Living in Laureles: Real Guide to Medellín's Most Beloved Neighborhood

If you're thinking about moving to Medellín, Laureles has probably already shown up on your radar. It's the neighborhood that expats "discover" after a few weeks in El Poblado and where many end up moving for better prices, a quieter vibe, and a neighborhood life that barely exists anywhere else in the city.

But you also have to be honest: Laureles isn't for everyone. It has real tradeoffs — sub-zones that are very different from each other, longer commutes to El Poblado than what Google Maps says during rush hour, and prices that have gone up significantly over the last two years due to the wave of digital nomads and returning Colombians looking for better options.

This guide tells you what you're actually going to find: real prices by sub-zone, what security is like (without exaggerating or sugarcoating), mobility, how to compare it with El Poblado, and how to decide which side of Laureles works best for your lifestyle. No salesman telling you everything is perfect.

Why is Laureles so popular?

Laureles was built in the 1940s and 1950s as a planned neighborhood with tree-lined streets, parks every few blocks, and low-rise buildings. That urban design — which in Medellín it only shares with El Prado — is what makes walking through Laureles a pleasure. The trees provide real shade (useful with 28°C year-round), there are wide sidewalks, and most blocks are residential buildings of 4-6 stories, not 30-story towers like in El Poblado.

The second reason: prices. For equal quality and square footage, Laureles is 25% to 40% cheaper than El Poblado. And the third: the vibe. There are cafés, bars, and restaurants — but also longtime residents shopping at the corner store, kids playing in parks on Saturday mornings, neighbors saying hello. That's increasingly hard to find in areas that turned into tourist districts.

Real rental and sale prices in Laureles

Prices change quickly, but these ranges are representative of what you'll find today in actual listings (and they help you negotiate):

1-bedroom furnished apartment: from $2,200,000 to $3,800,000/month. The lower range corresponds to areas like Bolivariana or sub-zone 33; the higher range is Primer Parque and around La 70.

2-bedroom furnished apartment: $2,800,000 to $5,500,000/month. For furnished add administration ($250,000-$500,000) and utilities ($200,000-$400,000 depending on air conditioning use).

3-bedroom furnished apartment: $4,200,000 to $8,000,000/month. For families. This segment went up significantly with the arrival of nomadic families and returning residents.

Unfurnished: subtract approximately 30-40% from the previous ranges. Minimum 12-month contracts.

Sale: average apartment in Laureles is between $5,500,000 and $9,000,000 per m². Houses (increasingly rare because they were demolished to build apartments) between $700M and $2,000M depending on location and lot.

For complete context with prices from all major neighborhoods, check our guide to rental prices in Medellín by neighborhood.

Laureles sub-zones and how to choose

Laureles is big. People talk about "Laureles" as if it were a single neighborhood, but it has at least 5 very distinct sub-zones. Knowing which one works for you is the difference between loving and hating living there.

Primer Parque and surroundings

The epicenter. Tree-lined streets, newer buildings, specialty cafés on every corner. It's the zone with the most demand from digital nomads and the most expensive. If you work remote and want to walk everywhere, this is it. Downside: on weekends the area fills with tourists and Airbnbs occupy many buildings — sometimes you get a different neighbor every 3 days.

Segundo Parque

More residential, quieter, prices 10-15% below Primer Parque. Good option if you prioritize peace over café life. Local families live here. There are fewer tourist restaurants but more bakeries, butcher shops, and neighborhood stores that function.

La 70 (avenue)

Laureles' party street. Bars, nightclubs, street food on weekends. If you like going out, being 2-3 blocks from La 70 is convenient. If you want to sleep on Saturday at 11 PM, don't. Apartments on La 70 itself are the cheapest in Laureles but also the noisiest.

Santa Teresita

The traditional heart of Laureles, with its namesake church as a reference point. More Colombian, less touristy. Old buildings but with charm. It's the zone that most resembles "how Laureles was before foreigners." Prices generally lower than Primer Parque.

Bolivariana and sub-zone 33

Technically not always included as "Laureles" (they fall in the neighboring district) but in practice they're where you buy Laureles at the best price. Bolivariana got the Pontificia Bolivariana University (hence the name), so it's full of students and cheap restaurants. Sub-zone 33 (33rd street) is on the edge next to the Stadium — very well connected by metro and more economical.

Safety in Laureles: the honest truth

Laureles is one of the safest neighborhoods in Medellín. You can walk during the day without worry, and at night in the main zones (Primer Parque, Segundo Parque, Santa Teresita) people walk calmly until 11 PM or midnight.

That said: it's not Switzerland. Cell phone theft in restaurants and patios exists — don't leave your phone on the table facing the street. Motorcycle passenger robberies (mugging from a bike) can happen on avenues — avoid walking distracted with your phone on Avenida Nutibara or the neighborhood edges during rush hours.

