The Ultimate Guide to Expat Living in Medellin, Colombia 

Colombia’s second major city was once considered the most dangerous in the world.

Anyone who has watched the Netflix TV show, Narcos, will know that Pablo Escobar had a stranglehold on the city in the late 1980s and early 1990s.

Thanks to the willpower of authorities and the courage of local residents, Medellin – and Colombia as a whole – has emerged from its shadowy past to become one of the best places for expat living.

Situated in the Andes mountains in northwest Colombia, Medellin has a population of around 4.2 million.

Known as the ‘City of Eternal Spring’ for its year-round warm temperatures, almost every day is sunny, with temperatures reaching 75 to 80 degrees.  

Medellin’s thriving expat and digital nomad community is drawn there for many reasons.

From stunning scenery and natural wonders to affordable real estate, a lively and fun culture and the potential for low taxes, Medellin is well worth considering as your next expat destination.  

Medellin: City Guide  

Touch down at José María Córdova International Airport, 20 kilometres south of Medellin, and the first thing you’ll be struck by is the mountains, followed by the amazing views.  

While this bustling city is, in part, a built-up industrial centre, it’s set against the stunning backdrop of the Andes.

That’s not to say the exciting city itself isn’t pretty, but it’s a big place with 16 separate districts and no less than 271 neighbourhoods or barrios.

Still, despite its size, the city feels green and pleasant with open spaces and lush terrain, all thanks to sensible urban planning.  

Getting around is easy with well-ordered streets, busses, public bikes, cable cars, and the only Metro system in Colombia.  

When exploring Medellin, you’ll notice it’s a city of contrast. The bustling El Centro district exudes a chaotic energy that contrasts with the serene beauty of Botero Plaza, adorned with an array of sculptures. 

Despite the dangers still present in Medellín’s surrounding hillside slums, the city offers several more affluent and safer neighbourhoods that are ideal for expats. 

Expats and digital nomads tend to be based in neighbourhoods such as El Poblado, Envigado, Sabaneta and Laureles. We’ll cover those in more detail later.  

With Medellin’s affordable prices, eating out is always a good option. Thankfully, just like Colombia’s capital, Bogota, Medellin has an array of choices.   

Colombian food has indigenous roots, inspired by Spanish and African slaves. The national dish, la bandeja paisa, is a delicious platter of rice, pork, beans, plantains, eggs and sausage. 

Foodies will love Medellin’s restaurants, which include eateries that serve delicious local food from the Antioquia province.  

There’s international cuisine here, too: Indian restaurants filled with fragrant, aromatic spices, Japanese restaurants showing off beautiful works of food art and Mediterranean restaurants that take you on a journey to distant shores with their vibrant flavours.  

Plus, this is Colombia, so you’ll never be far from a great coffee shop or the smell of fresh coffee beans in the air. 

How Affordable is Expat Living in Medellin?

By Western standards, Medellin is very affordable.

In particular, real estate, dining out, groceries, transport and healthcare cost considerably less than in European and North American capitals.  

For comparative purposes, the overall cost of living in Medellin is reckoned to be 64% lower than in Miami, Florida and 59% cheaper than in other Latin cities. 

Real Estate Prices for Expats Living in Medellin 

Whether you want to go all out and rent a penthouse or live more frugally, Medellin real estate has plenty of options.

It can be more than a third cheaper than comparable accommodation in New York, London, Los Angeles or Madrid. Based on current prices:  

• A luxury one-bedroom apartment in central Antioquia is currently on the market for US$1,050 a month. 
• A large furnished three-bedroom apartment in El Poblado will cost US$1,062 per month. 
• An unfurnished three-bedroom apartment in El Poblado will set you back US$938 a month.  

This selection of properties represents the upper end of the market and more affordable rentals are available.

Generally speaking, a furnished two-bedroom apartment in the best part of town, Poblato, next to upmarket shops, restaurants and bars, will cost around US$900 a month.   

In other popular areas like Envigado, Sabaneta and Laureles, you’ll pay even less – around US$700.  

Lifestyle Costs as an Expat Living in Medellin 

In terms of eating out, you can expect to pay between US$10 to US$15 per person for a three-course meal in a mid-range restaurant, a price that drops to around US$5 per person in cheaper places.  

Local supermarkets and food markets are excellent sources of inexpensive groceries, such as meat, fresh fruit, and vegetables. A half-litre bottle of a local beer, like Quilmes of Colombia, costs about one dollar.  

As for nightlife, Medellin is a thriving spot for bars and clubs where Reggaeton, a blend of reggae, Latin rhythms and hip-hop, is very popular. While there are some red-light areas on the outskirts, the clubs of central Medellin are lively and usually respectable. 

The costs of a night out are also very affordable, but prices can vary across the entire city. For example, entry to an upmarket venue with your own table and bottle of rum will cost around US$50.  

The price of other forms of entertainment includes cinema tickets for US$4 per person and a range of sightseeing tours that usually cost US$15 to US$20.  Medellin is also connected and close to many popular places. A popular day trip takes visitors to the Andean resort town of Guatapé, 80 kilometres from Medellin.  

Living here also puts you very close to other Latin countries like Panama, Brazil and Argentina, while a three-hour return ticket to Miami costs as little as US$250. 

The theme of affordable, luxury living continues if you consider that membership of an upmarket gym in Medellin is no more than US$30 a month, and it’s possible to hire a maid to clean and even cook for six hours a week for about US$120.  

