El Poblado vs Laureles. We comprehensively compare two popular neighborhoods with expats in Medellín to see which is a better place to live. We compare the two neighborhoods in eight categories.
El Poblado is the most popular neighborhood for foreigners living in or visiting Medellín. Also, El Poblado is considered the most upscale neighborhood in Medellín. In addition, El Poblado is where most hotels and furnished apartments catering to foreigners are located.
But no neighborhood is perfect, and there are downsides of El Poblado. Laureles-Estadio is another popular neighborhood for foreigners living in the city or visiting.
Laureles-Estadio has many areas with tree-lined streets and much fewer high-rise apartments than are found in El Poblado. Also, Laureles is primarily a residential neighborhood.
In the past, we interviewed some expats who decided to live in Laureles due to it being extremely walkable, with quiet, leafy streets and large parks. Also, they found that Laureles has a sufficient number of restaurants for them.
Several Medellin Guru readers have asked questions about El Poblado vs Laureles. So, now we compare these two neighborhoods in Medellín.
Note that the following eight categories in this El Poblado vs Laureles comparison aren’t in a particular order. And where possible, we provide some statistics to back up how we chose the winner of each category.
1. Cost to Rent or Buy Property – El Poblado vs Laureles
Laureles wins in this category. In general, the cost to rent or buy property will be cheaper in Laureles-Estadio than in El Poblado. Here are our unfurnished rental detailed investigation findings:
| Size of the Apartment | Number of the Apartments Surveyed | Average Size (Square Meters) | Average Rental Cost Per Month (Pesos) | Average Rental Cost Per Month (USD) | Median Rental Cost Per Month (Pesos) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1-bedroom | 30 | 48.4 | 1,922,656 | 480.66 | 4,355,111 |
| 2-bedroom | 38 | 70 | 2,485,648 | 621.41 | 5,570,186 |
| 3-bedroom | 132 | 111 | 3,516,375 | 879.09 | 6,288,489 |
| Size of the Apartment | 1-bedroom | 2-bedroom | 3-bedroom |
|---|---|---|---|
| Number of the Apartments Surveyed | 30 | 38 | 132 |
| Average Size (Square Meters) | 48.4 | 70 | 111 |
| Average Rental Cost Per Month (Pesos) | 1,922,656 | 2,485,648 | 3,516,375 |
| Average Rental Cost Per Month (USD) | 480.66 | 621.41 | 879.09 |
| Median Rental Cost Per Month (Pesos) | 4,355,111 | 5,570,186 | 6,288,489 |
2023 Apartment rental costs in Laureles-Estadio
| Size of the Apartment | Number of the Apartments Surveyed | Average Size (Square Meters) | Average Rental Cost Per Month (Pesos) | Average Rental Cost Per Month (USD) | Median Rental Cost Per Month (Pesos) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1-bedroom | 29 | 61.2 | 2,913,421.0 | 728.35 | 2,799,888 |
| 2-bedroom | 45 | 95.8 | 3,709,824.00 | 927.45 | 3,577,680 |
| 3-bedroom | 126 | 132.8 | 4,548,784.28 | 1,137.19 | 4,044,016 |
| Size of the Apartment | 1-bedroom | 2-bedroom | 3-bedroom |
|---|---|---|---|
| Number of the Apartments Surveyed | 29 | 45 | 126 |
| Average Size (Square Meters) | 61.2 | 95.8 | 132.8 |
| Average Rental Cost Per Month (Pesos) | 2,913,421.0 | 3,709,824.00 | 4,548,784.28 |
| Average Rental Cost Per Month (USD) | 728.35 | 927.45 | 1,137.19 |
| Median Rental Cost Per Month (Pesos) | 2,799,888 | 3,577,680 | 4,044,016 |
2023 Apartment rental costs in El Poblado
Here is a comparison of unfurnished rental prices in Laureles-Estadio with four other popular neighborhoods for foreigners in the Medellín metro:
