Best Neighborhood In Medellin – Expat Point Of View
Get to know more about the best neighborhoods in Medellin. In this article, we are going to show you around the most common and famous Expat neighborhoods. We will compare prices, the location and more.
In this article we focus on:
- The Pros
- The Downsides
- The Cost Of Living
- Cost Of Apartments
With the neighborhoods:
- El Poblado
- Laureles
- Estadio
- Envigado
- Sabaneta
- Industriales/Ciudad Del Rio
In this article, we will concentrate on the best neighborhoods for Expats. We will start with El Poblado, and move on to all the neighborhoods in Medellin you might want to consider living in. Each of those neighborhoods is relatively safe.
Medellin Has A Lot Of Great Neighborhoods Not Just El Poblado
We know that a lot of Expats and people, in general, coming to Medellin usually stay in El Poblado. A client that booked a tour with us that went to Colombia on and off for 8 years and never actually left El Poblado besides for tourist attractions.
That shows us how important it is to talk about other neighborhoods. El Poblado is a beautiful area and reminds me of a western city. That’s exactly why tourists and Expats tend to stay in that area.
In this article, we want to show how diverse neighborhoods in Medellin can be and that they are worth a visit. Don’t be afraid to try something new and stay in another neighborhood when you visit Medellin.
El Poblado
Of course, we have to start with El Poblado. The most famous Expat and tourist hub in Medellin. The reality is, when foreigners talk about El Poblado, they often mean, Parque Lleras and the nearby street Calle 10. These are the touristy areas. The other areas foreigners can be found in the golden mile (milla de oro) or La Provenza. Prices there are surely the highest in the city.
Around Parque Lleras and the Calle 10, you will find most tourists and foreigners in general. It’s a common spot to go party and eating out. There are tons of restaurants, bars, and clubs around that area.
On the other hand, you can find everything on Calle 10 from language school to small Empanadastand, pharmacies, grocery stores, etc.
The other parts of El Poblado though, are more residential, these usually are in the hills around the El Tesoro mall or in the hills around the Santa Fe mall. Unfortunately you kind of need a car there, otherwise, you have to order a taxi to get to most places because the area is hilly and not really designed to be walkable.
Pros El Poblado
- You have tons of things to do in El Poblado. There are many shopping malls, restaurants with international cuisine, and more.
- What we personally love about El Poblado, is surely the greenery. You find green spots everywhere, even in the shopping malls. In Oviedo for instance, there’s a huge tree in the middle of the food court!
- In El Poblado, there are a lot of clubs to go dancing to all night. Nice stylish bars with a lot of variety of cocktails and beers.
- Since El Poblado is so hilly and has a lot of highrises you usually have a beautiful view of the city.
- If you’re Vegan or on a special diet, El Poblado is one of the best areas to live in. Since it has so many different kinds of restaurants they offer vegan, vegetarian, and other kinds of diet-based dishes and foods. The same goes for grocery stores.
Downsides of Poblado
- El Poblado is very hilly, which means, if you’re a person that prefers to walk everywhere, El Poblado will not be the best area to do so.
- The metro station is quite far from the action, you probably have to take a taxi if you want to go there. Otherwise, you have to walk up a steep hill.
- As mentioned El Poblado is the most famous neighborhood among Expats and travelers, but also the most expensive with the highest cost of living in town.
- You also need to know that the traffic is horrible, especially during rush hour. And since, there are a lot of big companies located in El Poblado there’s way more traffic and pollution compared to other areas in the city.
Cost Of Living In El Poblado
A typical cost of living for an Expat couple in El Poblado could look a little like this example. If you are a solo Expat just take the total and subtract 30%. I have to add, this cost of living is for a seasoned Expat, a newbie Expat will pay more till he gets accustomed to living in Colombia.
- USD 800 – Accommodation
- USD 100 – Utilities
- USD 250 – Food
- USD 300 – Groceries
- USD 50 – Medical
- USD 100 – Transport
- USD 100 – Entertainment
- USD 25 – Cell Phone
- USD 100 – Insurance
- USD 100 – Misc.
