Best Cities to Live in Colombia

Best Cities to Live in Colombia

Best Cities to Live in Colombia: Hola! Colombia is a magnificent place and has had centuries of history, culture and aesthetics that make it a shining gem among the countries in the world. If you wish to single out where to live in the country, then this article is for you. Some general facts about Colombia before we begin. Colombia is an equatorial country in the north part of South America. It is bordered by Venezuela and Ecuador as well as Peru and Panama. The country was under Spanish occupation until its independence in the early 19th century. Today, Colombia is known for its world class coffee exports and also for its artists like Shakira and Gabriel Garcia Marquez. This is an article that will explore fifteen cities in Colombia that we consider to be the best ones to live in..

We have formulated this article in a systematic way, exploring each city one by one and providing what we think is relevant information under subheadings. Each section follows a more or less similar pattern. We will first detail some general information about the city and then move on to a section devoted to exploring the intricacies of climate in the region. Then we shall explore the cost of living. Finally, as an added bonus, we will close off each section with a short note regarding the history of the city. Once we have explored every city on the list individually, we will move on to another section of factors to consider before living and try to place the cities there accordingly. Our objective is to provide relevant information that will be helpful to you in determining where to live in Colombia. This list by no means is complete, but we have done as much as we could to shortlist what we think are the best cities to live in Colombia. You would be surprised to know how much different each city is from the other, and that choosing where to live can be a rather difficult choice. What we hope to do here is give you enough information about each of them so that you are able to make an informed choice. Very well then, without further ado, let us begin exploring this list of the best cities to live in Colombia.

Bogotá

Bogota, or Santa Fe de Bogota, as it was called from 1991 to 2000, is the capital of the country of Colombia. It is located in the center of the country atop a plateau which is called the Bogota Savannah. If you enjoy living in a cool climate, Bogota might just be the place for you as it is one of the highest cities by elevation in South America. Bogota is an extremely important cultural center for Colombia as it has the most number of centers for research and universities in the country. The city ranked 52nd on the Global Cities Index in 2014. It is also considered to be an Alpha type Global City by the Globalisation and World Cities Research Network. 

Climate of Bogota

The climate of Bogota, as mentioned rather briefly above, is cool and temperate almost all year round. Speaking with more detail, Bogota has what is called a subtropical highland climate. The range of temperature is between 5 to 20 degrees Celsius for the entire year. The city experiences dry and rainy seasons alternately with an average temperature of 14.5 degrees. The sunny days can be anywhere from 6 to 19 degrees while the rainy ones vary from 10 to 18 degrees. March is the warmest month for Bogota while January may be considered the coolest. If you live in Bogota then you should be expecting fog on most early mornings throughout your year while finding that sunny days will clear skies all day long are quite a rare sight.

Just some more information to cap this section off: April, May, September, October and November are the rainiest months while December, January, July and August are the driest. Fun fact, both the maximum and minimum temperatures recorded in Bogota have been recorded in the Guaymaral Airport. (30 degrees and -7.1 degrees respectively).

Cost of Living in Bogota

Amenities	Cost	Range	Additional Details
Housing (Within City center)	1336156 Col$	1000k-2000k	One Bedroom
Housing (Outside City center)	1001126 Col$	650k-1800k	One Bedroom
Housing (Within City center)	2289611 Col$	1600k-4000k	Three Bedroom
Housing (Outside City center)	1878536 Col$	1100k-3000k	Three Bedroom
Transportation	–	2400 – 133535	Bus Tickets, Monthly Pass, Taxi rates (Start, 1km, 1 hour waiting)
Gasoline	2512 Col$	–	–
Utilities	305986 Col$	176k-500k	Basic
Internet	103k Col$	75k-150k	60 Mbps
Restaurants	–	2000 – 25000	Basic meals, beer, water, soft drinks.
Market Produce	–	2000 – 30000	Milk, bread, eggs, starches, cheese, meat, groceries, cigarettes, wine.
Clothing	–	90k – 350k	Jeans, dresses, shoes etc.

History of Bogota

The Spanish Conquistador Gonzalo Jimenez de Quesada founded the city of Bogota in 1538 as the capital of the New Kingdom of Granada. The name of the settlement was however changed to Santafe in 1540 by the Spanish Crown. The Spanish Royal Audiencia had Bogota as its seat till 1717 after which it became the capital of the Viceroyalty of New Granada. The Battle of Boyaca in 1819 saw Bogota become the capital of a new independent state called Gran Colombia. Fun fact, the revolutionary Simon Bolivar was the one who renamed the city to Bogota following the battle for twofold reasons: honouring the indigenous Muisca population as well as attempting to cement the new nation’s emancipation from the Spanish crown. The city has since been known as Bogota and has served as the capital of Colombia.

Santa Marta

Santa Marta is the capital of the Magdalena department in Colombia and the fourth largest urban establishment in the Caribbean region of the country. A bay of the name Santa Marta is proximal to the city and is an extremely popular tourist destination in Colombia. The city is around 992 kms from Bogota and 93 kms from Barranquilla. The municipalities of Aracataca and Cienaga lie to the south of Santa Marta.

Climate of Santa Marta

Santa Marta experiences a tropical savanna climate in general with little fluctuations in temperatures all year round. There are two seasons of note in a Santa Marta year: the dry season from December to April and the wet season, lasting from May to November. The average temperature all throughout the year is around 27 to 29 degrees Celsius. If one wants to talk about the hottest and coldest months of Santa Marta, they would find it difficult to do so. The highest and lowest temperatures recorded for all months of the year all center around the same value. The highest temperatures may be anywhere in the later thirties on the Celsius scale while the lowest ones cluster around 17 degrees. Prepare yourself for a sudden change with respect to rain in May. The average rain in the month of April is 14.1 mm which hikes up to 55.4 mm in May. The rainy season then continues till November with 63.5 mm that dries up to 15.2 mm in December.

Cost of Living in Santa Marta

Amenities	Cost	Range	Additional Details
Housing (Within City center)	1275397 Col$	826k-1600k	One Bedroom
Housing (Outside City center)	1390756 Col$	1239k-1487k	One Bedroom
Housing (Within City center)	2599406 Col$	2200k-3098k	Three Bedroom
Housing (Outside City center)	1639287 Col$	1032k-2685k	Three Bedroom
Transportation	–	1900k – 100000k	Bus Tickets, Monthly Pass, Taxi rates (Start, 1km, 1 hour waiting)
Gasoline	2306 Col$	–	–
Utilities	192357 Col$	450k-500k	Basic
Internet	113k Col$	150k-300k	60 Mbps
Restaurants	–	1800 – 76000	Basic meals, beer, water, soft drinks.
Market Produce	–	2500 – 25000	Milk, bread, eggs, starches, cheese, meat, groceries, cigarettes, wine.
Clothing	–	50k – 350k	Jeans, dresses, shoes etc.

