medellin
Medellín vs Cartagena for Expats: The Honest Comparison
Mountains or beach? Medellín and Cartagena are Colombia’s top expat cities but couldn’t be more different. Here’s the honest cost, weather, lifestyle, and safety comparison.
Expat Guide
Practical guides for expats living in Colombia — from getting your visa and opening a bank account to finding an apartment and navigating healthcare.
48 guides
medellin
10 Best Day Trips From Medellín (Ranked by a Local)
Guatapé, Jardín, Río Claro, and 7 more incredible escapes within 1–3 hours of Medellín. Real costs, how to get there, and which ones are worth an overnight.
Expat Life
Tipping in Colombia: When, How Much, and Who to Tip
Colombia’s tipping culture is different from the US. Here’s exactly when to tip, how much, and the one phrase you need to know: propina voluntaria.
Expat Life
How to Set Up Utilities in Colombia: Electricity, Water, Internet & Phone
Everything you need to set up electricity, water, gas, internet, and phone in Colombia. Providers, costs by estrato, and how the bill payment system works.
medellin
Medellín Metro & Transport Guide: How to Get Around Like a Local
The complete guide to Medellín’s Metro, Metrocable, trams, buses, and ride-hailing apps. How to pay, what it costs, and the tips locals know.
Expat Life
Colombian Slang: 50+ Words & Phrases Every Expat Needs to Know
Parce, bacano, chimba, rumba — Colombian Spanish is full of slang that no textbook teaches. Here are 50+ essential words and phrases every expat needs, with pronunciations and real examples.
Travel Tips
What to Pack for Colombia: The Only Packing List You Need
After living in Colombia, here’s exactly what I’d pack — and what I’d leave behind. The essential packing list for expats, digital nomads, and travelers heading to Colombia in 2026.
banking
How to Convert USD to Colombian Pesos (Nearly Free) Using Kraken & ARQ
Stop losing 3–5% on every dollar you convert. I use Kraken to buy USDC and ARQ (formerly DolarApp) to convert to pesos at the real rate — total cost: about $2–5 per $2,000 transfer.
Travel Tips
How to Rent a Car in Colombia: Why I Use Localiza (And You Should Too)
Localiza is 30–50% cheaper than Hertz, Budget, and Sixt in Colombia, with 63 locations and a full app experience. Here’s my complete guide to renting a car as a foreigner.
banking
How I Track My Credit in Colombia as a Foreigner Using MiDataCrédito
Your home country credit score is worthless in Colombia. Here’s how I use MiDataCrédito to track my credit, build my score with a cédula de extranjería, and why every expat should subscribe.
housing
How to Use Facebook Marketplace to Find Cheap Rentals in Colombia
Skip Airbnb and save 50–70% on rent in Colombia. Here's exactly how to use Facebook Marketplace to find apartments at local prices, negotiate with landlords, and avoid scams.
colombia
Best Health Insurance in Colombia 2026: EPS vs Prepagada Compared (With Real Costs)
EPS vs Prepagada in Colombia — which health insurance is right for expats? Sura, Colsanitas, and Compensar compared with real costs, coverage, wait times, and how to sign up in 2026.