| Neighborhood in the Medellín Metro | 2018 Average Monthly Rental Cost Per Square Meter (Pesos) | 2019 Average Monthly Rental Cost Per Square Meter (Pesos) | 2020 Average Monthly Rental Cost Per Square Meter (Pesos) | 2021 Average Monthly Rental Cost Per Square Meter (Pesos) | 2022 Average Monthly Rental Cost Per Square Meter (Pesos) | 2023 Average Monthly Rental Cost Per Square Meter (Pesos) | Percent Change from 2018 to 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| El Poblado | 22,972 | 23,232 | 24,132 | 24,529 | 25,934 | 29,311 | 27.61% |
| Envigado | 19,820 | 21,291 | 22,107 | 22,491 | 23,746 | 26,895 | 35.71% |
| Laureles-Estadio | 18,203 | 21,099 | 21,91 | 22,289 | 23,558 | 26,662 | 46.35% |
| Belén | 17,885 | 19,725 | 20,504 | 20,837 | 22,045 | 24,938 | 39.45% |
| Sabaneta | 16,298 | 18,43 | 19,134 | 19,443 | 20,525 | 23,206 | 42.34% |
| Neighborhood in the Medellín Metro | El Poblado | Envigado | Laureles-Estadio | Belén | Sabaneta |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 Average Monthly Rental Cost Per Square Meter (Pesos) | 22,972 | 19,820 | 18,203 | 17,885 | 16,298 |
| 2019 Average Monthly Rental Cost Per Square Meter (Pesos) | 23,232 | 21,291 | 21,099 | 19,725 | 18,430 |
| 2020 Average Monthly Rental Cost Per Square Meter (Pesos) | 24,132 | 22,107 | 21,910 | 20,504 | 19,134 |
| 2021 Average Monthly Rental Cost Per Square Meter (Pesos) | 24,529 | 22,491 | 22,289 | 20,837 | 19,443 |
| 2022 Average Monthly Rental Cost Per Square Meter (Pesos) | 25,934 | 23,746 | 23,558 | 22,045 | 20,525 |
| 2023 Average Monthly Rental Cost Per Square Meter (Pesos) | 29,311 | 26,895 | 26,662 | 24,938 | 23,206 |
| Percent Change from 2018 to 2023 | 27.61% | 35.71% | 46.35% | 39.45% | 42.34% |
Average unfurnished apartment rental costs per square meter by neighborhood in Medellín for five years
The unfurnished apartment rental prices in El Poblado may be lower than in many cities in the U.S. But the rental prices in El Poblado are higher than in other neighborhoods in Medellín. This is due to El Poblado being primarily estrato 6 and El Poblado being rated as estrato 6 on a 1 to 6 scale.
We previously looked at estratos in Colombia, which is a system where higher estrato neighborhoods in Colombia pay higher utility rates to help subsidize lower utility rates in the lowest estratos.
Also, furnished rental apartments are more expensive in El Poblado. We also found that furnished apartment rental costs are higher in El Poblado, and it has the highest furnished apartment options in Medellín. Furnished rentals are generally cheaper in Laureles-Estadio. In addition, El Poblado tends to have higher prices for buying properties than Laureles-Estadio.
2. Other Costs of Living – El Poblado vs Laureles
Laureles-Estadio wins here. Laureles-Estadio is more of a residential area with fewer foreign tourists than El Poblado. Located in a less touristy neighborhood, the shops, restaurants, bars, and fitness centers in Laureles-Estadio generally come with lower price tags than their El Poblado counterparts.
In general, Laureles-Estadio offers more of a local living experience compared to El Poblado. And prices for almost everything from groceries, restaurants, nightlife, and pet services are more expensive in El Poblado. This shouldn’t be surprising, as El Poblado is considered the most affluent neighborhood in Medellín.
3. Restaurants and Nightlife
El Poblado wins here. El Poblado, in general, has a much larger variety of restaurants when it comes to modern, international dining.
