Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Aurora, CO and Medellin

For one person, living is cheaper in Medellin: $1,625 a month against $3,204 in Aurora, CO, rent and utilities included – about $18,900 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Aurora, CO
🇺🇸 United States
$3,204
/mo nomad
Medellin
🇨🇴 Colombia
$1,625
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Aurora, CO and in Medellin

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Aurora, CO and in Medellin actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,204 in Aurora, CO versus $1,625 in Medellin.

  • Aurora, CO $3,204
  • Medellin $1,625

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,519 in Aurora, CO versus $2,412 in Medellin.

  • Aurora, CO $4,519
  • Medellin $2,412

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,834 in Aurora, CO versus $3,199 in Medellin.

  • Aurora, CO $5,834
  • Medellin $3,199

Living in Aurora, CO is roughly 97% more expensive than in Medellin, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Aurora, CO 136% above, Medellin 20% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Aurora, CO
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$30.59 $30.59
$8.30 COP 26.3K
268.55%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$67.1 $67.1
$46.91 COP 148.7K
43.00%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$12.81 $12.81
$9.24 COP 29.3K
38.64%
Cappuccino
$5.77 $5.77
$3.05 COP 9,676
89.18%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.77 $2.77
$1.80 COP 5,707
53.89%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.18 $2.18
$1.38 COP 4,382
57.97%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.06 $5.06
$3.24 COP 10.3K
56.17%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.09 $6.09
$5.56 COP 17.6K
9.53%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Aurora, CO
Medellin
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.33 $1.33
$1.50 COP 4,760
-11.33%
White Bread (500g)
$3.00 $3.00
$2.37 COP 7,508
26.58%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.01 $3.01
$1.70 COP 5,377
77.06%
Eggs
$4.34 $4.34
$2.96 COP 9,379
46.62%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.05 $12.05
$10.22 COP 32.4K
17.91%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.41 $9.41
$9.74 COP 30.9K
-3.39%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.32 $14.32
$13.90 COP 44.1K
3.02%
Apples (1kg)
$4.63 $4.63
$4.13 COP 13.1K
12.11%
Banana (1kg)
$1.51 $1.51
$1.53 COP 4,839
-1.31%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.97 $2.97
$2.22 COP 7,052
33.78%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.42 $4.42
$2.27 COP 7,194
94.71%
Potato (1kg)
$5.55 $5.55
$1.99 COP 6,311
178.89%
Onion (1kg)
$4.01 $4.01
$1.67 COP 5,285
140.12%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.03 $2.03
$1.18 COP 3,742
72.03%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$3.96 $3.96
$1.24 COP 3,919
219.35%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$10.16 $10.16
$3.87 COP 12.3K
162.53%
Wine (Bottle)
-
$13.78 COP 43.7K
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.72 $1.72
$1.66 COP 5,256
3.61%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$2.40 COP 7,615
-
🚌 Getting Around
Aurora, CO
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$3.07 $3.07
$1.24 COP 3,944
147.58%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$178 $178
$78.2 COP 248.0K
128.03%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
-
$1.28 COP 4,044
-
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
-
$2.15 COP 6,803
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
-
$8.37 COP 26.5K
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.00 $1.00
$1.35 COP 4,288
-25.93%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.4K $28.4K
$34.8K COP 110.2M
-18.24%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.0K $27.0K
$34.7K COP 110.0M
-22.13%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Aurora, CO
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$160 $160
$167 COP 528.4K
-4.18%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$80.7 $80.7
$13.62 COP 43.2K
492.29%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$52.6 $52.6
$29.12 COP 92.3K
80.53%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Aurora, CO
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$24.42 $24.42
$45.09 COP 143.0K
-45.84%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$10.11 $10.11
$17.18 COP 54.5K
-41.15%
Cinema Ticket
$18.14 $18.14
$6.97 COP 22.1K
160.26%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Aurora, CO
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,154 $1,154
$790 COP 2.5M
46.10%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$30.1K $30.1K
$9,041 COP 28.7M
232.83%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Aurora, CO
Medellin
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.1 $58.1
$87.8 COP 278.4K
-33.88%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$49.56 $49.56
$58.2 COP 184.4K
-14.77%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$103 $103
$139 COP 440.7K
-26.20%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$116 $116
$98.9 COP 313.5K
16.94%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Aurora, CO
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,913 $1,913
$1,028 COP 3.3M
86.07%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,749 $1,749
$620 COP 2.0M
182.37%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,193 $3,193
$1,881 COP 6.0M
69.79%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,603 $2,603
$1,008 COP 3.2M
158.35%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,322 $3,322
$3,988 COP 12.6M
-16.70%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,930 $2,930
$1,702 COP 5.4M
72.13%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Aurora, CO
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$4,149 $4,149
$663 COP 2.1M
525.46%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.26
10.94
-42.78%

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

Last update for Aurora, CO: October 19, 2026

Last update for Medellin: October 19, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Aurora, CO
$1.7K
Medellin
$619 64.6% $1.1K
Eating Out
Aurora, CO
$410
Medellin
$171 58.3% $239
Groceries & Markets
Aurora, CO
$354 *
Medellin
$298 15.8% $56
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Aurora, CO
$293
Medellin
$209 28.5% $84
Getting Around
Aurora, CO
$191 *
Medellin
$95 50.1% $95
Clothing & Footwear
Aurora, CO
$147
Medellin
$173 17.8% $26
Sport & Entertainment
Aurora, CO
$61
Medellin
$59 2.8% $1.7

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,913 in Aurora, CO and $1,028 in Medellin. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Aurora, CO pays 525% 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: $67.0 in Aurora, CO vs $47.00 in Medellin for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $354 vs $298 per month, with Medellin cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇺🇸 Aurora, CO
🇨🇴 Medellin
🕒 Local time
01:36 1:36 AM
02:36 2:36 AM
1 h ahead of Aurora, CO
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
180,542
2,486,723
Exchange rates and currency converter

COP, EUR to USD – United States Dollar Converter

United States Dollar exchange rates as of October 21, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.89 EUR).

Colombian Peso exchange rates as of October 21, 2026: 1 USD = 3,171 COP (10,000 COP = 3.15 USD). 1 EUR = 3,565 COP (10,000 COP = 2.81 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Aurora, CO Medellin 4,730 km ≈ 6 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Aurora, CO
  • Medellin

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 – living expenses run 97% 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 in Medellin?
Average pay runs 525% higher in Aurora, CO, 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 compared to Medellin?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,913 in Aurora, CO versus $1,028 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 in Medellin?
Supermarket bills run roughly 19% 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 and in Medellin?
Dining out is cheaper in Medellin – a meal for two runs $47.00 versus $67.0 in Aurora, CO. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Can you live on $2,500/month in Aurora, CO or in Medellin?
At $1,625 in Medellin versus $3,204 in Aurora, CO, a $2,500 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 – similar infrastructure at $1,625 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 – expenses run 97% 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

Similar cities

Show times on the 12-hour clock, temperatures in °F and distances in miles?