Cost of Living Comparison Between Highlands Ranch, CO and Medellin Cost of Living Comparison Between Highlands Ranch, CO and Medellin

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,524 per month in Highlands Ranch, CO vs $1,018 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,638 per month in Highlands Ranch, CO vs $1,609 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,751 per month in Highlands Ranch, CO vs $2,200 in Medellin, rent included.

Highlands Ranch, CO costs about 148% more than Medellin, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Highlands Ranch, CO sits 89% above the global median, while Medellin is 24% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$15.15 $15.15

$5.93 COP 19.0K

155.48%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$72.0 $72.0

$33.12 COP 106.0K

117.27%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.83 $9.83

$7.12 COP 22.8K

38.06%

Cappuccino

$4.71 $4.71

$1.71 COP 5,457

175.44%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.97 $1.97

$1.05 COP 3,356

87.62%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.37 $2.37

$0.72 COP 2,311

229.17%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.91 $4.91

$1.72 COP 5,502

185.47%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.15 $6.15

$3.17 COP 10.2K

94.01%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.05 $1.05

$1.06 COP 3,408

-0.94%

White Bread (500g)

$3.12 $3.12

$1.31 COP 4,192

138.17%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.32 $3.32

$1.33 COP 4,256

149.62%

Eggs

$4.26 $4.26

$2.28 COP 7,298

86.84%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.83 $10.83

$4.42 COP 14.1K

145.02%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.32 $7.32

$5.92 COP 18.9K

23.65%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$16.62 $16.62

$8.64 COP 27.7K

92.36%

Apples (1kg)

$3.86 $3.86

$2.34 COP 7,504

64.96%

Banana (1kg)

$1.49 $1.49

$1.10 COP 3,527

35.45%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.26 $4.26

$1.47 COP 4,698

189.80%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.94 $4.94

$1.38 COP 4,415

257.97%

Potato (1kg)

$2.32 $2.32

$1.17 COP 3,754

98.29%

Onion (1kg)

$1.90 $1.90

$1.17 COP 3,744

62.39%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.40 $2.40

$0.90 COP 2,890

166.67%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.03 $2.03

$0.84 COP 2,693

141.67%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.72 $9.72

$2.33 COP 7,449

317.17%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.07 $19.07

$11.92 COP 38.1K

59.98%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.29 $2.29

$1.15 COP 3,673

99.13%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.69 $2.69

$2.42 COP 7,749

11.16%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.95 $1.95

$0.84 COP 2,687

132.14%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$40.83 COP 130.7K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.53 $2.53

$1.41 COP 4,517

79.43%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.44 $1.44

$1.91 COP 6,127

-24.61%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.44 $25.44

$7.83 COP 25.0K

224.90%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.86 $0.86

$0.94 COP 3,020

-8.51%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$27.3K $27.3K

$17.8K COP 57.0M

53.31%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$26.1K $26.1K

$27.1K COP 86.7M

-3.62%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$164 $164

$83.3 COP 266.4K

96.69%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$42.34 $42.34

$9.66 COP 30.9K

338.30%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$78.0 $78.0

$24.22 COP 77.5K

221.92%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.56 $42.56

$25.22 COP 80.7K

68.75%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.33 COP 61.9K

Cinema Ticket

$12.05 $12.05

$4.07 COP 13.0K

196.07%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$1,507 $1,507

$307 COP 981.2K

391.49%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$12.4K $12.4K

$5,981 COP 19.1M

107.70%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.8 $58.8

$60.0 COP 191.9K

-1.87%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$89.9 $89.9

$32.65 COP 104.5K

175.31%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$78.5 $78.5

$101 COP 323.5K

-22.32%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$107 $107

$108 COP 345.7K

-0.78%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,586 $1,586

$476 COP 1.5M

233.30%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,344 $1,344

$379 COP 1.2M

254.80%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,615 $2,615

$816 COP 2.6M

220.26%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,205 $2,205

$707 COP 2.3M

211.68%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,131 $3,131

$3,190 COP 10.2M

-1.82%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,601 $2,601

$1,446 COP 4.6M

79.83%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$7,614 $7,614

$622 COP 2.0M

1124.62%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.59

13.43

-50.93%

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

Last update for Highlands Ranch, CO: July 19, 2026

Last update for Medellin: July 20, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,586 in Highlands Ranch, CO versus $476 in Medellin. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 1125% higher in Highlands Ranch, CO, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $72.0 in Highlands Ranch, CO versus $33.00 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $361 vs $192 – 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

Highlands Ranch, CO vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $2,524 in Highlands Ranch, CO, $1,018 in Medellin – roughly 148% apart. Highlands Ranch, CO costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,786 per month in Highlands Ranch, CO and $1,527 in Medellin. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,524 in Highlands Ranch, CO and $1,018 in Medellin. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $1,507 per month in Highlands Ranch, CO and $307 in Medellin. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Medellin, where all-in costs run around $1,018, than in Highlands Ranch, CO at $2,524. In Medellin it covers expenses comfortably, while in Highlands Ranch, CO it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Medellin has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,018 in Medellin to $2,524 in Highlands Ranch, CO. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Medellin. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Highlands Ranch, CO makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.