Medellín
Colombia's second city; population ~3 million; ranked Latin America's top digital nomad hub in 2026.
Medellín's city council began debating a land-use rewrite on 26 September that platforms say would leave just 3.4% of the city open to unrestricted short lets, after registered tourist homes multiplied sixteenfold since 2019.
Last refreshed: 3 October 2026 · Appears in 1 active topic
When foreigners buy one in four apartments, who eventually gets priced out of Medellín?
Timeline for Medellín
Faced zoning limits on where short lets may trade
Nomads & Communities: Medellín turns from paperwork to zoningMedellin lists what a legal let needs
Nomads & CommunitiesExperienced 1-in-4 foreign apartment purchases and 11% rent rise in 2025
Nomads & Communities: Colombia visa rejects two in fiveBackground
Medellín is Colombia's second-largest city, with about 3 million people in its urban area. It sits in the Andes at around 1,500 metres, and its mild year-round climate earned it the name City of Eternal Spring. Once known abroad for the cartel violence of the 1980s and 1990s, it rebuilt its reputation through cable cars, library parks and outdoor escalators, and in 2026 ranked as Latin America's leading digital nomad destination.
Nomad life clusters in El Poblado and Laureles, with Provenza in El Poblado the priciest sub-district, and the organised nomad community counts more than 8,000 members. Prices in El Poblado and Laureles have risen 10-15% a year since 2023, and city-wide rents rose about 11% in 2025.
Short lets now drive the city's housing debate. Medellín had 8,322 registered tourist homes in 2026, up from 521 in 2019, while its hotel count stood at 863, and inspectors suspended 105 after 408 visits. Mayor Federico Gutiérrez, in office since 2024, told the industry on 28 September to make its case in public. Colombia's Foreign Ministry has also given holders of pre-Reform permanent-resident visas until 31 October to transfer to the present system.
Foreign demand reshapes Medellín housing
Roughly a quarter of flat purchases in Medellín are made by foreigners, and El Poblado rents run US$450-750 a month against a local income near US$638, on figures reported at the start of 2026. Colombia's Type V digital nomad visa turned down roughly 42% of its 2025 applicants, and its 2026 income floor rose 23% to about US$1,400-1,450 a month.
The city has answered with planning rules rather than visas. On 21 August its Tourism Secretariat published a checklist of everything a legal short-let home must hold, and on 26 September the council began debating Proyecto de Acuerdo 104, which would treat tourist housing as lodging and concentrate it in mixed zones near metro stations. Planning director Luz Ángela González disputes the industry reading that only 3.4% of the city would stay open.
Is Medellín safe for digital nomads in 2026?
How much does it cost to live in Medellín as a nomad?
Does Colombia have a digital nomad visa?
How much have rents risen in Medellín because of digital nomads?
What is Colombia's Type V digital nomad visa rejection rate?
Why is El Poblado in Medellín so popular with digital nomads?
Written with AI from Lowdown's published reporting. Not individually reviewed by an editor. Updated 3 October 2026. Editorial standards.