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 $1,034 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,747 per month in East Chicago, IN vs $1,577 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,880 per month in East Chicago, IN vs $2,120 in Medellin, rent included.

East Chicago, IN costs about 153% more than Medellin, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

East Chicago, IN sits 95% above the global median, while Medellin is 23% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$18.94 $18.94

$5.92 COP 21.4K

219.93%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$76.3 $76.3

$32.75 COP 118.2K

132.82%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.16 $11.16

$7.20 COP 26.0K

55.00%

Cappuccino

$5.15 $5.15

$1.70 COP 6,140

202.94%

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

$2.50 $2.50

$1.10 COP 3,966

127.27%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.02 $2.02

$0.72 COP 2,605

180.56%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.88 $5.88

$1.67 COP 6,022

252.10%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.07 $7.07

$3.10 COP 11.2K

128.06%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.04 $1.04

$1.06 COP 3,809

-1.89%

White Bread (500g)

$3.42 $3.42

$1.25 COP 4,497

173.60%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.38 $4.38

$1.39 COP 5,022

215.11%

Eggs

$4.17 $4.17

$2.26 COP 8,168

84.51%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.10 $12.10

$4.33 COP 15.6K

179.45%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.68 $11.68

$5.84 COP 21.1K

100.00%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.15 $15.15

$8.83 COP 31.9K

71.57%

Apples (1kg)

$5.04 $5.04

$2.24 COP 8,099

125.00%

Banana (1kg)

$1.59 $1.59

$1.08 COP 3,882

47.22%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.27 $4.27

$1.53 COP 5,522

179.08%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.68 $4.68

$1.37 COP 4,950

241.61%

Potato (1kg)

$2.79 $2.79

$1.13 COP 4,078

146.90%

Onion (1kg)

$2.87 $2.87

$1.12 COP 4,036

156.25%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.04 $2.04

$0.85 COP 3,057

140.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.13 $2.13

$0.91 COP 3,281

134.07%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.66 $9.66

$2.33 COP 8,414

314.59%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.08 $15.08

$11.13 COP 40.2K

35.49%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.83 $1.83

$1.19 COP 4,309

53.78%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.32 $3.32

$2.37 COP 8,553

40.08%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.95 $1.95

$0.79 COP 2,838

146.84%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.13 COP 148.5K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.59 $3.59

$1.44 COP 5,184

149.31%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.64 $1.64

$1.91 COP 6,901

-14.14%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.65 $29.65

$8.02 COP 28.9K

269.70%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.84 $0.84

$0.94 COP 3,385

-10.64%

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

$29.7K $29.7K

$17.9K COP 64.7M

65.45%

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

$25.7K $25.7K

$26.8K COP 96.7M

-4.02%

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

$185 $185

$84.0 COP 303.1K

120.50%

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

$51.9 $51.9

$9.60 COP 34.7K

440.31%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$68.7 $68.7

$24.16 COP 87.2K

184.52%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.28 $42.28

$25.88 COP 93.4K

63.37%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.04 COP 68.7K

Cinema Ticket

$13.43 $13.43

$3.92 COP 14.1K

242.60%

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

$1,283 $1,283

$306 COP 1.1M

318.85%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$23.6K $23.6K

$5,919 COP 21.4M

299.21%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$50.4 $50.4

$57.9 COP 209.1K

-12.90%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$40.26 $40.26

$31.82 COP 114.9K

26.52%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.7 $85.7

$99.9 COP 360.6K

-14.26%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$111 $111

$107 COP 386.8K

3.14%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,607 $1,607

$487 COP 1.8M

230.20%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,364 $1,364

$368 COP 1.3M

270.57%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,616 $2,616

$826 COP 3.0M

216.81%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,238 $2,238

$716 COP 2.6M

212.46%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,445 $2,445

$2,925 COP 10.6M

-16.42%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,144 $2,144

$1,407 COP 5.1M

52.43%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,197 $4,197

$546 COP 2.0M

669.44%

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: April 25, 2026

Last update for Medellin: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,607 in East Chicago, IN versus $487 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 669% 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 $76.0 in East Chicago, IN versus $33.00 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $388 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

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

Yes – East Chicago, IN is pricier by about 153%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,922 per month in East Chicago, IN and $1,550 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 $1,034 in Medellin. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $1,283 per month in East Chicago, IN and $306 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 $1,034, 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.