Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Panama City Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Panama City

🙂 Solo nomad: Medellin is 27.7% cheaper than Panama City without rent, and 43.1% cheaper with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: Medellin is 28.7% cheaper than Panama City without rent, and 41.9% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Panama City
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.03 COP 22.9K
$10.17 PAB 10.17
-40.71%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$33.17 COP 125.7K
$50.4 PAB 50.4
-34.24%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.29 COP 27.6K
$7.88 PAB 7.88
-7.49%
Cappuccino
$1.63 COP 6,174
$3.71 PAB 3.71
-56.06%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.05 COP 3,974
$1.64 PAB 1.64
-35.98%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.77 COP 2,918
$1.33 PAB 1.33
-42.11%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.73 COP 6,554
$2.95 PAB 2.95
-41.36%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.18 COP 12.0K
$4.06 PAB 4.06
-21.67%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Panama City
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.07 COP 4,043
$1.83 PAB 1.83
-41.53%
White Bread (500g)
$1.31 COP 4,968
$2.58 PAB 2.58
-49.22%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.38 COP 5,230
$2.40 PAB 2.40
-42.50%
Eggs
$2.25 COP 8,515
$2.97 PAB 2.97
-24.24%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$4.48 COP 17.0K
$11.34 PAB 11.34
-60.49%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.74 COP 21.7K
$7.06 PAB 7.06
-18.70%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$8.86 COP 33.6K
$9.76 PAB 9.76
-9.22%
Apples (1kg)
$2.24 COP 8,496
$3.40 PAB 3.40
-34.12%
Banana (1kg)
$1.06 COP 4,015
$1.50 PAB 1.50
-29.33%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.51 COP 5,736
$2.77 PAB 2.77
-45.49%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.36 COP 5,154
$3.23 PAB 3.23
-57.89%
Potato (1kg)
$1.12 COP 4,247
$2.20 PAB 2.20
-49.09%
Onion (1kg)
$1.17 COP 4,430
$2.87 PAB 2.87
-59.23%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.90 COP 3,418
$2.17 PAB 2.17
-58.53%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.84 COP 3,171
$1.54 PAB 1.54
-45.45%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.26 COP 8,559
$5.99 PAB 5.99
-62.27%
Wine (Bottle)
$9.97 COP 37.8K
$10.31 PAB 10.31
-3.30%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.18 COP 4,482
$1.30 PAB 1.30
-9.23%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.39 COP 9,054
$2.33 PAB 2.33
2.58%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Panama City
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.86 COP 3,255
$0.43 PAB 0.43
100.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$41.45 COP 157.1K
$22.39 PAB 22.39
85.13%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.47 COP 5,559
$2.46 PAB 2.46
-40.24%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.95 COP 7,372
$1.82 PAB 1.82
7.14%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.76 COP 29.4K
$21.57 PAB 21.57
-64.02%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.97 COP 3,665
$0.95 PAB 0.95
2.11%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$17.9K COP 68.0M
$20.1K PAB 20.1K
-10.86%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.7K COP 101.2M
$20.1K PAB 20.1K
32.67%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Panama City
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$81.1 COP 307.3K
$123 PAB 123
-34.27%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.40 COP 35.6K
$29.81 PAB 29.81
-68.47%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$23.61 COP 89.4K
$49.87 PAB 49.87
-52.66%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Panama City
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$25.55 COP 96.8K
$46.19 PAB 46.19
-44.68%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.29 COP 73.1K
$32.83 PAB 32.83
-41.24%
Cinema Ticket
$4.10 COP 15.5K
$8.09 PAB 8.09
-49.32%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Panama City
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$306 COP 1.2M
$478 PAB 478
-35.99%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,899 COP 22.3M
$15.8K PAB 15.8K
-62.68%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Panama City
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$59.8 COP 226.6K
$52.0 PAB 52.0
14.95%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$31.96 COP 121.1K
$46.66 PAB 46.66
-31.50%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$103 COP 389.1K
$89.6 PAB 89.6
14.61%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$108 COP 408.7K
$123 PAB 123
-12.54%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Panama City
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$483 COP 1.8M
$1,124 PAB 1,124
-57.00%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$377 COP 1.4M
$894 PAB 894
-57.79%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$822 COP 3.1M
$2,059 PAB 2,059
-60.10%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$721 COP 2.7M
$1,553 PAB 1,553
-53.58%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,784 COP 10.5M
$3,128 PAB 3,128
-11.01%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,320 COP 5.0M
$1,730 PAB 1,730
-23.70%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Panama City
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$538 COP 2.0M
$967 PAB 967
-44.42%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
13.43
6.23
115.57%

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

Last update for Medellin: March 3, 2026

Last update for Panama City: March 1, 2026

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated December 2025)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

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