Last update: Nov 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Highlands Ranch, CO and Quito

For one person, living is cheaper in Quito: $1,014 a month against $3,464 in Highlands Ranch, CO, rent and utilities included – about $29,400 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

165

Cost of Living Index in Highlands Ranch, CO
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Highlands Ranch, CO Living Index
49

Cost of Living Index in Quito
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Quito Living Index

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Highlands Ranch, CO

🇺🇸 United States

$3,464

/mo nomad

Quito

🇪🇨 Ecuador

$1,014

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Highlands Ranch, CO and in Quito

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 Quito actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $3,464 per month in Highlands Ranch, CO vs $1,014 in Quito, rent included.

Highlands Ranch, CO $3,464
Quito $1,014

A couple spends around $4,105 per month in Highlands Ranch, CO vs $1,641 in Quito, rent included.

Highlands Ranch, CO $4,105
Quito $1,641

A family of three spends $4,746 per month in Highlands Ranch, CO vs $2,269 in Quito, rent included.

Highlands Ranch, CO $4,746
Quito $2,269

Highlands Ranch, CO costs about 242% more than Quito, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Highlands Ranch, CO sits 156% above the global median, while Quito is 25% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$15.27 $15.27

$5.55 $5.55

175.14%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$80.9 $80.9

$54.6 $54.6

48.10%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.80 $9.80

$7.63 $7.63

28.44%

Cappuccino

$6.20 $6.20

$3.33 $3.33

86.19%

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

$2.55 $2.55

$1.36 $1.36

87.50%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.08 $2.08

$1.14 $1.14

82.46%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.88 $4.88

$3.69 $3.69

32.25%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.82 $5.82

$6.16 $6.16

-5.52%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.98 $0.98

$1.15 $1.15

-14.78%

White Bread (500g)

$2.97 $2.97

$1.61 $1.61

84.47%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.74 $2.74

$1.51 $1.51

81.46%

Eggs

$4.33 $4.33

$2.15 $2.15

101.40%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.89 $10.89

$6.47 $6.47

68.32%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.14 $9.14

$5.33 $5.33

71.48%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.48 $19.48

$7.77 $7.77

150.71%

Apples (1kg)

$4.97 $4.97

$2.23 $2.23

122.87%

Banana (1kg)

$1.58 $1.58

$1.24 $1.24

27.42%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.88 $4.88

$1.27 $1.27

284.25%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.17 $5.17

$1.08 $1.08

378.70%

Potato (1kg)

$3.46 $3.46

$1.24 $1.24

179.03%

Onion (1kg)

$4.65 $4.65

$1.06 $1.06

338.68%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.32 $2.32

$0.91 $0.91

154.95%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.70 $1.70

$0.98 $0.98

73.47%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.24 $10.24

$5.95 $5.95

72.10%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.25 $16.25

$8.35 $8.35

94.61%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.59 $2.59

$1.52 $1.52

70.39%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.74 $2.74

$3.20 $3.20

-14.37%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.01 $2.01

$0.33 $0.33

509.09%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$52.5 $52.5

$21.42 $21.42

144.91%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.53 $2.53

$1.53 $1.53

65.36%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.82 $1.82

$1.53 $1.53

18.95%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$24.64 $24.64

$10.01 $10.01

146.15%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.12 $1.12

$0.85 $0.85

31.76%

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

$28.2K $28.2K

$22.7K $22.7K

24.41%

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

$26.3K $26.3K

$29.6K $29.6K

-11.11%

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

$211 $211

$28.99 $28.99

627.01%

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

$55.8 $55.8

$17.94 $17.94

210.76%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$70.1 $70.1

$28.85 $28.85

143.08%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$45.53 $45.53

$45.09 $45.09

0.98%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.78 $17.78

Cinema Ticket

$12.24 $12.24

$6.75 $6.75

81.33%

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

$1,334 $1,334

$743 $743

79.50%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.5K $11.5K

$8,223 $8,223

40.29%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$60.3 $60.3

$69.8 $69.8

-13.53%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$69.2 $69.2

$50.3 $50.3

37.41%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$80.2 $80.2

$113 $113

-28.96%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$117 $117

$107 $107

9.88%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,574 $1,574

$542 $542

190.59%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,173 $2,173

$354 $354

513.31%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,791 $2,791

$1,141 $1,141

144.63%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,882 $1,882

$638 $638

195.23%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,806 $2,806

$1,636 $1,636

71.57%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,287 $2,287

$663 $663

245.14%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$7,126 $7,126

$603 $603

1081.43%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.7

10.12

-33.79%

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

Last update for Highlands Ranch, CO: November 1, 2026

Last update for Quito: November 2, 2026

Monthly budget structure

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

Accommodation & Living

Highlands Ranch, CO

$2.2K 62.7%

Quito

$354 34.9% 83.7% $1.8K

Groceries & Markets

Highlands Ranch, CO

$385 11.1%

Quito

$193 19% 49.9% $192

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Highlands Ranch, CO

$337 9.7%

Quito

$76 7.5% 77.5% $261

Eating Out

Highlands Ranch, CO

$281 8.1%

Quito

$148 14.6% 47.2% $132

Clothing & Footwear

Highlands Ranch, CO

$147 4.3%

Quito

$153 15.1% 3.9% $5.7

Getting Around

Highlands Ranch, CO

$72 2.1%

Quito

$32 3.2% 55.7% $40

Sport & Entertainment

Highlands Ranch, CO

$70 2%

Quito

$59 5.8% 16.3% $11

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,574 in Highlands Ranch, CO versus $542 in Quito. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries in Highlands Ranch, CO are about 12 times higher. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $81 in Highlands Ranch, CO versus $55 in Quito. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $385 vs $193 – making Quito the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know

🇺🇸 Highlands Ranch, CO

🇪🇨 Quito

🕒 Local time

06:15 6:15 AM

08:15 8:15 AM

2 h ahead of Highlands Ranch, CO

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

2,671,191 Capital

💱 Currency

United States Dollar USD $

📈 Exchange rate

1 USD = 0.89 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

On the map

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Between locations

Highlands Ranch, CO Quito 5,180 km ≈ 7 h nonstop flight

From you

Highlands Ranch, CO
Quito

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 Quito: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $3,464 in Highlands Ranch, CO, $1,014 in Quito – Quito comes out roughly 71% cheaper. Outside of rent, the biggest gap is in groceries.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $5,196 per month in Highlands Ranch, CO and $1,521 in Quito. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Quito, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $542 there versus $1,574 in Highlands Ranch, CO.

Groceries cost about 100% more in Highlands Ranch, CO, though the gap depends on what you buy.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $81 in Highlands Ranch, CO and $55 in Quito. That’s a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Quito, where all-in costs run around $1,014, than in Highlands Ranch, CO at $3,464. In Quito it covers expenses comfortably, while in Highlands Ranch, CO it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Quito – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

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