๐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,091 in Aurora, CO versus $1,014 in Medellin.
๐Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,323 in Aurora, CO versus $1,596 in Medellin.
๐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,555 in Aurora, CO versus $2,178 in Medellin.
๐Living in Aurora, CO is roughly 205% more expensive than Medellin, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
๐The two cities straddle the global median: Aurora, CO is 129% above, Medellin is 25% below.
Currency
๐ฝ Eating Out
Aurora, CO
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$19.66$19.66
$6.14COPย 22.2K
220.20%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$60.8$60.8
$33.05COPย 119.3K
83.96%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$12.77$12.77
$7.32COPย 26.4K
74.45%
Cappuccino
$4.19$4.19
$1.66COPย 5,987
152.41%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.43$2.43
$1.10COPย 3,987
120.91%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.96$1.96
$0.78COPย 2,822
151.28%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.93$3.93
$1.71COPย 6,188
129.82%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.94$5.94
$3.17COPย 11.5K
87.38%
๐ Groceries & Markets
Aurora, CO
Medellin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.92$0.92
$1.11COPย 4,012
-17.12%
White Bread(500g)
$2.93$2.93
$1.31COPย 4,719
123.66%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.04$3.04
$1.38COPย 4,980
120.29%
Eggs
$2.75$2.75
$2.22COPย 8,009
23.87%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.82$8.82
$4.34COPย 15.7K
103.23%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.26$9.26
$5.80COPย 20.9K
59.66%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$17.48$17.48
$8.98COPย 32.4K
94.65%
Apples(1kg)
$3.31$3.31
$2.26COPย 8,164
46.46%
Banana(1kg)
$1.53$1.53
$1.11COPย 4,023
37.84%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.13$3.13
$1.46COPย 5,284
114.38%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.50$4.50
$1.37COPย 4,929
228.47%
Potato(1kg)
$5.63$5.63
$1.11COPย 4,009
407.21%
Onion(1kg)
$4.03$4.03
$1.16COPย 4,199
247.41%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.00$2.00
$0.89COPย 3,211
124.72%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$3.74$3.74
$0.87COPย 3,124
329.89%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$9.48$9.48
$2.35COPย 8,495
303.40%
Wine(Bottle)
$19.69$19.69
$10.86COPย 39.2K
81.31%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.71$1.71
$1.20COPย 4,330
42.50%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.37$3.37
$2.48COPย 8,946
35.89%
๐ Getting Around
Aurora, CO
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.93$2.93
$0.79COPย 2,842
270.89%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$175$175
$40.77COPย 147.2K
329.19%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.53$3.53
$1.42COPย 5,137
148.59%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.58$1.58
$1.91COPย 6,900
-17.28%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$29.09$29.09
$7.65COPย 27.6K
280.26%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.79$0.79
$0.97COPย 3,490
-18.56%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.2K$29.2K
$18.1KCOPย 65.3M
61.58%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.9K$25.9K
$26.3KCOPย 95.0M
-1.60%
๐งพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Aurora, CO
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$173$173
$81.3COPย 293.5K
112.72%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$63.0$63.0
$9.63COPย 34.8K
554.31%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$54.2$54.2
$24.36COPย 88.0K
122.45%
๐ Sport & Entertainment
Aurora, CO
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$12.01$12.01
$26.02COPย 93.9K
-53.84%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$18.92COPย 68.3K
-
Cinema Ticket
$13.17$13.17
$3.89COPย 14.0K
238.56%
๐งธ Childcare & Education
Aurora, CO
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$1,319$1,319
$304COPย 1.1M
333.54%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$23.8K$23.8K
$5,902COPย 21.3M
303.74%
๐๐ Clothing & Footwear
Aurora, CO
Medellin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$43.43$43.43
$58.7COPย 211.8K
-25.99%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$50.9$50.9
$32.48COPย 117.2K
56.74%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$112$112
$102COPย 367.3K
9.62%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$113$113
$108COPย 390.4K
4.54%
๐ Accommodation & Living
Aurora, CO
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,961$1,961
$474COPย 1.7M
313.54%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,780$1,780
$371COPย 1.3M
380.17%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,055$3,055
$848COPย 3.1M
260.26%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,673$2,673
$716COPย 2.6M
273.11%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,155$3,155
$2,871COPย 10.4M
9.89%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$3,169$3,169
$1,375COPย 5.0M
130.42%
๐ต Salaries & Financials
Aurora, CO
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$4,101$4,101
$542COPย 2.0M
657.29%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6.45
13.43
-51.97%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input โ minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Aurora, CO: April 13, 2026
Last update for Medellin: April 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
๐ A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,961 in Aurora, CO and $474 in Medellin. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
๐ฐAurora, CO pays 657% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
๐Dining out: $61 in Aurora, CO vs $33 in Medellin for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $380 vs $190 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
Aurora, CO vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Aurora, CO or Medellin?
Medellin wins on cost โ living expenses run 205% lower than in Aurora, CO. 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 Aurora, CO or Medellin?
Aurora, CO pays 657% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Aurora, CO vs Medellin?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,961 in Aurora, CO versus $474 in Medellin. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Are groceries more expensive in Aurora, CO or Medellin?
Supermarket bills run roughly 100% higher in Aurora, CO. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
How do dining costs compare in Aurora, CO vs Medellin?
Dining out is cheaper in Medellin โ a meal for two runs $33.00 versus $61.0 in Aurora, CO. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Can you live on $1,500/month in Aurora, CO or Medellin?
At $1,014 in Medellin versus $3,091 in Aurora, CO, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Medellin but tight or insufficient in Aurora, CO. The gap between the two cities makes Medellin the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Aurora, CO or Medellin?
Both work as nomad bases, but Medellin delivers better value โ similar infrastructure at $1,014 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Medellin hard to pass up.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Medellin gentler on the wallet โ expenses run 205% less than in Aurora, CO. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Aurora, CO vs other spots: cost of living compared