In comparison, Laureles-Estadio has more of the cheaper, traditional Colombian food options with many restaurants with inexpensive menú del día lunch specials. Also, Laureles-Estadio has a number of good restaurants – just not as many as are found in El Poblado. We previously looked at 20 of the best restaurants in Laureles.
Also, El Poblado has Parque Lleras, which is the top nightlife district in Medellín. Parque Lleras is considered the nightlife capital of Medellín. And it’s also a tourist attraction in an area known as Zona Rosa in the El Poblado neighborhood.
There are well over 100 open air restaurants, bars and nightclubs located in the streets around Parque Lleras. There are many nightclubs, playing either a mixture of Latin music genres like reggaetón or salsa, rock, electronica music, and more. These tend to be upscale, pricier nightclubs.
However, Laureles-Estadio also has nightlife options that are more local style. Significantly less frequented by foreigners, is Calle 33 in Laureles. Another popular nightlife area is LA 70 (Setenta), also in Laureles. In this area, you will find few foreigners and various salsa bars and small clubs.
4. Walkability and Bike-ability
Laureles-Estadio wins here. Much of El Poblado is hilly and not very walkable. For example, El Tesoro mall is located high up the hills in El Poblado, and almost nobody walks from lower in El Poblado to El Tesoro.
Also, it’s about a 15-minute walk up-hill from the Poblado metro station to Parque Lleras. And it’s about a 15-minute walk uphill to the Santafé mall from the Aguacatala metro station.
If you live in El Poblado, you must contend with the hills. But not all of El Poblado is hilly. For example, Avenida Poblado, where the Santafé and Oviedo malls are located is flat and walkable. Also, the Ciudad del Rio neighborhood is flat and walkable.
Laureles-Estadio is flat in comparison, making it much more walkable than El Poblado. Furthermore, Laureles-Estadio is a haven for bikers with many dedicated bike lanes.
In addition, Laureles-Estadio has more Encicla stations than El Poblado. Encicla is Medellín’s free city bike system that permits you to borrow bikes from 60 stations throughout the Aburrá Valley. And about one-third of Encicla stations are in Laureles-Estadio.
5. Safety – El Poblado vs Laureles
The two neighborhoods arguably tie here. Both El Poblado and Laureles-Estadio are generally considered two of the safest neighborhoods in Medellín and rarely have homicides reported. However, both neighborhoods have higher crime rates in terms of robberies than other neighborhoods in the city.
I have seen many posts on the Internet that claim that El Poblado and Laureles are two of the safest neighborhoods in Medellín.
The highest counts of reported robberies and thefts in the comunas in Medellín occur in the La Candelaria comuna (El Centro). And this is normally followed by Laureles-Estadio and El Poblado, which are two of the most popular neighborhoods for foreigners in Medellín.
The communes with the most reported cases of robbery are Candelaria, in the center of Medellín, with 3,810 cases; El Poblado, which presents 2,135 facts; Laureles, with 1,769 cases; and Belén, 1,033, with reports.
In recent years, Medellín has experienced a concerning rise in crime, particularly in robbery incidents. We made this table based in El Colombiano Report of 2022-2023, that presents key statistics illustrating the current state of criminal activities in the city, with a focus on thefts from individuals, residential properties, and commercial establishments. The data reflects trends over the past two years, highlighting both increases and decreases in various categories of criminal activity.
| Category | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|
| Total Robbery Cases in Medellín | 25,660 (+9%) | 23,607 |
| Robbery to Individuals | 18,421 (+13%) | 16,278 |
| Stolen Cellphones | 6,628 (-16%) | 7,899 |
| Motorcycle Robberies | 3,781 (+2%) | 3,678 |
| Car Robberies | 579 (-5.39%) | 612 |
| Robberies to Commercial Establishments | 1,870 (-13%) | 2,153 |
| Robberies to Residences | 1,009 (+14%) | 886 |
| People Arrested for Robbery | 599 (-7%) | 644 |
El Colombiano reports robbery’s statistics in 2023
Crime is possible everywhere in Medellín. El Poblado and Laureles have been touted by some as the safest parts of the city. But robbery statistics have been increasing in both El Poblado and Laureles-Estadio. This is likely due to criminals targeting the wealthiest area of Medellín.