History of Santa Marta

Santa Marta was the first Spanish settlement in Colombia and is its oldest surviving city. It was founded by Rodrigo de Bastidas in 1525. Little is known about the people living in the area before colonial times. This is due to negligent record keeping and the destruction of what was kept due to torrential weather and a harshly fluctuating climate. The Tayrona people who lived here are the source of most information regarding the city’s history. They were master agriculturalists who also produced pottery, gold and silver work and well as architectural masterpieces. The artifacts left by them such as ruins and materials are the reason why many tourists flock to Santa Marta every year. Santa Marta, due to its location and accessibility, was an important gateway city for the Spanish. The conquistador Jimenez de Quesada started his journey to found Bogota from Santa Marta. 

Cali

Cali, also known as Santiago de Cali, is the capital of the Valle del Cauca department of Colombia. It is one of the most populous cities in Colombia, ranking third in the country and first in the southwest region of Colombia. Cali is quite a large city, covering over 500 square kilometres with over 100 square kilometres of urban landed area. It is the second largest city in the country, along with being a major center for arts, economy, tourism and sports. Cali is one of the most, or rather, the most important city center in south Colombia as it is the only major city with a port in the Pacific ocean. You might have heard about the city if you are a major watcher of tv series. A fictionalised series depicts the exploits of the drug cartels in Colombia, one of which, the Cali cartel, is based in the city. As such, the city has seen its share of violence and bloodshed and has rightly earned the moniker for being one of the most dangerous cities in the world. Keep on reading this article for more information on Cali and other best cities to live in Colombia.

Climate of Cali

The apt term for Cali’s climate is a ‘dry summer tropical savanna’ climate. Its proximity to the equator results in no real fluctuations in temperatures all year round. The lowest temperatures are never below 13 degrees in any given month. The highest temperatures are never above 37 degrees. Cali receives a rather fair amount of rainfall in the year, with July and August being the relatively driest months. Even so, the average rainfall for these months is still upwards of 30 mm. The city experiences alternating spells of dry and rainy seasons, with April being the month with the most precipitation. March and May, along with October and November are the months with the highest levels of rain. 

Another interesting aspect about Cali is the fact that the north part of the city is around 2000 metres lower than the southern part. This results in the northwest portion of the city to be relatively drier than the southwest. 

Cost of Living in Cali

Amenities	Cost	Range	Additional Details
Housing (Within City center)	585k Col$	400k-900k	One Bedroom
Housing (Outside City center)	616666 Col$	400k-800k	One Bedroom
Housing (Within City center)	1315384 Col$	850k-1500k	Three Bedroom
Housing (Outside City center)	1150000 Col$	900k-2000k	Three Bedroom
Transportation	–	2000 – 100000	Bus Tickets, Monthly Pass, Taxi rates (Start, 1km, 1 hour waiting)
Gasoline	2402 Col$	–	–
Utilities	183690 Col$	150k-300k	Basic
Internet	102k Col$	58k-150k	60 Mbps
Restaurants	–	2000 – 72000	Basic meals, beer, water, soft drinks.
Market Produce	–	2000 – 25000	Milk, bread, eggs, starches, cheese, meat, groceries, cigarettes, wine.
Clothing	–	100k – 350k	Jeans, dresses, shoes etc.

History of

Like most other Colombian or Latin American cities, Cali has experienced a colonial history and was home to indigenious populations that came into conflict with the Spanish invaders who eventually prevailed. The resources that are bountiful all over the country were the reason why Spanish invaders took such a keen interest in Colombian land. Sebastian de Belalcazar, a Spanish conquistador and explorer, founded the city of Cali as Santiago de Cali in 1536. The original location of the city was a few kilometres north of what it is now, with the towns Vijes and Riofrio in close proximity. The city’s location was changed in 1537, a year after its founding. 

In 1810, after some centuries under Spanish influence, the city of Cali formed a junta that refused to accept the authority of Spain’s Council of Regency. This was a local uprising that predates the national uprising that stared in Bogota by around 17 days. Royalist rule, however, was restored in 1816 by Pablo Morillo, also known as the ‘Pacificador’. By 1822, Cali was completely independent due to the efforts of Simon Bolivar. 

In modern times, Cali has transformed into a rather important town for the country of Colombia and has become a major center for sports, hosting the Pan American Games, after which it was named the ‘sports capital of Colombia’.

Medellín

Medellin is the second largest city in Colombia, right after Bogota. It is located in the Aburra valley and is Antioquia’s capital. Medellin is home to over 2 million people, and over 3 million when you also take into account the nine other cities in the metropolitan area of Medellin. Medellin has grown consistently throughout the 20th and 21st centuries, so much so that it was chosen by the Urban Land Institute as the ‘most innovative city’ in the world in February 2013. It also won the Veronica Rudge Urbanism Award by Harvard University in the same year. The sustainable urban growth that Medellin is a shining example of has led it to definitely become one of the best places to live in Colombia or otherwise. Medellin is a major tourist destination and is considered to be a type Gamma global city by the GaWC (Globalisation and World Cities Research Network). The city also has a rather flourishing economy, contributing to almost 11% of Colombia’s GDP. It is a major center of education, economics and culture; with a number of world class universities, commerce and industrial enterprises and art festivals. Living in Medellin can definitely be an enriching experience, so it made the cut on our list of the best cities to live in Colombia. Through the valley in which Medellin lies flows the Medellin river. Northwards from the valley you may find the towns Bello, Copacabana, Girardota and Barbosa. To the south find Itagui, Envigado, Sabaneta, La Estrella and Caldas. 

Climate of Medellin

The climate of Medellin is a trade wind tropical rainforest climate, however, this might not be an apt term for it as the city is significantly cooler than this moniker would suggest. Medellin’s location is a staggering 1500 metres above sea level, and therefore its proximity to the equator does not translate into the high heat as other cities on the same latitude. The level of precipitation in the city is quite high, and therefore humidity remains at significant levels all year long. Boasting a rather constant temperature all year round, the average heat in Medellin is 22 degrees Celsius. The highest and lowest temperatures are around 36 and 17 degrees respectively. Medellin is aptly named the ‘City of the Eternal Spring’ or ‘La Ciudad de la Eterna Primavera’. 