USD 1925– Cost Of Living
Cost Of Apartments In El Poblado
Here is what we know from experience and because of working with Expats, what they usually will pay:
The average cost for a furnished apartment in El Poblado is:
- 1 Bedroom COP 2.5 – 3.5Mio – USD 800 – 1100
- 2 Bedroom COP 2.8 – 4.5Mio – USD 900 – 1500
- 3 Bedroom COP 4.3 – 6.0Mio – USD 1400 – 2000
The average cost for an unfurnished apartment in El Poblado is:
- 1 Bedroom COP 1.5 – 2.2Mio – USD 470 – 700
- 2 Bedroom COP 2.0 – 2.5Mio – USD 630 – 800
- 3 Bedroom COP 2.5 – 3.5Mio – USD 800 – 1100
Laureles
Laureles is a nice centrally located neighborhood that is pretty safe. It is the second most popular neighborhood in Medellin for Expats, especially among the younger Expats and retirees. It’s a great mix between local corner shops, small cafes, and nice restaurants.
Pros Laureles
- There is a lot of English-speaking Yoga, Pilates, Crossfit, and other sports teachers in Laureles.
- Laureles, other than El Poblado is walkable and not nearly as hilly as El Poblado. You also have a lot of greenery which makes it a really nice neighborhood to look at.
- Laureles is a really trendy neighborhood, and in our opinion and up an coming place for Expats in Latin America.
Downsides Of Laureles
- Unfortunately, it does not have a metro station near Laureles but since you find almost everything within walkable distance, it’s not too big of an issue.
- Be aware that Laureles is less international compared to El Poblado, which means you might need your Spanish skills more than in El Poblado.
- Laureles is a beautiful neighborhood with a lot of greenery, the only thing you don’t have too much, is a nice view. The high rises in Laureles aren’t as high as in other parts of Medellin. Partially because of the local airport nearby.
Cost Of Living In Laureles
A typical cost of living for an Expat couple in Laureles could look a little like this example. If you are a solo Expat just take the total and subtract 30%. I have to add, this cost of living is for a seasoned Expat, a newbie Expat will pay more till he gets accustomed to living in Colombia.
- USD 700 – Accommodation
- USD 80 – Utilities
- USD 250 – Food
- USD 250 – Groceries
- USD 50 – Medical
- USD 100 – Transport
- USD 100 – Entertainment
- USD 25 – Cell Phone
- USD 100 – Insurance
- USD 100 – Misc.
USD 1755– Cost Of Living
Cost Of Apartments In Laureles
Here is what we know from experience and because of working with Expats, what they usually will pay:
Prices for furnished apartments in Laureles are around 10% less compared to El Poblado
- 1 Bedroom COP 2.2 – 3.1Mio – USD 680 – 960
- 2 Bedroom COP 2.6 – 4.1Mio – USD 800 – 1270
- 3 Bedroom COP 4.0 – 5.3Mio – USD 780 – 1640
Prices for unfurnished apartments in Laureles are around 10% less compared to El Poblado
- 1 Bedroom COP 1.3 – 2.0Mio – USD 400 – 630
- 2 Bedroom COP 1.8 – 2.3Mio – USD 560 – 700
- 3 Bedroom COP 2.3 – 3.2Mio – USD 700 – 990
Estadio
Another neighborhood is Estadio. Estadio is most famous for two things, the huge sports area including the stadium itself and the street called La Setenta (La70). The street La Setenta is popular for its restaurant bars and clubs. A whole street with a lot of activity at night, you will find a lot of students in that area too.
The sports area is managed by an Institution called INDER. INDER manages a lot of sports activities throughout the whole city. You can reserve a sports field for free and bring a group of people to practice. Depending on the fields though it can cost something, in general, it is just a small amount of money to support the cost of the maintenance.
Pros of Estadio
- Out of the party zone, you find nice residential areas where mostly locals are living. In general, you find mostly the working people (middle class) in Estadio. That’s also why the area is less expensive than the other neighborhoods in Medellin
- Estadio also has its own metro station which makes it easy to reach. The metro station is exactly in the middle of the sports area and La Setenta. Estadio is pretty flat and therefore walk able.
Downsides of Estadio
- It is not a fancy area and doesn’t have such a wide selection of restaurants especially not international ones.
- English is not widely spoken in this middle-class neighborhood. Spanish is a must in those areas, except La 70.