The bottom line is you should take precautions in any neighborhood in Medellín. If you follow our safety tips in our article about security in Medellín, your risk of being a victim of crime should be greatly reduced.
6. Shopping – El Poblado vs Laureles
El Poblado wins here. El Poblado has more shopping options than Laureles-Estadio. El Poblado has three of the most upscale malls in Medellín: Santafé, El Tesoro and Oviedo. And these three malls in El Poblado are larger than the malls in Laureles-Estadio.
- Santafé has about 460 shops
- El Tesoro has about 400 shops
- Oviedo has about 320 shops
The Unicentro mall in Laureles in Medellín
In comparison, Laureles-Estadio only has the smaller Unicentro mall with about 270 shops and the even smaller Viva Laureles mall with 90 shops.
However, keep in mind that while the El Poblado malls are larger with a wider selection of stores, they tend to have prices that are higher than can be found in other malls in Medellín.
7. Traffic – El Poblado vs Laureles
Laureles-Estadio wins here. Some of the worst traffic in Medellín is found in El Poblado. Avenida Poblado and Calle 10 tend to have bad traffic during rush hour and even during lunch hour. And it can be very difficult to go to or from El Tesoro Mall up the hills in El Poblado during rush hour.
Traffic is one of the downsides of living in Medellín we previously looked at. And traffic reportedly is the biggest concern of expats living in the city.
In my years living in Medellín the worst traffic in the city I have encountered has tended to be El Poblado and El Centro.
When I previously lived in Laureles-Estadio and when I now visit friends living there, I haven’t experienced anywhere near as much traffic as I have experienced in El Poblado.
8. Public Transportation Availability
The two neighborhoods tie here. Both El Poblado and Laureles-Estadio have three metro stations each:
- El Poblado – Industriales, Poblado and Aguacatala stations on Line A
- Laureles-Estadio – Floresta, Estadio and Suramericana stations on Line B
But in both neighborhoods, many of the apartments and casas (houses) are not located near these metro stations. So, from many apartments and casas it can be long walk or a short bus or taxi ride to a metro station.
In addition, both neighborhoods have extensive bus routes and taxis are plentiful in both neighborhoods. So, the two neighborhoods tie in this category.
What about Envigado vs Laureles?
We previously compared El Poblado vs Laureles. If we were to compare Envigado vs Laureles, I would categorize the winners of each category as follows:
- Cost to rent or buy property – Laureles-Estadio wins
- Other costs of living – Laureles-Estadio arguably wins
- Restaurants and nightlife – Tie
- Walkability and Bike-ability – Laureles-Estadio wins
- Safety – Envigado wins
- Shopping – Envigado wins
- Traffic – Tie
- Public transportation availability – Tie
So, Laureles-Estadios would win in three categories, Envigado would win in two categories and the two neighborhoods would tie in three categories.
What about Laureles vs Sabaneta?
We also compared El Poblado with Sabaneta. If we were to compare Laureles vs Sabaneta, I would categorize the winners of each category as follows:
- Cost to rent or buy property – Sabaneta wins
- Other costs of living – Sabaneta arguably wins
- Restaurants and nightlife – Laureles-Estadio wins
- Walkability and Bike-ability – Tie
- Safety – Sabaneta arguably wins
- Shopping – Sabaneta wins
- Traffic – Tie
- Public transportation availability – Tie
So, Sabaneta would win in four categories, Laureles-Estadio would win in only one category and the two neighborhoods would tie in three categories.
What about Laureles vs Belén?
