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 $2,473 per month in Highlands Ranch, CO vs $1,030 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,579 per month in Highlands Ranch, CO vs $1,586 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,686 per month in Highlands Ranch, CO vs $2,143 in Medellin, rent included.

Highlands Ranch, CO costs about 140% more than Medellin, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Highlands Ranch, CO sits 85% above the global median, while Medellin is 23% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$15.03 $15.03

$5.92 COP 21.2K

153.89%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$73.2 $73.2

$33.17 COP 118.7K

120.80%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.13 $10.13

$7.25 COP 25.9K

39.72%

Cappuccino

$4.81 $4.81

$1.71 COP 6,137

181.29%

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

$1.95 $1.95

$1.09 COP 3,915

78.90%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.40 $2.40

$0.77 COP 2,743

211.69%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.09 $5.09

$1.75 COP 6,254

190.86%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.97 $5.97

$3.18 COP 11.4K

87.74%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.06 $1.06

$1.06 COP 3,792

White Bread (500g)

$3.08 $3.08

$1.30 COP 4,657

136.92%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.32 $3.32

$1.38 COP 4,926

140.58%

Eggs

$4.23 $4.23

$2.21 COP 7,908

91.40%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.99 $10.99

$4.52 COP 16.2K

143.14%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.19 $7.19

$5.80 COP 20.7K

23.97%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$16.68 $16.68

$8.97 COP 32.1K

85.95%

Apples (1kg)

$3.97 $3.97

$2.29 COP 8,182

73.36%

Banana (1kg)

$1.49 $1.49

$1.06 COP 3,791

40.57%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.21 $4.21

$1.51 COP 5,411

178.81%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.09 $5.09

$1.36 COP 4,869

274.26%

Potato (1kg)

$2.37 $2.37

$1.16 COP 4,146

104.31%

Onion (1kg)

$1.87 $1.87

$1.17 COP 4,174

59.83%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.51 $2.51

$0.83 COP 2,960

202.41%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.05 $2.05

$0.85 COP 3,043

141.18%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.47 $9.47

$2.35 COP 8,423

302.98%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.76 $17.76

$11.09 COP 39.7K

60.14%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.26 $2.26

$1.15 COP 4,133

96.52%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.66 $2.66

$2.47 COP 8,853

7.69%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.97 $1.97

$0.79 COP 2,827

149.37%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.85 COP 149.8K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.44 $2.44

$1.44 COP 5,140

69.44%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.38 $1.38

$1.90 COP 6,793

-27.37%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$24.62 $24.62

$7.70 COP 27.6K

219.74%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.87 $0.87

$1.03 COP 3,680

-15.53%

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

$27.2K $27.2K

$17.7K COP 63.3M

53.90%

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

$25.9K $25.9K

$27.0K COP 96.7M

-4.28%

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

$168 $168

$81.4 COP 291.4K

105.98%

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

$42.35 $42.35

$9.42 COP 33.7K

349.58%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$77.3 $77.3

$23.77 COP 85.1K

225.24%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$43.10 $43.10

$25.86 COP 92.6K

66.67%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.34 COP 69.2K

Cinema Ticket

$11.90 $11.90

$4.05 COP 14.5K

193.83%

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

$1,526 $1,526

$312 COP 1.1M

388.49%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$12.4K $12.4K

$6,067 COP 21.7M

104.50%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$60.6 $60.6

$58.9 COP 210.7K

2.92%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$91.1 $91.1

$32.82 COP 117.5K

177.67%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$78.9 $78.9

$100 COP 359.6K

-21.45%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$107 $107

$106 COP 380.3K

0.78%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,584 $1,584

$490 COP 1.8M

223.50%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,370 $1,370

$371 COP 1.3M

269.53%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,625 $2,625

$838 COP 3.0M

213.22%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,225 $2,225

$715 COP 2.6M

211.26%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,346 $2,346

$2,952 COP 10.6M

-20.53%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,212 $2,212

$1,394 COP 5.0M

58.67%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$7,560 $7,560

$532 COP 1.9M

1320.89%

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: April 20, 2026

Last update for Medellin: April 20, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,584 in Highlands Ranch, CO versus $490 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 1321% 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 $73 in Highlands Ranch, CO versus $33 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $359 vs $190 – 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: $2,473 in Highlands Ranch, CO, $1,030 in Medellin – roughly 140% apart. Highlands Ranch, CO costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,709 per month in Highlands Ranch, CO and $1,544 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 $2,473 in Highlands Ranch, CO and $1,030 in Medellin. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $1,526 per month in Highlands Ranch, CO and $312 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 $1,030, than in Highlands Ranch, CO at $2,473. 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 $1,030 in Medellin to $2,473 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.