😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,563 in Lisle, IL versus $1,681 in Medellin.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,789 in Lisle, IL versus $2,445 in Medellin.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,015 in Lisle, IL versus $3,210 in Medellin.
🌍Living in Lisle, IL is roughly 52% more expensive than in Medellin, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Lisle, IL87% above, Medellin23% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisle, IL
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.13$17.13
$8.02COP 25.4K
113.59%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$70.6$70.6
$47.87COP 152.0K
47.55%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$13.03$13.03
$9.89COP 31.4K
31.75%
Cappuccino
$5.20$5.20
$3.13COP 9,937
66.13%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.56$2.56
$1.91COP 6,058
34.03%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.02$2.02
$1.51COP 4,794
33.77%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$5.54$5.54
$3.12COP 9,917
77.56%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$6.47$6.47
$5.75COP 18.3K
12.52%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisle, IL
Medellin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.94$0.94
$1.44COP 4,587
-34.72%
White Bread(500g)
$2.99$2.99
$2.49COP 7,894
20.08%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$4.86$4.86
$1.77COP 5,631
174.58%
Eggs
$3.98$3.98
$2.96COP 9,396
34.46%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.02$13.02
$10.07COP 32.0K
29.29%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$12.17$12.17
$10.12COP 32.1K
20.26%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$18.76$18.76
$14.30COP 45.4K
31.19%
Apples(1kg)
$4.30$4.30
$4.14COP 13.1K
3.86%
Banana(1kg)
$1.54$1.54
$1.61COP 5,106
-4.35%
Oranges(1kg)
$4.17$4.17
$2.25COP 7,129
85.33%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.43$4.43
$2.25COP 7,150
96.89%
Potato(1kg)
$2.94$2.94
$2.04COP 6,486
44.12%
Onion(1kg)
$2.53$2.53
$1.54COP 4,873
64.29%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.22$2.22
$1.17COP 3,715
89.74%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$2.39$2.39
$1.31COP 4,148
82.44%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$8.70$8.70
$3.90COP 12.4K
123.08%
Wine(Bottle)
$14.27$14.27
$14.01COP 44.5K
1.86%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.11$2.11
$1.74COP 5,534
21.26%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.97$2.97
$2.87COP 9,112
3.48%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisle, IL
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.18$2.18
$1.22COP 3,858
78.69%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$80.5COP 255.5K
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.92$2.92
$1.31COP 4,155
122.90%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.84$1.84
$2.19COP 6,944
-15.98%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$28.92$28.92
$8.71COP 27.7K
232.03%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.92$0.92
$1.37COP 4,334
-32.85%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$40.9K$40.9K
$27.8KCOP 88.4M
47.04%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.1K$23.1K
$35.8KCOP 113.6M
-35.46%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisle, IL
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$198$198
$177COP 562.9K
11.90%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$50.4$50.4
$13.88COP 44.1K
263.40%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$70.3$70.3
$29.72COP 94.4K
136.64%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisle, IL
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$35.62$35.62
$44.88COP 142.5K
-20.63%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$17.12COP 54.4K
-
Cinema Ticket
$14.96$14.96
$6.65COP 21.1K
124.96%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisle, IL
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$1,399$1,399
$813COP 2.6M
72.10%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$20.9K$20.9K
$9,187COP 29.2M
127.87%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisle, IL
Medellin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$49.25$49.25
$89.5COP 284.1K
-44.97%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$36.73$36.73
$59.0COP 187.2K
-37.71%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$100$100
$138COP 438.8K
-27.54%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$111$111
$102COP 324.2K
9.03%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisle, IL
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,618$1,618
$1,062COP 3.4M
52.36%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,303$1,303
$663COP 2.1M
96.62%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,491$2,491
$1,888COP 6.0M
31.93%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,087$2,087
$1,027COP 3.3M
103.15%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,899$2,899
$4,183COP 13.3M
-30.70%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,518$2,518
$1,675COP 5.3M
50.34%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisle, IL
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$678COP 2.2M
-
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 Lisle, IL: September 12, 2026
Last update for Medellin: September 14, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,618 in Lisle, IL and $1,062 in Medellin. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $71.0 in Lisle, IL vs $48.00 in Medellin for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $397 vs $305 per month, with Medellin cheaper across the board.
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
Lisle, IL vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Lisle, IL or Medellin?
Medellin wins on cost – living expenses run 52% lower than in Lisle, IL. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Medellin the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Lisle, IL and in Medellin?
You'd need roughly $3,844 in Lisle, IL and $2,521 in Medellin to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Lisle, IL compared to Medellin?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,618 in Lisle, IL versus $1,062 in Medellin. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Are groceries more expensive in Lisle, IL or in Medellin?
Supermarket bills run roughly 30% higher in Lisle, IL. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
How much does it cost to live in Lisle, IL compared to Medellin?
All in, you'll spend $2,563 per month in Lisle, IL versus $1,681 in Medellin – a 52% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Can you live on $2,500/month in Lisle, IL or in Medellin?
At $1,681 in Medellin versus $2,563 in Lisle, IL, a $2,500 budget is realistic in Medellin but tight or insufficient in Lisle, IL. The gap between the two cities makes Medellin the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Lisle, IL or Medellin?
Both work as nomad bases, but Medellin delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,681 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Medellin hard to pass up.
How safe is Lisle, IL compared to Medellin?
Safety-wise, Lisle, IL and Medellin are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Medellin gentler on the wallet – expenses run 52% less than in Lisle, IL. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.