In short
Medellín sits in a valley at fifteen hundred metres, which gives it a stable climate all year: no heating, no air conditioning, ever.
El Poblado and Laureles hold the foreign population, with two opposite atmospheres: the first commercial and international, the second residential and more local.
The city has a heavy history and a remarkable trajectory; the metro, the cable cars and the neighbourhood libraries are the concrete demonstration.
What it really costs
Furnished housing in a central district stays reachable, but the prices quoted to foreigners in El Poblado no longer bear any relation to the local market.
The markets and the set lunch let you eat very cheaply; international restaurants are at European prices.
The metro and the cable cars cost a few tens of euros a month at most.
Working here
Good connection, plenty of coworking spaces, and a large, active foreign community.
The time zone is the real question: perfect for working with North America, hard for Europe, where the day is already over when yours begins.
Spanish is close to essential beyond the international areas.
What nobody tells you
Safety requires precise habits depending on the district and the hour. The local rule is explicit and known to everyone — it applies to you too.
Party tourism has damaged El Poblado's reputation and the feel of certain streets.
And pollution builds up in the valley at certain times of year, which the postcard never shows.