😐A single person spends $1,031 per month in Medellin vs $941 in Tuxtla Gutierrez, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $1,599 per month in Medellin vs $1,514 in Tuxtla Gutierrez, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $2,167 per month in Medellin vs $2,087 in Tuxtla Gutierrez, rent included.
😐Medellin costs about 10% more than Tuxtla Gutierrez, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Medellin and Tuxtla Gutierrez are more affordable than the global median – Medellin23% lower, Tuxtla Gutierrez30% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Tuxtla Gutierrez
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.16COP 20.0K
$7.24MX$127
-14.92%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.60COP 106.0K
$18.32MX$320
77.95%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.34COP 23.9K
$6.88MX$120
6.69%
Cappuccino
$1.72COP 5,592
$3.58MX$62.6
-51.96%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.05COP 3,416
$1.23MX$21.43
-14.63%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.77COP 2,511
$1.08MX$18.88
-28.70%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.69COP 5,480
$2.62MX$45.77
-35.50%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.17COP 10.3K
$2.96MX$51.8
7.09%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Tuxtla Gutierrez
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.05COP 3,418
$1.31MX$22.94
-19.85%
White Bread(500g)
$1.30COP 4,230
$2.34MX$40.87
-44.44%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.40COP 4,538
$1.54MX$27.01
-9.09%
Eggs
$2.16COP 7,037
$2.35MX$41.10
-8.09%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$4.39COP 14.3K
$23.81MX$416
-81.56%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.88COP 19.1K
$6.92MX$121
-15.03%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.64COP 28.1K
$10.79MX$189
-19.93%
Apples(1kg)
$2.28COP 7,415
$2.57MX$44.94
-11.28%
Banana(1kg)
$1.11COP 3,599
$1.15MX$20.10
-3.48%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.53COP 4,976
$2.78MX$48.53
-44.96%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.35COP 4,405
$1.55MX$27.16
-12.90%
Potato(1kg)
$1.13COP 3,669
$1.45MX$25.32
-22.07%
Onion(1kg)
$1.13COP 3,687
$2.11MX$36.88
-46.45%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.85COP 2,749
$1.05MX$18.34
-19.05%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.91COP 2,971
$0.51MX$8.93
78.43%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.34COP 7,619
$3.99MX$69.8
-41.35%
Wine(Bottle)
$12.37COP 40.2K
$11.53MX$202
7.29%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.20COP 3,904
$1.55MX$27.04
-22.58%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.49COP 8,094
$2.81MX$49.18
-11.39%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Tuxtla Gutierrez
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.84COP 2,724
$0.52MX$9.05
61.54%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$40.57COP 131.9K
$28.99MX$507
39.94%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.42COP 4,617
$2.67MX$46.69
-46.82%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.92COP 6,227
$2.63MX$45.96
-27.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.66COP 24.9K
$5.20MX$90.9
47.31%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.99COP 3,219
$1.32MX$23.02
-25.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.0KCOP 58.6M
$20.9KMX$365.8K
-13.83%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.6KCOP 86.6M
$22.4KMX$392.3K
18.69%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Tuxtla Gutierrez
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$80.8COP 262.7K
$56.9MX$995
42.02%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.95COP 32.3K
$21.59MX$378
-53.91%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.18COP 78.6K
$26.47MX$463
-8.65%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Tuxtla Gutierrez
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$25.08COP 81.5K
$49.57MX$867
-49.40%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.15COP 62.3K
$13.04MX$228
46.86%
Cinema Ticket
$3.98COP 13.0K
$5.80MX$101
-31.38%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Tuxtla Gutierrez
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$305COP 992.2K
$206MX$3,609
47.84%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$6,059COP 19.7M
$2,215MX$38.7K
173.54%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Tuxtla Gutierrez
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.1COP 189.0K
$10.54MX$184
451.52%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$32.20COP 104.7K
$16.02MX$280
101.00%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$101COP 327.5K
$53.0MX$927
89.91%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$108COP 350.3K
$42.29MX$739
154.79%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Tuxtla Gutierrez
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$477COP 1.5M
$312MX$5,457
52.70%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$376COP 1.2M
$228MX$3,987
64.99%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$845COP 2.7M
$778MX$13.6K
8.50%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$730COP 2.4M
$598MX$10.5K
22.16%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,215COP 10.5M
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,372COP 4.5M
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Tuxtla Gutierrez
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$617COP 2.0M
$511MX$8,927
20.81%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
13.43
11.5
16.78%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Medellin: July 12, 2026
Last update for Tuxtla Gutierrez: July 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $477 in Medellin versus $312 in Tuxtla Gutierrez. 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 21% higher in Medellin, 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 $33.00 in Medellin versus $18.00 in Tuxtla Gutierrez. Groceries tell a different story – $193 in Medellin vs $284 in Tuxtla Gutierrez – so Medellin wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.
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 Tuxtla Gutierrez: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Tuxtla Gutierrez cheaper than Medellin?
Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 10%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,546 per month in Medellin and $1,412 in Tuxtla Gutierrez. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Tuxtla Gutierrez, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Is eating out cheaper in Medellin or in Tuxtla Gutierrez?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $33.00 in Medellin and $18.00 in Tuxtla Gutierrez. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
What are total monthly expenses in Medellin and in Tuxtla Gutierrez?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,031 in Medellin and $941 in Tuxtla Gutierrez. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Is $2,000 a realistic budget for living in Medellin or in Tuxtla Gutierrez?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Tuxtla Gutierrez, where all-in costs run around $941, than in Medellin at $1,031. In Tuxtla Gutierrez it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Medellin or Tuxtla Gutierrez more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Tuxtla Gutierrez – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Tuxtla Gutierrez. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Medellin makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.