Cost of Living Comparison Between Cuautla and Medellin Cost of Living Comparison Between Cuautla and Medellin

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,150 in Cuautla versus $1,031 in Medellin.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,847 in Cuautla versus $1,599 in Medellin.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,543 in Cuautla versus $2,167 in Medellin.

Living in Cuautla is roughly 12% more expensive than in Medellin, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Cuautla 14% lower, Medellin 23% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Cuautla
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$9.42 MX$165
$6.16 COP 20.1K
52.92%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$45.50 MX$798
$32.60 COP 106.1K
39.57%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.70 MX$135
$7.34 COP 23.9K
4.90%
Cappuccino
$3.65 MX$63.9
$1.72 COP 5,600
112.21%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.25 MX$21.94
$1.05 COP 3,420
19.05%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.96 MX$16.81
$0.77 COP 2,515
24.68%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.35 MX$41.22
$1.69 COP 5,488
39.05%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.16 MX$73.0
$3.17 COP 10.3K
31.23%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Cuautla
Medellin
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.61 MX$28.30
$1.05 COP 3,423
53.33%
White Bread (500g)
$2.58 MX$45.34
$1.30 COP 4,236
98.46%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.95 MX$34.27
$1.40 COP 4,544
39.29%
Eggs
$2.33 MX$40.83
$2.16 COP 7,047
7.87%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.45 MX$148
$4.39 COP 14.3K
92.48%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.44 MX$166
$5.88 COP 19.1K
60.54%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.88 MX$226
$8.64 COP 28.1K
49.07%
Apples (1kg)
$3.58 MX$62.7
$2.28 COP 7,426
57.02%
Banana (1kg)
$1.45 MX$25.49
$1.11 COP 3,604
30.63%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.95 MX$34.12
$1.53 COP 4,983
27.45%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.74 MX$30.49
$1.35 COP 4,410
28.89%
Potato (1kg)
$1.79 MX$31.33
$1.13 COP 3,674
58.41%
Onion (1kg)
$1.87 MX$32.86
$1.13 COP 3,692
65.49%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.25 MX$21.85
$0.85 COP 2,753
47.06%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.15 MX$20.21
$0.91 COP 2,975
26.37%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.27 MX$74.9
$2.34 COP 7,630
82.48%
Wine (Bottle)
$16.92 MX$297
$12.37 COP 40.3K
36.78%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.00 MX$35.09
$1.20 COP 3,909
66.67%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.25 MX$57.0
$2.49 COP 8,104
30.52%
🚌 Getting Around
Cuautla
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.65 MX$11.47
$0.84 COP 2,728
-22.62%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$40.57 COP 132.1K
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.26 MX$57.2
$1.42 COP 4,623
129.58%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.24 MX$21.76
$1.92 COP 6,235
-35.42%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$9.29 MX$163
$7.66 COP 24.9K
21.28%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.21 MX$21.20
$0.99 COP 3,223
22.22%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.8K MX$347.3K
$18.0K COP 58.7M
9.82%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.7K MX$363.7K
$26.6K COP 86.7M
-22.13%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Cuautla
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$63.3 MX$1,109
$80.8 COP 263.1K
-21.73%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$23.36 MX$410
$9.95 COP 32.4K
134.77%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$28.65 MX$503
$24.18 COP 78.7K
18.49%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Cuautla
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$35.41 MX$621
$25.08 COP 81.7K
41.19%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.06 MX$282
$19.15 COP 62.3K
-16.14%
Cinema Ticket
$5.81 MX$102
$3.98 COP 13.0K
45.98%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Cuautla
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$321 MX$5,639
$305 COP 993.5K
5.34%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$4,803 MX$84.2K
$6,059 COP 19.7M
-20.73%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Cuautla
Medellin
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$51.5 MX$903
$58.1 COP 189.2K
-11.44%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$43.08 MX$756
$32.20 COP 104.8K
33.79%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$97.7 MX$1,713
$101 COP 327.9K
-3.05%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$98.5 MX$1,727
$108 COP 350.8K
-8.62%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Cuautla
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$509 MX$8,921
$477 COP 1.6M
6.72%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$389 MX$6,827
$376 COP 1.2M
3.47%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$933 MX$16.4K
$845 COP 2.7M
10.48%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$749 MX$13.1K
$730 COP 2.4M
2.59%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,770 MX$31.0K
$3,215 COP 10.5M
-44.96%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,297 MX$22.7K
$1,372 COP 4.5M
-5.51%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Cuautla
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$617 COP 2.0M
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.55
13.43
-14.00%

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

Last update for Cuautla: July 14, 2026

Last update for Medellin: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $509 in Cuautla and $477 in Medellin. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $45.00 in Cuautla vs $33.00 in Medellin for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $292 vs $193 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
Cuautla vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Medellin cheaper than Cuautla?
Medellin is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Sport & Entertainment. The 12% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $1,726 in Cuautla and $1,546 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 Cuautla and Medellin?
Rent for a central apartment: $509 in Cuautla versus $477 in Medellin. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $321 in Cuautla versus $305 in Medellin. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Is eating out cheaper in Cuautla or in Medellin?
Dining out is cheaper in Medellin – a meal for two runs $33.00 versus $45.00 in Cuautla. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Cuautla or in Medellin?
At $1,031 in Medellin versus $1,150 in Cuautla, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Medellin but tight or insufficient in Cuautla. The gap between the two cities makes Medellin the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Cuautla or Medellin more family-friendly?
For families, Medellin is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Cuautla, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Medellin gentler on the wallet – expenses run 12% less than in Cuautla. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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