Your First 30 Days in Medellín as a Remote Worker: A Week-by-Week Plan

The first month in a new city sets the tone for everything after it. Get the basics right, and Medellín feels like home by week four. Rush into a long lease or skip the setup, and you spend your second month fixing problems.

This is a practical, week-by-week plan for remote workers arriving in Medellín. It assumes you have booked a short first stay and want to settle into a monthly home and a sustainable work routine within about 30 days. Move faster or slower as you like. The order is what matters.

Before you land

• Check entry rules for your passport with Migración Colombia, and know how long you are allowed to stay.
• Book a flexible first base for two to three weeks in the neighborhood you are most curious about.
• Bring at least two cards from different banks, and tell your banks you are traveling.
• Arrange international health insurance that covers you in Colombia from day one.
• Download a ride app, a map app with offline maps, a translation app and WhatsApp.
• Save digital copies of your passport and key documents in a secure cloud folder.

New to the city entirely? Start with our Medellín digital nomad starter guide for the big picture on neighborhoods, costs and safety.

Week 1: land, connect and get your bearings

Get a local SIM or eSIM

A Colombian number makes life much easier: WhatsApp with landlords and businesses, verification codes and mobile data as an internet backup. You can buy a SIM at carrier stores and many malls. Registration rules for foreign phones and numbers can change, so ask the store what you need to bring, and keep your passport with you.

Set up your money

Withdraw some pesos from a bank ATM, confirm your cards work, and always choose to be charged in COP. Our money and banking guide covers ATM fees, dynamic currency conversion and how to pay landlords.

Test your work setup

Run a speed test at different times of day in your apartment, and do a real video call. Find two backup work spots nearby, a café and a coworking space, before you need them.

Walk your neighborhood

Locate the nearest supermarket, pharmacy, ATM, gym and clinic. Notice how the streets feel at different times. Note which areas feel quiet and which are loud at night.

Week 2: work, health and the housing search

Trial coworking

Use day passes at two or three coworking spaces. Pay attention to internet reliability, call booths, air conditioning or ventilation, noise, opening hours and, honestly, whether you like the people. Coworking is also the fastest way to meet other remote workers.

Sort your health coverage

Confirm your insurance covers outpatient visits, emergencies and hospital stays in Colombia, and find out how claims work. Locate a clinic near you. If you plan to apply for a visa, check that your policy meets Cancillería's coverage requirements. Our visa guide explains what to look for.

Start viewing monthly rentals

By now you know which neighborhoods you like. Start looking for a monthly furnished apartment there. Our sister site Rent Medellín specializes in helping foreigners find housing, from neighborhood guides to lease advice and scam checks.

Week 3: move from short-term to monthly

This is the big transition. Moving from a short first stay into a monthly home usually cuts your housing cost per month and gives you stability.

1. Verify before paying. Confirm the landlord's identity and right to rent, and never pay a deposit for a place you or someone you trust has not seen.
2. Get terms in writing. Price, dates, what is included, deposit, how rent is paid, notice period and what happens if something breaks.
3. Coordinate the move. Many buildings require advance notice to the building administration for move-ins. Ask the landlord to handle registration with the front desk.
4. Document the apartment. Take photos and video of every room and any existing damage on move-in day, and share them with the landlord.
5. Re-test the internet. On day one, before your next important call.

Week 4: build a routine that sticks

Spanish

Even a few hours a week makes a huge difference. Options include language schools, private tutors, conversation exchanges and online classes with Colombian teachers. Set a fixed schedule, and practice with your building staff, shopkeepers and neighbors.

Movement and health

Join a gym, a running group, a climbing wall or a dance class. Medellín's hills and mild climate make walking a pleasure, and many neighborhoods have parks and car-free Sunday routes.

Community

Go to coworking events, language exchanges and meetups. Make a point of building local friendships too, which is where the city really opens up.

Work rhythm

Colombia stays on UTC−5 all year, so your overlap with home may shift when your home country changes its clocks. Block your deep-work hours, plan your call hours, and leave time for the life you moved here for.

Small things that make daily life easier

• Learn the address system. Medellín addresses use numbered calles and carreras. Once you understand them, finding places and giving directions to drivers becomes simple.
• Use delivery apps. Groceries, pharmacy items and meals can all be delivered, which helps on busy work days or rainy afternoons.
• Find a lavandería (laundry service). Many apartments have a washer but no dryer, and drying clothes takes longer in the rainy months.
• Keep small bills and coins. Shops and taxis often cannot break large notes.
• Know the holiday calendar. Colombia has many public holidays, often moved to Mondays, and banks and offices close on them. Plan errands around long weekends.

None of these are big on their own. Together they are the difference between feeling like a visitor and feeling at home.

Paperwork to plan in month one

• Visa. If you plan to stay beyond your permitted tourist stay, start the process early. See our digital nomad visa guide.
• Tax. Start a day log now. Spending more than 183 days in Colombia within any 365 days can make you a tax resident. Read when a nomad becomes a Colombian tax resident.
• Documents. Keep your passport safe and carry a copy day to day, unless an official asks for the original.

When things go wrong

Something will go sideways eventually: a phone snatched, a landlord dispute, a lost passport, a medical bill you do not understand, a bureaucratic appointment entirely in Spanish. Plan for it before it happens.

• Save Colombia's emergency number, 123, and your embassy's contact details.
• Keep a list of your insurer's emergency line and nearby clinics.
• Know who you would call for practical help on the ground. Medellín Fixer helps foreigners with exactly these situations, from translations and appointments to sorting out problems with landlords or services.

Thinking of staying, or starting something?

Many remote workers who stay past their first month start building local ties: a side project, a partner's business, or clients in the city. If you end up working with a local business that needs a proper website, WebMedellín builds bilingual sites for Medellín businesses.

Whatever you need, from housing to a guide or a fixer, tell us what you need and we will point you to someone on the ground.

Frequently asked questions

Should I book a long-term apartment before arriving in Medellín?

Usually not. Book a flexible first stay of two to three weeks, explore neighborhoods in person, then sign for a monthly place once you know where you want to live and have verified the landlord and internet.

How do I get a SIM card in Medellín?

Carrier stores and many malls sell SIM cards. Registration rules for foreign numbers and phones can change, so bring your passport and ask the store what is required.

Is coworking necessary in Medellín?

Not necessary, but useful. Coworking spaces offer reliable internet backups, call booths and an easy way to meet people. Try day passes first before committing to a membership.

Do I need health insurance as a remote worker in Medellín?

It is strongly recommended, and if you apply for the digital nomad visa it is required, with specific coverage. Make sure your policy covers emergencies and hospital stays in Colombia.

Who can help if something goes wrong in Medellín?

For emergencies, call 123. For practical problems such as landlord disputes, lost documents or appointments in Spanish, a local fixer can help. Your embassy can assist with lost passports.