- Colombians tend to party for a long time, so around La 70, it can be noisy. So it is possible that you have a neighboring bar that is playing loud music till the sun rises.
- We noticed that the vibe in Estadio changes rapidly when there’s a soccer game going on. We personally avoid Estadio during that time, especially on rival games. The whole area just gets tenser and vibrant during a soccer game.
- Also, you should always try to avoid walking around alone at night, especially in the dark and empty streets.
Cost Of Living In Estadio
A typical cost of living for an Expat couple in Estadio could look a little like this example. If you are a solo Expat just take the total and subtract 30%. I have to add this cost of living is for a seasoned Expat, a newbie Expat will pay more till he gets accustomed to living in Colombia.
- USD 600 – Accommodation
- USD 70 – Utilities
- USD 200 – Food
- USD 250 – Groceries
- USD 50 – Medical
- USD 100 – Transport
- USD 100 – Entertainment
- USD 25 – Cell Phone
- USD 100 – Insurance
- USD 100 – Misc.
USD 1595– Cost Of Living
Cost Of Apartments In Estadio
Here is what we know from experience and because of working with Expats, what they usually will pay:
Prices for furnished apartments in Estadio are around 20% less compared to El Poblado
- 1 Bedroom COP 2.2 – 3.1Mio – USD 680 – 960
- 2 Bedroom COP 2.6 – 4.1Mio – USD 800 – 1270
- 3 Bedroom COP 4.0 – 5.3Mio – USD 780 – 1640
Prices for unfurnished apartments in Estadio are around 20% less compared to El Poblado
- 1 Bedroom COP 1.2 – 1.7Mio – USD 380 – 530
- 2 Bedroom COP 1.6 – 2.0Mio – USD 490 – 620
- 3 Bedroom COP 2.0 – 3.0Mio – USD 610 – 920
Envigado
Envigado is located south of El Poblado. It is a small residential area and it’s more or less divided into two areas. Most of the Expats, that say they live in Envigado usually mean La Frontera, which is very near to El Poblado.
The rest of the Envigado which is around the park is not nearly as nice as La Frontera. (At least for Expats).
Envigado is technically not Medellin, as it is its own municipality.
Pros of Envigado
- It’s beautiful are with a lot of greenery, skyscraper, and gated communities. It is really similar to El Poblado. As mentioned, in those areas you will usually find Expats.
- The prices are a little bit lower compared to El Poblado. But it comes with the same comfort.
- Envigado recently opened the biggest shopping mall in Medellin called Viva Envigado. They even claim it is the biggest in Colombia. It is connected with Homecenter which is really great if you’re looking for furniture and all sorts of stuff. It is also easily accessible by metro. They built a bridge that is connected to the Viva Envigado mall.
- La Frontera is really safe. Every Skyscraper has guards and usually, it is not the area thieves are interested in.
- Envigado has a beautiful nature park a little bit outside of it, called El Salado. It is a beautiful nature park where most Colombians like to spend time together. You can bring food and cook at the barbecue stations.
Downsides of Envigado
- On the other hand, you have the local-part where most Colombians live. Which is not as clean and quiet as La Frontera. It is more traditional which comes with lower prices but also less comfortable.
- Envigado is a safe neighborhood.
- Speaking English in Envigado is almost impossible. It is a way to local and you barely see tourists around there.
- Since it is less international, you have fewer food options. Unless you’re near the huge shopping mall.
- Envigado has a metro station that is close to the mall but not within walking distance to the rest of Envigado. You have to take a bus to get to the metro station.
Cost Of Living In Envigado
A typical cost of living for an Expat couple in Envigado could look a little like this example. If you are a solo Expat just take the total and subtract 30%. I have to add, this cost of living is for a seasoned Expat, a newbie Expat will pay more till he gets accustomed to living in Colombia.
- USD 700 – Accommodation
- USD 80 – Utilities
- USD 250 – Food
- USD 250 – Groceries
- USD 50 – Medical
- USD 100 – Transport
- USD 100 – Entertainment
- USD 25 – Cell Phone
- USD 100 – Insurance
- USD 100 – Misc.
