
| Colombia | $2,200 | 4.5 hrs | ⭐⭐⭐ Moderate | 55.1 (Very High) | ⭐⭐⭐ Excellent | ||
| Ecuador | $2,500 | 5 hrs | ⭐⭐ Moderate*** | 45.8 (Moderate-High) | ⭐⭐ Good |
*At £100/hour rate
**GINI Index: Lower = more equal (0-100 scale). See Comparison Resources for details
***Security concerns in 2025 - research current situation
Even at conservative UK consultant rates (£75-120/hour), you'd only need to work 2-7 hours per week to support a comfortable lifestyle in South America.
Working as a digital nomad charging UK rates while living in South America creates significant financial leverage:
- Paraguay: Save $114,000+/year working 20hrs/week
- Colombia: Save $103,600+/year working 20hrs/week
- Ecuador: Save $100,000+/year working 20hrs/week
If You Want to Stay Where You Are: Consider Brazil (Jundiaí)
- You're already there - explore firsthand!
- Friend connection provides local support
- Good safety, reasonable costs
- Test internet and lifestyle before deciding
- Can always move later if needed
If Financial Security is #1 Priority: Choose Paraguay (Asunción)
- Lowest costs
- No foreign income tax
- Maximum savings potential
- Travel to Brazil/Argentina for diving trips
If Diving is #1 Priority: Choose Colombia (Cartagena/Santa Marta)
- Best diving access
- Affordable diving costs
- Good work-life balance
If Stability is #1 Priority: Choose Ecuador (Manta/Cuenca)
- US Dollar stability
- Established communities
- More predictable costs
- Answer key questions (see Action Plan)
- Review country-specific information in the countries folder
- Consult UK tax advisor (especially important for Paraguay tax advantage)
- Check current visa requirements (Colombia requires visa for UK citizens as of Nov 2024)
- Review UK Foreign Office travel advice for all three countries
- Plan exploratory trips (verify visa requirements first)
- Begin Spanish learning
- Join expat communities online
-
2025 Context: This guide reflects information current as of January 2025. Always verify:
- Current visa requirements
- Security situation (especially Ecuador)
- Latest travel advisories
- Current costs and regulations
-
Safety First: Safety considerations are critical. See Safety & Security for detailed information.
-
Tax Advice: Consult a UK tax advisor specializing in expat taxation before making any decisions.
Document prepared: January 2025
Last updated: January 2025