Cristian Sánchez
May 18, 2026 · 5 min read
One of the first messages we get at author. design® is always the same: "how much does a renovation cost?" It's a fair question — and the honest answer is "it depends," but not in an evasive way. It depends on concrete variables we can actually break down.
The cost of a renovation in Medellín is driven mainly by three variables: structural scope (are walls moving, are openings being created, is electrical/plumbing being touched?), finish quality (surfaces, carpentry, fixtures), and design complexity (curves, double-height spaces, custom-built furniture integration).
For a full apartment renovation in Medellín, market ranges typically run between $2.5M and $6M COP per square meter, depending on the variables above. A full kitchen — the space that raises the budget the most per square meter — can represent 20-30% of the total project.
The real budget isn't defined by the square footage, but by the decisions made within it.
Design and technical drawings (5-10% of the project), permits and curatorial review when applicable, construction contingency (we recommend a minimum of 10-15% of the budget), and temporary housing costs if the renovation requires vacating the space.
The most common cause of cost overruns isn't material prices — it's changing decisions mid-construction. A project with complete drawings, defined finish specifications, and a clear schedule before work begins reduces the risk of overruns by more than 30%.
Before giving a figure, we run a diagnostic of the space, define scope and finishes together with you, and deliver a detailed line-item budget — not a generic per-square-meter number. If you're evaluating a renovation in Medellín and want a real number instead of a rough guess, let's talk.
