Cost of Living Comparison Between Boroko and Medellin Cost of Living Comparison Between Boroko and Medellin

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,120 per month in Boroko vs $1,031 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,557 per month in Boroko vs $1,599 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,995 per month in Boroko vs $2,167 in Medellin, rent included.

Boroko costs about 9% more than Medellin, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Both Boroko and Medellin are more affordable than the global median – Boroko 16% lower, Medellin 23% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.78 PGK 34.23

$6.16 COP 20.1K

26.30%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$37.91 PGK 167

$32.60 COP 106.1K

16.29%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.83 PGK 25.65

$7.34 COP 23.9K

-20.57%

Cappuccino

$2.26 PGK 9.94

$1.72 COP 5,600

31.40%

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

$0.74 PGK 3.27

$1.05 COP 3,420

-29.52%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.81 PGK 3.55

$0.77 COP 2,515

5.19%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.38 PGK 10.48

$1.69 COP 5,488

40.83%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.13 PGK 18.18

$3.17 COP 10.3K

30.28%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.70 PGK 7.48

$1.05 COP 3,423

61.90%

White Bread (500g)

$1.31 PGK 5.75

$1.30 COP 4,236

0.77%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.32 PGK 5.82

$1.40 COP 4,544

-5.71%

Eggs

$3.84 PGK 16.92

$2.16 COP 7,047

77.78%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.31 PGK 18.96

$4.39 COP 14.3K

-1.82%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.35 PGK 27.93

$5.88 COP 19.1K

7.99%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.98 PGK 30.71

$8.64 COP 28.1K

-19.21%

Apples (1kg)

$4.10 PGK 18.04

$2.28 COP 7,426

79.82%

Banana (1kg)

$2.80 PGK 12.32

$1.11 COP 3,604

152.25%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.03 PGK 13.32

$1.53 COP 4,983

98.04%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.86 PGK 12.60

$1.35 COP 4,410

111.85%

Potato (1kg)

$3.06 PGK 13.47

$1.13 COP 3,674

170.80%

Onion (1kg)

$0.92 PGK 4.07

$1.13 COP 3,692

-18.58%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.19 PGK 5.22

$0.85 COP 2,753

40.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.50 PGK 2.19

$0.91 COP 2,975

-45.05%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.88 PGK 25.89

$2.34 COP 7,630

151.28%

Wine (Bottle)

$5.16 PGK 22.70

$12.37 COP 40.3K

-58.29%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.23 PGK 5.42

$1.20 COP 3,909

2.50%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.73 PGK 7.60

$2.49 COP 8,104

-30.52%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.50 PGK 2.21

$0.84 COP 2,728

-40.48%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$31.82 PGK 140

$40.57 COP 132.1K

-21.57%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.83 PGK 21.26

$1.42 COP 4,623

240.14%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.44 PGK 6.35

$1.92 COP 6,235

-25.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$11.97 PGK 52.7

$7.66 COP 24.9K

56.27%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.86 PGK 3.77

$0.99 COP 3,223

-13.13%

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

$22.5K PGK 98.9K

$18.0K COP 58.7M

24.71%

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

$24.2K PGK 106.4K

$26.6K COP 86.7M

-9.15%

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

$66.3 PGK 292

$80.8 COP 263.1K

-17.94%

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

$48.00 PGK 211

$9.95 COP 32.4K

382.41%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$245 PGK 1,076

$24.18 COP 78.7K

911.25%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$44.74 PGK 197

$25.08 COP 81.7K

78.39%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$15.49 PGK 68.2

$19.15 COP 62.3K

-19.11%

Cinema Ticket

$7.14 PGK 31.43

$3.98 COP 13.0K

79.40%

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

$361 PGK 1,589

$305 COP 993.5K

18.31%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,361 PGK 10.4K

$6,059 COP 19.7M

-61.03%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$31.74 PGK 140

$58.1 COP 189.2K

-45.40%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$14.69 PGK 64.6

$32.20 COP 104.8K

-54.38%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$47.45 PGK 209

$101 COP 327.9K

-52.89%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$28.24 PGK 124

$108 COP 350.8K

-73.79%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,624 PGK 15.9K

$477 COP 1.6M

660.39%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$236 PGK 1,037

$376 COP 1.2M

-37.36%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,612 PGK 15.9K

$845 COP 2.7M

327.64%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$237 PGK 1,045

$730 COP 2.4M

-67.49%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,215 COP 10.5M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,372 COP 4.5M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$360 PGK 1,584

$617 COP 2.0M

-41.63%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.43

-18.09%

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

Last update for Boroko: July 12, 2026

Last update for Medellin: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $3,624 in Boroko versus $477 in Medellin. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 71% higher in Medellin, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $38.00 in Boroko versus $33.00 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $222 vs $193 – making Medellin the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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

Boroko vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Boroko costs about 9% more than Medellin, with the gap driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,679 per month in Boroko and $1,546 in Medellin. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Medellin, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Kindergarten costs $361 per month in Boroko and $305 in Medellin. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 15% more in Boroko, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Medellin, where all-in costs run around $1,031, than in Boroko at $1,120. In Medellin it covers expenses comfortably, while in Boroko it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Medellin costs $1,031 versus $1,120 in Boroko. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

If budget matters most, go with Medellin. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Boroko makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.