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

Monthly Cost of Living

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

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

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

Medellin is about 8% cheaper than Boroko, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

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

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.16 COP 20.1K

$7.78 PGK 34.23

-20.82%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.60 COP 106.1K

$37.91 PGK 167

-14.01%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.34 COP 23.9K

$5.83 PGK 25.65

25.90%

Cappuccino

$1.72 COP 5,600

$2.26 PGK 9.94

-23.89%

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

$1.05 COP 3,420

$0.74 PGK 3.27

41.89%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.77 COP 2,515

$0.81 PGK 3.55

-4.94%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.69 COP 5,488

$2.38 PGK 10.48

-28.99%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.17 COP 10.3K

$4.13 PGK 18.18

-23.24%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.05 COP 3,423

$1.70 PGK 7.48

-38.24%

White Bread (500g)

$1.30 COP 4,236

$1.31 PGK 5.75

-0.76%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.40 COP 4,544

$1.32 PGK 5.82

6.06%

Eggs

$2.16 COP 7,047

$3.84 PGK 16.92

-43.75%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.39 COP 14.3K

$4.31 PGK 18.96

1.86%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.88 COP 19.1K

$6.35 PGK 27.93

-7.40%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.64 COP 28.1K

$6.98 PGK 30.71

23.78%

Apples (1kg)

$2.28 COP 7,426

$4.10 PGK 18.04

-44.39%

Banana (1kg)

$1.11 COP 3,604

$2.80 PGK 12.32

-60.36%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.53 COP 4,983

$3.03 PGK 13.32

-49.50%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.35 COP 4,410

$2.86 PGK 12.60

-52.80%

Potato (1kg)

$1.13 COP 3,674

$3.06 PGK 13.47

-63.07%

Onion (1kg)

$1.13 COP 3,692

$0.92 PGK 4.07

22.83%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.85 COP 2,753

$1.19 PGK 5.22

-28.57%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.91 COP 2,975

$0.50 PGK 2.19

82.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.34 COP 7,630

$5.88 PGK 25.89

-60.20%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.37 COP 40.3K

$5.16 PGK 22.70

139.73%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.20 COP 3,909

$1.23 PGK 5.42

-2.44%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.49 COP 8,104

$1.73 PGK 7.60

43.93%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.84 COP 2,728

$0.50 PGK 2.21

68.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$40.57 COP 132.1K

$31.82 PGK 140

27.50%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.42 COP 4,623

$4.83 PGK 21.26

-70.60%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.92 COP 6,235

$1.44 PGK 6.35

33.33%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.66 COP 24.9K

$11.97 PGK 52.7

-36.01%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.99 COP 3,223

$0.86 PGK 3.77

15.12%

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

$18.0K COP 58.7M

$22.5K PGK 98.9K

-19.81%

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

$26.6K COP 86.7M

$24.2K PGK 106.4K

10.08%

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

$80.8 COP 263.1K

$66.3 PGK 292

21.87%

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

$9.95 COP 32.4K

$48.00 PGK 211

-79.27%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.18 COP 78.7K

$245 PGK 1,076

-90.11%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.08 COP 81.7K

$44.74 PGK 197

-43.94%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.15 COP 62.3K

$15.49 PGK 68.2

23.63%

Cinema Ticket

$3.98 COP 13.0K

$7.14 PGK 31.43

-44.26%

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

$305 COP 993.5K

$361 PGK 1,589

-15.48%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,059 COP 19.7M

$2,361 PGK 10.4K

156.63%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.1 COP 189.2K

$31.74 PGK 140

83.14%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$32.20 COP 104.8K

$14.69 PGK 64.6

119.20%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$101 COP 327.9K

$47.45 PGK 209

112.29%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$108 COP 350.8K

$28.24 PGK 124

281.55%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$477 COP 1.6M

$3,624 PGK 15.9K

-86.85%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$376 COP 1.2M

$236 PGK 1,037

59.63%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$845 COP 2.7M

$3,612 PGK 15.9K

-76.62%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$730 COP 2.4M

$237 PGK 1,045

207.56%

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)

$617 COP 2.0M

$360 PGK 1,584

71.32%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.43

22.09%

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

Last update for Medellin: July 12, 2026

Last update for Boroko: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $477 in Medellin versus $3,624 in Boroko. 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 $33.00 in Medellin versus $38.00 in Boroko. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $193 vs $222 – 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

Medellin vs Boroko: 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 $1,546 per month in Medellin and $1,679 in Boroko. 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 $305 per month in Medellin and $361 in Boroko. 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.