🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,681 in Medellin versus $2,546 in Bradley, IL.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,445 in Medellin versus $3,704 in Bradley, IL.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,210 in Medellin versus $4,863 in Bradley, IL.
🌍Living in Medellin costs roughly 34% less than in Bradley, IL, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Medellin23% above, Bradley, IL86% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Bradley, IL
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.02COP 25.4K
$14.84$14.84
-45.96%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$47.87COP 152.0K
$61.9$61.9
-22.63%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.89COP 31.4K
$8.05$8.05
22.86%
Cappuccino
$3.13COP 9,937
$4.95$4.95
-36.77%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.91COP 6,058
$2.22$2.22
-13.96%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.51COP 4,794
$1.09$1.09
38.53%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.12COP 9,917
$4.97$4.97
-37.22%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.75COP 18.3K
$4.86$4.86
18.31%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Bradley, IL
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.44COP 4,587
$0.99$0.99
45.45%
White Bread(500g)
$2.49COP 7,894
$2.41$2.41
3.32%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.77COP 5,631
$5.47$5.47
-67.64%
Eggs
$2.96COP 9,396
$3.93$3.93
-24.68%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.07COP 32.0K
$12.21$12.21
-17.53%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$10.12COP 32.1K
$15.45$15.45
-34.50%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$14.30COP 45.4K
$17.87$17.87
-19.98%
Apples(1kg)
$4.14COP 13.1K
$4.96$4.96
-16.53%
Banana(1kg)
$1.61COP 5,106
$2.73$2.73
-41.03%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.25COP 7,129
$5.33$5.33
-57.79%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.25COP 7,150
$4.85$4.85
-53.61%
Potato(1kg)
$2.04COP 6,486
$3.49$3.49
-41.55%
Onion(1kg)
$1.54COP 4,873
$3.03$3.03
-49.17%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.17COP 3,715
$2.06$2.06
-43.20%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.31COP 4,148
$3.02$3.02
-56.62%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.90COP 12.4K
$11.89$11.89
-67.20%
Wine(Bottle)
$14.01COP 44.5K
$12.79$12.79
9.54%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.74COP 5,534
$2.15$2.15
-19.07%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.87COP 9,112
$4.49$4.49
-36.08%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Bradley, IL
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.22COP 3,858
$1.96$1.96
-37.76%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$80.5COP 255.5K
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.31COP 4,155
$4.41$4.41
-70.29%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.19COP 6,944
$2.85$2.85
-23.16%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$8.71COP 27.7K
$17.38$17.38
-49.88%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.37COP 4,334
$1.06$1.06
29.25%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.8KCOP 88.4M
$36.9K$36.9K
-24.54%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$35.8KCOP 113.6M
$27.0K$27.0K
32.36%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Bradley, IL
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$177COP 562.9K
$224$224
-20.97%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.88COP 44.1K
$52.0$52.0
-73.33%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.72COP 94.4K
$64.9$64.9
-54.21%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Bradley, IL
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$44.88COP 142.5K
$41.23$41.23
8.85%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.12COP 54.4K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.65COP 21.1K
$14.85$14.85
-55.22%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Bradley, IL
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$813COP 2.6M
$1,419$1,419
-42.73%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$9,187COP 29.2M
$12.4K$12.4K
-25.99%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Bradley, IL
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$89.5COP 284.1K
$65.1$65.1
37.44%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$59.0COP 187.2K
$32.59$32.59
80.95%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$138COP 438.8K
$63.2$63.2
118.71%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$102COP 324.2K
$100$100
2.05%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Bradley, IL
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,062COP 3.4M
$1,557$1,557
-31.77%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$663COP 2.1M
$1,287$1,287
-48.47%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,888COP 6.0M
$2,477$2,477
-23.76%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,027COP 3.3M
$2,133$2,133
-51.84%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,183COP 13.3M
$2,728$2,728
53.34%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,675COP 5.3M
$2,383$2,383
-29.73%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Bradley, IL
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$678COP 2.2M
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
10.94
6.36
72.01%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Medellin: September 14, 2026
Last update for Bradley, IL: September 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,062 in Medellin and $1,557 in Bradley, IL. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $48.00 in Medellin vs $62.0 in Bradley, IL for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $305 vs $432 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
Medellin vs Bradley, IL: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Medellin and in Bradley, IL?
Medellin and Bradley, IL differ by about 51% in total monthly costs ($1,681 vs $2,546 including rent). Medellin is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
What salary covers living expenses in Medellin compared to Bradley, IL?
You'd need roughly $2,521 in Medellin and $3,819 in Bradley, IL 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 do apartment prices compare in Medellin and in Bradley, IL?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,062 in Medellin versus $1,557 in Bradley, IL. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Medellin and Bradley, IL?
Childcare runs $813 in Medellin versus $1,419 in Bradley, IL. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
Dining out is cheaper in Medellin – a meal for two runs $48.00 versus $62.0 in Bradley, IL. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is more doable on $2,500 per month?
At $1,681 in Medellin versus $2,546 in Bradley, IL, a $2,500 budget is realistic in Medellin but tight or insufficient in Bradley, IL. The gap between the two cities makes Medellin the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Medellin and Bradley, IL?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Where should expats move: Medellin or Bradley, IL?
Expats usually find Medellin gentler on the wallet – expenses run 51% less than in Bradley, IL. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.