Cost of Living in Medellin

Amenities	Cost	Range	Additional Details
Housing (Within City center)	1266913 Col$	750k-2065k	One Bedroom
Housing (Outside City center)	857309 Col$	600k-1200k	One Bedroom
Housing (Within City center)	1732188 Col$	1200k-2500k	Three Bedroom
Housing (Outside City center)	1485637 Col$	1000k-2200k	Three Bedroom
Transportation	–	1300 – 95000	Bus Tickets, Monthly Pass, Taxi rates (Start, 1km, 1 hour waiting)
Gasoline	2563 Col$	–	–
Utilities	200282 Col$	150k-280k	Basic
Internet	131k Col$	75k-206k	60 Mbps
Restaurants	–	2000 – 85000	Basic meals, beer, water, soft drinks.
Market Produce	–	2000 – 36000	Milk, bread, eggs, starches, cheese, meat, groceries, cigarettes, wine.
Clothing	–	70k – 350k	Jeans, dresses, shoes etc.

History of Medellin

Medellin was founded as a settlement in the Aburra valley which was named by the Spanish as the ‘Valley of Saint Bartholomew’. In 1616, Francisco de Herrera y Campuzano founded a settlement named Poblado de San Lorenzo. In the next hundred years, populations grew and development occurred due to agricultural production and gold mines in the northeast. People from the nearby provincial capital of Santa Fe de Antioquia began migrating into the Aburra valley and eventually a council for self government was established. The city witnessed continued growth throughout the Spanish Colonial period and was ushered into an industrial revolution by the 20th century. Earlier, gold was the main economic material to be produced and exported from the valley, but coffee overtook it eventually as the major produce. Colombia’s reputation for producing the best of coffee in the world is significantly due to coffee production in Medellin.   

Pereira

Pereira is an Andean city in the Coffee Axis of Colombia. It forms a part of the “Coffee Cultural Landscape of Colombia” which is an UNESCO World Heritage site. Pereira is the most populous city in the Coffee Axis and forms the Central West Metropolitan Area along with the cities Dosquebradas and La Virginia. Pereira is a very important city for Colombia, being a part (or rather the center) of the Golden Triangle composed of the other cities of Bogota, Medellin, and Cali. This results in Pereira being an important center for arts, culture and commerce. The city is named for the lawyer Francisco Pereira Martinez who was involved in the struggle for independence for a city in the region. 

Climate of Pereira

The overall climate of Pereira fluctuates between different ranges throughout the year. Also, even within the city one can experience a difference in temperatures as the elevation of the city is not the same at all points. For example, regions near the river Cauca having elevation in the range of 900 to 1250 metres, the temperatures can extend upto 28 degrees. However, consider the Julita area whose forest cover and elevation of around 1500 metres render it to be one of the coldest areas in the city. As such, Pereira features significant ranges in flora and fauna due to its diverse climate. The average temperature of the city is 22 degrees Celsius. The highest and lowest temperatures in the city have been recorded in the ranges of 37 to 10 degrees on the Celsius scale. Pereira, as compared to other cities and regions in the country, experiences significant amounts of rainfall. The lowest average rainfall can be experienced in the month of August which is upwards of 125 mm. July, August, January and February are the months with the lowest rain. All other months experience significant rainfall upwards of 200 mm, with October and November being the most rainy of them all.

Cost of Living in Pereira

Amenities	Cost	Range	Additional Details
Housing (Within City center)	566666 Col$	400k-900k	One Bedroom
Housing (Outside City center)	433333 Col$	300k-500k	One Bedroom
Housing (Within City center)	1033333 Col$	800k-1400k	Three Bedroom
Housing (Outside City center)	966666 Col$	700k-1500k	Three Bedroom
Transportation	–	2000 – 93000	Bus Tickets, Monthly Pass, Taxi rates (Start, 1km, 1 hour waiting)
Gasoline	2154 Col$	–	–
Utilities	183690 Col$	56k-280k	Basic
Internet	102k Col$	40k-150k	60 Mbps
Restaurants	–	5000 – 135000	Basic meals, beer, water, soft drinks.
Market Produce	–	2000 – 25000	Milk, bread, eggs, starches, cheese, meat, groceries, cigarettes, wine.
Clothing	–	80k – 300k	Jeans, dresses, shoes etc.

History of Pereira

The region that Pereira is based in was occupied by Quimbaya and Pijao cultures before Spanish colonialism. The city of Carthage was founded in this region but was abandoned in 1691. Incidentally, a group of around 20 Antioqueno families built a settlement on the ruins of the Spanish populaces. The city later became Pereira when it was revived in 1863 by Remigo Antonio Canarte and Jesus Maria Ormaza Nino. The settlement was called Carthage for almost six years after which it was renamed to be called Villa de Pereira. Pereira was the city in which the last Colombian execution took place, and as such this place has an important place in the history of Colombia. In 1920, Antioquian settlers moved to the city and established a thriving enterprise of coffee production. The struggle between the Conservatives and Liberals in Colombia has deeply affected the country at every step and Pereira occupies a special place in the conflict as it became the hub of refugee influx after which its community became a melting pot of the nation. In recent times, Pereira has grown into a city with large scale urban development, leading to a boom in the economic and cultural production of the region.

Barranquilla

Located in the northernmost department of Colombia, Barranquilla is the capital of the Atlantico department. It is an important port city for Colombia and is the largest of the north part of the country. The Magdalena river flows around the city and as such it strategically makes use of its location as a Caribbean port city. It also is an important center for travelling inwards into the country through its river network. Together with the cities Soledad, Galapa, Malambo and Puerto Colombia, Barranquilla forms the Metropolitan Area of Barranquilla, an area with the population of more than two million residents. The carnival of Barranquilla has been recognised by the UNESCO and Colombian Congress itself as a National Cultural Heritage. The importance of Barranquilla as a major port city of Colombia can be ascertained by the fact that the first airport of South America: the Ernesto Cortissoz International Airport was established in Barranquilla in 1919. 

Climate in Barranquilla

Barranquilla (one of the Best Cities to Live in Colombia) has a tropical savanna climate. The city remains quite hot and humid throughout the year. The average temperature of the city remains around 28 degrees with the maximum and minimum extremes in temperature being close to 40 and 15 degrees respectively. The rainy seasons in Baranquilla happen in two legs: April to June and August to November. As compared to other Colombian cities discussed in this article, Barranquilla receives significantly less rainfall. Even in the months of rain, the most precipitation is around 160 mm (October/September). While the temperature in the daytime usually remains around 32 degrees on the Celsius scale, the existence of trade winds blowing in the latter part of the year cool it down significantly. The rainy season makes some of the city streets prone to flooding because of the lack of proper drainage. 

