😐A single person spends $2,523 per month in Galesburg, IL vs $1,030 in Medellin, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $3,521 per month in Galesburg, IL vs $1,586 in Medellin, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $4,520 per month in Galesburg, IL vs $2,143 in Medellin, rent included.
😐Galesburg, IL costs about 145% more than Medellin, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Galesburg, IL sits 88% above the global median, while Medellin is 23% 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
$5.92COP 21.2K
71.79%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$39.46$39.46
$33.17COP 118.7K
18.96%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.15$11.15
$7.25COP 25.9K
53.79%
Cappuccino
$5.09$5.09
$1.71COP 6,137
197.66%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.31$2.31
$1.09COP 3,915
111.93%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.52$1.52
$0.77COP 2,743
97.40%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.90$3.90
$1.75COP 6,254
122.86%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.92$5.92
$3.18COP 11.4K
86.16%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Galesburg, IL
Medellin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.94$0.94
$1.06COP 3,792
-11.32%
White Bread(500g)
$2.91$2.91
$1.30COP 4,657
123.85%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.04$3.04
$1.38COP 4,926
120.29%
Eggs
$2.91$2.91
$2.21COP 7,908
31.67%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.39$8.39
$4.52COP 16.2K
85.62%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$11.73$11.73
$5.80COP 20.7K
102.24%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.70$10.70
$8.97COP 32.1K
19.29%
Apples(1kg)
$7.10$7.10
$2.29COP 8,182
210.04%
Banana(1kg)
$1.06$1.06
$1.06COP 3,791
-
Oranges(1kg)
$5.66$5.66
$1.51COP 5,411
274.83%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.20$4.20
$1.36COP 4,869
208.82%
Potato(1kg)
$3.86$3.86
$1.16COP 4,146
232.76%
Onion(1kg)
$3.93$3.93
$1.17COP 4,174
235.90%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.53$1.53
$0.83COP 2,960
84.34%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.51$1.51
$0.85COP 3,043
77.65%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$7.44$7.44
$2.35COP 8,423
216.60%
Wine(Bottle)
$15.28$15.28
$11.09COP 39.7K
37.78%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.17$2.17
$1.15COP 4,133
88.70%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.07$4.07
$2.47COP 8,853
64.78%
🚌 Getting Around
Galesburg, IL
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.06$2.06
$0.79COP 2,827
160.76%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$39.53$39.53
$41.85COP 149.8K
-5.54%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.45$3.45
$1.44COP 5,140
139.58%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.52$1.52
$1.90COP 6,793
-20.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$39.42$39.42
$7.70COP 27.6K
411.95%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.83$0.83
$1.03COP 3,680
-19.42%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.0K$32.0K
$17.7KCOP 63.3M
81.14%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.1K$26.1K
$27.0KCOP 96.7M
-3.30%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Galesburg, IL
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$243$243
$81.4COP 291.4K
198.43%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$51.8$51.8
$9.42COP 33.7K
449.36%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$64.1$64.1
$23.77COP 85.1K
169.75%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Galesburg, IL
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$43.06$43.06
$25.86COP 92.6K
66.51%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$19.34COP 69.2K
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.15$6.15
$4.05COP 14.5K
51.85%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Galesburg, IL
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$1,282$1,282
$312COP 1.1M
310.37%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$24.1K$24.1K
$6,067COP 21.7M
297.03%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Galesburg, IL
Medellin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$50.4$50.4
$58.9COP 210.7K
-14.41%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.69$35.69
$32.82COP 117.5K
8.74%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$83.5$83.5
$100COP 359.6K
-16.89%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$118$118
$106COP 380.3K
11.31%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Galesburg, IL
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,580$1,580
$490COP 1.8M
222.65%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,353$1,353
$371COP 1.3M
265.14%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,651$2,651
$838COP 3.0M
216.30%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,195$2,195
$715COP 2.6M
207.11%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,034$3,034
$2,952COP 10.6M
2.76%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,354$2,354
$1,394COP 5.0M
68.87%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Galesburg, IL
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,760$1,760
$532COP 1.9M
230.86%
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: April 20, 2026
Last update for Medellin: April 20, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $1,580 in Galesburg, IL versus $490 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 231% 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 in Galesburg, IL versus $33 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $357 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
Galesburg, IL vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Medellin cheaper than Galesburg, IL?
Yes – Galesburg, IL is pricier by about 145%, 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 $3,784 per month in Galesburg, IL and $1,544 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 6% less in Medellin. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $1,282 per month in Galesburg, IL and $312 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 $1,030, than in Galesburg, IL at $2,523. 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.
Galesburg, IL vs other spots: cost of living compared