Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Highlands Ranch, CO Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Highlands Ranch, CO

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,716 per month in Medellin vs $2,475 in Highlands Ranch, CO, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,527 per month in Medellin vs $3,697 in Highlands Ranch, CO, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,338 per month in Medellin vs $4,918 in Highlands Ranch, CO, rent included.

Medellin is about 31% cheaper than Highlands Ranch, CO, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Medellin and Highlands Ranch, CO sit above the global median – Medellin by 25%, Highlands Ranch, CO by 80%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$8.03 COP 25.1K

$15.18 $15.18

-47.10%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$48.26 COP 150.8K

$78.5 $78.5

-38.55%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.77 COP 30.5K

$10.14 $10.14

-3.65%

Cappuccino

$2.91 COP 9,095

$6.27 $6.27

-53.59%

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

$1.94 COP 6,074

$2.49 $2.49

-22.09%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.52 COP 4,754

$2.06 $2.06

-26.21%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.09 COP 9,663

$4.90 $4.90

-36.94%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.74 COP 17.9K

$6.09 $6.09

-5.75%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.36 COP 4,262

$1.01 $1.01

34.65%

White Bread (500g)

$2.39 COP 7,460

$2.90 $2.90

-17.59%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.70 COP 5,314

$2.81 $2.81

-39.50%

Eggs

$2.87 COP 8,967

$4.34 $4.34

-33.87%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.94 COP 31.1K

$10.99 $10.99

-9.55%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.78 COP 33.7K

$7.31 $7.31

47.47%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.73 COP 46.0K

$19.99 $19.99

-26.31%

Apples (1kg)

$4.09 COP 12.8K

$3.99 $3.99

2.51%

Banana (1kg)

$1.57 COP 4,911

$1.53 $1.53

2.61%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.13 COP 6,642

$4.76 $4.76

-55.25%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.21 COP 6,917

$5.20 $5.20

-57.50%

Potato (1kg)

$2.05 COP 6,396

$3.46 $3.46

-40.75%

Onion (1kg)

$1.50 COP 4,700

$4.67 $4.67

-67.88%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.19 COP 3,718

$2.32 $2.32

-48.71%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.16 COP 3,619

$1.77 $1.77

-34.46%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.90 COP 12.2K

$9.78 $9.78

-60.12%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.44 COP 45.1K

$18.35 $18.35

-21.31%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.58 COP 4,948

$2.61 $2.61

-39.46%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.83 COP 8,836

$2.61 $2.61

8.43%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.17 COP 3,650

$2.16 $2.16

-45.83%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$77.7 COP 242.9K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.28 COP 4,014

$2.45 $2.45

-47.76%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.09 COP 6,537

$1.90 $1.90

10.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.62 COP 26.9K

$25.22 $25.22

-65.82%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.30 COP 4,056

$1.00 $1.00

30.00%

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

$27.7K COP 86.4M

$35.7K $35.7K

-22.55%

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

$35.5K COP 110.9M

$25.1K $25.1K

41.27%

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

$176 COP 550.1K

$209 $209

-15.86%

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

$13.37 COP 41.8K

$55.2 $55.2

-75.79%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$29.89 COP 93.4K

$70.2 $70.2

-57.45%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$44.76 COP 139.8K

$41.82 $41.82

7.03%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.06 COP 53.3K

Cinema Ticket

$6.20 COP 19.4K

$12.23 $12.23

-49.30%

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

$793 COP 2.5M

$1,311 $1,311

-39.48%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$9,019 COP 28.2M

$12.4K $12.4K

-27.34%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$85.6 COP 267.5K

$59.8 $59.8

43.06%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$58.5 COP 182.7K

$68.6 $68.6

-14.73%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$136 COP 425.9K

$78.8 $78.8

72.90%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$103 COP 322.2K

$116 $116

-11.47%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,060 COP 3.3M

$1,577 $1,577

-32.79%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$680 COP 2.1M

$1,285 $1,285

-47.14%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,012 COP 6.3M

$2,536 $2,536

-20.67%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,169 COP 3.7M

$2,001 $2,001

-41.62%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,111 COP 12.8M

$2,809 $2,809

46.36%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,701 COP 5.3M

$2,245 $2,245

-24.20%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$665 COP 2.1M

$7,306 $7,306

-90.89%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

10.94

6.08

79.93%

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

Last update for Medellin: August 30, 2026

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

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,060 in Medellin versus $1,577 in Highlands Ranch, CO. 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 998% 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 $48.00 in Medellin versus $79.0 in Highlands Ranch, CO. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $303 vs $377 – 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

Medellin vs Highlands Ranch, CO: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $1,716 in Medellin, $2,475 in Highlands Ranch, CO – roughly 44% apart. Highlands Ranch, CO costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,574 per month in Medellin and $3,712 in Highlands Ranch, CO. 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 $1,716 in Medellin and $2,475 in Highlands Ranch, CO. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $793 per month in Medellin and $1,311 in Highlands Ranch, CO. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $2,500 monthly budget goes further in Medellin, where all-in costs run around $1,716, than in Highlands Ranch, CO at $2,475. 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 $1,716 in Medellin to $2,475 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.