Working Remotely in Medellín: The No-Bullshit Guide for 2025

• 💻 Your company doesn’t want you secretly logging in from Medellín. Negotiate or switch jobs instead of hiding behind a VPN.

• 🌎 Visas and taxes are the trapdoors that send most expats packing. Understand the 183-day rule.

• 📡 Internet sucks when you need it most. Two ISPs or a backup hotspot are mandatory.

• 🏡 Don’t sign long-term leases until you’ve lived here for a month. Vacation Medellín is not everyday Medellín.

• ⚡ Medellín rewards discipline. Party mode kills careers. Build structure or you’ll burn out.

Now that Feria de Flores is in the rear view mirror, I want to talk about something very important. I'll take a break from talking about sex tourism and dating, to talk about something helpful for those looking to either move here or looking to switch/get a new remote gig.

Why Medellín Appeals to Remote Workers

Medellín sells the dream: eternal spring weather, cheaper rent, rooftop cafés with mountain views. Instagram influencers package it as the digital nomad’s paradise. The reality? More than 40% of foreigners don’t last a year. Medellín is not Bali, and it’s not a permanent vacation. If you’re serious about working remotely here, you need to get your setup and expectations right.

Keep Your Job Remote; The Smart Way

Most companies don’t allow international remote work. “Fully remote” usually means within your home country. If you sneak around with a VPN, IT will catch you. Slack updates time zones, Google tracks logins, and HR notices IP changes.

• Play it straight. Check your company’s policy and negotiate.

• Offer value: “I’ll work East Coast hours,” or “I’ll cover LATAM clients.”

• Get agreements in writing. Never rely on verbal promises.

If your company refuses, start looking for a true remote-first job before buying that ticket.

The VPN Problem

The most common expat mistake? Thinking you’re smarter than IT. VPNs get flagged, connections lag, and one wrong login reveals your real location. If you must, use a dedicated residential IP or proxy server, but understand it’s still risky.

Internet Setup That Won’t Fail You

Your paycheck depends on a stable connection. One ISP is never enough in Medellín. Rainstorms, outages, and random failures are normal.

• Primary ISP: Movistar Fiber (fast, reliable).

• Backup: SOMOS or Tigo with a prepaid hotspot.

• Emergency option: coworking passes at Selina or WeWork.

Two ISPs = survival.

Visas and Taxes

Forget border-hopping. Immigration tracks entries, DIAN cross-checks SIM cards, Airbnb, and even food delivery orders. Overstay or cross the 183-day mark and you’re in tax-resident territory.

• Digital Nomad Visa: 1 year, renewable, requires ~$3,000/month income.

• Tax trap: Over 183 days? You owe Colombian taxes on global income.

• U.S. citizens: Still taxed at home, but FEIE can save you up to ~$120k of income.

Don’t wing it. Talk to a real tax attorney before committing.

The “Try Before You Buy” Rule

Never move here off a vacation high. Vacation Medellín is not everyday Medellín. Spend at least one full month living as a remote worker before signing a lease or selling your car back home. I have to say, and I will die on this hill, Medellin isn't for everyone, and it's better to find out before you've invested too much to uproot your life and move here.

• Week 1: Everything feels magical.

• Week 3: You notice noise, bureaucracy, and long lines.

• By the end: You’ll know if you’re cut out for Medellín or not.

Work/Life Balance in Medellín

Discipline matters. Medellín distracts you with good weather, cheap food, and endless excuses. Without structure, you’ll sink.

• Set fixed work hours.

• Batch errands (banks, groceries, SIM cards).

• Build routines around exercise and Spanish lessons.

This city rewards those who find the balance, the sooner you find it, the better your life will be.

Remote Job Resources

Don’t waste time on scammy job boards. The best for remote workers in Medellín:

• We Work Remotely (tech, marketing, customer support).

• Remote OK (aggregator, filter by salary).

• Dynamite Jobs (startup-focused).

• FlexJobs (paid but vetted).

• Upwork/Toptal for freelancers.

Filter aggressively. 90% of listings are trash.

Final Word

Medellín can be incredible for remote work, but only if you plan. Get the right visa, stay tax-compliant, and build a serious work structure. Test the city for a month before committing, and don’t buy into the fantasy that Medellín is your shortcut to easy living.

👉 Want the full breakdown on visas, taxes, job boards, VPNs, and internet setups? Check out our Guide to Remote Work in Medellín. It's 100 pages of unfiltered advice that will save you thousands in mistakes, I know because I made them all and don't want you to make the same mistakes I made.