Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Bocastown, Isla Colon Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Bocastown, Isla Colon

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,681 per month in Medellin vs $1,211 in Bocastown, Isla Colon, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,445 per month in Medellin vs $2,080 in Bocastown, Isla Colon, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,210 per month in Medellin vs $2,949 in Bocastown, Isla Colon, rent included.

Medellin costs about 39% more than Bocastown, Isla Colon, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Medellin sits 23% above the global median, while Bocastown, Isla Colon is 11% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$8.02 COP 25.3K

$5.57 PAB 5.57

43.99%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$47.87 COP 151.0K

$45.74 PAB 45.74

4.66%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.89 COP 31.2K

$12.77 PAB 12.77

-22.55%

Cappuccino

$3.13 COP 9,873

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

$1.91 COP 6,019

$0.98 PAB 0.98

94.90%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.51 COP 4,763

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.12 COP 9,853

$2.46 PAB 2.46

26.83%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.75 COP 18.1K

Milk (1 liter)

$1.44 COP 4,558

$2.02 PAB 2.02

-28.71%

White Bread (500g)

$2.49 COP 7,843

$3.10 PAB 3.10

-19.68%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.77 COP 5,595

$2.57 PAB 2.57

-31.13%

Eggs

$2.96 COP 9,336

$2.79 PAB 2.79

6.09%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.07 COP 31.8K

$16.16 PAB 16.16

-37.69%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.12 COP 31.9K

$8.84 PAB 8.84

14.48%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.30 COP 45.1K

$8.11 PAB 8.11

76.33%

Apples (1kg)

$4.14 COP 13.0K

$3.84 PAB 3.84

7.81%

Banana (1kg)

$1.61 COP 5,073

$1.50 PAB 1.50

7.33%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.25 COP 7,083

Tomato (1kg)

$2.25 COP 7,104

$5.60 PAB 5.60

-59.82%

Potato (1kg)

$2.04 COP 6,444

$2.19 PAB 2.19

-6.85%

Onion (1kg)

$1.54 COP 4,842

$1.67 PAB 1.67

-7.78%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.17 COP 3,691

$2.45 PAB 2.45

-52.24%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.31 COP 4,121

$1.73 PAB 1.73

-24.28%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.90 COP 12.3K

$4.66 PAB 4.66

-16.31%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.01 COP 44.2K

$9.16 PAB 9.16

52.95%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.74 COP 5,498

$1.84 PAB 1.84

-5.43%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.87 COP 9,053

$2.48 PAB 2.48

15.73%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.22 COP 3,834

$0.97 PAB 0.97

25.77%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$80.5 COP 253.9K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.31 COP 4,129

$1.02 PAB 1.02

28.43%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.19 COP 6,899

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.71 COP 27.5K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.37 COP 4,306

$1.32 PAB 1.32

3.79%

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

$27.8K COP 87.8M

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

$35.8K COP 112.8M

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

$177 COP 559.3K

$88.1 PAB 88.1

101.16%

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

$13.88 COP 43.8K

$26.13 PAB 26.13

-46.88%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$29.72 COP 93.8K

$49.67 PAB 49.67

-40.17%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$44.88 COP 141.6K

$35.21 PAB 35.21

27.46%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.12 COP 54.0K

Cinema Ticket

$6.65 COP 21.0K

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

$813 COP 2.6M

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$9,187 COP 29.0M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$89.5 COP 282.3K

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$59.0 COP 186.0K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$138 COP 435.9K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$102 COP 322.1K

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,062 COP 3.3M

$764 PAB 764

38.98%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$663 COP 2.1M

$587 PAB 587

12.89%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,888 COP 6.0M

$1,224 PAB 1,224

54.31%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,027 COP 3.2M

$1,495 PAB 1,495

-31.30%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,183 COP 13.2M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,675 COP 5.3M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$678 COP 2.1M

$668 PAB 668

1.47%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

10.94

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

Last update for Medellin: September 14, 2026

Last update for Bocastown, Isla Colon: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,062 in Medellin versus $764 in Bocastown, Isla Colon. 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 1% higher in Medellin, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $48.00 in Medellin versus $46.00 in Bocastown, Isla Colon. Groceries tell a different story – $305 in Medellin vs $319 in Bocastown, Isla Colon – so Medellin wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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

Medellin vs Bocastown, Isla Colon: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Medellin costs about 39% more than Bocastown, Isla Colon, with the gap driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,521 per month in Medellin and $1,817 in Bocastown, Isla Colon. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,681 in Medellin and $1,211 in Bocastown, Isla Colon. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Interestingly, groceries are about 5% cheaper in Medellin – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Bocastown, Isla Colon, where all-in costs run around $1,211, than in Medellin at $1,681. In Bocastown, Isla Colon it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Bocastown, Isla Colon costs $1,211 versus $1,681 in Medellin. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

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