Airbnb charges a 13–16% service fee on top of the listed price. For a 30-night stay in El Poblado, that's $150–$200 extra — every single month. Here's how to skip it.
Here's exactly what you pay on Airbnb vs booking direct — using a real example of a $1,200/month El Poblado apartment.
There are several ways to find furnished apartments in Medellín outside Airbnb. Here's an honest assessment of each.
Direct booking platform specialising in 30+ night furnished apartment stays across Colombia. No platform fees, Truvi guest screening, WhatsApp support, all-inclusive pricing.
Medellín-based agency specialising in long-term furnished rentals in El Poblado and Laureles. Strong local reputation, average stays 3–6 months. Fees vary by property.
Specifically targets digital nomads in Medellín. Verified listings, no fiador required for foreigners, focus on El Poblado and Laureles neighborhoods.
Monthly discounts available but the base service fee (13–16%) still applies. Best used to discover listings, then negotiate direct with hosts for longer stays.
"Medellín Expats" and "Medellín Housing" Facebook groups have direct-from-owner listings. Cheaper but no vetting, no payment protection, variable quality.
Coliving spaces like Selina El Poblado offer monthly memberships with community included. Good social life, less privacy. From $700–$1,200/mo for a private room.
Airbnb's service fee on a typical Medellín apartment adds up to $1,800+ per year. Booking direct eliminates this entirely.
You get the host's actual phone number and WhatsApp from day one. No platform middleman when something needs fixing.
On Airbnb, if the platform goes down or disputes arise, you're at their mercy. Direct booking means your agreement is with the host.
RentiHome uses Stripe for secure payment and Truvi for guest screening — the same protections as Airbnb, without the markup.
Skip the Airbnb fee. WhatsApp us your dates and budget — we'll send available options within hours.
Airbnb adds a 13–16% guest service fee on top of the listed price; direct booking through RentiHome charges exactly the listed all-in rate. On a $1,200/month apartment that is $150–190/month saved for the identical unit.
With the right structure, yes: verified hosts, card payment via Stripe (never transfers to strangers), a written cancellation policy shown before payment, and WhatsApp support during the stay. The unsafe version is paying someone by transfer for a listing found on social media — avoid that everywhere.
Each listing shows its cancellation policy before you pay, plus a 24-hour grace period after booking. Terms are comparable to OTA policies — the difference is no service fee, not weaker protection.
They receive 100% of their rate instead of losing platform commissions, and they communicate with guests directly — which is why the best-run apartments give their best availability and prices to direct channels.
Pick dates on a listing and pay by card, or tell us your dates and budget on this page — by form or WhatsApp — and we send matched options the same day.
Tell us your dates — we match you directly with a verified host. Short stays from 2 nights or monthly, typically 20–30% below Airbnb.
Quality 1–6 month guests, Stripe payments, zero listing fees — 0% host commission.
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