🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,034 in Medellin versus $1,393 in Boquete.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,577 in Medellin versus $2,063 in Boquete.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,120 in Medellin versus $2,733 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 23% below, Boquete is 4% above.
Moneda
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Boquete
Diferencia
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.92COP 21.4K
$5.44PAB 5.44
8.82%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.75COP 118.2K
$29.54PAB 29.54
10.87%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.20COP 26.0K
$7.70PAB 7.70
-6.49%
Cappuccino
$1.70COP 6,140
$3.41PAB 3.41
-50.15%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.10COP 3,966
$1.35PAB 1.35
-18.52%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.72COP 2,605
$0.86PAB 0.86
-16.28%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.67COP 6,022
$1.72PAB 1.72
-2.91%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.10COP 11.2K
$1.95PAB 1.95
58.97%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Boquete
Diferencia
Milk(1 liter)
$1.06COP 3,809
$1.55PAB 1.55
-31.61%
White Bread(500g)
$1.25COP 4,497
$2.41PAB 2.41
-48.13%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.39COP 5,022
$1.41PAB 1.41
-1.42%
Eggs
$2.26COP 8,168
$2.54PAB 2.54
-11.02%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$4.33COP 15.6K
$8.80PAB 8.80
-50.80%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.84COP 21.1K
$7.71PAB 7.71
-24.25%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.83COP 31.9K
$10.98PAB 10.98
-19.58%
Apples(1kg)
$2.24COP 8,099
$4.50PAB 4.50
-50.22%
Banana(1kg)
$1.08COP 3,882
$0.99PAB 0.99
9.09%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.53COP 5,522
$3.29PAB 3.29
-53.50%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.37COP 4,950
$1.58PAB 1.58
-13.29%
Potato(1kg)
$1.13COP 4,078
$2.27PAB 2.27
-50.22%
Onion(1kg)
$1.12COP 4,036
$1.70PAB 1.70
-34.12%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.85COP 3,057
$2.26PAB 2.26
-62.39%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.91COP 3,281
$1.65PAB 1.65
-44.85%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.33COP 8,414
$5.39PAB 5.39
-56.77%
Wine(Bottle)
$11.13COP 40.2K
$8.10PAB 8.10
37.41%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.19COP 4,309
$1.16PAB 1.16
2.59%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.37COP 8,553
$2.75PAB 2.75
-13.82%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Boquete
Diferencia
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.79COP 2,838
$1.48PAB 1.48
-46.62%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$41.13COP 148.5K
$25.41PAB 25.41
61.87%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.44COP 5,184
$1.02PAB 1.02
41.18%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.91COP 6,901
$1.95PAB 1.95
-2.05%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$8.02COP 28.9K
$30.20PAB 30.20
-73.44%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.94COP 3,385
$0.95PAB 0.95
-1.05%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$17.9KCOP 64.7M
$25.2KPAB 25.2K
-28.88%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.8KCOP 96.7M
$20.6KPAB 20.6K
29.90%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Boquete
Diferencia
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$84.0COP 303.1K
$53.2PAB 53.2
57.73%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.60COP 34.7K
$28.67PAB 28.67
-66.52%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.16COP 87.2K
$46.86PAB 46.86
-48.44%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Boquete
Diferencia
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$25.88COP 93.4K
$87.1PAB 87.1
-70.30%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.04COP 68.7K
$17.20PAB 17.20
10.70%
Cinema Ticket
$3.92COP 14.1K
$6.38PAB 6.38
-38.56%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Boquete
Diferencia
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$306COP 1.1M
$250PAB 250
22.45%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,919COP 21.4M
-
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Boquete
Diferencia
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.9COP 209.1K
$35.18PAB 35.18
64.61%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$31.82COP 114.9K
$24.86PAB 24.86
28.00%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$99.9COP 360.6K
$52.0PAB 52.0
92.19%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$107COP 386.8K
$60.3PAB 60.3
77.56%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Boquete
Diferencia
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$487COP 1.8M
$749PAB 749
-35.02%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$368COP 1.3M
$649PAB 649
-43.30%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$826COP 3.0M
$1,572PAB 1,572
-47.46%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$716COP 2.6M
$1,147PAB 1,147
-37.59%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,925COP 10.6M
$1,202PAB 1,202
143.36%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,407COP 5.1M
$1,165PAB 1,165
20.75%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Boquete
Diferencia
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$546COP 2.0M
$676PAB 676
-19.32%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
13.43
7
91.86%
Los datos de CityCost se basan en IA y aportaciones de usuarios. Puede haber pequeñas variaciones.
Última actualización para Medellin: April 27, 2026
Última actualización para Boquete: April 26, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $487 in Medellin and $749 in Boquete. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Boquete pays 24% 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.
Comparación de velocidades medias de internet por ciudad (actualizado April 2026)
El gráfico resalta el umbral de precisión para velocidades de internet móvil y fija, actualizado trimestralmente.
Índice del coste de vida para nómadas digitales
Medellin vs Boquete: Coste de vida - preguntas frecuentes
Is Boquete cheaper than Medellin?
Medellin is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Sport & Entertainment. The 35% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Medellin or Boquete?
On paper, Boquete earns 24% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
What is the rent difference between Medellin and Boquete?
Rent for a central apartment: $487 in Medellin versus $749 in Boquete. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do food prices compare in Medellin and Boquete?
Supermarket bills run roughly 42% higher in Boquete. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Is eating out cheaper in Medellin or Boquete?
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.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Medellin or Boquete?
At $1,034 in Medellin versus $1,393 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.
Is Medellin or Boquete more family-friendly?
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.
Which city is safer, Medellin or Boquete?
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.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Medellin gentler on the wallet – expenses run 35% less than in Boquete. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Medellin vs otros destinos: coste de vida comparado