😐A single person spends $2,587 per month in Oak Lawn, IL vs $1,641 in Medellin, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $3,697 per month in Oak Lawn, IL vs $2,447 in Medellin, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $4,807 per month in Oak Lawn, IL vs $3,253 in Medellin, rent included.
😐Oak Lawn, IL costs about 58% more than Medellin, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both Oak Lawn, IL and Medellin sit above the global median – Oak Lawn, IL by 88%, Medellin by 19%.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Oak Lawn, IL
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$19.62$19.62
$8.04COP 24.8K
144.03%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$68.7$68.7
$48.29COP 148.6K
42.22%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.12$10.12
$9.42COP 29.0K
7.43%
Cappuccino
$5.18$5.18
$2.94COP 9,040
76.19%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.99$2.99
$1.86COP 5,735
60.75%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.02$2.02
$1.46COP 4,479
38.36%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$5.90$5.90
$3.21COP 9,882
83.80%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$7.72$7.72
$5.71COP 17.6K
35.20%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Oak Lawn, IL
Medellin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.88$0.88
$1.44COP 4,428
-38.89%
White Bread(500g)
$3.22$3.22
$2.40COP 7,389
34.17%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.28$3.28
$1.70COP 5,228
92.94%
Eggs
$4.61$4.61
$2.89COP 8,896
59.52%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.99$9.99
$10.06COP 30.9K
-0.70%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.86$8.86
$9.97COP 30.7K
-11.13%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.46$13.46
$14.20COP 43.7K
-5.21%
Apples(1kg)
$3.26$3.26
$3.98COP 12.3K
-18.09%
Banana(1kg)
$1.47$1.47
$1.58COP 4,878
-6.96%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.38$3.38
$2.15COP 6,624
57.21%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.39$3.39
$2.30COP 7,078
47.39%
Potato(1kg)
$2.22$2.22
$2.00COP 6,169
11.00%
Onion(1kg)
$1.09$1.09
$1.51COP 4,646
-27.81%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.95$1.95
$1.20COP 3,701
62.50%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$2.04$2.04
$1.28COP 3,946
59.38%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$10.18$10.18
$3.84COP 11.8K
165.10%
Wine(Bottle)
$9.93$9.93
$14.01COP 43.1K
-29.12%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.00$2.00
$1.71COP 5,256
16.96%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.72$3.72
$2.74COP 8,440
35.77%
🚌 Getting Around
Oak Lawn, IL
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.99$1.99
$1.25COP 3,834
59.20%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$49.01$49.01
$77.9COP 239.7K
-37.09%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.73$2.73
$1.31COP 4,016
108.40%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.63$1.63
$2.17COP 6,680
-24.88%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$21.41$21.41
$8.29COP 25.5K
158.26%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.92$0.92
$1.36COP 4,172
-32.35%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$15.6K$15.6K
$27.5KCOP 84.5M
-43.11%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.8K$25.8K
$36.5KCOP 112.4M
-29.31%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Oak Lawn, IL
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$204$204
$169COP 519.2K
20.63%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$66.3$66.3
$13.57COP 41.8K
388.87%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$70.3$70.3
$28.32COP 87.2K
148.27%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Oak Lawn, IL
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$41.58$41.58
$45.71COP 140.7K
-9.04%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$17.22COP 53.0K
-
Cinema Ticket
$13.95$13.95
$6.65COP 20.5K
109.77%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Oak Lawn, IL
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$1,817$1,817
$803COP 2.5M
126.20%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$24.3K$24.3K
$9,190COP 28.3M
164.43%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Oak Lawn, IL
Medellin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$53.7$53.7
$87.4COP 268.8K
-38.56%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.70$44.70
$59.4COP 182.7K
-24.71%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$92.1$92.1
$139COP 427.5K
-33.68%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$117$117
$102COP 314.0K
14.96%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Oak Lawn, IL
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,602$1,602
$1,071COP 3.3M
49.55%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,484$1,484
$653COP 2.0M
127.24%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,447$2,447
$1,925COP 5.9M
27.15%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,102$2,102
$1,048COP 3.2M
100.61%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,361$2,361
$4,123COP 12.7M
-42.72%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,079$2,079
$1,697COP 5.2M
22.50%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Oak Lawn, IL
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$655COP 2.0M
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6.12
10.94
-44.06%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Oak Lawn, IL: September 8, 2026
Last update for Medellin: September 7, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $1,602 in Oak Lawn, IL versus $1,071 in Medellin. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $69.0 in Oak Lawn, IL versus $48.00 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $321 vs $300 – 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
Oak Lawn, IL vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Medellin cheaper than Oak Lawn, IL?
Yes – Oak Lawn, IL is pricier by about 58%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. 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 $3,880 per month in Oak Lawn, IL and $2,462 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 Oak Lawn, IL or in Medellin?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $69.0 in Oak Lawn, IL and $48.00 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 Oak Lawn, IL and in Medellin?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,587 in Oak Lawn, IL and $1,641 in Medellin. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Is $2,500 a realistic budget for living in Oak Lawn, IL or in Medellin?
A $2,500 monthly budget goes further in Medellin, where all-in costs run around $1,641, than in Oak Lawn, IL at $2,587. In Medellin it covers expenses comfortably, while in Oak Lawn, IL it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Oak Lawn, 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 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, Oak Lawn, IL makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.
Oak Lawn, IL vs other spots: cost of living compared