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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,077 per month in Chicago, IL vs $1,013 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,628 per month in Chicago, IL vs $1,602 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $6,179 per month in Chicago, IL vs $2,192 in Medellin, rent included.

Chicago, IL costs about 204% more than Medellin, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Chicago, IL sits 130% above the global median, while Medellin is 24% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.91 $20.91

$5.99 COP 21.4K

249.08%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$98.1 $98.1

$32.86 COP 117.2K

198.63%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.86 $11.86

$7.09 COP 25.3K

67.28%

Cappuccino

$5.60 $5.60

$1.71 COP 6,105

227.49%

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

$3.07 $3.07

$1.10 COP 3,918

179.09%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.47 $2.47

$0.78 COP 2,776

216.67%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.14 $7.14

$1.68 COP 5,987

325.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.08 $8.08

$3.07 COP 10.9K

163.19%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.05 $1.05

$1.09 COP 3,899

-3.67%

White Bread (500g)

$4.11 $4.11

$1.26 COP 4,500

226.19%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.61 $5.61

$1.38 COP 4,914

306.52%

Eggs

$4.51 $4.51

$2.19 COP 7,813

105.94%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.27 $14.27

$4.40 COP 15.7K

224.32%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.89 $14.89

$5.63 COP 20.1K

164.48%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.19 $19.19

$8.89 COP 31.7K

115.86%

Apples (1kg)

$5.14 $5.14

$2.34 COP 8,334

119.66%

Banana (1kg)

$1.77 $1.77

$1.06 COP 3,771

66.98%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.39 $4.39

$1.50 COP 5,365

192.67%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.56 $4.56

$1.38 COP 4,915

230.43%

Potato (1kg)

$2.54 $2.54

$1.15 COP 4,104

120.87%

Onion (1kg)

$2.75 $2.75

$1.16 COP 4,148

137.07%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.42 $2.42

$0.89 COP 3,176

171.91%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.62 $2.62

$0.84 COP 2,992

211.90%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.92 $14.92

$2.28 COP 8,131

554.39%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.80 $14.80

$10.64 COP 37.9K

39.10%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.46 $2.46

$1.20 COP 4,276

105.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.73 $3.73

$2.47 COP 8,809

51.01%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.48 $2.48

$0.86 COP 3,051

188.37%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$75.4 $75.4

$41.40 COP 147.6K

82.20%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.18 $3.18

$1.47 COP 5,255

116.33%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.42 $1.42

$1.96 COP 6,997

-27.55%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$24.94 $24.94

$7.74 COP 27.6K

222.22%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.06 $1.06

$0.95 COP 3,403

11.58%

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

$31.9K $31.9K

$18.1K COP 64.6M

76.05%

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

$26.0K $26.0K

$26.5K COP 94.4M

-1.70%

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

$185 $185

$82.3 COP 293.2K

124.83%

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

$61.7 $61.7

$9.50 COP 33.9K

549.89%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$66.9 $66.9

$24.23 COP 86.4K

176.19%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$75.2 $75.2

$25.89 COP 92.3K

190.34%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.08 $13.08

$19.00 COP 67.7K

-31.16%

Cinema Ticket

$14.71 $14.71

$3.93 COP 14.0K

274.30%

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

$2,020 $2,020

$309 COP 1.1M

552.96%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$39.4K $39.4K

$5,965 COP 21.3M

560.60%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$64.6 $64.6

$58.7 COP 209.1K

10.14%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.5 $52.5

$32.35 COP 115.3K

62.13%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$97.8 $97.8

$103 COP 365.7K

-4.66%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$148 $148

$108 COP 386.5K

36.08%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,313 $2,313

$476 COP 1.7M

385.64%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,590 $1,590

$379 COP 1.4M

319.74%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,608 $4,608

$838 COP 3.0M

449.75%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,779 $2,779

$724 COP 2.6M

283.87%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,922 $3,922

$2,791 COP 9.9M

40.53%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,613 $2,613

$1,211 COP 4.3M

115.68%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,217 $5,217

$512 COP 1.8M

919.44%

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: May 30, 2026

Last update for Medellin: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,313 in Chicago, IL versus $476 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 919% higher in Chicago, 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 $98.0 in Chicago, IL versus $33.00 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $447 vs $188 – 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

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

Monthly costs with rent: $3,077 in Chicago, IL, $1,013 in Medellin – roughly 204% apart. Chicago, IL costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,616 per month in Chicago, IL and $1,519 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.

Groceries cost about 137% more in Chicago, IL, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $98.0 in Chicago, IL and $33.00 in Medellin. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Medellin, where all-in costs run around $1,013, than in Chicago, IL at $3,077. In Medellin it covers expenses comfortably, while in Chicago, IL it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Chicago, IL has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,013 in Medellin to $3,077 in Chicago, IL. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

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