😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,094 in Aurora, CO versus $1,013 in Medellin.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,349 in Aurora, CO versus $1,602 in Medellin.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,605 in Aurora, CO versus $2,192 in Medellin.
😐Living in Aurora, CO is roughly 205% more expensive than Medellin, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Aurora, CO is 131% above, Medellin is 24% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Aurora, CO
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.37$20.37
$5.99COP 21.3K
240.07%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$59.6$59.6
$32.86COP 116.9K
81.50%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$12.79$12.79
$7.09COP 25.2K
80.39%
Cappuccino
$4.21$4.21
$1.71COP 6,093
146.20%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.45$2.45
$1.10COP 3,910
122.73%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.04$2.04
$0.78COP 2,771
161.54%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$4.01$4.01
$1.68COP 5,976
138.69%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.86$5.86
$3.07COP 10.9K
90.88%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Aurora, CO
Medellin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.87$0.87
$1.09COP 3,892
-20.18%
White Bread(500g)
$2.92$2.92
$1.26COP 4,492
131.75%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.05$3.05
$1.38COP 4,905
121.01%
Eggs
$2.81$2.81
$2.19COP 7,799
28.31%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.68$8.68
$4.40COP 15.7K
97.27%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.43$9.43
$5.63COP 20.0K
67.50%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$17.57$17.57
$8.89COP 31.6K
97.64%
Apples(1kg)
$3.29$3.29
$2.34COP 8,319
40.60%
Banana(1kg)
$1.48$1.48
$1.06COP 3,764
39.62%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.10$3.10
$1.50COP 5,355
106.67%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.34$4.34
$1.38COP 4,906
214.49%
Potato(1kg)
$5.45$5.45
$1.15COP 4,097
373.91%
Onion(1kg)
$3.95$3.95
$1.16COP 4,141
240.52%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.02$2.02
$0.89COP 3,170
126.97%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$3.88$3.88
$0.84COP 2,986
361.90%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$9.42$9.42
$2.28COP 8,116
313.16%
Wine(Bottle)
$19.86$19.86
$10.64COP 37.9K
86.65%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.68$1.68
$1.20COP 4,268
40.00%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.35$3.35
$2.47COP 8,793
35.63%
🚌 Getting Around
Aurora, CO
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.07$3.07
$0.86COP 3,045
256.98%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$176$176
$41.40COP 147.3K
324.71%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.58$3.58
$1.47COP 5,245
143.54%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.59$1.59
$1.96COP 6,984
-18.88%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$28.99$28.99
$7.74COP 27.5K
274.55%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.85$0.85
$0.95COP 3,397
-10.53%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.0K$29.0K
$18.1KCOP 64.5M
59.97%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.8K$25.8K
$26.5KCOP 94.2M
-2.70%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Aurora, CO
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$174$174
$82.3COP 292.7K
111.27%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$62.0$62.0
$9.50COP 33.8K
552.32%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$53.0$53.0
$24.23COP 86.2K
118.61%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Aurora, CO
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$11.80$11.80
$25.89COP 92.1K
-54.42%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$19.00COP 67.6K
-
Cinema Ticket
$13.06$13.06
$3.93COP 14.0K
232.32%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Aurora, CO
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$1,307$1,307
$309COP 1.1M
322.29%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$23.3K$23.3K
$5,965COP 21.2M
289.98%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Aurora, CO
Medellin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$44.09$44.09
$58.7COP 208.7K
-24.84%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$50.6$50.6
$32.35COP 115.1K
56.41%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$112$112
$103COP 365.1K
9.52%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$115$115
$108COP 385.8K
5.97%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Aurora, CO
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,969$1,969
$476COP 1.7M
313.60%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,782$1,782
$379COP 1.3M
370.43%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,118$3,118
$838COP 3.0M
271.92%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,694$2,694
$724COP 2.6M
272.20%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,215$3,215
$2,791COP 9.9M
15.22%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$3,202$3,202
$1,211COP 4.3M
164.33%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Aurora, CO
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$4,013$4,013
$512COP 1.8M
684.03%
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: May 30, 2026
Last update for Medellin: May 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,969 in Aurora, CO and $476 in Medellin. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Aurora, CO pays 684% 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: $60.0 in Aurora, CO vs $33.00 in Medellin for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $380 vs $188 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 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 684% 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: $1,969 in Aurora, CO versus $476 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 102% 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 – a meal for two runs $33.00 versus $60.0 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 $1,013 in Medellin versus $3,094 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 $1,013 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 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