Where to live in Cali: areas and neighbourhoods to buy or rent

Cali is the country's third city and the capital of Valle del Cauca. It sits at about 1,000 metres, with a warm climate and a breeze that cools the afternoons. Its prices tend to be lower than Bogotá's and Medellín's for comparable properties.

The areas at a glance

• The south. Ciudad Jardín and Pance have large houses, gated complexes, universities, schools and clubs. Valle del Lili concentrates apartment towers near clinics and shopping centres. El Ingenio and El Limonar are residential and traditional.
• The west. El Peñón, Normandía, Santa Teresita, Santa Rita and Arboledas, on the hillside and beside the Cali river. Apartments with views, hotels and museums. It has the highest prices per square metre.
• Granada and Versalles. North of the centre: restaurants, offices and shops, with apartment buildings.
• The north. Santa Mónica, La Flora and Chipichape. Residential, with shopping centres and a good route to the airport and Yumbo.
• San Fernando and Tequendama. Central, with clinics, the stadium and traditional housing.
• San Antonio. The historic neighbourhood: colonial houses, cafés and hostels on a hill overlooking the city.

The outskirts

• Jamundí. To the south, with many new complexes of houses and apartments, and more space for the money. Check the commute at rush hour.
• Dapa and Kilómetro 18. In the mountains, with a cool climate, for country houses half an hour from the city.
• Palmira and Yumbo. Near the airport and the industrial area.

What to weigh up

• The heat. Look for cross-ventilation and ask about orientation: an apartment that gets the afternoon sun is much hotter. The west and the hillside are cooler.
• The commute. The city is long from north to south. Living near work, university or school saves a lot of time. Check the MIO bus routes.
• The estrato. It changes your utility bills, especially electricity if you use air conditioning. We explain it in What is estrato.
• The block. As in any big city, things change from one block to the next. Visit at different times and talk to neighbours.
• The river. Near the Cali, Pance and Meléndez rivers, ask about flooding.

Buy or rent?

If you are new to the city, renting for a year lets you get to know the area before buying. The rules are in How to rent a home in Colombia, and the buying process in How to buy property in Colombia.

Searching in Cali

See properties in Cali, for sale or for rent, or type what you want: "house in a gated complex in Ciudad Jardín".

Frequently asked questions

Which is the best area for families?

The south (Ciudad Jardín, Pance, Valle del Lili) for the schools and universities, and Jamundí if you want a house with more space.

And for someone working in the centre or the north?

Granada, Versalles, Santa Mónica or the west, to shorten the commute.

Are there new developments?

Yes, mostly in the south and in Jamundí. See New developments and the guide Buying off plan in Colombia.