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 $2,530 per month in East Chicago, IN vs $1,681 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,693 per month in East Chicago, IN vs $2,445 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,856 per month in East Chicago, IN vs $3,210 in Medellin, rent included.

East Chicago, IN costs about 51% more than Medellin, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both East Chicago, IN and Medellin sit above the global median – East Chicago, IN by 85%, Medellin by 23%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$22.72 $22.72

$8.02 COP 25.4K

183.29%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$77.5 $77.5

$47.87 COP 152.0K

61.90%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.17 $11.17

$9.89 COP 31.4K

12.94%

Cappuccino

$6.08 $6.08

$3.13 COP 9,937

94.25%

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

$2.59 $2.59

$1.91 COP 6,058

35.60%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.16 $2.16

$1.51 COP 4,794

43.05%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.28 $5.28

$3.12 COP 9,917

69.23%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.96 $7.96

$5.75 COP 18.3K

38.43%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.00 $1.00

$1.44 COP 4,587

-30.56%

White Bread (500g)

$3.47 $3.47

$2.49 COP 7,894

39.36%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.30 $4.30

$1.77 COP 5,631

142.94%

Eggs

$4.75 $4.75

$2.96 COP 9,396

60.47%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.66 $10.66

$10.07 COP 32.0K

5.86%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$12.06 $12.06

$10.12 COP 32.1K

19.17%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$17.59 $17.59

$14.30 COP 45.4K

23.01%

Apples (1kg)

$4.91 $4.91

$4.14 COP 13.1K

18.60%

Banana (1kg)

$1.45 $1.45

$1.61 COP 5,106

-9.94%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.30 $4.30

$2.25 COP 7,129

91.11%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.46 $4.46

$2.25 COP 7,150

98.22%

Potato (1kg)

$2.82 $2.82

$2.04 COP 6,486

38.24%

Onion (1kg)

$3.03 $3.03

$1.54 COP 4,873

96.75%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.10 $2.10

$1.17 COP 3,715

79.49%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.28 $2.28

$1.31 COP 4,148

74.05%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.38 $10.38

$3.90 COP 12.4K

166.15%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.89 $16.89

$14.01 COP 44.5K

20.56%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.91 $1.91

$1.74 COP 5,534

9.77%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.95 $2.95

$2.87 COP 9,112

2.79%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.77 $1.77

$1.22 COP 3,858

45.08%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$80.5 COP 255.5K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.84 $2.84

$1.31 COP 4,155

116.79%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.90 $1.90

$2.19 COP 6,944

-13.24%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$33.18 $33.18

$8.71 COP 27.7K

280.94%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.91 $0.91

$1.37 COP 4,334

-33.58%

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

$34.8K $34.8K

$27.8K COP 88.4M

24.99%

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

$25.0K $25.0K

$35.8K COP 113.6M

-30.17%

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

$202 $202

$177 COP 562.9K

14.02%

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

$57.3 $57.3

$13.88 COP 44.1K

312.68%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$68.5 $68.5

$29.72 COP 94.4K

130.52%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$44.39 $44.39

$44.88 COP 142.5K

-1.09%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.12 COP 54.4K

Cinema Ticket

$12.55 $12.55

$6.65 COP 21.1K

88.72%

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

$1,292 $1,292

$813 COP 2.6M

58.90%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$20.7K $20.7K

$9,187 COP 29.2M

124.83%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$46.46 $46.46

$89.5 COP 284.1K

-48.08%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.79 $35.79

$59.0 COP 187.2K

-39.31%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$97.9 $97.9

$138 COP 438.8K

-29.16%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$117 $117

$102 COP 324.2K

15.02%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,578 $1,578

$1,062 COP 3.4M

48.58%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,279 $1,279

$663 COP 2.1M

92.87%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,526 $2,526

$1,888 COP 6.0M

33.80%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,168 $2,168

$1,027 COP 3.3M

111.09%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,784 $2,784

$4,183 COP 13.3M

-33.45%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,067 $2,067

$1,675 COP 5.3M

23.43%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,212 $4,212

$678 COP 2.2M

521.45%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.12

10.94

-44.06%

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

Last update for East Chicago, IN: September 13, 2026

Last update for Medellin: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,578 in East Chicago, IN versus $1,062 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 521% 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 $77.0 in East Chicago, IN versus $48.00 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $398 vs $305 – 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 51%, 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 $3,795 per month in East Chicago, IN and $2,521 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 $2,530 in East Chicago, IN and $1,681 in Medellin. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $1,292 per month in East Chicago, IN and $813 in Medellin. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $2,500 monthly budget goes further in Medellin, where all-in costs run around $1,681, than in East Chicago, IN at $2,530. 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.