😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,592 in Lombard, IL versus $1,018 in Medellin.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,759 in Lombard, IL versus $1,609 in Medellin.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,927 in Lombard, IL versus $2,200 in Medellin.
🌍Living in Lombard, IL is roughly 155% more expensive than in Medellin, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Lombard, IL is 94% above, Medellin is 24% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lombard, IL
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$18.76$18.76
$5.93COP 19.0K
216.36%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$75.2$75.2
$33.12COP 106.0K
127.14%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.03$11.03
$7.12COP 22.8K
54.92%
Cappuccino
$4.94$4.94
$1.71COP 5,457
188.89%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.56$2.56
$1.05COP 3,356
143.81%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.03$2.03
$0.72COP 2,311
181.94%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$5.84$5.84
$1.72COP 5,502
239.53%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$6.81$6.81
$3.17COP 10.2K
114.83%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lombard, IL
Medellin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.03$1.03
$1.06COP 3,408
-2.83%
White Bread(500g)
$3.52$3.52
$1.31COP 4,192
168.70%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$4.23$4.23
$1.33COP 4,256
218.05%
Eggs
$4.11$4.11
$2.28COP 7,298
80.26%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$12.37$12.37
$4.42COP 14.1K
179.86%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$11.47$11.47
$5.92COP 18.9K
93.75%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.27$15.27
$8.64COP 27.7K
76.74%
Apples(1kg)
$4.78$4.78
$2.34COP 7,504
104.27%
Banana(1kg)
$1.57$1.57
$1.10COP 3,527
42.73%
Oranges(1kg)
$4.19$4.19
$1.47COP 4,698
185.03%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.74$4.74
$1.38COP 4,415
243.48%
Potato(1kg)
$2.83$2.83
$1.17COP 3,754
141.88%
Onion(1kg)
$2.91$2.91
$1.17COP 3,744
148.72%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.03$2.03
$0.90COP 2,890
125.56%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$2.10$2.10
$0.84COP 2,693
150.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$9.87$9.87
$2.33COP 7,449
323.61%
Wine(Bottle)
$15.28$15.28
$11.92COP 38.1K
28.19%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.78$1.78
$1.15COP 3,673
54.78%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.26$3.26
$2.42COP 7,749
34.71%
🚌 Getting Around
Lombard, IL
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.02$2.02
$0.84COP 2,687
140.48%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$40.83COP 130.7K
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.41$3.41
$1.41COP 4,517
141.84%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.65$1.65
$1.91COP 6,127
-13.61%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$29.53$29.53
$7.83COP 25.0K
277.14%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.83$0.83
$0.94COP 3,020
-11.70%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.3K$29.3K
$17.8KCOP 57.0M
64.36%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.0K$26.0K
$27.1KCOP 86.7M
-4.01%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lombard, IL
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$186$186
$83.3COP 266.4K
123.54%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$51.8$51.8
$9.66COP 30.9K
436.34%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$68.1$68.1
$24.22COP 77.5K
181.34%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lombard, IL
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$43.48$43.48
$25.22COP 80.7K
72.40%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$19.33COP 61.9K
-
Cinema Ticket
$13.54$13.54
$4.07COP 13.0K
232.68%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lombard, IL
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$1,298$1,298
$307COP 981.2K
323.21%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$23.9K$23.9K
$5,981COP 19.1M
299.32%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lombard, IL
Medellin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$50.5$50.5
$60.0COP 191.9K
-15.81%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.17$40.17
$32.65COP 104.5K
23.03%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$88.3$88.3
$101COP 323.5K
-12.62%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$111$111
$108COP 345.7K
2.56%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lombard, IL
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,633$1,633
$476COP 1.5M
243.13%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,378$1,378
$379COP 1.2M
263.74%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,604$2,604
$816COP 2.6M
218.94%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,234$2,234
$707COP 2.3M
215.83%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,351$2,351
$3,190COP 10.2M
-26.28%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,206$2,206
$1,446COP 4.6M
52.50%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lombard, IL
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$622COP 2.0M
-
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 Lombard, IL: July 21, 2026
Last update for Medellin: July 20, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,633 in Lombard, IL and $476 in Medellin. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $75.0 in Lombard, IL vs $33.00 in Medellin for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $387 vs $192 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
Lombard, IL vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Medellin cheaper than Lombard, IL?
Medellin is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Sport & Entertainment. The 155% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $3,888 in Lombard, IL and $1,527 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.
What is the rent difference between Lombard, IL and Medellin?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,633 in Lombard, IL versus $476 in Medellin. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do food prices compare in Lombard, IL and in Medellin?
Supermarket bills run roughly 101% higher in Lombard, IL. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
What are total monthly expenses in Lombard, IL and in Medellin?
All in, you'll spend $2,592 per month in Lombard, IL versus $1,018 in Medellin – a 155% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Lombard, IL or in Medellin?
At $1,018 in Medellin versus $2,592 in Lombard, IL, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Medellin but tight or insufficient in Lombard, IL. The gap between the two cities makes Medellin the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Lombard, IL or Medellin more family-friendly?
For families, Medellin is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Lombard, IL, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Lombard, IL or Medellin?
Safety-wise, Lombard, 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 easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Medellin gentler on the wallet – expenses run 155% less than in Lombard, IL. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Lombard, IL vs other spots: cost of living compared