Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Tuxtla Gutierrez

For one person, living is cheaper in Tuxtla Gutierrez: $915 a month against $1,614 in Medellin, rent and utilities included – about $8,400 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Medellin
🇨🇴 Colombia
$1,614
/mo nomad
Tuxtla Gutierrez
🇲🇽 Mexico
$915
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Medellin and in Tuxtla Gutierrez

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Medellin and in Tuxtla Gutierrez actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $1,614 per month in Medellin vs $915 in Tuxtla Gutierrez, rent included.

  • Medellin $1,614
  • Tuxtla Gutierrez $915

A couple spends around $2,402 per month in Medellin vs $1,529 in Tuxtla Gutierrez, rent included.

  • Medellin $2,402
  • Tuxtla Gutierrez $1,529

A family of three spends $3,190 per month in Medellin vs $2,142 in Tuxtla Gutierrez, rent included.

  • Medellin $3,190
  • Tuxtla Gutierrez $2,142

Medellin costs about 76% more than Tuxtla Gutierrez, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in clothing.

Medellin sits 20% above the global median, while Tuxtla Gutierrez is 32% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Tuxtla Gutierrez
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.93 COP 25.2K
$6.69 MX$124
18.54%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.13 COP 146.3K
$19.09 MX$353
141.64%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.50 COP 30.1K
$7.30 MX$135
30.14%
Cappuccino
$3.11 COP 9,866
$3.87 MX$71.4
-19.64%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.83 COP 5,800
$1.38 MX$25.53
32.61%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.38 COP 4,360
$1.09 MX$20.08
26.61%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.05 COP 9,672
$2.16 MX$39.85
41.20%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.50 COP 17.4K
$2.48 MX$45.86
121.77%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Tuxtla Gutierrez
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.45 COP 4,600
$1.55 MX$28.61
-6.45%
White Bread (500g)
$2.36 COP 7,496
$2.76 MX$51.1
-14.49%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.68 COP 5,328
$1.75 MX$32.33
-4.00%
Eggs
$2.86 COP 9,077
$2.61 MX$48.31
9.58%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.19 COP 32.3K
$18.67 MX$345
-45.42%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.53 COP 30.2K
$7.96 MX$147
19.72%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.04 COP 44.5K
$10.75 MX$199
30.60%
Apples (1kg)
$4.07 COP 12.9K
$2.70 MX$49.81
50.74%
Banana (1kg)
$1.50 COP 4,742
$1.39 MX$25.64
7.91%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.17 COP 6,891
$2.53 MX$46.74
-14.23%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.31 COP 7,310
$1.64 MX$30.34
40.85%
Potato (1kg)
$1.93 COP 6,113
$1.76 MX$32.54
9.66%
Onion (1kg)
$1.64 COP 5,196
$2.03 MX$37.46
-19.21%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.13 COP 3,571
$1.13 MX$20.91
-
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.25 COP 3,954
$0.65 MX$12.06
92.31%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.99 COP 12.6K
$4.51 MX$83.3
-11.53%
Wine (Bottle)
$13.35 COP 42.3K
$11.03 MX$204
21.03%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.70 COP 5,384
$1.45 MX$26.76
17.24%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.37 COP 7,525
$3.86 MX$71.4
-38.60%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Tuxtla Gutierrez
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.21 COP 3,827
$0.53 MX$9.74
128.30%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$76.5 COP 242.5K
$29.17 MX$539
162.22%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.32 COP 4,179
$2.70 MX$49.83
-51.11%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.14 COP 6,774
$2.81 MX$52.0
-23.84%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.47 COP 26.8K
$8.18 MX$151
3.55%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.30 COP 4,114
$1.45 MX$26.87
-10.34%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.0K COP 88.7M
$22.3K MX$411.3K
25.74%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$35.4K COP 112.3M
$25.1K MX$463.4K
41.23%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Tuxtla Gutierrez
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$172 COP 545.6K
$24.62 MX$455
598.98%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.37 COP 42.4K
$20.22 MX$374
-33.88%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$28.73 COP 91.1K
$25.40 MX$469
13.11%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Tuxtla Gutierrez
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$45.24 COP 143.5K
$41.92 MX$775
7.92%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.04 COP 54.0K
$13.75 MX$254
23.93%
Cinema Ticket
$6.28 COP 19.9K
$5.90 MX$109
6.44%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Tuxtla Gutierrez
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$770 COP 2.4M
-
-
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$9,011 COP 28.6M
$2,297 MX$42.5K
292.24%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Tuxtla Gutierrez
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$86.4 COP 274.0K
$33.97 MX$628
154.37%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$57.1 COP 181.1K
$16.54 MX$306
245.41%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$137 COP 432.9K
$68.6 MX$1,267
99.11%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$97.9 COP 310.4K
$55.6 MX$1,028
76.07%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Tuxtla Gutierrez
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,055 COP 3.3M
$330 MX$6,099
219.71%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$616 COP 2.0M
$229 MX$4,240
168.39%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,892 COP 6.0M
$821 MX$15.2K
130.57%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,023 COP 3.2M
$608 MX$11.2K
68.24%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,059 COP 12.9M
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,678 COP 5.3M
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Tuxtla Gutierrez
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$652 COP 2.1M
$501 MX$9,254
30.27%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
10.94
0
-

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

Last update for Medellin: October 12, 2026

Last update for Tuxtla Gutierrez: October 10, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Medellin
$616
Tuxtla Gutierrez
$229 62.7% $386
Groceries & Markets
Medellin
$295
Tuxtla Gutierrez
$288 2.4% $7.1
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
$214
Tuxtla Gutierrez
$70 67.2% $144
Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
$170
Tuxtla Gutierrez
$79 53.8% $91
Eating Out
Medellin
$168
Tuxtla Gutierrez
$147 12.4% $21
Getting Around
Medellin
$93
Tuxtla Gutierrez
$48 48.5% $45
Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
$58
Tuxtla Gutierrez
$54 7.1% $4.1

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,055 in Medellin versus $330 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 30% 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 $46.00 in Medellin versus $19.00 in Tuxtla Gutierrez. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $295 vs $288 – making Tuxtla Gutierrez the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇨🇴 Medellin
🇲🇽 Tuxtla Gutierrez
🕒 Local time
02:59 2:59 AM
01:59 1:59 AM
1 h behind Medellin
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
2,486,723
578,830
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

MXN, USD, EUR to COP – Colombian Peso Converter

Colombian Peso exchange rates as of October 18, 2026: 1 USD = 3,171 COP (10,000 COP = 3.15 USD). 1 EUR = 3,565 COP (10,000 COP = 2.81 EUR).

Mexican Peso exchange rates as of October 18, 2026: 1 USD = 18.48 MXN (100 MXN = 5.41 USD). 1 EUR = 20.77 MXN (100 MXN = 4.81 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Medellin Tuxtla Gutierrez 2,230 km ≈ 3 h 15 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Medellin
  • Tuxtla Gutierrez

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 76%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in clothing.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,421 per month in Medellin and $1,373 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.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
Public transport costs about 162% less in Tuxtla Gutierrez. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
How do food prices compare in Medellin and in Tuxtla Gutierrez?
Groceries cost about 2% more in Medellin, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
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 $915, than in Medellin at $1,614. 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.

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