Healthcare and Schooling in Medellin 

The standard of health care in Colombia is mid-pack compared to other countries.   

Expats and digital nomads pay around US$200 a year for public health insurance, while private insurance costs around US$50 a month.  

Medellin has a number of recognised international schools with annual tuition fees ranging from US$3,000 to US$15,000 per year.  

Where to Live in Medellin 

The best areas for the expat and digital nomad community are El Poblado, Laureles and Envigado.

Live in El Poblado 

Located in the southeastern part of Medellín, El Poblado is an upscale neighbourhood known for its trendy cafes, chic boutique shops and excellent restaurants.  

El Poblado is a safe neighbourhood with a strong police presence. It’s a great place for lively nightlife or to visit museums and parks. 

The area has many interesting places to visit, from the Medellin Modern Art Museum to the Castillo Museum or the Gardens. If you like to shop, you can visit the luxury shopping malls like El Tesoro, Oviedo and Santafe. 

Live in Laureles 

Ranked as the world’s coolest neighbourhood by Timeout magazine in 2023 is Laureles. 

This nightlife hotspot is packed with great parks, coffee shops and yoga studios.  

It’s also home to Medellín’s famous ‘La 70’ nightlight strip, near the main Estadio metro station and the Atanasio Girardot Stadium sports complex. 

Here, you can find many clubs and cafes within walking distance of each other.

Envigado 

Envigado is a sought-after suburb known for its architecture, parks, and scenic views.

Once Pablo Escobar’s family home, this suburb started out as a town in its own right and, despite being subsumed by the city, retains its own identity.  

Envigado is a large suburb with over 200,000 residents and a thriving commercial district. It’s considered very safe and is a popular expat area known for its welcoming locals and Latin charm.   

Described as Medellin’s equivalent of New York’s Brooklyn, locals there will forever remind you that they are not from Medellin.

Getting Residence in Colombia 

Getting Residence in Colombia 

The two main types of visas open to expats are the Investment Migrant Visa and the Digital Nomad Visa: 

Investment Migrant Visa

The Investment Migrant Visa (M-Visa) is a good option for obtaining residence in Colombia, as it includes three options that help expats live there long-term.  

You can access the visa by investing in real estate or a Colombian business. Each option has its own minimum monthly wage requirement to be aware of:

• For an investment in real estate, you need at least 350 times the minimum monthly Colombian wage, which equates to aroundUS$120,000. 
• To invest in a business, you need 100 times the minimum monthly wage, or around US$33,000. 
• For direct foreign investment, you need 650 times the minimum monthly wage, around US$210,000. 

The investment visa is valid for three years, can be renewed indefinitely, and requires minimal physical presence.

Note that you can’t be outside Colombia for more than two years continuously and must spend at least one week there a year to keep the visa active. 

We understand most of the options for those looking to take advantage of dual passports, real estate and a low cost of living. We help people looking to go where they are treated, plan and execute how to get there. 

Digital Nomad Visa for Expats in Medellin 

Remote workers and digital entrepreneurs considering relocating to Medellin can start a business providing services from Colombia but can’t receive income from within Colombia.  

To qualify, you must have a monthly income roughly equivalent to around US$1000.  

See our guide to Colombian Residency and Citizenship for a more in-depth analysis.  

Citizenship Options for Expats Living in Medellin 

It is possible to apply for Colombian citizenship after five years of permanent residence.

That said, the process can take up to a year and requires tests in Spanish language proficiency and Colombia’s history, culture and politics. 

Taxes in Colombia as an Expat 

Colombia is not a low-tax country, but expats who stay there for less than 183 days a year are taxed as non-residents. As a non-resident, your worldwide income is not taxed, and you are only taxed on income sourced in Colombia. 

Income taxes in Colombia are progressive and charged at rates of zero to 39%. The top rate is charged on income over US$31,000. 

Expat Living in Medellin: FAQs 

Living the Dream in Medellin 

Like many of the popular expat destinations in Latin America, such as Bogota, Rio de Janeiro, Santiago, Mexico City and Montevideo, Medellin is a place where life has a vibrancy that foreigners enjoy.  

Like other places in this emerging continent, Medallion is a city of contrast. Beautiful with breathtaking scenery and nature, the City of Eternal Spring has changed radically since the cartel-controlled mayhem of the ’80s and ’90s.  

There’s still poverty that may seem shocking to Westerners and the threat of crime, albeit diminished, but what’s on offer in Medellin vastly outweighs any of the negatives.  

In fact, if you want the benefits of a Latin American residence – a luxury life for less – Medellin is potentially somewhere you could follow our Trifecta Strategy.

This approach allows you to rent or buy homes in different jurisdictions around the world and live for a certain amount of time without becoming a tax resident in any of them. 

As one of your bases, and as long as you don’t spend more than 183 days in a year there, your worldwide income is not taxed in Colombia.

Above all, this is an opportunity to invest in affordable real estate, work remotely, or start a business in a beautiful, sunny, expat-friendly city.   

Uncovering its undoubted potential will take some planning – fortunately, we can help you, just as we’ve helped more than 1,500+ high-net-worth individuals go where they’re treated best.

Reach out and let us develop a turnkey solution for offshore tax planning, dual citizenship, asset protection and global diversification tailored to your needs. Find out how here.