Cost of Living Comparison Between East Chicago, IN and Medellin Cost of Living Comparison Between East Chicago, IN and Medellin

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,614 per month in East Chicago, IN vs $1,003 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,806 per month in East Chicago, IN vs $1,573 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,999 per month in East Chicago, IN vs $2,143 in Medellin, rent included.

East Chicago, IN costs about 161% more than Medellin, driven mainly by Eating Out.

East Chicago, IN sits 96% above the global median, while Medellin is 25% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$18.73 $18.73

$5.91 COP 18.6K

216.92%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$75.0 $75.0

$32.96 COP 103.8K

127.46%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.87 $10.87

$7.43 COP 23.4K

46.30%

Cappuccino

$5.18 $5.18

$1.65 COP 5,207

213.94%

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

$2.48 $2.48

$1.10 COP 3,468

125.45%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.97 $1.97

$0.78 COP 2,458

152.56%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.89 $5.89

$1.72 COP 5,412

242.44%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.89 $6.89

$3.18 COP 10.0K

116.67%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.04 $1.04

$1.10 COP 3,474

-5.45%

White Bread (500g)

$3.43 $3.43

$1.26 COP 3,962

172.22%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.41 $4.41

$1.38 COP 4,349

219.57%

Eggs

$4.17 $4.17

$2.18 COP 6,858

91.28%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.40 $12.40

$4.49 COP 14.1K

176.17%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.39 $11.39

$5.79 COP 18.2K

96.72%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.26 $15.26

$8.97 COP 28.2K

70.12%

Apples (1kg)

$4.80 $4.80

$2.32 COP 7,308

106.90%

Banana (1kg)

$1.57 $1.57

$1.06 COP 3,352

48.11%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.36 $4.36

$1.52 COP 4,774

186.84%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.81 $4.81

$1.36 COP 4,270

253.68%

Potato (1kg)

$2.92 $2.92

$1.13 COP 3,552

158.41%

Onion (1kg)

$2.77 $2.77

$1.17 COP 3,689

136.75%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.10 $2.10

$0.90 COP 2,838

133.33%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.12 $2.12

$0.90 COP 2,823

135.56%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.84 $9.84

$2.23 COP 7,034

341.26%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.93 $13.93

$12.12 COP 38.2K

14.93%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.78 $1.78

$1.19 COP 3,743

49.58%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.44 $3.44

$2.48 COP 7,815

38.71%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.96 $1.96

$0.85 COP 2,687

130.59%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.62 COP 131.0K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.54 $3.54

$1.42 COP 4,459

149.30%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.65 $1.65

$1.95 COP 6,141

-15.38%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$28.91 $28.91

$7.89 COP 24.8K

266.41%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.89 $0.89

$0.99 COP 3,118

-10.10%

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

$29.8K $29.8K

$17.6K COP 55.4M

69.54%

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

$25.2K $25.2K

$26.8K COP 84.4M

-6.06%

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

$190 $190

$83.0 COP 261.4K

129.42%

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

$53.2 $53.2

$9.70 COP 30.5K

448.04%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$67.8 $67.8

$23.52 COP 74.1K

188.10%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$43.63 $43.63

$25.26 COP 79.5K

72.72%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.10 COP 60.1K

Cinema Ticket

$13.62 $13.62

$3.95 COP 12.4K

244.81%

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

$1,316 $1,316

$316 COP 994.2K

316.65%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$23.2K $23.2K

$5,975 COP 18.8M

289.07%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$50.5 $50.5

$60.0 COP 188.9K

-15.80%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$39.48 $39.48

$31.82 COP 100.2K

24.07%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$86.4 $86.4

$102 COP 320.1K

-15.02%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$112 $112

$107 COP 338.3K

4.21%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,610 $1,610

$475 COP 1.5M

239.10%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,364 $1,364

$374 COP 1.2M

264.82%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,599 $2,599

$849 COP 2.7M

206.04%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,259 $2,259

$719 COP 2.3M

214.04%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,693 $2,693

$3,265 COP 10.3M

-17.52%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,355 $2,355

$1,441 COP 4.5M

63.49%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,123 $4,123

$624 COP 2.0M

560.19%

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 East Chicago, IN: July 25, 2026

Last update for Medellin: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,610 in East Chicago, IN versus $475 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 560% higher in East Chicago, IN, 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 East Chicago, IN versus $33.00 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $386 vs $193 – 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

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

Yes – East Chicago, IN is pricier by about 161%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,921 per month in East Chicago, IN and $1,504 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.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,614 in East Chicago, IN and $1,003 in Medellin. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $1,316 per month in East Chicago, IN and $316 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 $1,003, than in East Chicago, IN at $2,614. In Medellin it covers expenses comfortably, while in East Chicago, IN it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Medellin – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

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