Cost of Living Comparison Between Barrington, IL and Medellin Cost of Living Comparison Between Barrington, IL and Medellin

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,744 per month in Barrington, IL vs $1,017 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,055 per month in Barrington, IL vs $1,602 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $5,366 per month in Barrington, IL vs $2,188 in Medellin, rent included.

Barrington, IL costs about 170% more than Medellin, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Barrington, IL sits 104% above the global median, while Medellin is 24% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$18.65 $18.65

$5.95 COP 20.8K

213.45%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$74.6 $74.6

$33.33 COP 116.3K

123.88%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.10 $11.10

$7.23 COP 25.2K

53.53%

Cappuccino

$5.11 $5.11

$1.63 COP 5,687

213.50%

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

$2.59 $2.59

$1.09 COP 3,821

137.61%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.05 $2.05

$0.73 COP 2,548

180.82%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.98 $5.98

$1.74 COP 6,065

243.68%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.10 $7.10

$3.23 COP 11.3K

119.81%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.11 $1.11

$1.05 COP 3,662

5.71%

White Bread (500g)

$3.67 $3.67

$1.29 COP 4,515

184.50%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.26 $4.26

$1.32 COP 4,617

222.73%

Eggs

$4.33 $4.33

$2.27 COP 7,927

90.75%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.17 $15.17

$4.35 COP 15.2K

248.74%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.01 $11.01

$5.88 COP 20.5K

87.24%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.65 $15.65

$8.61 COP 30.0K

81.77%

Apples (1kg)

$5.84 $5.84

$2.25 COP 7,844

159.56%

Banana (1kg)

$2.00 $2.00

$1.07 COP 3,733

86.92%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.31 $4.31

$1.52 COP 5,322

183.55%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.96 $6.96

$1.42 COP 4,964

390.14%

Potato (1kg)

$2.80 $2.80

$1.17 COP 4,084

139.32%

Onion (1kg)

$2.15 $2.15

$1.17 COP 4,077

83.76%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.07 $2.07

$0.89 COP 3,096

132.58%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.18 $2.18

$0.90 COP 3,146

142.22%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.46 $9.46

$2.25 COP 7,837

320.44%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.02 $17.02

$11.04 COP 38.5K

54.17%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.80 $1.80

$1.14 COP 3,977

57.89%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.38 $3.38

$2.38 COP 8,301

42.02%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.98 $1.98

$0.84 COP 2,916

135.71%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$119 $119

$41.95 COP 146.4K

184.22%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.42 $3.42

$1.41 COP 4,912

142.55%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.59 $1.59

$1.90 COP 6,634

-16.32%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$28.69 $28.69

$7.75 COP 27.0K

270.19%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.01 $1.01

$1.01 COP 3,509

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

$29.2K $29.2K

$17.6K COP 61.4M

66.28%

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

$25.4K $25.4K

$26.5K COP 92.5M

-4.27%

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

$231 $231

$83.7 COP 292.1K

176.45%

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

$48.57 $48.57

$9.45 COP 33.0K

413.97%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$58.9 $58.9

$24.11 COP 84.1K

144.38%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$65.6 $65.6

$25.31 COP 88.3K

159.34%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$15.09 $15.09

$19.14 COP 66.8K

-21.16%

Cinema Ticket

$14.78 $14.78

$4.10 COP 14.3K

260.49%

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

$1,488 $1,488

$312 COP 1.1M

376.86%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$26.9K $26.9K

$5,993 COP 20.9M

349.27%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$51.8 $51.8

$58.0 COP 202.6K

-10.77%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$40.08 $40.08

$32.56 COP 113.6K

23.10%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$86.8 $86.8

$99.6 COP 347.7K

-12.92%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$112 $112

$109 COP 378.8K

2.88%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,583 $1,583

$482 COP 1.7M

228.27%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,333 $1,333

$379 COP 1.3M

251.34%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,611 $2,611

$837 COP 2.9M

211.78%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,228 $2,228

$723 COP 2.5M

208.07%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,304 $2,304

$2,840 COP 9.9M

-18.86%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,236 $2,236

$1,223 COP 4.3M

82.80%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,922 $5,922

$541 COP 1.9M

994.97%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.51

13.43

-51.53%

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

Last update for Barrington, IL: June 6, 2026

Last update for Medellin: June 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,583 in Barrington, IL versus $482 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 run about 995% higher in Barrington, IL, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $75.0 in Barrington, IL versus $33.00 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $420 vs $190 – 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

Barrington, IL vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Barrington, IL costs about 170% more than Medellin, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,115 per month in Barrington, IL and $1,525 in Medellin. 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.

Public transport costs about 184% less in Medellin. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $1,488 per month in Barrington, IL and $312 in Medellin. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Medellin, where all-in costs run around $1,017, than in Barrington, IL at $2,744. In Medellin it covers expenses comfortably, while in Barrington, IL it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Medellin costs $1,017 versus $2,744 in Barrington, IL. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Medellin. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Barrington, IL makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.