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: $1,475 in Boquete versus $1,681 in Medellin.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,231 in Boquete versus $2,445 in Medellin.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,987 in Boquete versus $3,210 in Medellin.

Living in Boquete costs roughly 12% less than in Medellin, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Boquete 8% above, Medellin 23% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.54 PAB 6.54

$8.02 COP 25.0K

-18.45%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$39.94 PAB 39.94

$47.87 COP 149.4K

-16.57%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.49 PAB 7.49

$9.89 COP 30.8K

-24.27%

Cappuccino

$3.86 PAB 3.86

$3.13 COP 9,767

23.32%

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

$1.42 PAB 1.42

$1.91 COP 5,954

-25.65%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.21 PAB 1.21

$1.51 COP 4,712

-19.87%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.19 PAB 2.19

$3.12 COP 9,747

-29.81%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.08 PAB 5.08

$5.75 COP 17.9K

-11.65%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.85 PAB 1.85

$1.44 COP 4,509

28.47%

White Bread (500g)

$2.05 PAB 2.05

$2.49 COP 7,759

-17.67%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.17 PAB 2.17

$1.77 COP 5,535

22.60%

Eggs

$2.51 PAB 2.51

$2.96 COP 9,235

-15.20%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.52 PAB 9.52

$10.07 COP 31.4K

-5.46%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.48 PAB 7.48

$10.12 COP 31.6K

-26.09%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.49 PAB 15.49

$14.30 COP 44.6K

8.32%

Apples (1kg)

$4.47 PAB 4.47

$4.14 COP 12.9K

7.97%

Banana (1kg)

$1.01 PAB 1.01

$1.61 COP 5,019

-37.27%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.52 PAB 4.52

$2.25 COP 7,007

100.89%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.21 PAB 2.21

$2.25 COP 7,028

-1.78%

Potato (1kg)

$2.24 PAB 2.24

$2.04 COP 6,375

9.80%

Onion (1kg)

$2.18 PAB 2.18

$1.54 COP 4,790

41.56%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.32 PAB 2.32

$1.17 COP 3,651

98.29%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.71 PAB 1.71

$1.31 COP 4,077

30.53%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.14 PAB 5.14

$3.90 COP 12.2K

31.79%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.92 PAB 7.92

$14.01 COP 43.7K

-43.47%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.21 PAB 1.21

$1.74 COP 5,439

-30.46%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.71 PAB 2.71

$2.87 COP 8,956

-5.57%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.41 PAB 1.41

$1.22 COP 3,792

15.57%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$25.18 PAB 25.18

$80.5 COP 251.1K

-68.71%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.98 PAB 0.98

$1.31 COP 4,084

-25.19%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.01 PAB 2.01

$2.19 COP 6,825

-8.22%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$30.56 PAB 30.56

$8.71 COP 27.2K

250.86%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.07 PAB 1.07

$1.37 COP 4,260

-21.90%

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

$25.2K PAB 25.2K

$27.8K COP 86.9M

-9.36%

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

$22.2K PAB 22.2K

$35.8K COP 111.6M

-38.07%

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

$57.4 PAB 57.4

$177 COP 553.2K

-67.64%

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

$26.40 PAB 26.40

$13.88 COP 43.3K

90.20%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$42.51 PAB 42.51

$29.72 COP 92.8K

43.03%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$80.7 PAB 80.7

$44.88 COP 140.1K

79.75%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.24 PAB 17.24

$17.12 COP 53.4K

0.70%

Cinema Ticket

$6.33 PAB 6.33

$6.65 COP 20.7K

-4.81%

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

$813 COP 2.5M

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,020 PAB 6,020

$9,187 COP 28.7M

-34.47%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$25.41 PAB 25.41

$89.5 COP 279.3K

-71.61%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.16 PAB 25.16

$59.0 COP 184.0K

-57.33%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$45.09 PAB 45.09

$138 COP 431.2K

-67.37%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$102 COP 318.7K

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$810 PAB 810

$1,062 COP 3.3M

-23.72%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$695 PAB 695

$663 COP 2.1M

4.84%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,552 PAB 1,552

$1,888 COP 5.9M

-17.79%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,315 PAB 1,315

$1,027 COP 3.2M

28.02%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,167 PAB 1,167

$4,183 COP 13.1M

-72.10%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,142 PAB 1,142

$1,675 COP 5.2M

-31.79%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$809 PAB 809

$678 COP 2.1M

19.38%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.5

10.94

-40.59%

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

Last update for Boquete: September 14, 2026

Last update for Medellin: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $810 in Boquete and $1,062 in Medellin. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Boquete pays 19% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $40.00 in Boquete vs $48.00 in Medellin for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $296 vs $305 per month, with Boquete cheaper across the board.

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

Boquete is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Getting Around. The 14% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Average pay runs 19% 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: $810 in Boquete versus $1,062 in Medellin. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 3% higher in Medellin. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $1,475 per month in Boquete versus $1,681 in Medellin – a 14% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $1,475 in Boquete versus $1,681 in Medellin, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Boquete but tight or insufficient in Medellin. The gap between the two cities makes Boquete the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

For families, Boquete is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Medellin, 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 Boquete gentler on the wallet – expenses run 14% less than in Medellin. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.