USD 1755– Cost Of Living
Cost Of Apartments In Envigado
Here is what we know from experience and because of working with Expats, what they usually will pay:
Prices for furnished apartments in Envigado are around 10% less compared to El Poblado
- 1 Bedroom COP 2.2 – 3.1Mio – USD 680 – 960
- 2 Bedroom COP 2.6 – 4.1Mio – USD 800 – 1270
- 3 Bedroom COP 4.0 – 5.3Mio – USD 780 – 1640
Prices for unfurnished apartments in Envigado are around 10% less compared to El Poblado
- 1 Bedroom COP 1.3 – 2.0Mio – USD 400 – 630
- 2 Bedroom COP 1.8 – 2.3Mio – USD 560 – 700
- 3 Bedroom COP 2.3 – 3.2Mio – USD 700 – 990
Sabaneta
For many Colombians, Sabaneta is still the little Pueblo (town) far from the city. Sabaneta used to be a small town 10 years back when you could only reach it by driving through dirt roads. That has changed since then drastically.
In 5 years Sabaneta grew faster than any other city in Colombia. It is now connected by the metro and therefore easily accessible. There are two parts in Sabaneta, the hilly part which has a lot of highrises, and the flat area where the more traditional area is.
Sabaneta is technically not Medellin, as it is its own municipality like Envigado.
Pros of Sabaneta
- It is surely one of the most traditional neighborhoods in Medellin. People still have a Pueblo mindset, which means they are more trustworthy than city people.
- You really have the community feeling in Sabaneta, people greet each other in the elevator even though they don’t know each other. The retirees like to sit in the park and play chess or domino.
- Especially on weekends, you see a lot of kids, dogs, grandparents, adults, teenagers, enjoying time in the park of Sabaneta. Sabaneta is surely family-friendly
- Almost everything is walkable. In the flat area of Sabaneta, it takes you around 10min to get to the metro station.
- If you are living in the hills of Sabaneta you have a beautiful view of the city. This is where you also find most Expats. Sabaneta is also one of the safest neighborhoods in Medellin.
Downsides of Sabaneta
- Since Sabaneta grew so fast, it is really dense these days. A lot of people but not a lot of space.
- There’s not a lot of greenery in Sabaneta compared to Laureles and Poblado. You have way more buildings than trees, especially in the flat area.
- There is not a big variety of grocery stores or restaurants nearby. Same with clubs and bars. They are mostly in other neighborhoods.
- English is not a thing in Sabaneta, learn Spanish before considering living there.
- Most locals live in the flat area of Sabaneta, there are a lot of residential areas, which also comes with a lot of traffic noise and noise from the neighbors.
- People living in the hilly region of Sabaneta need a car or motorcycle or need to spend a lot on taxis and Uber. Walking up there is pretty exhausting!
- It’s not fancy at all and far from the other popular neighborhoods.
Cost Of Living In Sabaneta
A typical cost of living for an Expat couple in Sabaneta could look a little like this example. If you are a solo Expat just take the total and subtract 30%. I have to add this cost of living is for a seasoned Expat, a newbie Expat will pay more till he gets accustomed to living in Colombia.
- USD 600 – Accommodation
- USD 70 – Utilities
- USD 200 – Food
- USD 250 – Groceries
- USD 50 – Medical
- USD 100 – Transport
- USD 100 – Entertainment
- USD 25 – Cell Phone
- USD 100 – Insurance
- USD 100 – Misc.
USD 1595– Cost Of Living
Cost Of Apartments In Sabaneta
Here is what we know from experience and because of working with Expats, what they usually will pay:
Prices for furnished apartments in Sabaneta are around 20% less compared to El Poblado
- 1 Bedroom COP 2.2 – 3.1Mio – USD 680 – 960
- 2 Bedroom COP 2.6 – 4.1Mio – USD 800 – 1270
- 3 Bedroom COP 4.0 – 5.3Mio – USD 780 – 1640
Prices for unfurnished apartments in Sabaneta are around 20% less compared to El Poblado
- 1 Bedroom COP 1.2 – 1.7Mio – USD 380 – 530
- 2 Bedroom COP 1.6 – 2.0Mio – USD 490 – 620
- 3 Bedroom COP 2.0 – 3.0Mio – USD 610 – 920
Industriales / Ciudad del Rio
Industriales is another common neighborhood among Expats. It is known to be Bancolombia’s headquarter which really stand out. The whole area is relatively new and therefore pretty modern.
