🛠️ Essential Resources

Interactive calculator to estimate your monthly expenses in Medellín. Customize for your lifestyle — from budget to luxury.

• Neighborhood price comparison
• Lifestyle customization
• Real local prices
• Printable summary

Calculate the full cost of importing a car from the USA to Colombia. Includes shipping, duties, taxes, and legal requirements.

• RoRo vs container comparison
• 35% import duty calculation
• Port-by-port pricing
• Temporary vs permanent import

Answer 5 quick questions about your lifestyle and budget to get personalized neighborhood recommendations.

• Personalized matching
• Safety ratings included
• Price comparisons
• Vibe matching

Great option if you're into adventure activities. Covers things like paragliding in San Félix, hiking, and extreme sports that SafetyWing might exclude.

• Covers adventure activities
• Trip cancellation included
• Gear & electronics coverage
• 24/7 emergency assistance

If you have a cédula (visa holders), you can join Colombia's private health system. Much more comprehensive than travel insurance and very affordable.

• Full Colombian healthcare access
• Specialist visits, surgery, prescriptions
• Requires cédula de extranjería
• World-class hospitals

Another excellent multi-currency card. Good to have as a backup. Free ATM withdrawals up to a limit. Metal card available for frequent travelers.

• Free foreign transactions
• Instant spending notifications
• Freeze/unfreeze card in app
• Disposable virtual cards

US checking account with unlimited ATM fee rebates worldwide. Use any ATM in Colombia and get all fees refunded. No minimum balance.

• ALL ATM fees refunded globally
• No foreign transaction fees
• No monthly fees
• Excellent customer service

Second-best coverage. Sometimes has better promotions than Claro. Good option if Claro is congested in your area.

• Competitive pricing
• Good urban coverage
• Frequent promotions

If your phone supports eSIM, get connected before you land. Great for first few days while you get a local SIM. Works instantly.

• Activate before arrival
• No physical SIM swap
• Keep your home number active
• Good for short visits

Skip Airbnb premiums. These groups have direct landlord listings, roommate searches, and real prices. Post what you're looking for.

• "Expats in Medellín" — 50K+ members
• "Arriendos Medellín" — local listings
• "Digital Nomads Medellín"
• 30-50% cheaper than Airbnb

The main Colombian real estate site. All listings in Spanish. Great for finding real local prices and long-term rentals. May need help navigating.

• Thousands of listings
• Filter by neighborhood
• Real local prices (not gringo prices)
• Contact landlords directly

If you want a ready-made community, Selina offers coliving spaces with coworking included. Great for first month while you find your bearings.

• Furnished rooms
• Coworking included
• Events & community
• Flexible stays

If you need a more professional environment for calls or meetings. Premium pricing but excellent facilities in Poblado.

• Professional environment
• Meeting rooms
• Phone booths
• Global access included

Many cafés in Medellín are nomad-friendly. Good WiFi, no pressure to leave, outlets everywhere. Just buy coffee regularly.

• Pergamino (Poblado) — excellent WiFi
• Al Alma Café (Laureles)
• Hija Mía (multiple locations)
• Urbania Café (Poblado)

More affordable option with good reviews. Located in Poblado. Offers both group and private classes.

• Affordable group classes
• Poblado location
• Conversation-focused
• Flexible scheduling

Find Colombian Spanish tutors for online lessons. Great for supplementing in-person classes or if you prefer learning from home.

• Hundreds of Colombian tutors
• All price ranges
• Schedule anytime
• Trial lessons available

Premium VPN with the fastest speeds. Great if you do a lot of streaming or video calls. More expensive but very reliable.

• Fastest VPN speeds
• 94 countries
• 24/7 support
• 30-day money back