Cost of Living in Barranquilla

Amenities	Cost	Range	Additional Details
Housing (Within City center)	778849 Col$	500k-1200k	One Bedroom
Housing (Outside City center)	889464 Col$	650k-1400k	One Bedroom
Housing (Within City center)	1633333 Col$	1300k-2200k	Three Bedroom
Housing (Outside City center)	1595486 Col$	1000k-2500k	Three Bedroom
Transportation	–	2000 – 150000	Bus Tickets, Monthly Pass, Taxi rates (Start, 1km, 1 hour waiting)
Gasoline	2441 Col$	–	–
Utilities	348988 Col$	200k-600k	Basic
Internet	97470k Col$	70k-136k	60 Mbps
Restaurants	–	2000 – 100000	Basic meals, beer, water, soft drinks.
Market Produce	–	2000 – 30000	Milk, bread, eggs, starches, cheese, meat, groceries, cigarettes, wine.
Clothing	–	70k – 350k	Jeans, dresses, shoes etc.

History of Barranquilla

Barranquilla has its history that can be traced back to 1629, however it was officially established as a city in 1813. Being an important port, there was a heavy influx of immigration (mostly during the world wars) and as such it became the most important port city in the country. The development experienced by the city was such that it earned the nickname ‘La Puerta de Oro de Colombia’ which translates to ‘Colombia’s Golden Gate’. Eventual governmental attention to other cities eventually slowed down Barranquilla’s growth. Unlike other Colombian cities, Barranquilla was not founded on a pre colonial site inhabited by some indigenous culture. As Barranquilla does not really occupy an area that is rich in minerals and resources, the Spanish did not maintain a permanent presence there and it was only in the latter half of the 19th century when steamships outlined the importance of Barranquilla. Barranquilla has since maintained a significant trade relationship with the interior of the country. In modern times, Barranquilla hopes to undertake steps to restore its position as a trade, commerce and cultural capital. Efforts include rapid modernization, urban development and infrastructure.

Bucaramanga: Best Cities to Live in Colombia

Located in the interior of the country, Bucaramanga is the capital of the department of Santander. It is also its largest city. Bucaramanga has a rather thriving economy, ranking high on the list of GDPs of cities in Colombia. Other reasons why Bucaramanga is one of the best cities to live in Colombia is the fact that it has the highest GDP per capita in the country along with extremely low unemployment rates. Also, the city is considered to be rather beautiful and is home to over a hundred and fifty parks, earning the moniker ‘La Ciudad de Los Parques’ translating to ‘The City of Parks’ and ‘La Ciudad Bonita de Colombia’ (Colombia’s Beautiful City). The city has witnessed sustained growth in the 20th century with the nearby cities of Floridablanca, Giron and Piedecuesta being considered part of the Bucaramanga Metropolitan Area.

Climate of Bucaramanga

The climate of Bucaramanga is a tropical monsoon climate but relatively cooler. Bucaramanga has quite the pleasant climate with average temperatures always existing in the range of 20 to 30 degrees throughout the year. The location of Bucaramanga is on a plateau in the Andes. The Rio de Oro canyon lies to the west and the Andes mountains to the east. The daytime in the city is significantly cooler compared to other cities due to cold winds from the eastern hills while the night-time temperature is quite warm owing to warm winds from the nearby canyons. The extremes in temperature that have been recorded are 32 degrees and 12 degrees. The city receives a fair amount of rainfall in the year with two rainy seasons which are March to May and September to November. Other months also receive a fair amount of rainfall which is usually upwards of 60 mm per month. 

Cost of Living in Bucaramanga

Amenities	Cost	Range	Additional Details
Housing (Within City center)	638888 Col$	450k-900k	One Bedroom
Housing (Outside City center)	475000 Col$	400k-650k	One Bedroom
Housing (Within City center)	1212500 Col$	900k-1500k	Three Bedroom
Housing (Outside City center)	918750 Col$	750k-1200k	Three Bedroom
Transportation	–	2000 – 131000	Bus Tickets, Monthly Pass, Taxi rates (Start, 1km, 1 hour waiting)
Gasoline	2564 Col$	–	–
Utilities	237500 Col$	150k-425k	Basic
Internet	79444 Col$	50k-120k	60 Mbps
Restaurants	–	2000 – 75000	Basic meals, beer, water, soft drinks.
Market Produce	–	1500 – 25000	Milk, bread, eggs, starches, cheese, meat, groceries, cigarettes, wine.
Clothing	–	60k – 380k	Jeans, dresses, shoes etc.

History of Giron

The town of Giron was the one which was founded by the Spanish during the colonial times. Bucaramanga was insignificant in comparison to it until the early 19th century. Eventually, the city overtook the spot as the major center in the region and later became the capital of the department of Santander. The history of war and civil unrest have had a significant impact on the growth of the city and surrounding metropolitan region which has large areas that are rural. The city has witnessed continued growth in the 20th century, albeit at a slow pace due the effects of ‘the Thousand Days’ War’.

Cartagena

Cartagena is a Caribbean city founded in the colonial era as Cartagena de Indias in 1533. The capital of the Bolivar department, Cartagena has been a rather significant city for Colombia throughout its history. This is due to perhaps the location of the city on the Atlantic/Caribbean coast and it being nestled between the rivers Magdalena and Sinu. The Spaniards used the city as a hub for trade between its Latin American colonies and the Spanish mainland since the 1540s. The city could be well defended against pirate attacks during the golden age of piracy due to its location and was the center for the export of Peruvian silver and the import of African slaves. In modern times, Cartagena has been a major center for economic activities related to the seas such as fishing and oil industries. Consequently, the city’s urban development may be commented upon by the fact that its urban area is the fifth largest in the country. Cartagena’s walled city and fortress were named a UNESCO world heritage site in 1984. There are some points mentioned which provide Cartagena a place in the list of Best Cities to Live in Colombia.

Climate of Cartagena

The climate of Cartagena is very humid. One may refer to it as a tropical wet and dry climate. The rainy season in Cartagena continues from May to September with an average of around 120 mm which significantly increases in the month of October, averaging upto 238 mm of precipitation. Rain in November is fair enough however significantly less than in October which steadily decreases in December and finally begins a dry season in January that continues up till March with rains picking up again in April. The average temperature of the city is around 27 to 28 degrees Celsius. The highest temperatures in the city are around the scale of 40 degrees while the lowest are clustered around 17-18 degrees. The climate in general is hot and windy.

Cost of Living in Cartagena

Amenities	Cost	Range	Additional Details
Housing (Within City center)	2115043 Col$	1500k-3242k	One Bedroom
Housing (Outside City center)	870000 Col$	600k-1800k	One Bedroom
Housing (Within City center)	3450000 Col$	2500k-5000k	Three Bedroom
Housing (Outside City center)	2000000 Col$	1200k-3300k	Three Bedroom
Transportation	–	2500 – 200000	Bus Tickets, Monthly Pass, Taxi rates (Start, 1km, 1 hour waiting)
Gasoline	2504 Col$	–	–
Utilities	465050 Col$	340k-708k	Basic
Internet	108k Col$	80k-150k	60 Mbps
Restaurants	–	2000 – 25000	Basic meals, beer, water, soft drinks.
Market Produce	–	2000 – 80000	Milk, bread, eggs, starches, cheese, meat, groceries, cigarettes, wine.
Clothing	–	50k – 500k	Jeans, dresses, shoes etc.

