🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,139 in Cuautitlan Izcalli versus $1,681 in Medellin.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,788 in Cuautitlan Izcalli versus $2,445 in Medellin.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,437 in Cuautitlan Izcalli versus $3,210 in Medellin.
🌍Living in Cuautitlan Izcalli costs roughly 32% less than in Medellin, driven mainly by Getting Around.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Cuautitlan Izcalli is 17% below, Medellin is 23% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Cuautitlan Izcalli
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.66MX$201
$8.02COP 25.4K
45.39%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$28.44MX$490
$47.87COP 152.0K
-40.59%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.94MX$154
$9.89COP 31.4K
-9.61%
Cappuccino
$3.44MX$59.3
$3.13COP 9,937
9.90%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.66MX$28.64
$1.91COP 6,058
-13.09%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.39MX$23.92
$1.51COP 4,794
-7.95%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.66MX$45.76
$3.12COP 9,917
-14.74%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.29MX$91.1
$5.75COP 18.3K
-8.00%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Cuautitlan Izcalli
Medellin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.76MX$30.31
$1.44COP 4,587
22.22%
White Bread(500g)
$2.89MX$49.69
$2.49COP 7,894
16.06%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.43MX$24.71
$1.77COP 5,631
-19.21%
Eggs
$2.89MX$49.83
$2.96COP 9,396
-2.36%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$2.96MX$50.9
$10.07COP 32.0K
-70.61%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.66MX$97.4
$10.12COP 32.1K
-44.07%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$7.43MX$128
$14.30COP 45.4K
-48.04%
Apples(1kg)
$2.62MX$45.08
$4.14COP 13.1K
-36.71%
Banana(1kg)
$1.73MX$29.70
$1.61COP 5,106
7.45%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.42MX$24.47
$2.25COP 7,129
-36.89%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.27MX$39.12
$2.25COP 7,150
0.89%
Potato(1kg)
$2.16MX$37.26
$2.04COP 6,486
5.88%
Onion(1kg)
$1.92MX$33.01
$1.54COP 4,873
24.68%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.61MX$27.80
$1.17COP 3,715
37.61%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.19MX$20.51
$1.31COP 4,148
-9.16%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.67MX$80.5
$3.90COP 12.4K
19.74%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.33MX$178
$14.01COP 44.5K
-26.27%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.73MX$29.81
$1.74COP 5,534
-0.57%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.74MX$81.6
$2.87COP 9,112
65.16%
🚌 Getting Around
Cuautitlan Izcalli
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.89MX$15.26
$1.22COP 3,858
-27.05%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$80.5COP 255.5K
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.86MX$14.77
$1.31COP 4,155
-34.35%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.57MX$9.81
$2.19COP 6,944
-73.97%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.68MX$97.7
$8.71COP 27.7K
-34.79%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.42MX$24.51
$1.37COP 4,334
3.65%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$23.0KMX$396.1K
$27.8KCOP 88.4M
-17.37%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.6KMX$458.5K
$35.8KCOP 113.6M
-25.56%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Cuautitlan Izcalli
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$65.3MX$1,125
$177COP 562.9K
-63.16%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$29.33MX$505
$13.88COP 44.1K
111.31%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$20.76MX$357
$29.72COP 94.4K
-30.15%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Cuautitlan Izcalli
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$36.20MX$623
$44.88COP 142.5K
-19.34%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$23.59MX$406
$17.12COP 54.4K
37.79%
Cinema Ticket
$4.78MX$82.4
$6.65COP 21.1K
-28.12%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Cuautitlan Izcalli
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$459MX$7,910
$813COP 2.6M
-43.49%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$4,857MX$83.6K
$9,187COP 29.2M
-47.13%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Cuautitlan Izcalli
Medellin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.9MX$1,014
$89.5COP 284.1K
-34.22%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$28.11MX$484
$59.0COP 187.2K
-52.33%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$113MX$1,945
$138COP 438.8K
-18.25%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$58.9MX$1,013
$102COP 324.2K
-42.38%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Cuautitlan Izcalli
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$648MX$11.2K
$1,062COP 3.4M
-38.94%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$408MX$7,023
$663COP 2.1M
-38.47%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,087MX$18.7K
$1,888COP 6.0M
-42.41%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$810MX$14.0K
$1,027COP 3.3M
-21.11%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,751MX$30.1K
$4,183COP 13.3M
-58.15%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,291MX$22.2K
$1,675COP 5.3M
-22.92%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Cuautitlan Izcalli
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$678COP 2.2M
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.3
10.94
3.29%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Cuautitlan Izcalli: September 14, 2026
Last update for Medellin: September 14, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $648 in Cuautitlan Izcalli and $1,062 in Medellin. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $28.00 in Cuautitlan Izcalli vs $48.00 in Medellin for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $234 vs $305 per month, with Cuautitlan Izcalli 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
Cuautitlan Izcalli vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Medellin cheaper than Cuautitlan Izcalli?
Cuautitlan Izcalli is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 48% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $1,709 in Cuautitlan Izcalli and $2,521 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: $648 in Cuautitlan Izcalli versus $1,062 in Medellin. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $459 in Cuautitlan Izcalli versus $813 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 in Medellin?
Dining out is cheaper in Cuautitlan Izcalli – a meal for two runs $28.00 versus $48.00 in Medellin. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Cuautitlan Izcalli or in Medellin?
At $1,139 in Cuautitlan Izcalli versus $1,681 in Medellin, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Cuautitlan Izcalli but tight or insufficient in Medellin. The gap between the two cities makes Cuautitlan Izcalli the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Cuautitlan Izcalli or Medellin more family-friendly?
For families, Cuautitlan Izcalli is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Medellin, 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 Cuautitlan Izcalli gentler on the wallet – expenses run 48% less than in Medellin. 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