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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,997 per month in Naperville, IL vs $1,034 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,035 per month in Naperville, IL vs $1,577 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $5,073 per month in Naperville, IL vs $2,120 in Medellin, rent included.

Naperville, IL costs about 190% more than Medellin, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Naperville, IL sits 124% above the global median, while Medellin is 23% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Naperville, IL
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$14.81 $14.81
$5.92 COP 21.5K
150.17%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$60.1 $60.1
$32.75 COP 119.1K
83.36%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.97 $9.97
$7.20 COP 26.2K
38.47%
Cappuccino
$4.28 $4.28
$1.70 COP 6,186
151.76%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.35 $2.35
$1.10 COP 3,996
113.64%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.32 $2.32
$0.72 COP 2,625
222.22%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$4.23 $4.23
$1.67 COP 6,067
153.29%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.85 $5.85
$3.10 COP 11.3K
88.71%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Naperville, IL
Medellin
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.77 $0.77
$1.06 COP 3,837
-27.36%
White Bread (500g)
$4.52 $4.52
$1.25 COP 4,531
261.60%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.25 $3.25
$1.39 COP 5,060
133.81%
Eggs
$4.78 $4.78
$2.26 COP 8,229
111.50%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.59 $7.59
$4.33 COP 15.8K
75.29%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$11.14 $11.14
$5.84 COP 21.2K
90.75%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.56 $11.56
$8.83 COP 32.1K
30.92%
Apples (1kg)
$5.84 $5.84
$2.24 COP 8,159
160.71%
Banana (1kg)
$1.64 $1.64
$1.08 COP 3,911
51.85%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.96 $2.96
$1.53 COP 5,563
93.46%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.46 $3.46
$1.37 COP 4,987
152.55%
Potato (1kg)
$1.24 $1.24
$1.13 COP 4,109
9.73%
Onion (1kg)
$2.36 $2.36
$1.12 COP 4,067
110.71%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.68 $1.68
$0.85 COP 3,080
97.65%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.46 $1.46
$0.91 COP 3,305
60.44%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$8.28 $8.28
$2.33 COP 8,477
255.36%
Wine (Bottle)
$8.37 $8.37
$11.13 COP 40.5K
-24.80%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.69 $1.69
$1.19 COP 4,342
42.02%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.78 $3.78
$2.37 COP 8,617
59.49%
🚌 Getting Around
Naperville, IL
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$6.05 $6.05
$0.79 COP 2,859
665.82%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$129 $129
$41.13 COP 149.6K
213.30%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$5.14 $5.14
$1.44 COP 5,223
256.94%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.70 $1.70
$1.91 COP 6,952
-10.99%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$50.7 $50.7
$8.02 COP 29.2K
532.54%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.90 $0.90
$0.94 COP 3,410
-4.26%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.3K $24.3K
$17.9K COP 65.2M
35.60%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.6K $25.6K
$26.8K COP 97.4M
-4.35%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Naperville, IL
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$172 $172
$84.0 COP 305.4K
105.23%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$51.8 $51.8
$9.60 COP 34.9K
439.06%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$50.7 $50.7
$24.16 COP 87.9K
109.69%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Naperville, IL
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$100 $100
$25.88 COP 94.1K
287.98%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$19.04 COP 69.3K
-
Cinema Ticket
$11.16 $11.16
$3.92 COP 14.2K
184.69%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Naperville, IL
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$938 $938
$306 COP 1.1M
206.27%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$23.3K $23.3K
$5,919 COP 21.5M
294.30%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Naperville, IL
Medellin
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$44.38 $44.38
$57.9 COP 210.6K
-23.36%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$46.60 $46.60
$31.82 COP 115.7K
46.45%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$66.3 $66.3
$99.9 COP 363.3K
-33.63%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$98.9 $98.9
$107 COP 389.7K
-7.69%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Naperville, IL
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,986 $1,986
$487 COP 1.8M
307.94%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,652 $1,652
$368 COP 1.3M
348.81%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,331 $3,331
$826 COP 3.0M
303.47%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,387 $2,387
$716 COP 2.6M
233.30%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,271 $2,271
$2,925 COP 10.6M
-22.36%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,262 $2,262
$1,407 COP 5.1M
60.82%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Naperville, IL
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$6,590 $6,590
$546 COP 2.0M
1108.05%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.52
13.43
-51.45%

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

Last update for Naperville, IL: April 28, 2026

Last update for Medellin: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,986 in Naperville, IL versus $487 in Medellin. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 1108% higher in Naperville, IL, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $60.0 in Naperville, IL versus $33.00 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $332 vs $190 – making Medellin the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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
Naperville, IL vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Medellin cheaper than Naperville, IL?
Yes – Naperville, IL is pricier by about 190%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,495 per month in Naperville, IL and $1,550 in Medellin. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Medellin, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Is eating out cheaper in Naperville, IL or Medellin?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $60.0 in Naperville, IL and $33.00 in Medellin. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
What are total monthly expenses in Naperville, IL vs Medellin?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,997 in Naperville, IL and $1,034 in Medellin. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Naperville, IL or Medellin?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Medellin, where all-in costs run around $1,034, than in Naperville, IL at $2,997. In Medellin it covers expenses comfortably, while in Naperville, IL it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Naperville, IL or Medellin more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Medellin – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Naperville, IL or Medellin?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Medellin. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Naperville, IL makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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