In addition we compared El Poblado with Belén. If we were to compare Laureles vs Belén, I would categorize the winners of each category as follows:
- Cost to rent or buy property – Belén wins
- Other costs of living – Belén arguably wins
- Restaurants and nightlife – Laureles-Estadio wins
- Walkability and Bike-ability – Tie
- Safety – Belén arguably wins
- Shopping – Tie
- Traffic – Tie
- Public transportation availability – Tie
So, Belén would win in three categories, Laureles-Estadio would win in one category and the two neighborhoods would tie in four categories.
Choosing a Neighborhood in Medellín
On the Medellin Guru website, we have several articles that can be used to help foreigners choose a neighborhood in Medellín:
- What are the Safest Neighborhoods in Medellín and the Aburrá Valley?
- 5 Best Neighborhoods in Medellín: A Guide to Choosing a Neighborhood
- 8 Downsides of El Poblado: Living in Medellín’s Expensive Neighborhood
- Estratos: A Guide to Understanding Estratos in Colombia
- El Poblado vs Laureles: Which is the Better Neighborhood to Live in?
- El Poblado vs Envigado: Which is the Better Neighborhood to Live in?
- El Poblado vs Sabaneta: Which is the Better Neighborhood to Live in?
- El Poblado vs Belén: Which is the Better Neighborhood to Live in?
- 2018 Unfurnished Apartment Rental Costs in Medellín in 5 Neighborhoods Popular with Expats
- 6 Inexpensive Neighborhoods for Unfurnished Rentals in Medellín
The Bottom Line: El Poblado vs Laureles – Which is the Better Neighborhood to Live in?
In our El Poblado vs Laureles-Estadio comparison:
- Laureles-Estadio wins four of our eight categories.
- El Poblado wins two of our eight categories.
- The two neighborhoods tie in two categories.
So, in this unscientific and somewhat subjective comparison, Laureles-Estadio wins if you equally weigh the categories. But choosing a neighborhood to live in comes down to personal preferences.
El Poblado remains the most popular neighborhood for foreigners out of all Medellín neighborhoods. But El Poblado has downsides. So, many expats living in Medellín live in other neighborhoods in the city.
Other neighborhoods in Medellín and the Aburrá Valley popular with expats include Laureles-Estadio, Envigado, Sabaneta and Belén. Over the past several years, I have also met expats living in Bello, El Centro, La America, and Robledo near the Medellín International Airport in Rionegro and La Ceja.
Also, keep in mind if you live in Laureles-Estadio due to the lower cost of living or other reasons, it’s a relatively short taxi ride to the restaurants, nightlife, and shopping in El Poblado.
The bottom line in our El Poblado vs Laureles comparison is that the best to live is the best place to live for you. Everyone has different priorities. The only way to know which neighborhood is the best for you is to spend time there.
Editors note: updated on July 26, 2019 to add a Laureles vs Sabaneta section.
Editors note: updated on September 23, 2020 with more current information where possible for the categories.
Editors note: updated on October 24, 2021 with updates to several sections.
Editors note: updated on October 20th, 2023, with new images, prices, and statistical data.
25 thoughts on “El Poblado vs Laureles: Which is the Better Neighborhood to Live in?”
Jeff,
Another great post, many thanks. And to the community commenting, really grateful for your thoughts and insights. As Jeff said some of this is personal preferences so even the criticisms help validate and inform out thinking. We are looking forward to saying Hi and thanks at the meetup next week (Aug 6, 2019, Tuesday), see you there.
Hi Steve, thanks. See you at the Medellin Guru meetup on August 6.
John, thank you for this information!
Great article, thank you. Leaving Poblado for someplace less frenetic and less “Gringo” is constantly on my mind. Does anybody know someone who can do the legwork of finding me a particular type of apartment in Laureles?
We used Juan Camilo, What’s app +57 316 833 4225. Honest reliable! We highly recommend him, driver, tour guide, relocation assistance, sign up for your health insurance, lease an apartment, help with visa , and opening a bank account. See his reviews on Facebook.
