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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,013 per month in Medellin vs $1,115 in Boroko, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,602 per month in Medellin vs $1,539 in Boroko, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,192 per month in Medellin vs $1,963 in Boroko, rent included.

Medellin is about 9% cheaper than Boroko, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Both Medellin and Boroko are more affordable than the global median – Medellin 24% lower, Boroko 17% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.99 COP 21.4K

$8.03 PGK 35.01

-25.40%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.86 COP 117.4K

$38.81 PGK 169

-15.33%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.09 COP 25.3K

$5.94 PGK 25.89

19.36%

Cappuccino

$1.71 COP 6,115

$2.26 PGK 9.87

-24.34%

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

$1.10 COP 3,924

$0.81 PGK 3.54

35.80%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.78 COP 2,781

$0.83 PGK 3.63

-6.02%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.68 COP 5,997

$2.45 PGK 10.67

-31.43%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.07 COP 11.0K

$4.17 PGK 18.18

-26.38%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.09 COP 3,906

$1.63 PGK 7.11

-33.13%

White Bread (500g)

$1.26 COP 4,508

$1.30 PGK 5.67

-3.08%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.38 COP 4,922

$1.28 PGK 5.59

7.81%

Eggs

$2.19 COP 7,827

$3.93 PGK 17.16

-44.27%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.40 COP 15.7K

$4.56 PGK 19.88

-3.51%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.63 COP 20.1K

$6.11 PGK 26.64

-7.86%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.89 COP 31.8K

$7.12 PGK 31.06

24.86%

Apples (1kg)

$2.34 COP 8,349

$4.09 PGK 17.85

-42.79%

Banana (1kg)

$1.06 COP 3,777

$2.96 PGK 12.91

-64.19%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.50 COP 5,374

$2.90 PGK 12.64

-48.28%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.38 COP 4,924

$2.90 PGK 12.63

-52.41%

Potato (1kg)

$1.15 COP 4,111

$3.19 PGK 13.89

-63.95%

Onion (1kg)

$1.16 COP 4,155

$0.92 PGK 4.01

26.09%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.89 COP 3,182

$1.22 PGK 5.30

-27.05%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.84 COP 2,997

$0.50 PGK 2.18

68.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.28 COP 8,145

$6.07 PGK 26.50

-62.44%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.64 COP 38.0K

$5.12 PGK 22.34

107.81%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.20 COP 4,284

$1.17 PGK 5.11

2.56%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.47 COP 8,824

$1.63 PGK 7.13

51.53%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.86 COP 3,056

$0.49 PGK 2.15

75.51%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.40 COP 147.9K

$31.68 PGK 138

30.68%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.47 COP 5,264

$4.78 PGK 20.87

-69.25%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.96 COP 7,009

$1.51 PGK 6.58

29.80%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.74 COP 27.6K

$11.91 PGK 51.9

-35.01%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.95 COP 3,409

$0.88 PGK 3.84

7.95%

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

$18.1K COP 64.7M

$22.5K PGK 98.0K

-19.30%

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

$26.5K COP 94.6M

$24.5K PGK 107.0K

7.98%

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

$82.3 COP 293.7K

$67.8 PGK 296

21.38%

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

$9.50 COP 33.9K

$46.77 PGK 204

-79.69%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.23 COP 86.5K

$239 PGK 1,042

-89.85%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.89 COP 92.4K

$46.41 PGK 202

-44.21%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.00 COP 67.9K

$15.91 PGK 69.4

19.42%

Cinema Ticket

$3.93 COP 14.0K

$7.07 PGK 30.83

-44.41%

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

$309 COP 1.1M

$363 PGK 1,584

-14.80%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,965 COP 21.3M

$2,369 PGK 10.3K

151.81%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.7 COP 209.5K

$31.80 PGK 139

84.47%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$32.35 COP 115.5K

$14.15 PGK 61.7

128.62%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$103 COP 366.4K

$47.86 PGK 209

114.38%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$108 COP 387.2K

$28.78 PGK 126

276.75%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$476 COP 1.7M

$3,646 PGK 15.9K

-86.94%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$379 COP 1.4M

$241 PGK 1,053

56.91%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$838 COP 3.0M

$3,574 PGK 15.6K

-76.54%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$724 COP 2.6M

$239 PGK 1,044

202.39%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,791 COP 10.0M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,211 COP 4.3M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$512 COP 1.8M

$369 PGK 1,608

38.80%

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: May 31, 2026

Last update for Boroko: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $476 in Medellin versus $3,646 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 39% 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 $39.00 in Boroko. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $188 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 10% 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 $1,519 per month in Medellin and $1,673 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 $309 per month in Medellin and $363 in Boroko. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 18% 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 $1,013, than in Boroko at $1,115. 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 $1,013 versus $1,115 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.