Initially, they planned to move to a much larger, flashier city in the region. Their boxes were practically packed. But a month before departure, a local friend urged them to consider an alternative—somewhere smaller, easier to navigate, with beaches, and perhaps better suited to starting a family.
Two months after arriving, they bought a house. The location was perfect and the rooftop terrace had an incredible view—though the place itself was in rough shape. "It was in shambles," Erica laughs. "So we made a low-ball offer… and it was accepted."
As the owners of a 1,000-square-foot fixer-upper in a new country, they got to work. "We renovated every inch from top to bottom," says Erica, "but kept the antique features we loved—like stained-glass windows and a marble staircase." On the terrace they added a barbecue and a sunroom. Inside, they added a bathroom, opened up the kitchen, and even built a wood-fired bread oven.
Food is a big part of their life. Most mornings begin at the neighborhood farmer's' market, where they buy the freshest ingredients for the day's meals. "We know the people we buy our food from," says Erica. "When we buy meat, we know our butcher's name. It's community-based living. Everything is close. We walk everywhere."
Not long after settling in, the couple welcomed two daughters. After the market, they walk the girls to school. Evenings are for family strolls—sometimes along the city's long waterfront promenade, sometimes through a large central park. And a couple times a week, they'll go out for lunch as a family.
Plenty of North American retirees here enjoy a strong quality of life for their money. A couple can live well for roughly $3,100 a month including rent, healthcare, and an active social life. Homeowners can live well for closer to $2,500 a month. But if you're raising a family and trying to get ahead without a sizable retirement income, it can be trickier. Wages here—while high for the region—are often lower than what many are used to back home.
So how do Grégoire and Erica make it work?
Like many people today, Erica works online. Fluent in French, she translates medical transcriptions from French to English for the French government. And because they own their home free and clear, they don't have rent to worry about. On top of that, the couple built something of their own: a neighborhood restaurant where Grégoire is the chef.
They opened their café in 2017. It's located just a few blocks from home, in a part of the city that has transformed rapidly over the past decade. What was once an affordable student area with a handful of casual spots has evolved into one of the city's most fashionable neighborhoods—now known for its cafés, specialty shops, and nightlife.
Their restaurant quickly became part of that renaissance, earning a reputation as one of the top places to eat in the city. To get it off the ground, they rented a commercial space—an old pub that needed plenty of work. "We liked the floor plan," says Erica. "So we cleaned it up. Grégoire built the bar and the kitchen." To finish the remodel, they hired a local graffiti artist to paint a mural on an interior wall—an affectionate nod to a beloved French classic. "We wanted the restaurant to feel rooted in the neighborhood," says Erica.
Today it's especially popular for weekend brunch, known for eggs Benedict, French pastries, and excellent coffee. They source beans directly from a trusted plantation in Colombia, then roast them locally. The atmosphere is warm and unpretentious—the kind of place where staff and customers chat like neighbors.
Their daughters attend public school, which the family has been happy with. It's funded through taxes, with a small monthly donation. Each child has a tablet for schoolwork and communication with teachers. "It isn't perfect," Erica admits. "There are strikes sometimes, so school gets canceled. But the girls speak amazing Spanish—and we speak English and French at home."
Healthcare has also been a pleasant surprise. The family uses a private plan through a local hospital-based provider, which includes dental care and ambulance coverage for the children. It's paid through the restaurant.
At one point, one of their daughters fell more than 10 feet on a school playground. An ambulance took her to the hospital, where she spent several hours undergoing tests—including X-rays, a CT scan, and an ultrasound. Thankfully she was fine. And the family's out-of-pocket cost beyond their regular payroll withholding? "About $40 for everything," Erica says.
For Grégoire and Erica, making the move worked out. They live in a coastal capital city where you can go out in the evening without blowing your budget—where beaches and parks are part of daily life, and where the healthcare and schooling align with what matters to them.
And perhaps best of all, they've built a life that feels both adventurous and grounded—rooted in community, and shaped by choices they made together at exactly the right moment.
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