Cost of Living Comparison Between Aurora, CO and Medellin Cost of Living Comparison Between Aurora, CO and Medellin

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,050 in Aurora, CO versus $1,031 in Medellin.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,275 in Aurora, CO versus $1,599 in Medellin.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,500 in Aurora, CO versus $2,167 in Medellin.

Living in Aurora, CO is roughly 196% more expensive than in Medellin, driven mainly by Eating Out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Aurora, CO is 128% above, Medellin is 23% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Aurora, CO
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.20 $20.20
$6.16 COP 20.1K
227.92%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$59.4 $59.4
$32.60 COP 106.1K
82.15%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$12.94 $12.94
$7.34 COP 23.9K
76.29%
Cappuccino
$4.16 $4.16
$1.72 COP 5,599
141.86%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.43 $2.43
$1.05 COP 3,420
131.43%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.98 $1.98
$0.77 COP 2,515
157.14%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.91 $3.91
$1.69 COP 5,487
131.36%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.98 $5.98
$3.17 COP 10.3K
88.64%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Aurora, CO
Medellin
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.88 $0.88
$1.05 COP 3,423
-16.19%
White Bread (500g)
$2.97 $2.97
$1.30 COP 4,236
128.46%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.99 $2.99
$1.40 COP 4,544
113.57%
Eggs
$2.75 $2.75
$2.16 COP 7,046
27.31%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.05 $9.05
$4.39 COP 14.3K
106.15%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.69 $9.69
$5.88 COP 19.1K
64.80%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$17.78 $17.78
$8.64 COP 28.1K
105.79%
Apples (1kg)
$3.29 $3.29
$2.28 COP 7,425
44.30%
Banana (1kg)
$1.53 $1.53
$1.11 COP 3,603
37.84%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.16 $3.16
$1.53 COP 4,982
106.54%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.37 $4.37
$1.35 COP 4,410
223.70%
Potato (1kg)
$5.40 $5.40
$1.13 COP 3,674
377.88%
Onion (1kg)
$4.07 $4.07
$1.13 COP 3,692
260.18%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.02 $2.02
$0.85 COP 2,753
137.65%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$3.75 $3.75
$0.91 COP 2,975
312.09%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$9.42 $9.42
$2.34 COP 7,629
302.56%
Wine (Bottle)
-
$12.37 COP 40.3K
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.70 $1.70
$1.20 COP 3,909
41.67%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.26 $3.26
$2.49 COP 8,104
30.92%
🚌 Getting Around
Aurora, CO
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.94 $2.94
$0.84 COP 2,727
250.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$178 $178
$40.57 COP 132.1K
339.17%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.60 $3.60
$1.42 COP 4,623
153.52%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.58 $1.58
$1.92 COP 6,235
-17.71%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$28.74 $28.74
$7.66 COP 24.9K
275.20%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.84 $0.84
$0.99 COP 3,223
-15.15%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.1K $30.1K
$18.0K COP 58.7M
66.85%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.7K $25.7K
$26.6K COP 86.7M
-3.60%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Aurora, CO
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$173 $173
$80.8 COP 263.1K
114.69%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$62.3 $62.3
$9.95 COP 32.4K
525.73%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$53.3 $53.3
$24.18 COP 78.7K
120.39%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Aurora, CO
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$12.04 $12.04
$25.08 COP 81.6K
-51.99%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$19.15 COP 62.3K
-
Cinema Ticket
$13.02 $13.02
$3.98 COP 13.0K
227.14%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Aurora, CO
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,294 $1,294
$305 COP 993.4K
324.13%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$23.0K $23.0K
$6,059 COP 19.7M
279.99%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Aurora, CO
Medellin
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$43.13 $43.13
$58.1 COP 189.2K
-25.80%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$50.2 $50.2
$32.20 COP 104.8K
55.75%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$110 $110
$101 COP 327.9K
9.10%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$115 $115
$108 COP 350.8K
7.17%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Aurora, CO
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,928 $1,928
$477 COP 1.6M
304.52%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,778 $1,778
$376 COP 1.2M
372.65%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,050 $3,050
$845 COP 2.7M
261.09%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,762 $2,762
$730 COP 2.4M
278.17%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,237 $3,237
$3,215 COP 10.5M
0.67%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,134 $3,134
$1,372 COP 4.5M
128.41%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Aurora, CO
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$4,055 $4,055
$617 COP 2.0M
557.50%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.45
13.43
-51.97%

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

Last update for Aurora, CO: July 11, 2026

Last update for Medellin: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,928 in Aurora, CO and $477 in Medellin. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Aurora, CO pays 557% 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: $59.0 in Aurora, CO vs $33.00 in Medellin for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $343 vs $193 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 – living expenses run 196% 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 557% 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: $1,928 in Aurora, CO versus $477 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 78% 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 $33.00 versus $59.0 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 in Medellin?
At $1,031 in Medellin versus $3,050 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 – similar infrastructure at $1,031 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 196% less than in Aurora, CO. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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