12 Best Places To Live In Colombia

Despite a somewhat negative reputation, Colombia (officially known as the Republic of Colombia) is a welcoming country to expats and has many good things to offer those who choose to relocate to the country.

It is one of Latin America’s largest economies and is known for its rich culture and heritage. We’ll take a look at some of the best places to live in Colombia for work, families, immigrants and more.

Let’s start by taking a look at the best places to live in Colombia.

Sections

Best Places To Live In Colombia

City	Reason
Bogotá	Best for work
Medellín	Best for affordability
Bogotá, Calles 90 and 100 neighbourhoods	Best for families
Medellín, El Poblado	Best for immigrants
Santa Marta	Best for retirement
Santiago de Cali	Best for young adults
Bogotá	Best for students
Bogotá, Cupertino	Best for food and nightlife
Medellín, Laureles-Estadio	Best for singles
Medellín	Best for weather
Cartagena	Best for beaches
Bogotá	Best for mountains

Best Places To Live In Colombia for Work

Bogotá is the capital of Colombia and is a sprawling metropolis that lies 8,660 ft above sea level. It’s one of the best options for expats who are moving to Colombia with the intention of finding a job once settled.

Some of the biggest job industries in Bogotá include the food industry, the coal and oil industry and there is a growing tourism industry also. For expats, teaching is one of the most important industries and there are several positions available.

The technology industry is also growing in recent years and for expats with a background in technology or an interest in starting up a business, this a potential field to consider.

Medellín is another good city with some job opportunities. It’s the capital of Colombia’s mountainous Antioquia province and is nicknamed the ‘City of Eternal Spring’.

Cheapest Places To Live In Colombia

Most expats will likely find Colombia to be an affordable place to live – it’s estimated that one person would need to make between 500 to 2,000 USD to live there comfortably. Some cities, as expected, will cost more than others.

Medellín is one of the most affordable cities in the country and is a fantastic option for expats who are hoping to relocate to Colombia with a smaller budget. The city is familiar and home to many digital nomads and expats already so newcomers will find it easy to form a community.

Bogotá is around 20% more expensive than Medellín but international expats will likely still find the cost of living and housing affordable in the capital, depending on location and lifestyle type.

Best Places To Live In Colombia for Families

Bogotá is a fantastic city of choice for those planning on relocating with a family. Moving a family to a new country can be stressful; you’ll want to take into account factors such as the living and expenses costs, nearby healthcare facilities and safety.

In particular, Calles 90 and 100 neighbourhoods are very popular with expats and their families. The apartments located here are very large and there are also the typical amenities you would expect within a good neighborhood.

Bogotá is also one of Colombia’s safest urban areas and there are several brightly coloured neighbourhoods packed with cafes, restaurants and shops.

Cartagena is another good option for expats relocating with family to consider, though do keep in mind that the cost of living and cost of housing here is more expensive than in Bogotá and Medellín. Cartagena is a tropical paradise with a lot of rich, cultural heritage.

Best Places To Live In Colombia for Immigrants

Medellín is Colombia’s second-largest city and is known for having a great climate (some regions of Colombia can be very hot and humid) and a vibrant culture. It’s one of the best cities for immigrants moving to Colombia due to its low living costs and large existing immigrant community.

Most immigrants hope to relocate to the south of the city which is more popular than the centre. El Poblado and Laureles-Estadio are good neighbourhoods for first-time movers to consider – both have plenty of good surrounding amenities, good housing options and are close to the popular nightlife scene.

As the capital, Bogotá is another popular choice with immigrants. The districts of Chapinero Alto and Chapinero Central commonly house expats who can enjoy the colonial architecture and nearby convenient amenities.

Best Places To Live In Colombia for Retirement

Santa Marta is a stand-out spot for retirees looking to relocate to Colombia. The city is full of rich history, outstanding architecture and a pleasantly relaxed atmosphere.

Santa Marta has a lot of positive attributes that many retirees can enjoy; such as the stunning natural views and good location (in regards to beaches, national parks and mountains).

Known as the oldest city in South America, Santa Marta also experiences a good climate which is ideal for those who don’t particularly enjoy intense heat or humidity.

Pereira is a city located in a mountainous, coffee-growing region of Colombia and is another good option for retirees hoping to move to the country due to its steady climate and friendly residents.