History of Cartagena

The site of Cartagena has been a significant location for the growth of culture since around 4000 BC. As such, before the Spanish occupation, indigenious people populated the area and engaged in activities such as ceramic pottery, hunting and fishing. Until 1500, the area continued to be inhabited by local American cultures. Pedro de Heredia founded the city of Cartagena on June 1 1533 in the location that was previously called Calamari. The title of city or ‘ciudad’ was given to Cartagena by King Philip II in 1574. Cartagena has had a history of attacks by pirates and privateers, more so before it was transformed into an almost impenetrable fortress by Francisco de Murga. Cartagena was under Spanish influence for almost three centuries. In the time after independence, a siege that was undertaken vis a vis the city significantly slowed down its economy and it suffered further disinterest from Bogota. Other factors that led to its decline were the cholera epidemic and the rise of Baranquilla as a competing port city. Eventually, the introduction of railroads in the city allowed it rise in the modern era. 

Pasto

The capital of the department of Narino, Pasto, or San Juan de Pasto is located in south Colombia, in the Atriz Valley in close proximity of the Galeras volcano. The city is located at an elevation of the range of 2500 to 2700 metres. Some parts of the city even exceed the elevation of 3000 metres. Pasto is known to trade with nearby Ecuador for which a number of shopping and trade centers have been opened in the city. The urban areas of the city are dedicated to industry while the rural areas are mostly engaged in farming and cattle ranching as well as mining. Most of the health centers of the department of Narino are located in Pasto, making the city a major center for human development for the entire region. Along with tourism and festivals, Pasto is also a major center for education, with a number of universities in the city and surrounding regions. The cool climate, the spectacular views and tourist destinations make Pasto an ideal place if you want to live in one of the best cities in Colombia. 

Climate of Pasto

The climate of Pasto can be referred to as a warm summer Mediterranean type with a wet season in the southern hemisphere. Its high altitude results in its high temperature ranges of only 15 to 18 degrees even though it is really close to the equator. The average low temperature is between 9 and 11 degrees with a daily mean of 12 to 13 degrees. The record high temperatures are around 25 degrees and the record lows are quite near 0 degrees. The average rainfall over the year is around 800 mm. The months with the most rainfall are October, November, December, March and April; with all having rainfall upwards of 80 mm. November is the most rainy month of them all. Relatively, the months with the least rainfall are July and August. 

Cost of Living in Pasto

Amenities	Cost	Range	Additional Details
Housing (Within City center)	600000 Col$	600k-600k	One Bedroom
Housing (Outside City center)	400000 Col$	400k-400k	One Bedroom
Housing (Within City center)	1250000 Col$	1200k-1300k	Three Bedroom
Housing (Outside City center)	800000 Col$	800k-800k	Three Bedroom
Transportation	–	1600 – 25000	Bus Tickets, Monthly Pass, Taxi rates (Start, 1km, 1 hour waiting)
Gasoline	1981 Col$	–	–
Utilities	192357 Col$	89k-287k	Basic
Internet	85000k Col$	50k-150k	60 Mbps
Restaurants	–	2000 – 30000	Basic meals, beer, water, soft drinks.
Market Produce	–	2000 – 25000	Milk, bread, eggs, starches, cheese, meat, groceries, cigarettes, wine.
Clothing	–	50k – 250k	Jeans, dresses, shoes etc.

History of Pasto City

The name Pasto comes from the indigenious population that inhabited the region when the Spanish arrived. It was founded in 1537 by the Spanish conquistador Sebastian de Belalcazar and moved to its current location by another Spanish explorer Lorenzo de Aldana. An interesting fact regarding the history of Pasto is that it remained a royalist entity during the war for independence. As such, it resulted in Pasto’s alienation from the rest of the country after independence. Pasto has also been a religious and cultural capital for Colombia ever since the Spanish Inquisition, hence being bestowed the moniker of the ‘theological city of Colombia’. 

Neiva

The capital of the department of Huila, Neiva is a city in southern Colombia and one of the Best Cities to Live in Colombia. The Magdalena river flows through the region of south central Colombia in whose valley Neiva is located. This city is extremely important to the country due to its location which is of strategic importance. The economic importance of Neiva to Colombia lies in the fact that it is a distribution center for many goods that are vital to a consumer based economy. It also holds an annual agricultural fair in the month of May that showcases goods such as pork, horses, cattle etc from nearby municipalities and towns. The city is also home to a number of ruins and monuments that can be found all over the city. In recent times, the city administration has founded a sanctuary to protect its cultural heritage and the river Magdalena from pollution and contamination. Around this protected area are parks and gardens that are major attractions for tourists and locals alike. The city is also an important center for education, with the Universidad Surcolombiana being one of the most important centers of education. 

Climate in Neiva

Neiva has what is called a dry summer tropical savanna climate. Its proximity to the equator along with its low altitude result in a rather hot climate all throughout the year. The average daytime temperature of Neiva is around 30 degrees. The highest temperatures recorded exist in the range of 32-33 degrees Celsius while the lowest cluster around 22 degrees. Neiva experiences a relatively dry season from June to August and an extremely wet season in October and November with rainfall upwards of 200 mm. Other months from December to April also experience significant rainfall in the range of 120-150 mm. 

Cost of Living in Neiva (living cost in the Best Cities to Live in Colombia)

Amenities	Cost	Range	Additional Details
Housing (Within City center)	450000 Col$	–	One Bedroom
Housing (Outside City center)	350000 Col$	–	One Bedroom
Housing (Within City center)	700000 Col$	–	Three Bedroom
Housing (Outside City center)	600000 Col$	–	Three Bedroom
Transportation	–	2000 – 30000	Bus Tickets, Monthly Pass, Taxi rates (Start, 1km, 1 hour waiting)
Gasoline	2512 Col$	–	–
Utilities	180000 Col$	56k-200k	Basic
Internet	85k Col$	40k-120k	60 Mbps
Restaurants	–	2000 – 60000	Basic meals, beer, water, soft drinks.
Market Produce	–	2000 – 30000	Milk, bread, eggs, starches, cheese, meat, groceries, cigarettes, wine.
Clothing	–	85k – 250k	Jeans, dresses, shoes etc.

