Laureles-Estadio is popular neighborhood for foreigners living in the city or visiting, and we look at the pros and cons for expats living in Laureles.
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.
In addition, we previously made a guide of Laureles and compared El Poblado vs Laureles, in which Laureles came out ahead by winning more categories.
Laureles-Estadio Neighborhood Information
Laureles is primarily a residential neighborhood. Laureles-Estadio is known as Comuna 11, with 15 barrios (neighborhoods).
The first unfurnished apartment I rented in Medellín was located in Estadio near the stadium. Laureles-Estadio is primarily an estrato 4 and 5 neighborhood, with about 99 percent of the homes rated as estrato 4 or 5.
Population: +123,000
Best Barrios: Estadio, Florida Nueva, Laureles, Suramericana.
Best Shopping: Unicentro
To Rent: for a comfortable two-bedroom unfurnished apartment in Laureles-Estadio, you would pay an average of about 2,485.648 pesos per month ($620 aproximately).
To Buy: Laureles-Estadio only had one new apartment project listed in the October 2023 Informe Inmobiliario property magazine. New apartments in Laureles-Estadio generally cost from 7.6 million ($1,900) per square meter.
Existing apartments and casas in Laureles-Estadio tend to sell starting at 4.1 million pesos per square meter.
Pros and Cons of Laureles
No neighborhood is perfect and every neighborhood has pros and cons. We look at 10 pros and cons of living in Laureles-Estado (5 pros and 5 cons).
1. Pros: Walkability and Bike-ability
Laureles-Estadio is flat in comparison to El Pobaldo making it much more walkable than El Poblado. This is one of the reasons some expats choose to live in Laureles.
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 bikes 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.
2. Pros: Restaurants
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 the best restaurants in Laureles.
The following is our list of 20 of the best restaurants in Laureles.
- Barbaro Cocina Primitiva
- Delirio Exquisito
- Ammazza Pizzeria & Gin Garden
- El Correo Carne y Vino y Amada
- La Pampa
- Romero Cocina Artesanal
- Pizzeria Olivia
- Voraz Restaurante
- Crepes & Waffles
- Saludpan
- Caduff Pasta Fresca
- Bigotes
- Chef Burger
- Café Cliché
- Barbacoa Burger & Beer
- Grill Station Burger
- Lo Exquisito del Mar
- Chilaquiles
- Opera Pizzeria & Restaurante
- Mondongo’s
3. Pros: Nightlife
Laureles-Estadio has popular nightlife options that are more local Colombian 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.
But you will find fewer nightlife options in Laureles compared to El Poblado, which has Parque Lleras, which is the top nightlife district in Medellín with many bars and nightclubs located in the streets around Parque Lleras.
4. Pros: Costs are Lower Than in El Poblado
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 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 six years
Also, 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.
5. Pros: Sports
Laureles-Estadio is home of Estadio Atanasio Giradot, which is the stadium where Atlético Nacional and Independiente Medellin play fútbol matches. Also, near the stadium is a huge sports complex that has an Olympic size pool; basketball, volleyball, and tennis courts; velodrome and many other sports arenas.
So, if you are into sports, you will find many sports venues in Laureles.
6. Cons: Safety
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
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.
The robbery statistics above demonstrate that both El Poblado and Laureles are not really two of the safest neighborhoods, as they have some of the highest robbery rates in the metro area. Clearly thieves are targeting two of the wealthiest neighborhoods.
Also, I was personally robbed at knifepoint in Laureles. So, take care if you decide to live in Laureles. There are many streets in Laureles that are not busy. Keep in mind it’s safer in groups or taking a taxi. And if walking alone at night, stick to well-lit streets where there are plenty of people.
Street crime is possible everywhere in Medellín. Laureles has been touted by some as one of the safest parts of the city. But robbery statistics have been increasing in Laureles. This is likely due to criminals targeting one of the wealthier areas of Medellín.
7. Cons: Shopping
Laureles-Estadio only has the smaller and older Unicentro mall, with about 270 shops, and the even smaller Viva Laureles mall with 90 shops. Unicentro Mall originally opened in November 1991
There are much larger malls in the Medellín metro area found in El Poblado, Envigado, and Sabaneta. For example, Envigado has the Viva Envigado mall, which is the largest mall in Colombia. Sabaneta has Mayorca mall with over 400 shops.
