13 Pros And Cons Of Living In Medellin, Colombia In 2025

Are you searching for the pros and cons of living in Medellín, Colombia? If so, you’ve come to the right place. Medellin has become a favorite city among expats and digital nomads and is known for its low costs, mild climate, and vibrant culture. 

Its charms range from simple pleasures like delicious coffee and outdoor gyms to an efficient mass transit system and colorful festivals. But like any city, it also poses drawbacks and challenges, including poor air quality, heavy traffic, and language barriers.

Is moving here an ideal choice for your lifestyle and preferences? Let’s examine the city’s benefits and drawbacks to find out.

Pros and Cons of Living In Medellin, Colombia

Pros

Expats flock to Medellín to enjoy the low cost of living, fantastic climate, modern amenities, easy access to hikes and outdoor gyms, and a vibrant mix of culture, innovation, art, and tasty cuisine.

What makes living in Medellín so great? Read on to find out.

1. Affordable Cost of Living

One of the great things about Medellín is the low cost of living. It’s a perfect place for people on fixed incomes or anyone who is thrifty or wants their money to do more for them.

In Medellín, your earnings can go farther while still offering you an excellent quality of life. Expats report living comfortably on $1,200 to $1,500 on the low end to $2,500 on the higher end.

According to How To Expat, Medellín is one of the best cities in the world to get the most bang for your buck.

Although rental prices are rising thanks to the city’s popularity, reasonable rentals can still be found with some effort. One-bedroom apartments in El Poblado typically cost $600 per month or more, while in Los Laureles, they start around $500 and go up to $800. For those wanting to pay less for rent, consider a co-living option for around $250 or explore neighborhoods less popular among expats, such as Sabaneta, Belen, or Envigado.

2. Great Climate

If you love mild weather year round with temperatures in the 70s and 80s, you’ll love Medellín. There’s a reason it’s called the “City of Eternal Spring.” The climate makes it easy to get outside, enjoy activities, explore, and read a book at an outdoor café. 

Temperatures drop into the 50s at night, and the mornings are often cool, perfect for an invigorating jog.

Note that the weather can get hot around midday, so if you prefer cool living conditions, look for a rental with air conditioning.

3. Art, Culture, and Festivals

Medellín has become an epicenter for culture, art, and innovation in recent decades. 

Fashionistas will love shopping for clothes here, while art enthusiasts enjoy the Museum of Modern Art. Poets from around the globe flock to the city for the International Poetry Festival, and the Festival of Flowers features a parade of floats bursting with colorful blooms.

4. Efficient Public Transit

Another big draw to Medellín is its public transportation system, made up of cable cars, buses, and its metro—the only one in Colombia.

While public transportation can get a bad rap, Medellín’s system is clean, punctual, and extensive. It’s easy to get around the city, visit its attractions, and explore to your heart’s content.

5. Large Expat and Digital Nomad Community

One expat who has lived in Medellín for thirteen years says this is where he found his people. 

Expats and digital nomads love Medellín–the vibe, the camaraderie, and the coffee shops. Coworking spaces in El Poblado and Laureles neighborhoods make working in a communal atmosphere easy. 

But there are plenty of other opportunities to connect. 

Shared interest groups are in abundance, and many of them can be found on the MDE Community website. Salsa dancing, tennis clubs, hiking groups, and Spanish meetups are only a few of the ways foreigners and locals can get involved, meet new people, and make friends.

6. Delicious Coffee, Cuisine, and Fresh Produce

Sometimes life’s simple pleasures make all the difference. Like sipping a steaming Colombian coffee at an outdoor café with a warm breeze floating past. Or loading up on fresh herbs, Swiss chard, avocados, and mangos at the Mercado Minorista or Envigado market. Trying a new exotic fruit every week. Drinking chilled fruit juice. And forking down a delicious platter of ‘bandeja paisa’ made of rice, beans, sausage, plantains, ground beef, and pork rinds. Yum.