History of Neiva

Neiva has had a history of relocation since its founding. At first, it was founded in 1539 by Juan de Cabrera in the municipality of Campoalegre. It was relocated to a new location (the municipality of Villavieja) after 11 years. However, just after 10 years of the settlement’s existence, it was attacked and destroyed by indigenous tribes in 1560. In 1612, Diego de Ospina y Medinilla founded the city for the final time in its current location. Neiva is located upon a trade route between Peru and Bogota and Caracas. As such, the city has always been of vital strategic and economic importance  and was eventually declared the capital of the province of Neiva. The creation of the Huila department after its severance from Tolima rendered Neiva to be the capital in 1905. 

Florencia

Located in south west Colombia, Florencia is the capital of the department of Caqueta. The city is built around the Orteguaza river that eventually flows into the Caqueta river. The city may be considered to be the boundary between the mountains and the Amazon river. 

Climate of Florencia

The climate of Florencia has a tropical rainforest climate with it experiencing quite a large amount of rainfall throughout the year. January is the driest month and still it experiences rainfall above 100 mm. In comparison, June is the wettest month of the year, experiencing over 500 mm of rainfall. With the exception of February and December, which receive around 190 and 150 mm of rain respectively, all the other months of the year are known to have rain in the range of 270 to 500 mm. Temperature wise, the average heat experienced in the city is 19.2 degrees Celsius. The average of the highest temperatures recorded is around 32 degrees. The lowest average is around 20 degrees. 

History of Florencia

Florencia was founded in 1902 by Capuchin Friar Doroteo de Pupiales. As compared to other cities discussed in this article, Florencia does not have a colonial history as it is a relatively new city. Even so, the hundred years of Florencia’s history have made it one of the most important cities in southwest Colombia. 

Manizales: Best Cities to Live in Colombia

The capital of the department of Caldas, Manizales is a city in central Colombia and considered as the Best Cities to Live in Colombia. It lies very close to the Nevado del Ruiz Volcano, and as such its volcanic soil facilitates the production of impeccable Colombian coffee. It is also an extremely important hub in Colombia for higher education. The city has a rather abrupt geography, resulting in steep slopes and ridges. The area is also prone to earthquakes and as such architecture in the city has required special attention and directives to make it safer. The importance of Manizales lies in the fact that even though it is prone to natural threats such as earthquakes, tremors and volcanic eruptions, the area of the city comes under the Colombian Coffee Growers Axis. There are a number of plantations in the abrupt topography of Manizales owing to its excellent soil. Consequently, the city is a hub for the production of the best Colombian coffee.

Climate in Manizales

Manizales has a subtropical highland climate. The topography of Manizales is rather uneven and as such lower elevations experience a change in climate that may be called Equatorial. Geographically, the city is located in the tropics but still does not experience extreme temperatures. Its high altitude is a factor in its spring like temperatures all year round. There are two seasons of note in the city: namely the wet and dry seasons that last three months each and alternate throughout the year. Like most cities in Colombia, Manizales experiences significant rainfall, upwards of 1400 mm per year. The month with the most rain is October while July and August are relatively the driest months. The highest temperatures recorded in the city range from 28 to 32 degrees Celsius. The lowest temperatures recorded are around 1 to 2 degrees. The average temperature mean ranges from 15-20 degrees. 

Cost of Living in Manizales

Amenities	Cost	Range	Additional Details
Housing (Within City center)	675000 Col$	500k-900k	One Bedroom
Housing (Outside City center)	581250 Col$	450k-900k	One Bedroom
Housing (Within City center)	1000000 Col$	800k-1200k	Three Bedroom
Housing (Outside City center)	810000 Col$	600k-2500k	Three Bedroom
Transportation	–	2000 – 123000	Bus Tickets, Monthly Pass, Taxi rates (Start, 1km, 1 hour waiting)
Gasoline	2514 Col$	–	–
Utilities	247398 Col$	136k-531k	Basic
Internet	117k Col$	70k-250k	60 Mbps
Restaurants	–	2000 – 60000	Basic meals, beer, water, soft drinks.
Market Produce	–	2000 – 25000	Milk, bread, eggs, starches, cheese, meat, groceries, cigarettes, wine.
Clothing	–	80k – 260k	Jeans, dresses, shoes etc.

History of Manizales

The history of Manizales began on October 12, 1849. It was founded by ‘the expedition of the 20’, a group of 20 Antioquians who originated from Salamina and Neira. The population of the city, erstwhile homogeneously white, later became mixed as the universities in the region attracted migrants and settlers. 

Riohacha

Riohacha (Best Cities to Live in Colombia), or Rio de la Hacha (River of the Axe) is the capital of the La Guajira department. It is located in northern Colombia, by the Rancheria river alongside the Caribbean sea. The city is named after a local legend: “the legend of the axe”. If you have been a reader of the books by Colombian writer Gabriel Garcia Marquez, then you would be familiar with the city as it is a name that crops up quite a bit. 

Climate of Riohacha

Riohacha features a semi arid climate due to the rain shadow cast by the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta. The record high temperatures can reach up to 40 degrees while the record low is never below 16 degrees. Receiving scanty rainfall in the months of January, February and March, the total rainfall in the year is around 500 to 600 mm. Most of the rainfall occurs from August to November and some in May and June. Temperatures remain high all year round in general so it is quite a boon that Riohacha is home to a sandy beach waterfront.

History of Riohacha

The area that is presently occupied by Riohacha was once inhabited by the Wayuu people. Spanish influence began with the first sightings of the area by Alonso de Ojeda in 1498. Juan de la Cose, another Spanish explorer landed in the Cabo de la Vela some time after Alonso de Ojeda. In 1535, a German explorer by the name of Nikolaus Federman founded Nuestra Senora Santa Maria de los Remedios de la Vela (Our Lady Saint Mary of the Remedies of the Cape of the Sail) in Cabo de la Vela. Riohacha has always been a hotspot for pirate activity as there could be found a large number of pearls in the region near it. Due to continued pirate attacks, the city was moved to a new location that allowed it some years of peace. However, attacks began again and during the attack by Sir Francis Drake in 1569 the city was destroyed and pillaged for gold and other treasures. By the 18th century, the Viceroyalty of New Granada incorporated Riohacha as a part of Santa Marta. Riohacha played a major role in the battles for independence from Spain. In 1954, Riohacha became a municipality and became the capital of La Guajira. In the latter half of the 20th century, Riohacha witnessed a rise as an important commercial maritime port city. 

Valledupar: One of the Top Best Cities to Live in Colombia

Valledupar is the capital of the department of Cesar in northeastern Colombia. The location of Valledupar is nestled between the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta and the Serrania del Perija bordered by the Guatapuri and Cesar rivers. The city plays host to the Vallenato Legend Festival and is known for its vallenato music. The city is an important center for a lot of commercial and agricultural activities: cattle raising, agriculture and coal mining to name a few.

