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: $1,003 in Medellin versus $1,410 in Boquete.

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

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

Living in Medellin costs roughly 29% less than in Boquete, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

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

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.91 COP 18.6K

$5.36 PAB 5.36

10.26%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.96 COP 103.8K

$30.25 PAB 30.25

8.96%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.43 COP 23.4K

$7.45 PAB 7.45

-0.27%

Cappuccino

$1.65 COP 5,207

$3.37 PAB 3.37

-51.04%

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

$1.10 COP 3,468

$1.35 PAB 1.35

-18.52%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.78 COP 2,458

$0.88 PAB 0.88

-11.36%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.72 COP 5,412

$1.72 PAB 1.72

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.18 COP 10.0K

$2.02 PAB 2.02

57.43%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.10 COP 3,474

$1.61 PAB 1.61

-31.68%

White Bread (500g)

$1.26 COP 3,962

$2.29 PAB 2.29

-44.98%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.38 COP 4,349

$1.37 PAB 1.37

0.73%

Eggs

$2.18 COP 6,858

$2.52 PAB 2.52

-13.49%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.49 COP 14.1K

$8.78 PAB 8.78

-48.86%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.79 COP 18.2K

$7.39 PAB 7.39

-21.65%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.97 COP 28.2K

$10.83 PAB 10.83

-17.17%

Apples (1kg)

$2.32 COP 7,308

$4.32 PAB 4.32

-46.30%

Banana (1kg)

$1.06 COP 3,352

$1.00 PAB 1.00

6.00%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.52 COP 4,774

$3.27 PAB 3.27

-53.52%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.36 COP 4,270

$1.65 PAB 1.65

-17.58%

Potato (1kg)

$1.13 COP 3,552

$2.29 PAB 2.29

-50.66%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 COP 3,689

$1.76 PAB 1.76

-33.52%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.90 COP 2,838

$2.21 PAB 2.21

-59.28%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.90 COP 2,823

$1.66 PAB 1.66

-45.78%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.23 COP 7,034

$5.10 PAB 5.10

-56.27%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.12 COP 38.2K

$7.96 PAB 7.96

52.26%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.19 COP 3,743

$1.19 PAB 1.19

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.48 COP 7,815

$2.72 PAB 2.72

-8.82%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.85 COP 2,687

$1.47 PAB 1.47

-42.18%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.62 COP 131.0K

$24.80 PAB 24.80

67.82%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.42 COP 4,459

$0.99 PAB 0.99

43.43%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.95 COP 6,141

$1.97 PAB 1.97

-1.02%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.89 COP 24.8K

$30.18 PAB 30.18

-73.86%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.99 COP 3,118

$0.92 PAB 0.92

7.61%

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

$17.6K COP 55.4M

$25.5K PAB 25.5K

-30.87%

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

$26.8K COP 84.4M

$20.4K PAB 20.4K

31.46%

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

$83.0 COP 261.4K

$54.6 PAB 54.6

51.92%

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

$9.70 COP 30.5K

$29.41 PAB 29.41

-67.02%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$23.52 COP 74.1K

$47.12 PAB 47.12

-50.08%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.26 COP 79.5K

$86.6 PAB 86.6

-70.84%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.10 COP 60.1K

$17.19 PAB 17.19

11.11%

Cinema Ticket

$3.95 COP 12.4K

$6.69 PAB 6.69

-40.96%

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

$316 COP 994.2K

$251 PAB 251

25.65%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,975 COP 18.8M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$60.0 COP 188.9K

$35.12 PAB 35.12

70.84%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$31.82 COP 100.2K

$25.48 PAB 25.48

24.88%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$102 COP 320.1K

$51.4 PAB 51.4

97.99%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$107 COP 338.3K

$59.0 PAB 59.0

82.09%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$475 COP 1.5M

$758 PAB 758

-37.31%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$374 COP 1.2M

$650 PAB 650

-42.44%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$849 COP 2.7M

$1,538 PAB 1,538

-44.80%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$719 COP 2.3M

$1,116 PAB 1,116

-35.54%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,265 COP 10.3M

$1,161 PAB 1,161

181.20%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,441 COP 4.5M

$1,155 PAB 1,155

24.72%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$624 COP 2.0M

$816 PAB 816

-23.45%

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: July 27, 2026

Last update for Boquete: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $475 in Medellin and $758 in Boquete. 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: $33.00 in Medellin vs $30.00 in Boquete. Groceries flip the comparison at $193 vs $266, 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 41% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, salaries run 31% lower in Boquete. 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: $475 in Medellin versus $758 in Boquete. 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, 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 41% less than in Boquete. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.