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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,681 in Medellin versus $2,563 in Lisle, IL.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,445 in Medellin versus $3,789 in Lisle, IL.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,210 in Medellin versus $5,015 in Lisle, IL.

Living in Medellin costs roughly 34% less than in Lisle, IL, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Medellin 23% above, Lisle, IL 87% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Lisle, IL
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.02 COP 25.4K
$17.13 $17.13
-53.18%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$47.87 COP 152.0K
$70.6 $70.6
-32.22%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.89 COP 31.4K
$13.03 $13.03
-24.10%
Cappuccino
$3.13 COP 9,937
$5.20 $5.20
-39.81%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.91 COP 6,058
$2.56 $2.56
-25.39%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.51 COP 4,794
$2.02 $2.02
-25.25%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.12 COP 9,917
$5.54 $5.54
-43.68%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.75 COP 18.3K
$6.47 $6.47
-11.13%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Lisle, IL
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.44 COP 4,587
$0.94 $0.94
53.19%
White Bread (500g)
$2.49 COP 7,894
$2.99 $2.99
-16.72%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.77 COP 5,631
$4.86 $4.86
-63.58%
Eggs
$2.96 COP 9,396
$3.98 $3.98
-25.63%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.07 COP 32.0K
$13.02 $13.02
-22.66%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.12 COP 32.1K
$12.17 $12.17
-16.84%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.30 COP 45.4K
$18.76 $18.76
-23.77%
Apples (1kg)
$4.14 COP 13.1K
$4.30 $4.30
-3.72%
Banana (1kg)
$1.61 COP 5,106
$1.54 $1.54
4.55%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.25 COP 7,129
$4.17 $4.17
-46.04%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.25 COP 7,150
$4.43 $4.43
-49.21%
Potato (1kg)
$2.04 COP 6,486
$2.94 $2.94
-30.61%
Onion (1kg)
$1.54 COP 4,873
$2.53 $2.53
-39.13%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.17 COP 3,715
$2.22 $2.22
-47.30%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.31 COP 4,148
$2.39 $2.39
-45.19%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.90 COP 12.4K
$8.70 $8.70
-55.17%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.01 COP 44.5K
$14.27 $14.27
-1.82%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.74 COP 5,534
$2.11 $2.11
-17.54%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.87 COP 9,112
$2.97 $2.97
-3.37%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Lisle, IL
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.22 COP 3,858
$2.18 $2.18
-44.04%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$80.5 COP 255.5K
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.31 COP 4,155
$2.92 $2.92
-55.14%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.19 COP 6,944
$1.84 $1.84
19.02%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.71 COP 27.7K
$28.92 $28.92
-69.88%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.37 COP 4,334
$0.92 $0.92
48.91%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.8K COP 88.4M
$40.9K $40.9K
-31.99%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$35.8K COP 113.6M
$23.1K $23.1K
54.94%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Lisle, IL
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$177 COP 562.9K
$198 $198
-10.63%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.88 COP 44.1K
$50.4 $50.4
-72.48%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.72 COP 94.4K
$70.3 $70.3
-57.74%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Lisle, IL
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$44.88 COP 142.5K
$35.62 $35.62
26.00%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.12 COP 54.4K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.65 COP 21.1K
$14.96 $14.96
-55.55%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Lisle, IL
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$813 COP 2.6M
$1,399 $1,399
-41.89%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$9,187 COP 29.2M
$20.9K $20.9K
-56.12%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Lisle, IL
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$89.5 COP 284.1K
$49.25 $49.25
81.71%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$59.0 COP 187.2K
$36.73 $36.73
60.55%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$138 COP 438.8K
$100 $100
38.01%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$102 COP 324.2K
$111 $111
-8.28%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Lisle, IL
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,062 COP 3.4M
$1,618 $1,618
-34.36%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$663 COP 2.1M
$1,303 $1,303
-49.14%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,888 COP 6.0M
$2,491 $2,491
-24.20%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,027 COP 3.3M
$2,087 $2,087
-50.78%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,183 COP 13.3M
$2,899 $2,899
44.30%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,675 COP 5.3M
$2,518 $2,518
-33.48%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Lisle, IL
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$678 COP 2.2M
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
10.94
6.12
78.76%

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

Last update for Medellin: September 14, 2026

Last update for Lisle, IL: September 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,062 in Medellin and $1,618 in Lisle, IL. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $48.00 in Medellin vs $71.0 in Lisle, IL for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $305 vs $397 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 Lisle, IL: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Medellin or Lisle, IL?
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 Medellin and in Lisle, IL?
You'd need roughly $2,521 in Medellin and $3,844 in Lisle, 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 much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Medellin compared to Lisle, IL?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,062 in Medellin versus $1,618 in Lisle, IL. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Are groceries more expensive in Medellin or in Lisle, IL?
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 Medellin compared to Lisle, IL?
All in, you'll spend $1,681 per month in Medellin versus $2,563 in Lisle, IL – 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 Medellin or in Lisle, IL?
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, Medellin or Lisle, IL?
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 Medellin compared to Lisle, IL?
Safety-wise, Medellin and Lisle, 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 52% less than in Lisle, IL. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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