Saw that you were looking for a place a little over a year ago. I am considering coming for a month and trying it out this Summer if Covid permits. Im thinking of Laureles as it sounds slightly quieter, but curious as to where many English speaking people might reside. I dont speak Spanish yet so it might be helpful to have some Americans near for guidance. Is Air BNB the best route for short term like that or are their better options where you dont get ripped off? I was thinking of around $500 per month, but would want something pretty decent. Thoughts on best ways to go about it?
@ Chris: I have no experience with Airbnb, but considering where to stay I absolutely advise you to stay at El Poblado if you don’t speak Spanish yet. In El Poblado you will feel much more comfortable, as much more Colombians there speak a little English. In Laureles in fact nobody speaks English, so as long as your Spanish is not basic yet you definately better stay in El Poblado for now.
Cheers
Unless of course your preference runs to avoiding gringo types & English speakers at all costs in favor of the total immersion concept. Lots of travelers feel that way and they’re not shy about letting the world know about it. Personally I enjoy speaking my native English because for half my life I’ve been in a Spanish speaking environment so I like to keep up with both languages…which I can do quite nicely here in Laureles. There are more English speakers in this neighborhood than you might think.
Sandra is right on point though about customer service being pretty much limited to Spanish.
Thanks for the mention, Jeff! We agree with most of the comments here and have no regrets about choosing Laureles. More than once, we’ve gotten out of a taxi in El Poblado and walked the rest of the way just to avoid being late to appointments. Parts of Poblado feel too dense and claustrophobic for our taste, but there are still some really pretty areas there; e.g. the Provenza neighborhood and Parque La Presidente. We’re glad we can have the best of both worlds!
One thing good about Laureles is that the noisy part with the bars is mostly confined to one street; La 70 and even that is raucous only at the North end close to the football stadium. As you head South along 70 closer to the university and especially on Sundays you’ll see families strolling into brightly lit places like La Jugosa for a juice or ice cream treat. On Halloween the kids in their costumes will storm into the shops demanding treats with a memorized little speech. It’s hilarious.
The rest of the barrio West of 70 is still the Goldilocks village atmosphere I enjoy.
I’ve lived more than half my life in a Latin American context so am not a total immersion kind of guy. I like to be around English speakers too. Plus I’m a city boy. After two years in a small town in the central highlands of Mexico I realized that I needed a bigger city so I came here. It’s okay.
Again, thanks for your insights. Hope to bump in to you here in Laureles!
I agree 100 percent. Poblado was wonderful in 1975 when it was an artist haven filled with coffee houses and quaint shops and art galleries and cool locals. It Reminded me a little of old time Sausalito. No longer. It is a sprawling mini city filled with overpriced everything and lots of tourists. Definitely not the reason I came to Colombia. The further away from Tourists. TOURIST TRAPS and beer halls the happier I am. Poblado is finished in my book. Honestly most of Medellin has lost its charm. It’s the 2nd largest city in Colombia and reminds me of Manhattan. Crazed speed demons walking Driving and rushing around like mindless chickens. Time to fund a kinder, Gentler retirement spot. For the meanwhile Laureles is by far a much better choice but it is quickly becoming a clone of Poblado. Too much noise and bars, just easier to traverse.
El Poblado is overpriced gringolandia with Parque Lleras and Provenza overrun by gringos in shorts. Choose El Poblado if you want the comforts of home like Starbucks, Burger King and McDonalds and more gringos. Choose Laureles of you want more of a local Colombian experience and a neighborhood that is very walkable.
I lived a short while in El Poblado but quickly got tired of the traffic and hills. I moved to Laureles where it is much more walkable and a much cheaper place to live.
I felt trapped in money pit Poblado. Filled with nuevo rich snobs. I much prefer being here among more down to earth types. In the end so many of us expats think we know it all here in Medellin and in Colombia. Come to find out we are guests in a very compliacated culture. It takes a lifetime to really understand this country and this continent. Poblado is not.Colombia. might as well live in los angeles.
