Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Panama City, FL and Medellin

For one person, living is cheaper in Medellin: $1,639 a month against $2,409 in Panama City, FL, rent and utilities included – about $9,200 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Panama City, FL, United States
Medellin, Colombia
Panama City, FL
🇺🇸 United States
$2,409
/mo nomad
Medellin
🇨🇴 Colombia
$1,639
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Panama City, FL and in Medellin

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Panama City, FL and in Medellin actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $2,409 per month in Panama City, FL vs $1,639 in Medellin, rent included.

  • Panama City, FL $2,409
  • Medellin $1,639

A couple spends around $3,287 per month in Panama City, FL vs $2,413 in Medellin, rent included.

  • Panama City, FL $3,287
  • Medellin $2,413

A family of three spends $4,165 per month in Panama City, FL vs $3,186 in Medellin, rent included.

  • Panama City, FL $4,165
  • Medellin $3,186

Panama City, FL costs about 47% more than Medellin, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both Panama City, FL and Medellin sit above the global median – Panama City, FL by 77%, Medellin by 20%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Panama City, FL
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$18.74 $18.74
$8.09 COP 25.6K
131.64%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$54.0 $54.0
$47.05 COP 148.9K
14.77%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$12.11 $12.11
$9.50 COP 30.1K
27.47%
Cappuccino
$5.60 $5.60
$3.01 COP 9,540
86.05%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.89 $2.89
$1.80 COP 5,693
60.56%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.70 $1.70
$1.41 COP 4,469
20.57%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.10 $5.10
$3.18 COP 10.0K
60.38%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.12 $7.12
$5.75 COP 18.2K
23.83%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Panama City, FL
Medellin
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.90 $0.90
$1.51 COP 4,778
-40.40%
White Bread (500g)
$3.46 $3.46
$2.38 COP 7,524
45.38%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.66 $2.66
$1.77 COP 5,606
50.28%
Eggs
$3.30 $3.30
$2.89 COP 9,146
14.19%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.78 $10.78
$10.19 COP 32.2K
5.79%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$11.61 $11.61
$9.87 COP 31.2K
17.63%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.64 $14.64
$13.99 COP 44.3K
4.65%
Apples (1kg)
$4.10 $4.10
$3.97 COP 12.6K
3.27%
Banana (1kg)
$1.49 $1.49
$1.55 COP 4,911
-3.87%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.73 $2.73
$2.18 COP 6,907
25.23%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.30 $4.30
$2.18 COP 6,910
97.25%
Potato (1kg)
$3.11 $3.11
$1.96 COP 6,210
58.67%
Onion (1kg)
$2.84 $2.84
$1.59 COP 5,029
78.62%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.09 $2.09
$1.15 COP 3,625
81.74%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.22 $2.22
$1.24 COP 3,934
79.03%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$9.31 $9.31
$3.96 COP 12.5K
135.10%
Wine (Bottle)
$12.15 $12.15
$13.68 COP 43.3K
-11.18%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.70 $1.70
$1.66 COP 5,252
2.41%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.86 $3.86
$2.26 COP 7,145
70.80%
🚌 Getting Around
Panama City, FL
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.46 $1.46
$1.17 COP 3,696
24.79%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$35.52 $35.52
$77.4 COP 244.8K
-54.09%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.55 $2.55
$1.27 COP 4,013
100.79%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.51 $1.51
$2.05 COP 6,480
-26.34%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$26.17 $26.17
$8.55 COP 27.1K
206.08%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.98 $0.98
$1.35 COP 4,262
-27.41%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.5K $27.5K
$34.1K COP 107.8M
-19.28%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.9K $25.9K
$34.7K COP 109.7M
-25.16%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Panama City, FL
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$169 $169
$170 COP 536.8K
-0.18%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$44.38 $44.38
$13.55 COP 42.9K
227.53%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$59.5 $59.5
$28.07 COP 88.8K
112.11%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Panama City, FL
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$24.35 $24.35
$43.70 COP 138.3K
-44.28%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$17.19 COP 54.4K
-
Cinema Ticket
$12.87 $12.87
$6.91 COP 21.9K
86.25%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Panama City, FL
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$618 $618
$797 COP 2.5M
-22.44%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$13.9K $13.9K
$9,112 COP 28.8M
52.04%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Panama City, FL
Medellin
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$48.26 $48.26
$84.7 COP 268.1K
-43.04%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.43 $40.43
$58.0 COP 183.4K
-30.24%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$84.5 $84.5
$135 COP 427.1K
-37.42%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$95.9 $95.9
$97.9 COP 309.7K
-2.05%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Panama City, FL
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$921 $921
$1,208 COP 3.8M
-23.74%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,248 $1,248
$642 COP 2.0M
94.50%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,673 $1,673
$2,028 COP 6.4M
-17.49%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,662 $1,662
$1,012 COP 3.2M
64.25%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,269 $3,269
$4,170 COP 13.2M
-21.61%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,694 $2,694
$1,910 COP 6.0M
41.05%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Panama City, FL
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,980 $3,980
$657 COP 2.1M
505.63%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.54
10.94
-40.22%

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

Last update for Panama City, FL: October 27, 2026

Last update for Medellin: October 25, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Panama City, FL
$1.2K
Medellin
$642 48.6% $606
Groceries & Markets
Panama City, FL
$354
Medellin
$297 16.1% $57
Eating Out
Panama City, FL
$312
Medellin
$170 45.6% $142
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Panama City, FL
$273
Medellin
$211 22.7% $62
Clothing & Footwear
Panama City, FL
$121
Medellin
$169 39.6% $48
Getting Around
Panama City, FL
$51
Medellin
$94 81.8% $42
Sport & Entertainment
Panama City, FL
$50
Medellin
$58 14.9% $7.4

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $921 in Panama City, FL versus $1,208 in Medellin. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries in Panama City, FL are about 6.1 times higher. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $54 in Panama City, FL versus $47 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $354 vs $297 – making Medellin the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇺🇸 Panama City, FL
🇨🇴 Medellin
🕒 Local time
06:58 6:58 AM
06:58 6:58 AM
Same time as Panama City, FL
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
36,484
2,486,723
Exchange rates and currency converter

COP, EUR to USD – United States Dollar Converter

United States Dollar exchange rates as of October 29, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.896 EUR).

Colombian Peso exchange rates as of October 29, 2026: 1 USD = 3,164 COP (10,000 COP = 3.16 USD). 1 EUR = 3,531 COP (10,000 COP = 2.83 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Panama City, FL Medellin 2,860 km ≈ 4 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Panama City, FL
  • Medellin

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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
Panama City, FL vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Medellin cheaper than Panama City, FL?
Yes – Panama City, FL is pricier by about 47%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in eating out.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,614 per month in Panama City, FL and $2,459 in Medellin. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Panama City, FL, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $921 there versus $1,208 in Medellin.
Is eating out cheaper in Panama City, FL or in Medellin?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $54 in Panama City, FL and $47 in Medellin. That’s a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
What are total monthly expenses in Panama City, FL and in Medellin?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,409 in Panama City, FL and $1,639 in Medellin. That makes Medellin about 32% cheaper.
Is it better to live in Panama City, FL or in Medellin?
It depends on your priorities. Medellin has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,639 in Medellin to $2,409 in Panama City, FL. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Medellin. If higher salaries or specific career opportunities are the priority, Panama City, FL makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

Panama City, FL vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities

Show times on the 12-hour clock, temperatures in °F and distances in miles?