Not only is there an abundance of local flavors but a growing international culinary scene as well. Enjoy affordable meals from all over the world, treating your tastebuds to delectable food from many different cultures ranging from Latin America to Italy and Asia.

7. Great Hikes and Day Trips

Medellín is in a valley surrounded by bold mountains, making it the perfect place for hiking enthusiasts, nature lovers, or anyone who appreciates breathtaking views.

There are plenty of places to get outside in this beautiful city, from the dense forests and ziplines of Arvi Park to the trail to Cerro de Las Tres Cruces to the serenity of the botanical gardens.

Outdoor workout areas abound, making it easy to save on gym memberships. You can even lift weights in Poblado and Estadios’ calisthenics parks.

8. Good Healthcare and Modern Amenities

According to a 2021 World Health Organization review, the healthcare here is better than in Canada and the U.S., ranking 22nd out of 191 countries. Public and private hospitals, good emergency services, and easy access to specialists add to Medellin’s appeal. Plus, local health insurance is affordable, with high-end options available at affordable rates.

The internet is reliable, but be sure to do a few speed tests in your rental if fast internet is vital.

9. Friendly Locals

Another one of the pros to living in Medellín is the friendly locals, known as Paisas. Many people praise them for their helpfulness and warmth. They are typically genuine, sincere, and easy to have conversations with.

This is a place where you can form meaningful connections. However, keep in mind that this might not happen instantly. Close friendships take time to develop and are more likely if you invest time and effort to learn Spanish, immerse yourself in the culture, and seek opportunities to meet locals.

Cons

No place is perfect, and that’s just as true for Medellín as anywhere else. Sometimes, the negatives have a significant impact on whether you’ll enjoy a place or not, so they are essential to take into account.

Is living in Colombia’s second-largest city ideal for you? Let’s consider the cons to see if you can deal with these downsides.

Pollution, Poor Air Quality, and Noise

Since Medellin is in a valley, air pollution can be a big problem. If you’re sensitive to air quality issues, exhaust smoke, and smog or have respiratory issues, you may struggle in Medellin. 

If you have the option, visit first to see how you do. Look for lodging in places higher up and farther from the city center, such as Envigado or Poblado neighborhoods. 

The air quality is typically worse in the dry season, without rain to clear the air.

Noise is also a detractor. The sounds of the city are inescapable, with parties, nightlife, traffic, loud music, and construction as constants.

If quiet is important to you, choose a tranquil residential neighborhood far from nightlife. Laureles and Envigado could be good choices.

Safety Can Be An Issue

Medellin has made tremendous strides in safety since the days of Pablo Escobar. But like any city, some areas experience more crime, and it’s crucial to be vigilant.

Expat experiences here vary, with some saying they never experienced crime and felt more comfortable here than in other cities in Latin America. In contrast, others reported feeling uncomfortable due to being offered drugs and seeing many prostitutes and police in El Poblado.

Not everywhere is equally safe, and there are places where you shouldn’t go out at night. Make safety practices and situational awareness a way of life, and stay informed.

Learn more in our post about safety in Colombia.

Language & Cultural Barriers

Differences in language and culture often make living in another country both attractive and challenging, and that’s equally true in Medellín.

Learning Spanish is vital for anyone wanting to live and integrate into this Colombian city in the long term. Join language meetups, take Spanish classes, practice your skills with locals, and push through the discomfort.

Cultural differences are also bound to pop up. It can be helpful to remember that just because something is different doesn’t mean it’s bad. Recognizing what makes you uncomfortable or insecure can help. Finding a cultural interpreter to explain things to you—such as a Spanish teacher or a local friend—can also make a huge difference in your transition.

Remember, experiencing culture shock or stress is normal and won’t last forever.

Terrible Traffic

If there’s one thing everyone agrees on, it’s that the traffic in Medellin is terrible. Getting around can be a pain unless you’re close to the metro. There are also restrictions about when you can drive based on the last digit of your vehicle license plate number.

Do your best to choose lodging close to your work or the areas you plan to frequent the most. Using the metro can help you avoid traffic jams as well.

