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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,018 in Medellin versus $2,641 in Libertyville, IL.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,609 in Medellin versus $3,824 in Libertyville, IL.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,200 in Medellin versus $5,008 in Libertyville, IL.

Living in Medellin costs roughly 61% less than in Libertyville, IL, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Medellin is 24% below, Libertyville, IL is 98% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Libertyville, IL
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.93 COP 19.0K
$17.25 $17.25
-65.62%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$33.12 COP 106.0K
$61.1 $61.1
-45.78%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.12 COP 22.8K
$10.05 $10.05
-29.15%
Cappuccino
$1.71 COP 5,457
$4.29 $4.29
-60.14%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.05 COP 3,356
$2.27 $2.27
-53.74%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.72 COP 2,311
$2.19 $2.19
-67.12%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.72 COP 5,502
$4.34 $4.34
-60.37%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.17 COP 10.2K
$6.07 $6.07
-47.78%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Libertyville, IL
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.06 COP 3,408
$0.76 $0.76
39.47%
White Bread (500g)
$1.31 COP 4,192
$2.93 $2.93
-55.29%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.33 COP 4,256
$4.85 $4.85
-72.58%
Eggs
$2.28 COP 7,298
$4.62 $4.62
-50.65%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$4.42 COP 14.1K
$16.56 $16.56
-73.31%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.92 COP 18.9K
$10.82 $10.82
-45.29%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$8.64 COP 27.7K
$19.81 $19.81
-56.39%
Apples (1kg)
$2.34 COP 7,504
$5.48 $5.48
-57.30%
Banana (1kg)
$1.10 COP 3,527
$1.26 $1.26
-12.70%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.47 COP 4,698
$5.46 $5.46
-73.08%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.38 COP 4,415
$5.59 $5.59
-75.31%
Potato (1kg)
$1.17 COP 3,754
$3.76 $3.76
-68.88%
Onion (1kg)
$1.17 COP 3,744
$4.47 $4.47
-73.83%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.90 COP 2,890
$1.94 $1.94
-53.61%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.84 COP 2,693
$1.48 $1.48
-43.24%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.33 COP 7,449
$8.15 $8.15
-71.41%
Wine (Bottle)
$11.92 COP 38.1K
$12.08 $12.08
-1.32%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.15 COP 3,673
$1.74 $1.74
-33.91%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.42 COP 7,749
$3.82 $3.82
-36.65%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Libertyville, IL
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.84 COP 2,687
$2.05 $2.05
-59.02%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$40.83 COP 130.7K
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.41 COP 4,517
$4.94 $4.94
-71.46%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.91 COP 6,127
$2.23 $2.23
-14.35%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.83 COP 25.0K
$51.0 $51.0
-84.64%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.94 COP 3,020
$0.88 $0.88
6.82%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$17.8K COP 57.0M
$29.2K $29.2K
-38.97%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.1K COP 86.7M
$30.2K $30.2K
-10.35%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Libertyville, IL
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$83.3 COP 266.4K
$245 $245
-65.97%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.66 COP 30.9K
$57.3 $57.3
-83.15%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.22 COP 77.5K
$71.3 $71.3
-66.01%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Libertyville, IL
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$25.22 COP 80.7K
$43.37 $43.37
-41.85%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.33 COP 61.9K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.07 COP 13.0K
$15.22 $15.22
-73.26%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Libertyville, IL
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$307 COP 981.2K
$961 $961
-68.11%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,981 COP 19.1M
$23.4K $23.4K
-74.47%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Libertyville, IL
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$60.0 COP 191.9K
$51.5 $51.5
16.50%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$32.65 COP 104.5K
$48.25 $48.25
-32.33%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$101 COP 323.5K
$95.3 $95.3
6.12%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$108 COP 345.7K
$101 $101
6.50%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Libertyville, IL
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$476 COP 1.5M
$1,602 $1,602
-70.29%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$379 COP 1.2M
$1,354 $1,354
-72.02%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$816 COP 2.6M
$2,658 $2,658
-69.28%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$707 COP 2.3M
$2,254 $2,254
-68.62%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,190 COP 10.2M
$2,747 $2,747
16.11%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,446 COP 4.6M
$2,412 $2,412
-40.03%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Libertyville, IL
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$622 COP 2.0M
$4,412 $4,412
-85.91%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
13.43
6.61
103.18%

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

Last update for Medellin: July 20, 2026

Last update for Libertyville, IL: July 21, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $476 in Medellin and $1,602 in Libertyville, IL. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Libertyville, IL pays 610% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $33.00 in Medellin vs $61.0 in Libertyville, IL for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $192 vs $409 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 Libertyville, IL: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Medellin or Libertyville, IL?
Medellin wins on cost – living expenses run 159% lower than in Libertyville, IL. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Medellin the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Medellin or in Libertyville, IL?
On paper, salaries run 610% lower in Libertyville, IL. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Medellin compared to Libertyville, IL?
Rent for a central apartment: $476 in Medellin versus $1,602 in Libertyville, IL. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Are groceries more expensive in Medellin or in Libertyville, IL?
Supermarket bills run roughly 113% higher in Libertyville, IL. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
How much does it cost to live in Medellin compared to Libertyville, IL?
All in, you'll spend $1,018 per month in Medellin versus $2,641 in Libertyville, IL – a 159% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Can you live on $1,500/month in Medellin or in Libertyville, IL?
At $1,018 in Medellin versus $2,641 in Libertyville, IL, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Medellin but tight or insufficient in Libertyville, IL. The gap between the two cities makes Medellin the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Medellin or Libertyville, IL?
Both work as nomad bases, but Medellin delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,018 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Medellin hard to pass up.
How safe is Medellin compared to Libertyville, IL?
Safety-wise, Medellin and Libertyville, IL 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 159% less than in Libertyville, IL. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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