9. Cons: Many Apartment Buildings Don’t Have Elevators
In Laureles-Estadio, you will find much fewer high-rise apartment buildings than El Poblado, Evigado, or Sabaneta. You can find some high-rise apartment buildings in Laureles-Estadio, but there are not as many as in El Poblado, Envigado, or Sabaneta.
Many of the apartment buildings in Larueles-Estadio are 2- to 5-story buildings, and many of these buildings don’t have elevators.
For example, when I lived in Laureles-Estadio many years ago, I lived on the fourth floor, which was the top floor of the apartment building, but there was no elevator.
Eventually, I got tired of lugging groceries up the stairs and decided to move to a high-rise in Belén with an elevator.
9. Cons: Fewer Apartments With a 24X7 Porteria
Since many of the apartment buildings in Laureles are small 2- to 5-story buildings, many of these apartment buildings don’t have 24X7 porterias. Some buildings have daytime porterias and some do not.
10. Cons: Public Transportation
Laureles-Estadio has three Medellín metro stations: Floresta, Estadio, and Suramericana stations on Line B.
However, many apartments and casas (houses) in Laureles-Estadio are located a relatively long way from these metro stations, in many cases a 15- to 30-minute walk.
So, from many apartments and casas in Laureles-Estadio, it can be a long walk or a short bus or taxi ride to a metro station.
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: Pros and Cons of Laureles – A Popular Neighborhood for Expats in Medellín
Laureles is experiencing more foreigners moving there due to better walkability and lower costs than El Poblado. However, no neighborhood is perfect, and we looked at the pros and cons of Laureles in this article.
Laureles is not quite as posh as Poblado but the area around Nutibara Avenida feels plenty posh. We expect that Laureles will continue to be popular with some foreigners looking for an alternative to El Poblado.
Everybody has their own unique neighborhood requirements and tastes. There isn’t a “one size fits all” answer. Best to spend time in several neighborhoods to find the one that is right for you.
I lived in El Poblado (2 months), Laureles/Estadio (1 year), Belén (4.5 years), and Sabaneta (3+ years). Each neighborhood has its pros and cons.
Editors note: updated on November 15, 2021 with updates to several sections.
Editors note: updated on October 20th, 2023, with new images, prices, and statistical data.
6 thoughts on “Pros and Cons of Laureles: A Popular Neighborhood for Expats in Medellín”
Update on La Pampa Argentinian restaurant at First Park:
It has reopened. Whew! When it was closed the nighttime and daytime sleepers moved right in. We’re inching back to the point where the economic pressure is beginning to ease up a bit on those in precarious circumstances.
Once again this shows how important it is to see for one’s self the different living environments of Medellín and not count on personal preferences exposed in Facebook forums. El Poblado is the best for me, but it’s status and cost has grown as the first favored neighborhood by foreigners ( and with good reason). As prices went up, Laureles, which has its own favorable points attracted an increased number of foreigners and prices have gone up in the past five years. Now it’s Envigado and Sabaneta attracting foreigners, and this is demonstrated by the strong increase in high rise buildings, as they slowly start looking like El Poblado, and prices are rising, as their past more rural charm is disappearing completely. So, Medellín has something for everyone, but it’s more important than ever to not count on older Facebook posts, or personal preferences and priorities of strangers to focus on areas to live, but take the time and trouble to come down and check things out in person.
The La Pampa on the corner of the First Park is permanently closed, unfortunately. The smaller one transversal 39 just north of the Second Park is still open. I would definitely add La Causa, Puerto Inka, and Mistura to the list of top restaurants. Not a restaurant exactly, but arguably the best desserts in town is La Miguerita on Calle 35. Grab something to take home.
Personally I’ve never felt unsafe walking through Laureles however I usually don’t walk alone after 9 pm or so, I’m never drunk, and I avoid using my cellphone on the streets — especially at night.
Thanks we updated our La Pampa article with to remove the La Pampa located at the Primer Parque in Laureles, which is closed. See – https://medellinguru.com/la-pampa/
Todd,
The dessert place that you mention is called La Migueria you added a ” T” to the name. They have a good selection of desserts as well as pastries that differ from the typical fried colombian assortments found everywhere.
Lincoln, Thanks! I am a bilingually bad speller.