How To Move To Medellin

If you’re ready to start moving to Medellín, one of the first steps is to research your visa options. Many people enter on a tourist visa, which makes it easy to explore, get your feet under you, and decide if this city is where you’d like to live long-term. Other options include work, retirement, and investment visas.

Before you move, collect and authenticate all the paperwork you’ll need to enter the country and apply for your visa.

Now it’s time to choose a place to live. You can get an Airbnb initially, then check out popular neighborhoods such as Los Laureles and El Poblado. Local neighborhoods like Sabaneta, Belen, or Envigado may be cheaper and more up your alley, so be sure to explore them too.

Join an expat group like MDE Community and start participating in activities and interest groups to make connections, practice your Spanish, and get to know your new home.

Learn more about moving to Colombia in this guide.

Is It Safe To Live In Medellin?

Medellín used to be notorious for violent crime but now has a better safety rating than Washington D.C., Paris, London, and San Francisco. It is safer than most major cities in South America and is known for its innovation.

The city has a surveillance system, and the police are friendly and helpful and respond rapidly to problems.

Naturally, there are areas to avoid, and you shouldn’t ‘dar papaya,” the Colombian term for flaunting your wealth and making yourself a target for crime. 

Learn more in our post about safety in Colombia.

Is It Expensive To Live In Medellin?

Medellín isn’t the cheapest place to live in Colombia, but it is affordable compared to many locations in Europe and North America. It is possible to live comfortably in Medellín for $1200 a month, but that number can go up to $1500 or as much as $2500 depending on your lifestyle and where you decide to rent.

Monthly rent will likely be your largest expense, ranging from $500 to over $800 for a one-bedroom apartment in a nice area. It’s possible to pay less in more local neighborhoods or in co-living situations.

Half Digital Nomad reports buying a week-load of groceries for $30 to $50. A daily menu lunch can cost as little as $3 to $5, while an upscale three-course meal will set you back $20 to $40. Haircuts typically cost about $5.

Medellín’s metro system makes it easy and affordable to get around, with rides costing less than $1.

Digital nomad couple Two Tickets Anywhere report spending $803 on accommodation, $316 for groceries,  $333 for dining out, $64 for transportation, $20 for their phone plan, $124 for entertainment, and $136 for gym memberships.

Moving to Medellín FAQs

Is Medellín Colombia a nice place to live?

Many people enjoy living in Medellín thanks to its pleasant year-round climate, affordable cost of living, strong expat community, and cultural opportunities. Although air pollution, traffic, and noise present challenges, many expats find that the pros outweigh the cons, especially if they make the time and effort to learn the language and integrate into the local culture.

How much do you need to live comfortably in Medellín?

Depending on your lifestyle and housing choices, you can live comfortably in Medellín on a budget of $1,200 to $2,500 per month. Rent is often the largest expense, with prices varying by neighborhood. Fortunately, groceries, public transportation, and dining out are pretty affordable compared to many Western countries.

Where do expats live in Medellín?

Most expats in Medellín choose to live in neighborhoods like El Poblado and Laureles due to their safety, amenities, and overall vibe. Laureles is more tranquil, while El Poblado bustles with coffee shops and restaurants. Others prefer areas like Envigado, Sabaneta, or Belén, which are often more affordable and populated chiefly by locals.

What is life like in Medellín today?

Life in Medellín today mixes modern amenities and traditional Colombian culture. Many people love the energy of the city, the great weather, and the many opportunities to connect with locals and expats. 

Conclusion

Many foreigners have fallen in love with the scenery, welcoming community, and dynamic city life of Medellín. The weather is mild, the cost of living is affordable, and there are plenty of ways to get active and enjoy the outdoors.

But no place is without its challenges. Heavy traffic, air pollution, and safety concerns are downsides, and adapting to a different language and culture requires effort.

What do you think? Has reading through these pros and cons of living in Medellín, Colombia, helped you decide if this vibrant city is the right place for you?