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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,563 per month in Galesburg, IL vs $1,013 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,626 per month in Galesburg, IL vs $1,602 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,689 per month in Galesburg, IL vs $2,192 in Medellin, rent included.

Galesburg, IL costs about 153% more than Medellin, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Galesburg, IL sits 91% above the global median, while Medellin is 24% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Galesburg, IL
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.17 $10.17
$5.99 COP 21.5K
69.78%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$39.33 $39.33
$32.86 COP 118.1K
19.69%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.11 $11.11
$7.09 COP 25.5K
56.70%
Cappuccino
$5.02 $5.02
$1.71 COP 6,154
193.57%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.26 $2.26
$1.10 COP 3,949
105.45%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.48 $1.48
$0.78 COP 2,798
89.74%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$4.09 $4.09
$1.68 COP 6,035
143.45%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.14 $6.14
$3.07 COP 11.0K
100.00%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Galesburg, IL
Medellin
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.92 $0.92
$1.09 COP 3,930
-15.60%
White Bread (500g)
$2.85 $2.85
$1.26 COP 4,536
126.19%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.06 $3.06
$1.38 COP 4,953
121.74%
Eggs
$2.90 $2.90
$2.19 COP 7,876
32.42%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.22 $8.22
$4.40 COP 15.8K
86.82%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$12.00 $12.00
$5.63 COP 20.2K
113.14%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.49 $10.49
$8.89 COP 32.0K
18.00%
Apples (1kg)
$7.12 $7.12
$2.34 COP 8,401
204.27%
Banana (1kg)
$1.10 $1.10
$1.06 COP 3,801
3.77%
Oranges (1kg)
$5.82 $5.82
$1.50 COP 5,408
288.00%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.14 $4.14
$1.38 COP 4,955
200.00%
Potato (1kg)
$3.91 $3.91
$1.15 COP 4,137
240.00%
Onion (1kg)
$4.05 $4.05
$1.16 COP 4,181
249.14%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.53 $1.53
$0.89 COP 3,202
71.91%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.51 $1.51
$0.84 COP 3,016
79.76%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$7.31 $7.31
$2.28 COP 8,196
220.61%
Wine (Bottle)
$15.13 $15.13
$10.64 COP 38.2K
42.20%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.07 $2.07
$1.20 COP 4,311
72.50%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.06 $4.06
$2.47 COP 8,880
64.37%
🚌 Getting Around
Galesburg, IL
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.95 $1.95
$0.86 COP 3,075
126.74%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$39.26 $39.26
$41.40 COP 148.8K
-5.17%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.46 $3.46
$1.47 COP 5,297
135.37%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.59 $1.59
$1.96 COP 7,053
-18.88%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$40.55 $40.55
$7.74 COP 27.8K
423.90%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.83 $0.83
$0.95 COP 3,430
-12.63%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.1K $32.1K
$18.1K COP 65.2M
76.88%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.3K $26.3K
$26.5K COP 95.2M
-0.67%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Galesburg, IL
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$243 $243
$82.3 COP 295.6K
195.31%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$53.3 $53.3
$9.50 COP 34.1K
461.26%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$65.5 $65.5
$24.23 COP 87.1K
170.28%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Galesburg, IL
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$42.15 $42.15
$25.89 COP 93.0K
62.80%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$19.00 COP 68.3K
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.15 $6.15
$3.93 COP 14.1K
56.49%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Galesburg, IL
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,291 $1,291
$309 COP 1.1M
317.36%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$23.7K $23.7K
$5,965 COP 21.4M
298.04%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Galesburg, IL
Medellin
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$52.3 $52.3
$58.7 COP 210.8K
-10.93%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.64 $34.64
$32.35 COP 116.2K
7.08%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$83.8 $83.8
$103 COP 368.7K
-18.30%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$120 $120
$108 COP 389.6K
10.69%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Galesburg, IL
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,620 $1,620
$476 COP 1.7M
240.23%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,355 $1,355
$379 COP 1.4M
257.76%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,620 $2,620
$838 COP 3.0M
212.58%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,210 $2,210
$724 COP 2.6M
205.34%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,067 $3,067
$2,791 COP 10.0M
9.90%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,114 $2,114
$1,211 COP 4.4M
74.52%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Galesburg, IL
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,717 $1,717
$512 COP 1.8M
235.40%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.49
13.43
-51.68%

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

Last update for Galesburg, IL: June 2, 2026

Last update for Medellin: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,620 in Galesburg, 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 235% higher in Galesburg, 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 $39.00 in Galesburg, IL versus $33.00 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $357 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
Galesburg, IL vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Medellin cheaper than Galesburg, IL?
Yes – Galesburg, IL 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.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,844 per month in Galesburg, IL and $1,519 in Medellin. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
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.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
Public transport costs about 5% less in Medellin. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $1,291 per month in Galesburg, IL and $309 in Medellin. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Galesburg, IL or Medellin?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Medellin, where all-in costs run around $1,013, than in Galesburg, IL at $2,563. In Medellin it covers expenses comfortably, while in Galesburg, IL it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Galesburg, IL or Medellin more family-friendly?
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.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Medellin. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Galesburg, IL makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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