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

🙂 Solo nomad: Medellin is 56% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 66.7% cheaper with rent.

🙂 Family of 3: Medellin is 58.1% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 66.1% cheaper with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.23 COP 26K

$20.82 $20.82

-70.08%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.34 COP 134.8K

$100 $100

-67.77%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.39 COP 30.8K

$11.97 $11.97

-38.26%

Cappuccino

$1.72 COP 7,155

$5.56 $5.56

-69.06%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.1 COP 4,575

$3.11 $3.11

-64.63%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.73 COP 3,060

$2.42 $2.42

-69.83%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.66 COP 6,916

$6.86 $6.86

-75.80%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.2 COP 13.3K

$8.45 $8.45

-62.13%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.09 COP 4,552

$1.04 $1.04

4.81%

White Bread (500g)

$1.24 COP 5,188

$4.15 $4.15

-70.12%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.33 COP 5,544

$5.52 $5.52

-75.91%

Eggs

$2.22 COP 9,252

$4.65 $4.65

-52.26%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.55 COP 19K

$14.33 $14.33

-68.25%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.71 COP 23.8K

$14.88 $14.88

-61.63%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.59 COP 35.8K

$19.34 $19.34

-55.58%

Apples (1kg)

$2.26 COP 9,410

$5.17 $5.17

-56.29%

Banana (1kg)

$1.07 COP 4,461

$1.71 $1.71

-37.43%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.51 COP 6,293

$4.41 $4.41

-65.76%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.42 COP 5,911

$4.51 $4.51

-68.51%

Potato (1kg)

$1.11 COP 4,619

$2.53 $2.53

-56.13%

Onion (1kg)

$1.18 COP 4,932

$2.74 $2.74

-56.93%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.89 COP 3,718

$2.43 $2.43

-63.37%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.84 COP 3,507

$2.7 $2.7

-68.89%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.35 COP 9,809

$15.19 $15.19

-84.53%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.34 COP 38.9K

$16.42 $16.42

-43.12%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.18 COP 4,927

$2.35 $2.35

-49.79%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.49 COP 10.4K

$3.7 $3.7

-32.70%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.83 COP 3,464

$2.53 $2.53

-67.19%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.9 COP 174.7K

$74.1 $74.1

-43.48%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 COP 5,899

$3.34 $3.34

-57.78%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.96 COP 8,164

$1.42 $1.42

38.03%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.85 COP 32.7K

$25.42 $25.42

-69.12%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.02 COP 4,265

$1.08 $1.08

-5.56%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$17.6K COP 73.4M

$32.4K $32.4K

-45.72%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$26.2K COP 109.2M

$26.2K $26.2K

-0.06%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$82.5 COP 344.1K

$188 $188

-56.15%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$9.44 COP 39.4K

$63.7 $63.7

-85.18%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$23.51 COP 98K

$65.2 $65.2

-63.94%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.68 COP 107.1K

$76.7 $76.7

-66.53%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.14 COP 79.8K

$13.03 $13.03

46.89%

Cinema Ticket

$3.96 COP 16.5K

$14.93 $14.93

-73.48%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$305 COP 1.3M

$2,063 $2,063

-85.22%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,925 COP 24.7M

$39.2K $39.2K

-84.88%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$57.9 COP 241.4K

$64.3 $64.3

-9.97%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$31.59 COP 131.7K

$52.4 $52.4

-39.70%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$103 COP 430.1K

$95.2 $95.2

8.35%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$106 COP 440.5K

$145 $145

-26.95%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$489 COP 2M

$2,378 $2,378

-79.42%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$379 COP 1.6M

$1,584 $1,584

-76.08%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$827 COP 3.4M

$4,763 $4,763

-82.64%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$729 COP 3M

$2,815 $2,815

-74.10%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,190 COP 9.1M

$3,588 $3,588

-38.96%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,532 COP 6.4M

$2,490 $2,490

-38.46%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$550 COP 2.3M

$5,275 $5,275

-89.57%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.43

6.6

103.48%

Citycost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Medellin: October 28, 2025

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

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