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

😐 Solo nomad: Chicago, IL is 127.4% more expensive than Medellin without rent, and 200.4% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Chicago, IL is 138.5% more expensive than Medellin without rent, and 194.8% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chicago, IL
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.82 $20.82
$6.23 COP 26K
234.19%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$100 $100
$32.34 COP 134.8K
210.27%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.97 $11.97
$7.39 COP 30.8K
61.98%
Cappuccino
$5.56 $5.56
$1.72 COP 7,155
223.26%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.11 $3.11
$1.1 COP 4,575
182.73%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.42 $2.42
$0.73 COP 3,060
231.51%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.86 $6.86
$1.66 COP 6,916
313.25%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.45 $8.45
$3.2 COP 13.3K
164.06%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chicago, IL
Medellin
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.04 $1.04
$1.09 COP 4,552
-4.59%
White Bread (500g)
$4.15 $4.15
$1.24 COP 5,188
234.68%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$5.52 $5.52
$1.33 COP 5,544
315.04%
Eggs
$4.65 $4.65
$2.22 COP 9,252
109.46%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.33 $14.33
$4.55 COP 19K
214.95%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$14.88 $14.88
$5.71 COP 23.8K
160.60%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$19.34 $19.34
$8.59 COP 35.8K
125.15%
Apples (1kg)
$5.17 $5.17
$2.26 COP 9,410
128.76%
Banana (1kg)
$1.71 $1.71
$1.07 COP 4,461
59.81%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.41 $4.41
$1.51 COP 6,293
192.05%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.51 $4.51
$1.42 COP 5,911
217.61%
Potato (1kg)
$2.53 $2.53
$1.11 COP 4,619
127.93%
Onion (1kg)
$2.74 $2.74
$1.18 COP 4,932
132.20%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.43 $2.43
$0.89 COP 3,718
173.03%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.7 $2.7
$0.84 COP 3,507
221.43%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$15.19 $15.19
$2.35 COP 9,809
546.38%
Wine (Bottle)
$16.42 $16.42
$9.34 COP 38.9K
75.80%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.35 $2.35
$1.18 COP 4,927
99.15%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.7 $3.7
$2.49 COP 10.4K
48.59%
🚌 Getting Around
Chicago, IL
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.53 $2.53
$0.83 COP 3,464
204.82%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$74.1 $74.1
$41.9 COP 174.7K
76.92%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.34 $3.34
$1.41 COP 5,899
136.88%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.42 $1.42
$1.96 COP 8,164
-27.55%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$25.42 $25.42
$7.85 COP 32.7K
223.82%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.08 $1.08
$1.02 COP 4,265
5.88%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.4K $32.4K
$17.6K COP 73.4M
84.22%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.2K $26.2K
$26.2K COP 109.2M
0.06%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chicago, IL
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$188 $188
$82.5 COP 344.1K
128.04%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$63.7 $63.7
$9.44 COP 39.4K
574.79%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$65.2 $65.2
$23.51 COP 98K
177.33%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chicago, IL
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$76.7 $76.7
$25.68 COP 107.1K
198.75%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$13.03 $13.03
$19.14 COP 79.8K
-31.92%
Cinema Ticket
$14.93 $14.93
$3.96 COP 16.5K
277.02%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chicago, IL
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$2,063 $2,063
$305 COP 1.3M
576.65%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$39.2K $39.2K
$5,925 COP 24.7M
561.28%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chicago, IL
Medellin
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$64.3 $64.3
$57.9 COP 241.4K
11.07%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$52.4 $52.4
$31.59 COP 131.7K
65.84%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$95.2 $95.2
$103 COP 430.1K
-7.71%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$145 $145
$106 COP 440.5K
36.90%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chicago, IL
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,378 $2,378
$489 COP 2M
385.87%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,584 $1,584
$379 COP 1.6M
318.02%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$4,763 $4,763
$827 COP 3.4M
476.00%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,815 $2,815
$729 COP 3M
286.07%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,588 $3,588
$2,190 COP 9.1M
63.84%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,490 $2,490
$1,532 COP 6.4M
62.51%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chicago, IL
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$5,275 $5,275
$550 COP 2.3M
859.12%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.6
13.43
-50.86%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

Last update for Medellin: October 28, 2025

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