Medellin is the Colombian city with the highest quality of life, according to a study of the Andean country's 15 principal cities.
After Medellin came Bogota, followed by Manizales, Bucaramanga and Cali. Among the factors considered in the study were public services, economic climate, health, education, physical environment and security.
"The Antioquian capital obtained good results in each of the catagories but was outstanding in very few, said Hernando Jose Gomez., president of Consejo Privado de Competitividad, the Colombian organization dedicated stimulating compeditiveness that undertook the study.
"Medellin needs to work at improving tertiary education, processing paperwork and its economic climate," Gomez told La Republica. The city also needs to work on improving the quality of its air, developing cultural and recreational activities and reducing poverty, according to the study.
Bogota is the most competitive city in Colombia, with the second highest standard of living, the study found. The nation's capital shines in the areas of education, air transport and recreational and cultural activities, while it's biggest weaknesses are the quality of public services, mobility, processing paperwork and the cost of living.
The study's findings come at a time when there are growing concerns about soaring violence in Medellin. However the city's new Tourism Undersecretary assured Colombia Reports that tourists can enjoy Colombia's second largest city without a problem and that common sense is all you need to secure a pleasant stay.
