Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Highlands Ranch, CO and New York, NY

For one person, living is cheaper in Highlands Ranch, CO: $3,365 a month against $4,938 in New York, NY, rent and utilities included – about $18,900 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

161

Cost of Living Index in Highlands Ranch, CO
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Highlands Ranch, CO Living Index
239

Cost of Living Index in New York, NY
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New York, NY Living Index

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Highlands Ranch, CO

🇺🇸 United States

$3,365

/mo nomad

New York, NY

🇺🇸 United States

$4,938

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Highlands Ranch, CO and in New York, NY

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Highlands Ranch, CO and in New York, NY actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $3,365 per month in Highlands Ranch, CO vs $4,938 in New York, NY, rent included.

Highlands Ranch, CO $3,365
New York, NY $4,938

A couple spends around $2,987 per month in Highlands Ranch, CO vs $7,273 in New York, NY, rent included.

Highlands Ranch, CO $2,987
New York, NY $7,273

A family of three spends $2,609 per month in Highlands Ranch, CO vs $9,608 in New York, NY, rent included.

Highlands Ranch, CO $2,609
New York, NY $9,608

Highlands Ranch, CO is about 32% cheaper than New York, NY, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both Highlands Ranch, CO and New York, NY sit above the global median – Highlands Ranch, CO by 148%, New York, NY by 264%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$15.27 $15.27

$24.99 $24.99

-38.90%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$79.5 $79.5

$120 $120

-33.88%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.20 $10.20

$13.74 $13.74

-25.76%

Cappuccino

$6.26 $6.26

$6.60 $6.60

-5.15%

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

$2.48 $2.48

$3.82 $3.82

-35.08%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.13 $2.13

$2.87 $2.87

-25.78%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.06 $5.06

$7.95 $7.95

-36.35%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.15 $6.15

$10.06 $10.06

-38.87%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.04 $1.04

$1.37 $1.37

-24.09%

White Bread (500g)

$2.89 $2.89

$4.75 $4.75

-39.16%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.80 $2.80

$7.69 $7.69

-63.59%

Eggs

$4.28 $4.28

$5.87 $5.87

-27.09%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.81 $10.81

$19.25 $19.25

-43.84%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.20 $7.20

$17.83 $17.83

-59.62%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.01 $19.01

$19.03 $19.03

-0.11%

Apples (1kg)

$4.04 $4.04

$6.69 $6.69

-39.61%

Banana (1kg)

$1.50 $1.50

$2.29 $2.29

-34.50%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.86 $4.86

$6.41 $6.41

-24.18%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.26 $5.26

$6.75 $6.75

-22.07%

Potato (1kg)

$3.61 $3.61

$3.93 $3.93

-8.14%

Onion (1kg)

$4.58 $4.58

$4.52 $4.52

1.33%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.22 $2.22

$2.79 $2.79

-20.43%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.71 $1.71

$2.51 $2.51

-31.87%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.41 $10.41

$18.10 $18.10

-42.49%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.42 $16.42

$20.16 $20.16

-18.55%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.50 $2.50

$3.26 $3.26

-23.31%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.61 $2.61

$3.75 $3.75

-30.40%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.92 $2.92

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$143 $143

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.48 $2.48

$3.06 $3.06

-18.95%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.89 $1.89

$2.16 $2.16

-12.50%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.39 $25.39

$41.33 $41.33

-38.57%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.02 $1.02

$1.12 $1.12

-8.93%

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

$28.0K $28.0K

$33.1K $33.1K

-15.47%

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

$25.9K $25.9K

$25.7K $25.7K

0.88%

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

$215 $215

$219 $219

-2.06%

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

$56.8 $56.8

$75.3 $75.3

-24.65%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$68.8 $68.8

$70.5 $70.5

-2.44%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$116 $116

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$67.6 $67.6

Cinema Ticket

$11.99 $11.99

$21.37 $21.37

-43.89%

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

$1,306 $1,306

$3,432 $3,432

-61.94%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$12.3K $12.3K

$61.7K $61.7K

-80.10%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$60.1 $60.1

$74.9 $74.9

-19.70%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$68.4 $68.4

$52.1 $52.1

31.15%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$78.5 $78.5

$117 $117

-32.74%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$118 $118

$135 $135

-12.28%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,864 $2,864

$4,347 $4,347

-34.12%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,190 $2,190

$3,117 $3,117

-29.73%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$9,110 $9,110

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$5,379 $5,379

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$19.3K $19.3K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,943 $6,943

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$7,275 $7,275

$5,238 $5,238

38.90%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.7

6.85

-2.19%

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

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

Last update for New York, NY: October 17, 2026

Monthly budget structure

Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.

Accommodation & Living

Highlands Ranch, CO

$2.2K 65.1%

New York, NY

$3.1K 63.1% 42.3% $927

Groceries & Markets

Highlands Ranch, CO

$368 10.9%

New York, NY

$552 11.2% 50.1% $184

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Highlands Ranch, CO

$340 10.1%

New York, NY

$365 7.4% 7.3% $25

Eating Out

Highlands Ranch, CO

$284 8.4%

New York, NY

$407 8.2% 43.3% $123

Clothing & Footwear

Highlands Ranch, CO

$146 4.4%

New York, NY

$170 3.5% 16.4% $24

Sport & Entertainment

Highlands Ranch, CO

$24 * 0.7%

New York, NY

$158 3.2% 560% $134

Getting Around

Highlands Ranch, CO

$12 * 0.4%

New York, NY

$168 3.4% 1309% $156

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,864 in Highlands Ranch, CO versus $4,347 in New York, NY. 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 39% higher in Highlands Ranch, CO, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $80.0 in Highlands Ranch, CO versus $120 in New York, NY. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $368 vs $552 – making Highlands Ranch, CO the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know

🇺🇸 Highlands Ranch, CO

🇺🇸 New York, NY

🕒 Local time

17:49 5:49 PM

19:49 7:49 PM

2 h ahead of Highlands Ranch, CO

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

8,804,190

💱 Currency

United States Dollar USD $

📈 Exchange rate

1 USD = 0.89 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

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Between locations

Highlands Ranch, CO New York, NY 2,610 km ≈ 3 h 45 min nonstop flight

From you

Highlands Ranch, CO
New York, NY

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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 New York, NY: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $3,365 in Highlands Ranch, CO, $4,938 in New York, NY – roughly 47% apart. Outside of rent, the biggest gap is in groceries.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $5,047 per month in Highlands Ranch, CO and $7,407 in New York, NY. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Highlands Ranch, CO, 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 $3,365 in Highlands Ranch, CO and $4,938 in New York, NY. That's a gap of about 47%.

Kindergarten costs $1,306 per month in Highlands Ranch, CO and $3,432 in New York, NY. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

$3,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $3,365 in Highlands Ranch, CO and $4,938 in New York, NY. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

It depends on your priorities. New York, NY has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $3,365 in Highlands Ranch, CO to $4,938 in New York, NY. 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 Highlands Ranch, CO. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, New York, NY makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.