The La 70 area during late-night weekend hours concentrates fights between drunk people — it's not assault, but it's noise and occasional street drama. If you plan to be there after 2 AM, better by taxi than walking.

Police presence is visible and responsive compared to other districts. The patrol zones work. Most foreign residents I've met in Laureles have never been victims of anything worse than losing a phone through carelessness.

Mobility: how to get around from Laureles

Here's one of the important tradeoffs vs El Poblado:

• To El Poblado (Parque Lleras, Provenza): 20-35 minutes by Uber depending on time of day. During rush hour (7-9 AM and 5:30-7 PM) it can be more.
• To José María Córdova Airport (JMC): 45-60 minutes by Uber. Closer than from El Poblado.
• To Olaya Herrera Airport (domestic): 10-15 minutes. Very close.
• To downtown Medellín: 15-20 minutes by metro (Estadio or Floresta Station).
• Within Laureles: everything is walkable. The neighborhood measures approximately 2 km x 1.5 km. From any point to another you walk in 15-25 min.

Having a car in Laureles is useful but not mandatory. Many residents get by with Uber/DiDi and the metro, especially if they avoid frequent trips to El Poblado.

Cafés, restaurants and services

Laureles is full of specialty cafés — many with good internet for remote work. Pergamino, Café Zeppelin, Rituales, Hija Mía, Catación Pública and dozens more. For updated lists with tested internet check our

best cafés for remote work in Medellín.

Restaurants: everything from traditional bandeja paisa to ramen, sushi, Neapolitan pizza, Venezuelan, Peruvian, vegan food. Few options for very formal dinner (for that you go to El Poblado) but plenty of casual variety.

Supermarkets: Éxito, Carulla, Jumbo and D1 within the neighborhood. Fruit and vegetable markets in the plazas.

Laureles or El Poblado: how to decide

Choose Laureles if:

• You value neighborhood vibe over tourist zone.
• You want to walk everywhere in your daily life.
• You prefer 4-8 story buildings over tall towers.
• You want to pay 25-40% less for the same square footage.
• You don't need to be in El Poblado coworking office every day.

Choose El Poblado if:

• You work in a physical office in the business district.
• Your social life depends on Parque Lleras/Provenza and you want to walk to the bars.
• You prefer buildings with more amenities (gym, pool, rooftop).
• You move around by taxi/Uber more than walking.

For many nomads and returnees the pattern is: start in El Poblado because it feels "safe" when arriving, discover Laureles after 2-3 months, and move. Taking a tour of both before signing a 12-month contract saves you that learning curve.

How to find your apartment in Laureles

On Colombia Move you can see direct listings from owners in Laureles with no intermediaries. Search for apartments in Medellín on the platform filtering by neighborhood. If you're a property owner, you can also post your property for free without paying commissions.

For the most complete version of the rental process in Colombia (documents, policies, how to avoid scams), our complete guide on how to find an apartment in Colombia covers the basics step by step.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ How much does it cost to rent an apartment in Laureles/?

A furnished 1-bedroom apartment ranges from $2,200,000 to $3,800,000/month depending on sub-zone and quality. A 2-bedroom: $2,800,000 to $5,500,000. Add administration and utilities (approximately $500,000-$800,000 more). Unfurnished prices drop 30-40% but require a minimum 12-month contract.

❓ Is Laureles safe to live in?

Yes, it's one of the safest neighborhoods in Medellín. Visible police presence, well-lit streets, pedestrian life. Normal precautions apply: don't leave your phone exposed in restaurants, don't walk distracted on perimeter avenues during peak hours, avoid La 70 walking after 2 AM on weekends.

❓ What's the best sub-zone of Laureles for a foreigner?

It depends. For first time and social life, Primer Parque. For peace and price, Segundo Parque or Santa Teresita. For tight budget, Bolivariana or sub-zone 33. If you value Colombian authenticity over café life, Santa Teresita wins.

❓ Do I have to speak Spanish to live in Laureles?

It helps a lot, but it's not essential in Primer Parque and around — there are enough foreigners and bilingual baristas. In Santa Teresita and Bolivariana it's very useful. For paperwork (rental, utilities, banks) you need at least basic Spanish or someone to help you.

❓ How long does it take to go from Laureles to El Poblado?

By Uber: 20-35 minutes depending on time of day. Rush hour (7-9 AM and 5:30-7 PM) can exceed 40 min. By metro: you have to transfer, takes 30-40 min total. Many Laureles residents go to El Poblado only 1-2 times a week to not depend on the commute.

Do you live in Laureles or are you thinking about moving/? Leave us a comment below with your experience or question — we answer everything. If this guide helped you, share it with someone looking for where to live in Medellín.