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 $2,466 per month in Highlands Ranch, CO vs $1,013 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,627 per month in Highlands Ranch, CO vs $1,602 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,789 per month in Highlands Ranch, CO vs $2,192 in Medellin, rent included.

Highlands Ranch, CO costs about 143% more than Medellin, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Highlands Ranch, CO sits 84% above the global median, while Medellin is 24% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$14.85 $14.85

$5.99 COP 21.5K

147.91%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$71.9 $71.9

$32.86 COP 118.1K

118.69%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.80 $9.80

$7.09 COP 25.5K

38.22%

Cappuccino

$4.74 $4.74

$1.71 COP 6,154

177.19%

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

$2.02 $2.02

$1.10 COP 3,949

83.64%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.42 $2.42

$0.78 COP 2,798

210.26%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.02 $5.02

$1.68 COP 6,035

198.81%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.94 $5.94

$3.07 COP 11.0K

93.49%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.01 $1.01

$1.09 COP 3,930

-7.34%

White Bread (500g)

$3.01 $3.01

$1.26 COP 4,536

138.89%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.19 $3.19

$1.38 COP 4,953

131.16%

Eggs

$4.03 $4.03

$2.19 COP 7,876

84.02%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.81 $10.81

$4.40 COP 15.8K

145.68%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.12 $7.12

$5.63 COP 20.2K

26.47%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$16.38 $16.38

$8.89 COP 32.0K

84.25%

Apples (1kg)

$3.81 $3.81

$2.34 COP 8,401

62.82%

Banana (1kg)

$1.55 $1.55

$1.06 COP 3,801

46.23%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.27 $4.27

$1.50 COP 5,408

184.67%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.97 $4.97

$1.38 COP 4,955

260.14%

Potato (1kg)

$2.26 $2.26

$1.15 COP 4,137

96.52%

Onion (1kg)

$1.97 $1.97

$1.16 COP 4,181

69.83%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.51 $2.51

$0.89 COP 3,202

182.02%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.03 $2.03

$0.84 COP 3,016

141.67%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.70 $9.70

$2.28 COP 8,196

325.44%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.10 $19.10

$10.64 COP 38.2K

79.51%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.23 $2.23

$1.20 COP 4,311

85.83%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.75 $2.75

$2.47 COP 8,880

11.34%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.99 $1.99

$0.86 COP 3,075

131.40%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.40 COP 148.8K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.44 $2.44

$1.47 COP 5,297

65.99%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.39 $1.39

$1.96 COP 7,053

-29.08%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.21 $25.21

$7.74 COP 27.8K

225.71%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.83 $0.83

$0.95 COP 3,430

-12.63%

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

$27.9K $27.9K

$18.1K COP 65.2M

53.88%

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

$25.5K $25.5K

$26.5K COP 95.2M

-3.74%

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

$166 $166

$82.3 COP 295.6K

101.81%

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

$43.71 $43.71

$9.50 COP 34.1K

360.11%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$76.1 $76.1

$24.23 COP 87.1K

213.99%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.86 $42.86

$25.89 COP 93.0K

65.55%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.00 COP 68.3K

Cinema Ticket

$12.13 $12.13

$3.93 COP 14.1K

208.65%

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

$1,504 $1,504

$309 COP 1.1M

386.14%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$12.6K $12.6K

$5,965 COP 21.4M

111.80%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$60.0 $60.0

$58.7 COP 210.8K

2.25%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$90.7 $90.7

$32.35 COP 116.2K

180.46%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$80.1 $80.1

$103 COP 368.7K

-21.95%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$107 $107

$108 COP 389.6K

-1.48%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,610 $1,610

$476 COP 1.7M

238.04%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,365 $1,365

$379 COP 1.4M

260.28%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,592 $2,592

$838 COP 3.0M

209.21%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,253 $2,253

$724 COP 2.6M

211.19%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,472 $2,472

$2,791 COP 10.0M

-11.43%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,486 $2,486

$1,211 COP 4.4M

105.20%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$7,596 $7,596

$512 COP 1.8M

1384.15%

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: June 1, 2026

Last update for Medellin: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,610 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 1384% 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: $356 vs $188 – 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: $2,466 in Highlands Ranch, CO, $1,013 in Medellin – roughly 143% apart. Highlands Ranch, CO costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,699 per month in Highlands Ranch, CO and $1,519 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 $2,466 in Highlands Ranch, CO and $1,013 in Medellin. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $1,504 per month in Highlands Ranch, CO and $309 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 $1,013, than in Highlands Ranch, CO at $2,466. 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 $1,013 in Medellin to $2,466 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.