Climate in Valledupar

Named the hottest place in Colombia in 2013 by the Colombian Meteorological Institute, Valledupar has record high temperatures in the range of 39 to 42 degrees in all months. The topography of the city is divided into mountainous and plain regions that experience different ranges of climate due to location. The region is prone to hail storms and thunder during the rainy season with snows at the mountain peaks. Rain makes water bodies grow larger that reduce in size and volume in the dry season. It is also hit by the annual Caribbean hurricane cycle, although slightly. With the exception of December, January and February, Valledupar experiences significant rainfall throughout the year, amounting to around 1200 mm in the year. The lowest temperatures recorded are in the range of 16 to 17 degrees.  This is the major factor that may list this city in the list of the Best Cities to Live in Colombia.

Cost of Living in Valledupar

Amenities	Cost	Range	Additional Details
Housing (Within City center)	716369 Col$	400k-1032k	One Bedroom
Housing (Outside City center)	743572 Col$	–	One Bedroom
Housing (Within City center)	1569764 Col$	–	Three Bedroom
Housing (Outside City center)	1156668 Col$	–	Three Bedroom
Transportation	–	1300 – 157000	Bus Tickets, Monthly Pass, Taxi rates (Start, 1km, 1 hour waiting)
Gasoline	2441 Col$	–	–
Utilities	456905 Col$	200k-537k	Basic
Internet	150k Col$	70k-150k	60 Mbps
Restaurants	–	2000 – 70000	Basic meals, beer, water, soft drinks.
Market Produce	–	2000 – 30000	Milk, bread, eggs, starches, cheese, meat, groceries, cigarettes, wine.
Clothing	–	50k – 350k	Jeans, dresses, shoes etc.

History of Valledupar

Named after a local legendary figure, Upar, Valledupar means ‘the valley of upar’. First explored by Pedro de Badillo. The city was founded by a Spanish Conquistador Hernando de Santana. Valledupar’s importance lies in the fact that it has been an import hub since colonial times. The city received a lot of immigration during the world wars.

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Popayán: One of the Best Cities to Live in Colombia

The capital of the department of Cauca, Popayan is a city located in southwestern Colombia in the Western Mountain Range and the Central Mountain Range. Popayan is known for its colonial architecture and is called the “white city” due to the colour of most of its colonial buildings in the center of the city. Popayan has contributed significantly to the cultural and political terrain of Colombia. Seventeen Colombian presidents have been from Popayan, along with many other composers, writers and artists. Also known as the “university city”, Popayan is home to the University of Cauca, one of Colombia’s premier institutions. Popayan has always been a significantly important town for Colombia because of its location between the important towns of Lima, Quito, and Cartagena. It was known to produce coins in the colonial period owing to the large number of gold and silver mines in the region.

Climate of Popayan

Popayan features a subtropical highland climate but can also be referred to by the tag of equatorial type climate. The fact that Popayan exists in the northern hemisphere, Mediterranean characteristics can be observed in its climate as summer is quite drier than the winter. The record high temperatures exist in the range of 29 to 30 degrees while the record lows are in the range of 6-7 degrees. The driest months are June, July and August receiving 50 to 80 mm of rainfall. November is the month with the most rain, with 338 mm of rain. All the remaining months experience rainfall in the range of 180 to 250 mm.  

Cost of Living in Popayan

The cost of living in Popayan, Colombia has been discussed in this section of this article. While there are an indefinite number of items that can be discussed, we will only take a look at some of the essential monthly costs of living if one plans to live in Popayan.

Amenities	Cost	Range	Additional Details
Housing (Within City center)	462500 Col$	400k-900k	One Bedroom
Housing (Outside City center)	340000 Col$	300k-800k	One Bedroom
Housing (Within City center)	949262 Col$	800k-1100k	Three Bedroom
Housing (Outside City center)	827158 Col$	700k-1000k	Three Bedroom
Transportation	–	2000 – 25000	Bus Tickets, Monthly Pass, Taxi rates (Start, 1km, 1 hour waiting)
Gasoline	3170 Col$	–	–
Utilities	192357 Col$	89k-287k	Basic
Internet	113k Col$	80k-150k	60 Mbps
Restaurants	–	2000 – 25000	Basic meals, beer, water, soft drinks.
Market Produce	–	2000 – 25000	Milk, bread, eggs, starches, cheese, meat, groceries, cigarettes, wine.
Clothing	–	70k – 250k	Jeans, dresses, shoes etc.

Living in Popayan

Living in Popayan (one of the Best Cities to Live in Colombia) can be really exciting. The city is a major center for arts, commerce and education. If you are someone who is looking for places of interest, Popayan might just be the city for you. Here are some of the places in the city that might be relevant to your choice of living here:

• El Morro del Tulcan: An ancient pyramid.
• Francisco Jose de Caldas Auditorium
• Caldas Park
• University of Cauca
• Clock Tower
• Humilladero Bridge: A bridge connecting the north to the south of the city.
• Calibio: A country house that was the site of a major battle for independence.
• Churches
  • San Francisco
  • Santo Domingo
  • San Agustin
  • La Ermita
  • Catedral Basilica Nuestra Senora de la Asunción
  • San Jose
  • Belen Chapel
• Museums
  • House Museum Mosquera
  • Archdiocesan Museum of Religious Art
  • National Museum Guillermo Valencia
  • Natural History Museum

Popayan is also a great location for exploring arts and culture. Festivals continue to occur in the city all year round and the city is especially well known for its music. Popayan is also a great city to live in if you want to minimize your cost of living. It is also a great place to live in if you want to avoid tourist crowds. The city has minimal tourism.

Amenities/ Cuisine and food in Popayan

Popayan has been classified as a City of Gastronomy by the UNESCO. Its local tradition of cooking is an integral of Spanish as well indigenous elements. This is the most important factor that may list this city in the list of the Best Cities to Live in Colombia. Here is a list of dishes that Popayan is known for, and that you will certainly enjoy if you decide to live in Popayan:

• Carantanta – A dish made in a corn dough pot and fried.
• Pipian Tamales.
• Empanadas de pipian.
• Tortilla soup.
• Sancocho.
• Corn Wraps.
• Pique Chile.
• Peanut Chile.
• Pineapple Chile.
• Tortilla Pie.
• Pambazos.
• Rosquillas.
• Cucas.
• Toley water.