Very useful info. Thank you
Very helpful. Are robberies usually in one form or random? For example, targeting people alone on a quiet street with a knife. Are robberies carried out by gangs, like how pick pocket gangs work? If you hand over what the robber wants do you usually come away unscathed? I know the tips about avoid being robbed, just interested to know what to expect if it happens. Thanks.
Hi Charles, thanks. Some thieves target people alone on a quiet street. I have talked to several expats that were victims of robberies on quiet streets. Also, sometimes robberies happen by two on a motorcycle that pull up next to a car or taxi at a stop or someone on the street. That’s why they sometimes ban passengers on motos. Also, some thieves are opportunistic such as seeing a foreigner brandishing a smartphone or expensive camera – I have talked to several expats that have experienced their cell phones being stolen and two that had expensive cameras stolen in El Centro when they had them out taking photos of tourist spots.
Pickpocketing and purse snatching is common in some public places, particularly at events and on the metro during rush-hour. Distraction is frequently the strategy, so be alert and keep an eye on your belongings. Also, be aware of your surroundings when using your cellphone, as cellphones are the most commonly stolen items in the city.
If you hand over what a thief wants you greatly reduce your risk of injury. Never resist if you are a robbery victim. Many homicide victims in Medellín resisted robberies. It’s not worth risking your life for some money and/or possessions. Don’t try to be a hero.
See our safety tips in this popular article – https://medellinguru.com/medellin-security-safety-tips/
The apartments in El Poblado have some breathtaking views and as soon as you begin the ascent up from the valley floor the temperature cools down considerably to something clean and refreshing. At night at a roof-top gathering the sparkling urban views produce a feeling that is spectacular. If you live in Medellin and are retired like me you can pick your days and times to go there. I wouldn’t want to live there but it ain’t nearly so bad once you clock the place. It’s a shame though, that the criticisms listed here are spot on.
I set myself up in Laureles instead. It’s just big enough, walkable enough and lots cheaper especially for an unfurnished apartment and there are some nice mountain views once you get up near Nutibara Ave. Beneath the surface there is an unmistakable international flavor that is not immediately apparent; different types of residents and visitors from abroad.
Geoffrey, great comment, thanks.. We are in the process of retiring to Laureles and your insights validated our feel of this beautiful place too. The last point you made about the international diversity was a bit of a new awareness for us, but spot on in our opinion. On our trips here we met lots of friendly Colombian resident, but also French, UK, US, Spanish, German, Japanese and Australian nationals. The building we are buying in has us (US) and one resident from the UK, everyone else is Colombian. Perfecto pensamos! 🙂
Plus, like you said, a short cab hop to Poblado and everything one can enjoy there.
Nice article. El Poblado gets all they hype but its expensive for Medellin and too hilly and has way too much traffic. I wanted to experience more of a local Colombian living experience so looked in other neighborhoods. I also don’t like Parque Lleras in Poblado with all the drugs and working girls.
I looked in Laureles and liked it and I looked in Envigado as well. But I decided to live in Sabaneta where it is even cheaper than Laureles and Envigado. Also, it’s only a 10 minute metro ride from Sabaneta station to Poblado station. So, it’s easy to get Poblado when I want to go to a restaurant there.
Cheaper, flatter and less congested in Laureles. Always liked Laureles. If I had to live in the Aburra Valley again it would be Envigado, Sabaneta and the Laureles…in that order
The traffic in Poblado has turned that section of town into an absolute nightmare. Medellin never was built for this population explosion and has made getting around there during business hours to be a complete nightmare. It took me 30 minutes to travel 3 blocks in a taxi last week. Laureles is less congested. In my opinion Poblado has seen its day and I would not live there under any circumstances unless i never had to leave my apartment during normal daytime hours.
who in their right mind sits in a taxi for 30 mins when they can just walk the 3 blocks? lol
I have a heart conditon. Is that a good reason mr. Lol. With gringos like you here we are in big trouble.
You get a pass Ron!