Pros Of Ciudad Del Rio
- It’s modern, you have a lot of great clinics here and everything is walking able too.
- It has a metro station within walking distance and a lot of bikes available that you can rent with your Civica (and Encicla) card. (1h for free)
- By metro Poblado is just 1 stop away and in a taxi, to Laureles, it will probably take about 10 min.
- It has a museum that offers free entry every last Friday of the month.
- Each weekend they put up food trucks with different kinds of food and sometimes they have art craft stores set up from the small local brands.
- They have the so-called “Mercado del Rio” which is a food haul with international and local food.
- Also, a nice place to watch football games with big screens.
Downsides of Ciudad Del Rio
- It’s pretty much as expensive as Poblado. Maybe 10% less.
- You don’t really get a community feeling, because a lot of foreigners live in that area.
- It looks more like an industrial area than a residential area.
- It does not have too much greenery around. The parks are the only green you have more or less. It’s surely not comparable to Laureles or El Poblado.
Cost Of Living In Ciudad Del Rio
A typical cost of living for an Expat couple in Ciudad Del Rio could look a little like this example. If you are a solo Expat just take the total and subtract 30%. I have to add, this cost of living is for a seasoned Expat, a newbie Expat will pay more till he gets accustomed to living in Colombia.
- USD 700 – Accommodation
- USD 80 – Utilities
- USD 250 – Food
- USD 250 – Groceries
- USD 50 – Medical
- USD 100 – Transport
- USD 100 – Entertainment
- USD 25 – Cell Phone
- USD 100 – Insurance
- USD 100 – Misc.
USD 1755– Cost Of Living
Cost Of Apartments In Ciudad Del Rio
Here is what we know from experience and because of working with Expats, what they usually will pay:
Prices for furnished apartments in Ciudad Del Rio are around 10% less compared to El Poblado
- 1 Bedroom COP 2.2 – 3.1Mio – USD 680 – 960
- 2 Bedroom COP 2.6 – 4.1Mio – USD 800 – 1270
- 3 Bedroom COP 4.0 – 5.3Mio – USD 780 – 1640
Prices for unfurnished apartments in Ciudad Del Rio are around 10% less compared to El Poblado
- 1 Bedroom COP 1.3 – 2.0Mio – USD 400 – 630
- 2 Bedroom COP 1.8 – 2.3Mio – USD 560 – 700
- 3 Bedroom COP 2.3 – 3.2Mio – USD 700 – 990
El Poblado vs. Laureles – A Surprising Discovery
With the many Sneak Peek Tours, we made with soon-to-be Expats, where we show them these neighborhoods, we surprisingly found out that Laureles was the favorite over all the other Neighborhoods, even El Poblado.
The crazy thing is, it is not even close. We literally had nobody really interested in El Poblado after they have seen Laureles. So that’s why we usually suggest our clients book accommodations in Laureles instead of El Poblado where most want to go at first.
Conclusion – Best Neighborhoods In Medellin Colombia
El Poblado
El Poblado is perfect for the party people and the ones that like the modern upscale city life and don’t care too much about their budget. Perfect for the ones that like or are fit enough to walk up the hilly streets or don’t care about taking the taxi, bus, or Uber to everywhere they go.
Laureles
Perfect for the ones that love greenery and city life. A great mix between the traditional Colombian lifestyle and developed world amenities. Laureles has everything in walking distance, so for people that just want an easy lifestyle.
Estadio
Totally a match for people on a budget. Estadio is also perfect for the active people that do sports or like to watch it. And party people that don’t care too much about the neighbors being loud.
Envigado
Perfect for the ones that want to be close to El Poblado but don’t want to be living in it. Have a more residential feel while spending less.
Sabaneta
If you like the community feeling rather than the big city life, Sabaneta is the right place to go. It is really suitable for families with kids. It is safe and super close to two huge malls.
Ciudad Del Rio / Industriales
A match for the ones that like everything to be in walking distance and don’t mind living in a skyscraper. Like the city life and to be close to the two most popular neighborhoods but not living in either of them.
