Cost of Living Comparison Between Boquete and Medellin Cost of Living Comparison Between Boquete and Medellin

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,410 in Boquete versus $1,003 in Medellin.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,077 in Boquete versus $1,573 in Medellin.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,743 in Boquete versus $2,143 in Medellin.

Living in Boquete is roughly 41% more expensive than in Medellin, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Boquete is 6% above, Medellin is 25% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.36 PAB 5.36

$5.91 COP 18.6K

-9.31%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$30.25 PAB 30.25

$32.96 COP 103.8K

-8.22%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.45 PAB 7.45

$7.43 COP 23.4K

0.27%

Cappuccino

$3.37 PAB 3.37

$1.65 COP 5,207

104.24%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.35 PAB 1.35

$1.10 COP 3,468

22.73%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.88 PAB 0.88

$0.78 COP 2,458

12.82%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.72 PAB 1.72

$1.72 COP 5,412

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.02 PAB 2.02

$3.18 COP 10.0K

-36.48%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.61 PAB 1.61

$1.10 COP 3,474

46.36%

White Bread (500g)

$2.29 PAB 2.29

$1.26 COP 3,962

81.75%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.37 PAB 1.37

$1.38 COP 4,349

-0.72%

Eggs

$2.52 PAB 2.52

$2.18 COP 6,858

15.60%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.78 PAB 8.78

$4.49 COP 14.1K

95.55%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.39 PAB 7.39

$5.79 COP 18.2K

27.63%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.83 PAB 10.83

$8.97 COP 28.2K

20.74%

Apples (1kg)

$4.32 PAB 4.32

$2.32 COP 7,308

86.21%

Banana (1kg)

$1.00 PAB 1.00

$1.06 COP 3,352

-5.66%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.27 PAB 3.27

$1.52 COP 4,774

115.13%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.65 PAB 1.65

$1.36 COP 4,270

21.32%

Potato (1kg)

$2.29 PAB 2.29

$1.13 COP 3,552

102.65%

Onion (1kg)

$1.76 PAB 1.76

$1.17 COP 3,689

50.43%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.21 PAB 2.21

$0.90 COP 2,838

145.56%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.66 PAB 1.66

$0.90 COP 2,823

84.44%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.10 PAB 5.10

$2.23 COP 7,034

128.70%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.96 PAB 7.96

$12.12 COP 38.2K

-34.32%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.19 PAB 1.19

$1.19 COP 3,743

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.72 PAB 2.72

$2.48 COP 7,815

9.68%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.47 PAB 1.47

$0.85 COP 2,687

72.94%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$24.80 PAB 24.80

$41.62 COP 131.0K

-40.41%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.99 PAB 0.99

$1.42 COP 4,459

-30.28%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.97 PAB 1.97

$1.95 COP 6,141

1.03%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$30.18 PAB 30.18

$7.89 COP 24.8K

282.51%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.92 PAB 0.92

$0.99 COP 3,118

-7.07%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$25.5K PAB 25.5K

$17.6K COP 55.4M

44.66%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$20.4K PAB 20.4K

$26.8K COP 84.4M

-23.93%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$54.6 PAB 54.6

$83.0 COP 261.4K

-34.18%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$29.41 PAB 29.41

$9.70 COP 30.5K

203.20%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$47.12 PAB 47.12

$23.52 COP 74.1K

100.34%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$86.6 PAB 86.6

$25.26 COP 79.5K

242.99%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.19 PAB 17.19

$19.10 COP 60.1K

-10.00%

Cinema Ticket

$6.69 PAB 6.69

$3.95 COP 12.4K

69.37%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$251 PAB 251

$316 COP 994.2K

-20.41%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,975 COP 18.8M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$35.12 PAB 35.12

$60.0 COP 188.9K

-41.47%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.48 PAB 25.48

$31.82 COP 100.2K

-19.92%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$51.4 PAB 51.4

$102 COP 320.1K

-49.49%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$59.0 PAB 59.0

$107 COP 338.3K

-45.08%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$758 PAB 758

$475 COP 1.5M

59.51%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$650 PAB 650

$374 COP 1.2M

73.74%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,538 PAB 1,538

$849 COP 2.7M

81.15%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,116 PAB 1,116

$719 COP 2.3M

55.14%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,161 PAB 1,161

$3,265 COP 10.3M

-64.44%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,155 PAB 1,155

$1,441 COP 4.5M

-19.82%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$816 PAB 816

$624 COP 2.0M

30.63%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.43

-47.88%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Boquete: July 27, 2026

Last update for Medellin: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $758 in Boquete and $475 in Medellin. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Boquete pays 31% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $30.00 in Boquete vs $33.00 in Medellin. Groceries flip the comparison at $266 vs $193, with Medellin cheaper for home cooking.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Boquete vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Medellin is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 41% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Average pay runs 31% higher in Boquete, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $758 in Boquete versus $475 in Medellin. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 37% higher in Boquete. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

Dining out is cheaper in Medellin – a meal for two runs $33.00 versus $30.00 in Boquete. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $1,003 in Medellin versus $1,410 in Boquete, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Medellin but tight or insufficient in Boquete. The gap between the two cities makes Medellin the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

For families, Medellin is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Boquete, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.

Safety-wise, Boquete and Medellin are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Medellin gentler on the wallet – expenses run 41% less than in Boquete. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.