πMonthly costs for one person with rent: $1,030 in Cuautitlan Izcalli versus $1,017 in Medellin.
πEstimated couple costs with rent: $1,631 in Cuautitlan Izcalli versus $1,602 in Medellin.
πMonthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,232 in Cuautitlan Izcalli versus $2,188 in Medellin.
πLiving in Cuautitlan Izcalli is roughly 1% more expensive than Medellin, driven mainly by Eating Out.
πBoth cities sit below the global median: Cuautitlan Izcalli23% lower, Medellin24% lower.
Currency
π½ Eating Out
Cuautitlan Izcalli
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.74MX$184
$5.95COPΒ 20.8K
80.50%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$24.94MX$428
$33.33COPΒ 116.3K
-25.17%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.07MX$138
$7.23COPΒ 25.2K
11.62%
Cappuccino
$3.21MX$55.2
$1.63COPΒ 5,687
96.93%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.55MX$26.57
$1.09COPΒ 3,821
42.20%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.11MX$19.02
$0.73COPΒ 2,548
52.05%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.36MX$40.59
$1.74COPΒ 6,065
35.63%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.67MX$80.1
$3.23COPΒ 11.3K
44.58%
π Groceries & Markets
Cuautitlan Izcalli
Medellin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.64MX$28.09
$1.05COPΒ 3,662
56.19%
White Bread(500g)
$2.67MX$45.91
$1.29COPΒ 4,515
106.98%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.30MX$22.32
$1.32COPΒ 4,617
-1.52%
Eggs
$2.63MX$45.21
$2.27COPΒ 7,927
15.86%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$2.59MX$44.41
$4.35COPΒ 15.2K
-40.46%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.99MX$85.6
$5.88COPΒ 20.5K
-15.14%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$7.04MX$121
$8.61COPΒ 30.0K
-18.23%
Apples(1kg)
$2.31MX$39.73
$2.25COPΒ 7,844
2.67%
Banana(1kg)
$1.56MX$26.80
$1.07COPΒ 3,733
45.79%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.29MX$22.18
$1.52COPΒ 5,322
-15.13%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.03MX$34.90
$1.42COPΒ 4,964
42.96%
Potato(1kg)
$2.15MX$36.84
$1.17COPΒ 4,084
83.76%
Onion(1kg)
$2.24MX$38.53
$1.17COPΒ 4,077
91.45%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.45MX$24.96
$0.89COPΒ 3,096
62.92%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.05MX$17.95
$0.90COPΒ 3,146
16.67%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.24MX$72.8
$2.25COPΒ 7,837
88.44%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.22MX$175
$11.04COPΒ 38.5K
-7.43%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.56MX$26.78
$1.14COPΒ 3,977
36.84%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.58MX$61.4
$2.38COPΒ 8,301
50.42%
π Getting Around
Cuautitlan Izcalli
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.82MX$14.00
$0.84COPΒ 2,916
-2.38%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$41.95COPΒ 146.4K
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.76MX$13.07
$1.41COPΒ 4,912
-46.10%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.28MX$4.78
$1.90COPΒ 6,634
-85.26%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.32MX$91.2
$7.75COPΒ 27.0K
-31.35%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.28MX$21.99
$1.01COPΒ 3,509
26.73%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.3KMX$331.4K
$17.6KCOPΒ 61.4M
9.83%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.4KMX$402.2K
$26.5KCOPΒ 92.5M
-11.56%
π§Ύ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Cuautitlan Izcalli
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$40.79MX$700
$83.7COPΒ 292.1K
-51.25%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$27.73MX$476
$9.45COPΒ 33.0K
193.44%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.88MX$324
$24.11COPΒ 84.1K
-21.69%
π Sport & Entertainment
Cuautitlan Izcalli
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$36.47MX$626
$25.31COPΒ 88.3K
44.09%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$15.60MX$268
$19.14COPΒ 66.8K
-18.50%
Cinema Ticket
$4.14MX$71.1
$4.10COPΒ 14.3K
0.98%
π§Έ Childcare & Education
Cuautitlan Izcalli
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$438MX$7,512
$312COPΒ 1.1M
40.30%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$3,538MX$60.7K
$5,993COPΒ 20.9M
-40.97%
ππ Clothing & Footwear
Cuautitlan Izcalli
Medellin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$53.9MX$925
$58.0COPΒ 202.6K
-7.10%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$25.56MX$439
$32.56COPΒ 113.6K
-21.50%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$105MX$1,805
$99.6COPΒ 347.7K
5.58%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$53.1MX$912
$109COPΒ 378.8K
-51.05%
π Accommodation & Living
Cuautitlan Izcalli
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$507MX$8,702
$482COPΒ 1.7M
5.12%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$403MX$6,913
$379COPΒ 1.3M
6.14%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$945MX$16.2K
$837COPΒ 2.9M
12.85%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$752MX$12.9K
$723COPΒ 2.5M
3.96%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,724MX$29.6K
$2,840COPΒ 9.9M
-39.31%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,349MX$23.2K
$1,223COPΒ 4.3M
10.30%
π΅ Salaries & Financials
Cuautitlan Izcalli
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$541COPΒ 1.9M
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.34
13.43
-15.56%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input β minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Cuautitlan Izcalli: June 6, 2026
Last update for Medellin: June 8, 2026
Cost Breakdown
π A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $507 in Cuautitlan Izcalli and $482 in Medellin. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
πDining out: $25.00 in Cuautitlan Izcalli vs $33.00 in Medellin. Groceries flip the comparison at $214 vs $190, with Medellin cheaper for home cooking.
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
Cuautitlan Izcalli vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Medellin cheaper than Cuautitlan Izcalli?
Medellin is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Sport & Entertainment. The 1% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $1,545 in Cuautitlan Izcalli and $1,525 in Medellin to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
What is the rent difference between Cuautitlan Izcalli and Medellin?
Rent for a central apartment: $507 in Cuautitlan Izcalli versus $482 in Medellin. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $438 in Cuautitlan Izcalli versus $312 in Medellin. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Is eating out cheaper in Cuautitlan Izcalli or Medellin?
Dining out is cheaper in Medellin β a meal for two runs $33.00 versus $25.00 in Cuautitlan Izcalli. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Cuautitlan Izcalli or Medellin?
At $1,017 in Medellin versus $1,030 in Cuautitlan Izcalli, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Medellin but tight or insufficient in Cuautitlan Izcalli. The gap between the two cities makes Medellin the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Cuautitlan Izcalli or Medellin more family-friendly?
For families, Medellin is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Cuautitlan Izcalli, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Cuautitlan Izcalli or Medellin?
Safety-wise, Cuautitlan Izcalli and Medellin are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Medellin gentler on the wallet β expenses run 1% less than in Cuautitlan Izcalli. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Cuautitlan Izcalli vs other spots: cost of living compared