If your Colombian reference point is the Netflix series "Narcos" (about the country's notorious drug kingpin), this might not be your top pick. But expats say Medellin is much different than it was in the 1980s and a safe place to relocate.
Its outdoor cafe culture gives it a European vibe and the city is home to many arts and music festivals. Internet is reliable and outages are rare, but you will need to brush up on your Spanish.
First published January 6, 2016: 8:16 AM ET
Monthly budgets consider the following costs: rent for a one-bedroom apartment, groceries, utilities, cable, Internet, phone services, and entertainment (eating out twice a week and two trips to the movies a month).