Best Places To Live In Colombia for Young Adults

Cali, also known as Santiago de Cali, is a great city of choice for young adults hoping to relocate to Colombia. The city is known for its salsa dancing, delicious cuisine and its thriving nightlife scene.

In comparison to other big Colombian cities such as Bogotá and Medellín, Cali is considered slightly more dangerous so it’s well worth doing some research on good safety tips before making any final decisions.

Despite its reputation, Cali has continued to develop and grow substantially over the last couple of decades and young adults can expect to enjoy the truly spectacular culture and diversity on offer in this city.

Barranquilla is the fourth largest city in Colombia and another fantastic choice for young adults hoping to move to the city with a vibrant atmosphere and a thriving expat community.

Best Places To Live In Colombia for Students

Bogotá is one of the best cities in Colombia for international students. Colombia is home to many renowned universities in Latin America and there are plenty of options for students to choose from when it comes to courses and location.

The city is very culturally diverse and there are many different communities for international students to engage with. There is also a good nightlife scene in the city as well as plenty of accommodation options.

Manizales is another good option for international students. Known for its vibrant culture, the city is a hotspot for art and history lovers, as well as offering some of the best coffee!

Best Places To Live In Colombia for Food and Nightlife

Bogotá is known to be the gastronomic capital of Colombia, as well as offering some fantastic options when it comes to nightlife. Colombia’s cuisine is characterised by Indigenous Colombian, Spanish, and African cuisines.

Some of the most famous dishes include ajiaco (a soup made from chicken, potatoes and spices), bandeja paisa (with a red bean base, Colombian sausage, ground beef, rice, fried pork rind called chicharron and an assortment of spices) and chuleta valluna (fried and/or breaded pork loin).

Bogotá also has a thriving nightlife scene – most of Bogotá’s social scene is located in Cupertino, a district popular with ex-pats who want to be close to the partying action. There are plenty of clubs, bars and restaurants here to choose from also.

Best Places To Live In Colombia for Singles

Medellín receives thousands of tourists every year to take in its exciting culture, love of salsa and excellent cuisine. It’s a good option to consider for singles who are hoping to relocate to Colombia.

It’s a little less intense than in the capital city but it still has the typical amenities that you would expect to find in any modern city. Medellín has a very active nightlife scene which mainly consists of outdoor parties that regularly focus on salsa.

El Poblado and Laureles-Estadio are good neighbourhoods for first-time movers to consider – both have plenty of good surrounding amenities, good housing options and are close to the popular nightlife scene.

Another good option to consider for singles is the city, of Cartagena, which is slightly more upscale than Medellín or Bogotá.

Best Places To Live In Colombia for the Weather

Colombia is known for having some of the most pleasant weather across Latin America – it tends to have an equal twelve hours of sunlight and night with little variation throughout the year. Colombia is located very close to the equator and has a steady tropical climate.

Medellín sits at 5,000 feet above sea level so it has mostly perfect spring-like weather all year around. While there are no official seasons in the country, you can expect the weather to be very temperate in Medellín while other regions may have more dramatic weather.

Barranquilla also has good weather; the city is a seaport flanked by the Magdalena River and is known for hosting an enormous Carnival.

Best Places To Live In Colombia Near Beaches

Cartagena is one of the best choices for those hoping to relocate to Colombia to enjoy a beach lifestyle. The port city has all the charm of a well-developed island, with plenty of different beaches to explore each day all offering different experiences.

Cartagena is located on Colombia’s Caribbean coast and experiences good weather mostly year-round. The Old Town of Cartagena has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage site and there is plenty of shopping and dining options in the new town.

Santa Marta is another fantastic option for beach-lovers. The city has a wide range of stunning beaches nearby as well as being a very pleasant city with a large retiree expat community.

Best Places To Live In Colombia Near Mountains

Colombia’s landscape is vast and varied with the Andes running through the centre of the country with plains and tropical forests filling in the rest and outstanding beaches at the coast.

Bogotá is a wonderful choice for mountain lovers. The city spreads out along the bottom of a mountain chain and two cerros (hills), Monserrate and Guadalupe, rise along the east.

If you enjoy sports such as hiking, climbing or trailing then Bogotá is one of the best cities for you as there is such easy access to the surrounding hills.

There is a range of fantastic mountain towns in Colombia also, such as Barichara and Jardín. These towns feature picturesque cobbled streets and dramatic views of some of Colombia’s most beautiful flora and fauna but they won’t be as developed as one would expect from a city.