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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,017 in Medellin versus $1,365 in Boquete.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,602 in Medellin versus $2,091 in Boquete.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,188 in Medellin versus $2,818 in Boquete.

Living in Medellin costs roughly 26% less than in Boquete, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Medellin is 24% below, Boquete is 2% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.95 COP 20.8K

$5.45 PAB 5.45

9.17%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$33.33 COP 116.3K

$30.29 PAB 30.29

10.04%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.23 COP 25.2K

$7.57 PAB 7.57

-4.49%

Cappuccino

$1.63 COP 5,687

$3.41 PAB 3.41

-52.20%

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

$1.09 COP 3,821

$1.35 PAB 1.35

-19.26%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.73 COP 2,548

$0.92 PAB 0.92

-20.65%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.74 COP 6,065

$1.73 PAB 1.73

0.58%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.23 COP 11.3K

$2.05 PAB 2.05

57.56%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.05 COP 3,662

$1.57 PAB 1.57

-33.12%

White Bread (500g)

$1.29 COP 4,515

$2.42 PAB 2.42

-46.69%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.32 COP 4,617

$1.37 PAB 1.37

-3.65%

Eggs

$2.27 COP 7,927

$2.63 PAB 2.63

-13.69%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.35 COP 15.2K

$8.93 PAB 8.93

-51.29%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.88 COP 20.5K

$7.59 PAB 7.59

-22.53%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.61 COP 30.0K

$10.77 PAB 10.77

-20.06%

Apples (1kg)

$2.25 COP 7,844

$4.48 PAB 4.48

-49.78%

Banana (1kg)

$1.07 COP 3,733

$1.01 PAB 1.01

5.94%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.52 COP 5,322

$3.10 PAB 3.10

-50.97%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.42 COP 4,964

$1.64 PAB 1.64

-13.41%

Potato (1kg)

$1.17 COP 4,084

$2.19 PAB 2.19

-46.58%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 COP 4,077

$1.77 PAB 1.77

-33.90%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.89 COP 3,096

$2.28 PAB 2.28

-60.96%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.90 COP 3,146

$1.69 PAB 1.69

-46.75%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.25 COP 7,837

$5.12 PAB 5.12

-56.05%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.04 COP 38.5K

$7.95 PAB 7.95

38.87%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.14 COP 3,977

$1.20 PAB 1.20

-5.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.38 COP 8,301

$2.72 PAB 2.72

-12.50%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.84 COP 2,916

$1.54 PAB 1.54

-45.45%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.95 COP 146.4K

$24.98 PAB 24.98

67.93%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 COP 4,912

$1.03 PAB 1.03

36.89%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.90 COP 6,634

$2.05 PAB 2.05

-7.32%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.75 COP 27.0K

$30.45 PAB 30.45

-74.55%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.01 COP 3,509

$0.87 PAB 0.87

16.09%

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

$17.6K COP 61.4M

$25.5K PAB 25.5K

-31.05%

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

$26.5K COP 92.5M

$20.3K PAB 20.3K

30.46%

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

$83.7 COP 292.1K

$54.4 PAB 54.4

53.71%

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

$9.45 COP 33.0K

$29.41 PAB 29.41

-67.87%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.11 COP 84.1K

$46.44 PAB 46.44

-48.08%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.31 COP 88.3K

$88.3 PAB 88.3

-71.32%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.14 COP 66.8K

$17.41 PAB 17.41

9.94%

Cinema Ticket

$4.10 COP 14.3K

$6.33 PAB 6.33

-35.23%

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

$312 COP 1.1M

$252 PAB 252

23.84%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,993 COP 20.9M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.0 COP 202.6K

$34.89 PAB 34.89

66.35%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$32.56 COP 113.6K

$25.02 PAB 25.02

30.14%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$99.6 COP 347.7K

$52.5 PAB 52.5

89.86%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$109 COP 378.8K

$61.0 PAB 61.0

77.99%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$482 COP 1.7M

$757 PAB 757

-36.28%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$379 COP 1.3M

$640 PAB 640

-40.74%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$837 COP 2.9M

$1,589 PAB 1,589

-47.30%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$723 COP 2.5M

$1,115 PAB 1,115

-35.15%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,840 COP 9.9M

$1,207 PAB 1,207

135.34%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,223 COP 4.3M

$1,175 PAB 1,175

4.09%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$541 COP 1.9M

$793 PAB 793

-31.81%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.43

91.86%

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

Last update for Medellin: June 8, 2026

Last update for Boquete: June 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $482 in Medellin and $757 in Boquete. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Boquete pays 47% 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: $33.00 in Medellin vs $30.00 in Boquete. Groceries flip the comparison at $190 vs $269, 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

Medellin vs Boquete: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Medellin is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Sport & Entertainment. The 34% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, Boquete earns 47% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $482 in Medellin versus $757 in Boquete. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 42% 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 $1,017 in Medellin versus $1,365 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, Medellin and Boquete 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 34% less than in Boquete. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.