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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,575 per month in Lansing, IL vs $1,030 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,757 per month in Lansing, IL vs $1,586 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,940 per month in Lansing, IL vs $2,143 in Medellin, rent included.

Lansing, IL costs about 150% more than Medellin, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Lansing, IL sits 92% above the global median, while Medellin is 23% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lansing, IL
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$18.71 $18.71
$5.92 COP 21.2K
216.05%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$76.0 $76.0
$33.17 COP 118.7K
129.24%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.02 $11.02
$7.25 COP 25.9K
52.00%
Cappuccino
$5.15 $5.15
$1.71 COP 6,137
201.17%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.49 $2.49
$1.09 COP 3,915
128.44%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.04 $2.04
$0.77 COP 2,743
164.94%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.12 $6.12
$1.75 COP 6,254
249.71%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.94 $6.94
$3.18 COP 11.4K
118.24%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lansing, IL
Medellin
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.00 $1.00
$1.06 COP 3,792
-5.66%
White Bread (500g)
$3.57 $3.57
$1.30 COP 4,657
174.62%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$4.45 $4.45
$1.38 COP 4,926
222.46%
Eggs
$4.29 $4.29
$2.21 COP 7,908
94.12%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.39 $12.39
$4.52 COP 16.2K
174.12%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$11.29 $11.29
$5.80 COP 20.7K
94.66%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$15.27 $15.27
$8.97 COP 32.1K
70.23%
Apples (1kg)
$4.95 $4.95
$2.29 COP 8,182
116.16%
Banana (1kg)
$1.59 $1.59
$1.06 COP 3,791
50.00%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.32 $4.32
$1.51 COP 5,411
186.09%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.65 $4.65
$1.36 COP 4,869
241.91%
Potato (1kg)
$2.78 $2.78
$1.16 COP 4,146
139.66%
Onion (1kg)
$2.88 $2.88
$1.17 COP 4,174
146.15%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.12 $2.12
$0.83 COP 2,960
155.42%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.09 $2.09
$0.85 COP 3,043
145.88%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$9.77 $9.77
$2.35 COP 8,423
315.74%
Wine (Bottle)
$15.09 $15.09
$11.09 COP 39.7K
36.07%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.83 $1.83
$1.15 COP 4,133
59.13%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.46 $3.46
$2.47 COP 8,853
40.08%
🚌 Getting Around
Lansing, IL
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.97 $1.97
$0.79 COP 2,827
149.37%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$41.85 COP 149.8K
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.48 $3.48
$1.44 COP 5,140
141.67%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.66 $1.66
$1.90 COP 6,793
-12.63%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$28.85 $28.85
$7.70 COP 27.6K
274.68%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.90 $0.90
$1.03 COP 3,680
-12.62%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.0K $29.0K
$17.7K COP 63.3M
63.98%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.2K $25.2K
$27.0K COP 96.7M
-6.79%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lansing, IL
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$190 $190
$81.4 COP 291.4K
133.47%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$53.8 $53.8
$9.42 COP 33.7K
470.70%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$69.1 $69.1
$23.77 COP 85.1K
190.74%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lansing, IL
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$42.81 $42.81
$25.86 COP 92.6K
65.55%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$19.34 COP 69.2K
-
Cinema Ticket
$13.32 $13.32
$4.05 COP 14.5K
228.89%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lansing, IL
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,320 $1,320
$312 COP 1.1M
322.36%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$23.7K $23.7K
$6,067 COP 21.7M
290.65%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lansing, IL
Medellin
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$51.0 $51.0
$58.9 COP 210.7K
-13.44%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.63 $40.63
$32.82 COP 117.5K
23.80%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$87.9 $87.9
$100 COP 359.6K
-12.56%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$111 $111
$106 COP 380.3K
4.58%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lansing, IL
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,575 $1,575
$490 COP 1.8M
221.68%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,380 $1,380
$371 COP 1.3M
272.19%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,648 $2,648
$838 COP 3.0M
216.00%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,256 $2,256
$715 COP 2.6M
215.60%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,622 $2,622
$2,952 COP 10.6M
-11.19%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,521 $2,521
$1,394 COP 5.0M
80.82%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lansing, IL
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,155 $3,155
$532 COP 1.9M
492.97%
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 Lansing, IL: April 20, 2026

Last update for Medellin: April 20, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,575 in Lansing, 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 493% higher in Lansing, 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 $76 in Lansing, IL versus $33 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $389 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
Lansing, IL vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Medellin cheaper than Lansing, IL?
Yes – Lansing, IL is pricier by about 150%, 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 $3,862 per month in Lansing, 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.
What are total monthly expenses in Lansing, IL vs Medellin?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,575 in Lansing, IL and $1,030 in Medellin. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $1,320 per month in Lansing, 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 Lansing, IL or Medellin?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Medellin, where all-in costs run around $1,030, than in Lansing, IL at $2,575. In Medellin it covers expenses comfortably, while in Lansing, IL it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Lansing, 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, Lansing, IL makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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