Living in Medellín for 3 months or more: a checklist

A few months in Medellín means a furnished rental, a routine, a monthly budget and mild weather most of the year. This is the list we'd start from.

Before you go

• Check entry rules, any pre-arrival forms and how long you can stay for your passport with an official source.
• Get health insurance that covers the whole stay. Many travel policies cap trip length.
• Book the first two to four weeks short-term, then look for a furnished monthly rental once you've walked the areas.
• Tell your bank you'll be away and carry a card without foreign transaction fees.
• Decide what happens to your home, mail and car while you're gone.

First week

• Get a local SIM or eSIM.
• Get a Cívica card for the metro, cable cars and buses.
• Save 123 as the emergency number, and find the nearest pharmacy and clinic.
• Use ride apps or taxis booked by phone, and keep your phone out of sight on the street.
• Walk your shortlist of neighbourhoods. Some are steep, and the difference between them is bigger on foot.

While you're there

• Log spending by month against a budget. Rent is usually most of it.
• Keep an eye on the date your permitted stay ends.
• Plan side trips while you have time: Guatapé, Jardín, Santa Fe de Antioquia, the coffee region.

Wrapping up

• Give notice on your rental in writing and agree how the deposit comes back.
• Cancel the SIM, utilities and any local subscriptions.
• Book the flight out before your permitted stay runs out.

Neighbourhoods people look at

Laureles · El Poblado · Envigado · Estadio · Belén · Sabaneta · Conquistadores

Which suits you depends on budget, noise and how you get around. Cojourn's assistant can compare them for your stay.