🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,003 in Medellin versus $3,049 in Aurora, CO.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,573 in Medellin versus $4,368 in Aurora, CO.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,143 in Medellin versus $5,688 in Aurora, CO.
🌍Living in Medellin costs roughly 67% less than in Aurora, CO, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Medellin is 25% below, Aurora, CO is 129% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Aurora, CO
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.91COP 18.9K
$20.03$20.03
-70.49%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.96COP 105.2K
$59.0$59.0
-44.16%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.43COP 23.7K
$12.87$12.87
-42.27%
Cappuccino
$1.65COP 5,276
$4.26$4.26
-61.27%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.10COP 3,514
$2.45$2.45
-55.10%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.78COP 2,491
$1.97$1.97
-60.41%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.72COP 5,484
$3.89$3.89
-55.78%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.18COP 10.1K
$6.09$6.09
-47.78%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Aurora, CO
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.10COP 3,521
$0.88$0.88
25.00%
White Bread(500g)
$1.26COP 4,015
$3.08$3.08
-59.09%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.38COP 4,407
$2.90$2.90
-52.41%
Eggs
$2.18COP 6,950
$2.72$2.72
-19.85%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$4.49COP 14.3K
$9.02$9.02
-50.22%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.79COP 18.5K
$9.68$9.68
-40.19%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.97COP 28.6K
$17.36$17.36
-48.33%
Apples(1kg)
$2.32COP 7,405
$3.17$3.17
-26.81%
Banana(1kg)
$1.06COP 3,397
$1.50$1.50
-29.33%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.52COP 4,838
$3.17$3.17
-52.05%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.36COP 4,327
$4.35$4.35
-68.74%
Potato(1kg)
$1.13COP 3,599
$5.45$5.45
-79.27%
Onion(1kg)
$1.17COP 3,738
$4.04$4.04
-71.04%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.90COP 2,876
$2.11$2.11
-57.35%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.90COP 2,861
$3.74$3.74
-75.94%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.23COP 7,128
$9.18$9.18
-75.71%
Wine(Bottle)
$12.12COP 38.7K
-
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.19COP 3,793
$1.75$1.75
-32.00%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.48COP 7,920
$3.29$3.29
-24.62%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Aurora, CO
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.85COP 2,723
$2.93$2.93
-70.99%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$41.62COP 132.8K
$174$174
-76.05%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.42COP 4,518
$3.59$3.59
-60.45%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.95COP 6,223
$1.63$1.63
19.63%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.89COP 25.2K
$28.97$28.97
-72.76%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.99COP 3,160
$0.80$0.80
23.75%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$17.6KCOP 56.2M
$30.0K$30.0K
-41.33%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.8KCOP 85.5M
$25.3K$25.3K
5.85%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Aurora, CO
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$83.0COP 264.9K
$176$176
-52.93%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.70COP 30.9K
$60.9$60.9
-84.07%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$23.52COP 75.0K
$52.9$52.9
-55.51%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Aurora, CO
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$25.26COP 80.6K
$12.22$12.22
106.71%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.10COP 60.9K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$3.95COP 12.6K
$13.11$13.11
-69.87%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Aurora, CO
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$316COP 1.0M
$1,280$1,280
-75.32%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,975COP 19.1M
$23.9K$23.9K
-74.97%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Aurora, CO
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$60.0COP 191.4K
$43.44$43.44
38.12%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$31.82COP 101.5K
$50.6$50.6
-37.09%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$102COP 324.4K
$112$112
-9.47%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$107COP 342.8K
$113$113
-4.80%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Aurora, CO
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$475COP 1.5M
$1,906$1,906
-75.08%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$374COP 1.2M
$1,739$1,739
-78.50%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$849COP 2.7M
$3,098$3,098
-72.59%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$719COP 2.3M
$2,723$2,723
-73.58%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,265COP 10.4M
$3,128$3,128
4.39%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,441COP 4.6M
$3,225$3,225
-55.33%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Aurora, CO
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$624COP 2.0M
$4,078$4,078
-84.69%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
13.43
6.45
108.22%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Medellin: July 27, 2026
Last update for Aurora, CO: July 26, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $475 in Medellin and $1,906 in Aurora, CO. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Aurora, CO pays 553% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
🛒Dining out: $33.00 in Medellin vs $59.0 in Aurora, CO for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $193 vs $342 per month, with Medellin cheaper across the board.
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
Medellin vs Aurora, CO: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Medellin or Aurora, CO?
Medellin wins on cost – living expenses run 204% lower than in Aurora, CO. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Medellin the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Medellin or in Aurora, CO?
On paper, salaries run 553% lower in Aurora, CO. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Medellin compared to Aurora, CO?
Rent for a central apartment: $475 in Medellin versus $1,906 in Aurora, CO. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Are groceries more expensive in Medellin or in Aurora, CO?
Supermarket bills run roughly 77% higher in Aurora, CO. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
How do dining costs compare in Medellin and in Aurora, CO?
Dining out is cheaper in Medellin – a meal for two runs $33.00 versus $59.0 in Aurora, CO. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Can you live on $1,500/month in Medellin or in Aurora, CO?
At $1,003 in Medellin versus $3,049 in Aurora, CO, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Medellin but tight or insufficient in Aurora, CO. The gap between the two cities makes Medellin the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Medellin or Aurora, CO?
Both work as nomad bases, but Medellin delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,003 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Medellin hard to pass up.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Medellin gentler on the wallet – expenses run 204% less than in Aurora, CO. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.