Upper Poblado, Medellín, Premium towers on the hill

Where Upper Poblado sits on the map

The outline below is the actual footprint of Upper Poblado, every barrio we group into this zone, dissolved into one shape so you can see its shape, size, and where it lives in the valley.

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At a glance

Vibe: Big apartments, quiet, panoramic views
Walkability: Car / Uber
Foreigner presence: Many
Price tier: $$$$$

Barrios in this zone

16 barrios make up Upper Poblado.

Altos Del PobladoCastropolAsomadera No. 2Asomadera No. 3Las Lomas No.2Los Balsos No.1Los Balsos No.2El TesoroEl CastilloLos NaranjosSan LucasLa AguacatalaAlejandríaSanta María De Los ÁngelesSuburbano Mirador Del PobladoEl Diamante No. 2

Who lives here

This is where a lot of the longer-term expat crowd ends up: people who've been in Medellín a while, families who want something quieter and more peaceful, and folks who don't mind Ubering everywhere or driving themselves. A very large share of the expats who actually own a car in the city live somewhere out here. You'll also see some first-timers who landed in this zone almost by accident, usually because they saw "Poblado" on the map and didn't realize how spread out it is. But on average, the people here have been around longer and are looking for a calmer base, not a party.

What it actually feels like

Much quieter overall than Central Poblado, though it depends a lot on exactly where you are. The higher up the hill you go, the cooler the temperature gets and the more residential and peaceful it feels, with views opening up over the valley. Around the malls like El Tesoro and Santa Fe there's a bit more going on, and a few of the bigger roads in the zone (Avenida El Poblado in particular) can get busy with traffic. Outside of those pockets, it's mostly residential streets, towers, and houses.

Rent & cost of living

Pricing is broadly in the same range as the rest of Poblado, but with a wider spread because the zone is so big. Some buildings out here are as expensive as Central Poblado for the views and finishes, while quieter or further-out spots can come in noticeably cheaper for the same size apartment. Day-to-day costs (groceries, eating out at local spots) tend to be a bit lower than inside the Poblado bubble simply because you're not surrounded by foreigner-priced restaurants.

Walkability & getting around

This is among the least walkable parts of the city, and it gets less walkable the higher up the hill you go. Unless you have a car, you'll be in Ubers and taxis a lot, both for going out and for normal errands. A car genuinely makes life easier out here, which is part of why so many of the expats who drive end up living in this zone.

Food, coffee, coworkings & nightlife

Nightlife is basically nonexistent in this zone, so anyone going out is heading down into Central Poblado. There are restaurants, cafes, and coworkings scattered around, and you'll usually find a few decent options near wherever you end up living, but the density is nothing close to Central Poblado. For most coffee meetings, coworking days, and dinners out, expect to ride in.

Groceries, gyms & day-to-day

This really depends on which part of the zone you're in. Some areas have a Carulla or Éxito and a couple of gyms nearby; others you'll be driving or Ubering to the nearest one. The general pattern is that day-to-day logistics work fine once you know your specific block, but there's no single "everything's around the corner" experience the way there is in Central Poblado.

Upper Poblado

Where Upper Poblado sits on the map

At a glance

Barrios in this zone

Who lives here

What it actually feels like

Rent & cost of living

Walkability & getting around

Food, coffee, coworkings & nightlife

Groceries, gyms & day-to-day

Other zones to compare

Central Poblado

Lower Poblado

Central Poblado Fringe

Ciudad del Río

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