The accommodation business in Medellín: how daily rentals work and what you should know

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Daily rentals in Medellín are not a hotel with a 24-hour front desk or a hostel with bunk beds: it is a full, furnished apartment rented by the night and almost always managed through a digital platform. The practical difference is huge. In a hotel you pay for service and location; in a short-term rental apartment you pay for space, your own kitchen and the possibility of having breakfast at the apartment table in Laureles or working from a balcony in El Poblado. For the owner, it means becoming, de facto, a tourism operator without having the structure of a hotel.

In this verified Malokal guide you will find reference price ranges for October 2026 and how the business works from the inside. Use the interactive cards for each zone on malokal.com to check the safe map by neighborhood (Locals vs. Foreigners), live holiday schedules and book directly via WhatsApp with verified administrators.

There are three models that coexist in the city:

• Full apartment on a platform: the owner lists on Airbnb or OTAs, manages it themselves or hires an administrator. It is the dominant format in El Poblado and Laureles.
• Room inside an inhabited home: the owner lives there and rents out a room. Cheaper for the guest, more control for the owner and less friction with the co-ownership.
• Short-term rental buildings operated by third parties: a professional administrator handles several units in the same building. It is the fastest-growing model and the one that generates the most friction with the horizontal property.

El Poblado

It is the area with the highest demand and also the most saturated. The offer is concentrated in new towers of furnished apartments near Zona T, Provenza and Parque Lleras. The typical guest is a foreigner, stays between five and fifteen nights and values walking to restaurants and bars. For the owner, El Poblado offers the highest rates in the city, but also the highest operating costs and the most neighbor complaints.

Laureles

Laureles has consolidated as the "neighborhood" alternative to El Poblado: tree-lined streets, cafés, gyms and a local life that does not revolve around tourism. Demand is more stable throughout the year and the guest is usually a digital nomad or a couple staying for weeks. Nightly prices are lower than in El Poblado, but occupancy tends to be more constant.

Belén

Belén is the mid-price option. It is well connected by Metro and main avenues, and attracts travelers who prioritize budget and mobility over nightlife. The offer of furnished apartments is smaller and less professionalized, which means less competition for anyone entering with a well-cared-for product.

Centro

Downtown Medellín has the most heterogeneous offer: from budget rooms near La Candelaria to remodeled apartments in old buildings. Demand is lower for short-term tourist rentals and stronger for long stays and business travelers. It is the area where verifying the building and the sector before listing matters most.

Updated costs

The following are reference ranges for October 2026 in Colombian pesos. They vary by season, by building and by product quality. Always confirm with the administrator or the owner before closing.

Nightly rates the guest sees

• El Poblado: one-bedroom apartments between $180,000 and $350,000 COP per night; two bedrooms between $280,000 and $550,000 COP.
• Laureles: one bedroom between $140,000 and $260,000 COP; two bedrooms between $220,000 and $400,000 COP.
• Belén: one bedroom between $100,000 and $190,000 COP.
• Centro: rooms and small apartments from $70,000 COP, with a variable ceiling depending on the building.

Operating costs the owner assumes

• Cleaning between guests: between $40,000 and $80,000 COP per turnover, depending on size and whether a third party is hired.
• Laundry of sheets and towels: between $15,000 and $35,000 COP per guest change.
• Platform commission: OTAs usually charge around 3% to the host in platform-payment mode, and up to 15% in traditional commission modes. Check the current rate in your host panel.
• Building administration: the horizontal property fee is paid the same as in permanent housing; in buildings with amenities it can exceed $400,000 COP per month.
• Utilities: water, electricity and internet in a one-bedroom apartment usually range between $150,000 and $300,000 COP per month depending on consumption and season.
• Taxes: short-term rental generates income and VAT obligations depending on the owner's tax regime. Consult an accountant; there is no single figure applicable to everyone.

Estimated timelines

Setting up the short-term rental business in Medellín takes time. These are the realistic timelines reported by owners and administrators in the city.

• National Tourism Registry (RNT): the procedure is done before the tourism authority and requires documentation of the property and the provider. Timelines vary depending on how complete the file is; allow several weeks and check the status on the official portal.
• Review of the horizontal property regulations: one day of reading, but it can change the whole plan. If the regulations prohibit tourist rental, no RNT will save it.
• Furnishing and fitting out: between two and six weeks for a one- or two-bedroom apartment, depending on whether you buy new furniture or reuse.
• Listing and first bookings: between one and four weeks to get the first bookings on a platform, with professional photography and a competitive price.
• Occupancy stabilization: between three and six months to reach a reasonable and sustained occupancy. The first months are usually about adjusting price and gathering reviews.

Practical tips

RNT (National Tourism Registry)

The RNT is the mandatory registry for tourism service providers in Colombia, and short-term apartment rental falls into that category when tourist accommodation is offered on a regular basis. It is not a municipal permit nor does it replace the review of the building regulations: they are different layers. An apartment can have an RNT and still be prohibited for tourist rental by the co-ownership. Before listing, gather the property's certificate of tradition, the horizontal property regulations and the provider's documentation, and check the status of the procedure on the official tourism portal.

Airbnb Colombia

Airbnb is the dominant platform for short-term rental in Medellín, but it is not the only one. Booking, VRBO and direct booking via WhatsApp have growing weight, especially among repeat guests. Listing only on one platform leaves you exposed to algorithm and commission changes. The common practice among local administrators is to have the calendar synchronized across two or three channels and reserve direct booking for recurring guests.

Check the horizontal property regulations before anything else

Many condominiums in El Poblado and Laureles modified their regulations in recent years to restrict or prohibit tourist rental. If the building does not allow it, the assembly of co-owners can impose sanctions and the administrator can deny guest entry. Talk to the building administrator before buying furniture.

The risks you need to be clear about

The first is saturation: El Poblado has a huge offer and competing only on price destroys the margin. The second is neighbor complaints about noise and constant turnover of people, which usually end in building restrictions. The third is irregular occupancy: months at 80% and months at 30%. The fourth is the informality of some operators who do not declare income or comply with the RNT, which generates unfair competition and regulatory pressure on the entire sector.

Take out civil liability insurance

Platforms offer limited coverage. Civil liability insurance for the unit and for the guest is an additional layer that many owners omit until damage occurs. Review it with your broker.

Talk to building administrators before investing

If you are going to invest, first talk to building administrators in the area. They know what is allowed and what is not, which buildings already have a short-term rental quota and