History of Popayan

Not much is known about the Popayan region’s precolonial history. The Spanish conquistador Sebastian de Belalcazar arrived in what was the preexisting settlement of Popayan. The region was administered under the Royal Audience of Quito. The location of Popayan is home to an ancient pre colonial pyramid known as the El Morro del Tulcan that was abandoned before the arrival of the Spanish. Popayan has been affected by earthquakes quite a bit and was almost completely destroyed on March 31 1983. It took over 10 years to rebuild the city and still one can find many ruined spots and empty lots.

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Factors to Consider before Choosing the Best City to Live in Colombia

In this section of the article, we will not explore individual cities (Best Cities to Live in Colombia) but instead place them under subheadings of Factors to Consider. Since we have already explored the cities, we think it is a good way to fit all of it together with the main theme of the article, that is, choosing the best city to live in Colombia. Without further ado, let us begin exploring these factors and the best cities according to them:

Cost of Living in Colombia

In terms of USD, Colombia is a rather cheap place to live in. On average you will spend around $1000 to $3000 USD per month and live comfortably. The cities with the most efficient cost of living factor are Pereira, Popayan and Barranquilla. Conversely, the most expensive cities in Colombia are Medellin, Cartagena and Bogota. The cost of living for Colombian cities has been explored in detail in the list above. 

Climate in Best Cities to Live in Colombia

If you’ve read this article carefully, you will find that cities in Colombia feature an extremely wide variety of climates. To broadly divide them into three categories, let’s work with hot, cold/cool and moderate. Cities like Barranquilla, Santa Marta, Cali, and Cartagena are extremely hot. Bogota and Bucaramanga are windy and rainy. Pereira and Medellin have moderate and spring-like temperatures. For more information regarding each individual city’s climate quotient, refer to the article above.

Culture in Best Cities to Live in Colombia

Colombia is well known for its cultural output, owing to its rich history. Every area in Colombia will feature an aspect of the diversity here, so different cities will have different stuff to offer. In general, cities like Cali and Barranquilla feature celebrations that may be considered more vibrant and engaging than that of cities like Bogota and Bucaramanga.

Tourism in Colombia

In recent years, there has been a significant increase in tourism in Colombia. Before, the level of tourism was quite less due to Colombia’s reputation as a dangerous country. There are a lot of factors in play when it comes to choosing the best city to live in based on tourism. Remember, we want to figure out what is the best city to live in, not visit! In cities like Bogota, Santa Marta, Cartagena and Medellin, there is a significant amount of tourism. Barranquilla only has tourism in February and March when the Barranquilla festival occurs. There is little to no tourism in cities like Pereira, Manizales, Bucaramanga, Popayan and Cali. There are also some cities where tourism is virtually nonexistent. They are Pasto, Neiva, Florencia and Sincelejo. If you plan on living in cities with low levels of tourism, then your Spanish needs to be really good as there won’t be any people there who speak English. The cities with more tourism will also be more expensive but will also provide higher quality services. We’ve provided you with information regarding tourism in both cases, more and less. If this is a factor for you, then please make use of this information to decide.

Beauty and Aesthetics in Colombia

Two of the most beautiful cities in Colombia are perhaps Medellin and Popayan. Enjoy beautiful greenery in Medellin and be mesmerized by the white colonial architecture of Popayan. If we have to give you names of cities that stand out for being not so great looking, we’d name Barranquilla and Pereira. Somewhere in between is Bogota.

Security in the Best Cities to Live in Colombia

Colombia’s violent reputation precedes it. The safest cities in Colombia are Medellin and Popayan. On the contrary, Cali, Cucuta and Barranquilla are quite dangerous cities to live in. 

Healthcare in Colombia

The cities that are the most developed have the best options in healthcare. Bogota and Medellin are the best cities for healthcare and hospitals in Colombia.

Engagement with Locals

Locals in cities like Bogota and Medellin might be a little intimidating, coming across as arrogant or rude. Cities with cultural aesthetics generally have locals who are more engaging. Examples include Barranquilla and Cali. Cities which are smaller are also known to have respectful and kind locals. Examples: Pasto, Valledupar, Popayan.

Pollution in The Best Cities to Live in Colombia

The cities in Colombia which are the least polluted are Pasto and Pereira. Pasto has good air quality as well as less litter on the streets. Same can be said for Pereira, just that its air quality and litter on the streets are worse compared to Pasto. Popayan also has quite decent levels of air quality. Other cities with decent levels of sanitation on the city streets are Bogota (depending on the neighborhood) and Medellin. As far as air quality is concerned, Bogota is not an ideal place to live in. Same things may be said for cities like Barranquilla and Cucuta.

International Airports Nearby of Colombia

This one is a no brainer. Having international airports nearby would perhaps be a top priority for anyone who comes to live in Colombia from outside. As such, the cities that have an international airport servicing them are Santa Marta, San Andres, Pereira, Leticia, Cartagena, Cali, Medellin, Bogota, Bucaramanga, Barranquilla, Armenia and Cucuta. 

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Taxes in Colombia

Lets keep this one short lest we slip into unnecessary jargon. 

The cities with the lowest tax rates: Popayan, Pasto, Valledupar.

Cities with high tax rates: Bogota. 

Business Opportunities in the Best Cities to Live in Colombia

 Colombia has a fair amount of business opportunities. Most foreigners living in the country tend to work online as the Colombian peso is not that strong of a currency and people generally find that the jobs here aren’t worth it. If one wants to work in large corporations, then cities like Bogota, Medellin and Cartagena are the best places to live in. If you want to start a business, then you will find that markets are already very competitive. Trying to start a business in big cities like Cali and Bogota might be tougher than starting one in smaller regions like Pereira and Popayan. 

Standard of Living in Colombia

Considering educational, healthcare and recreation, the cities with the highest standards of living are Medellin, Popayan, Pereira and Bogota.

Liberal or Conservative in Colombia

Not speaking strictly in a political sense, but rather in terms of a manifest environment. Cities such as Popayan, Pasto, Pereira, Valledupar and Bucaramanga may be considered to be relatively conservative. Choose one of these cities to live in if you prefer a conservative environment. A more liberal environment can be found in cities like Bogota, Cartagena and Medellin.

Conclusion about the Best Cities to Live in Colombia

We hope you enjoyed reading our article on the best cities to live in Colombia. We’ve tried to be as inclusive as we can and hope that we have included relevant and detailed information that will be useful to you while making the important choice of choosing the best city to live in. Let us know in the comments below if you enjoyed reading this article and if you have any suggestions for us regarding our content. Colombia is a beautiful country and is an ideal place to live in many ways. The only problem is deciding where. This is a choice that can be extremely difficult as the cities in Colombia are known for their diverse yet integrating experiences. We hope that reading this article helped you make up your mind. Be sure to brush up on your essential Spanish so that you are able to gel in well with the people of the beautiful country that is Colombia. Till then, adios!