Cost of Living Comparison Between San Andres Tuxtla and Medellin Cost of Living Comparison Between San Andres Tuxtla and Medellin

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,189 per month in San Andres Tuxtla vs $1,681 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,940 per month in San Andres Tuxtla vs $2,445 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,690 per month in San Andres Tuxtla vs $3,210 in Medellin, rent included.

San Andres Tuxtla is about 29% cheaper than Medellin, driven mainly by Getting Around.

San Andres Tuxtla sits 13% below the global median, while Medellin is 23% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
San Andres Tuxtla
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.32 MX$194
$8.02 COP 25.3K
41.15%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$42.46 MX$729
$47.87 COP 151.0K
-11.30%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.64 MX$166
$9.89 COP 31.2K
-2.53%
Cappuccino
$3.50 MX$60.0
$3.13 COP 9,873
11.82%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.62 MX$27.82
$1.91 COP 6,019
-15.18%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.12 MX$19.28
$1.51 COP 4,763
-25.83%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.97 MX$50.9
$3.12 COP 9,853
-4.81%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.68 MX$80.3
$5.75 COP 18.1K
-18.61%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
San Andres Tuxtla
Medellin
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.86 MX$31.87
$1.44 COP 4,558
29.17%
White Bread (500g)
$2.81 MX$48.15
$2.49 COP 7,843
12.85%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.70 MX$29.15
$1.77 COP 5,595
-3.95%
Eggs
$2.51 MX$43.13
$2.96 COP 9,336
-15.20%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.77 MX$150
$10.07 COP 31.8K
-12.91%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.18 MX$175
$10.12 COP 31.9K
0.59%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.01 MX$223
$14.30 COP 45.1K
-9.02%
Apples (1kg)
$3.35 MX$57.6
$4.14 COP 13.0K
-19.08%
Banana (1kg)
$1.66 MX$28.44
$1.61 COP 5,073
3.11%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.97 MX$33.86
$2.25 COP 7,083
-12.44%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.15 MX$36.85
$2.25 COP 7,104
-4.44%
Potato (1kg)
$1.79 MX$30.80
$2.04 COP 6,444
-12.25%
Onion (1kg)
$1.70 MX$29.12
$1.54 COP 4,842
10.39%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.45 MX$24.89
$1.17 COP 3,691
23.93%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.03 MX$17.60
$1.31 COP 4,121
-21.37%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.16 MX$88.7
$3.90 COP 12.3K
32.31%
Wine (Bottle)
$9.93 MX$170
$14.01 COP 44.2K
-29.12%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.14 MX$36.80
$1.74 COP 5,498
22.99%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.13 MX$53.7
$2.87 COP 9,053
9.06%
🚌 Getting Around
San Andres Tuxtla
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.78 MX$13.32
$1.22 COP 3,834
-36.07%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$80.5 COP 253.9K
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.12 MX$53.5
$1.31 COP 4,129
138.17%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.87 MX$32.05
$2.19 COP 6,899
-14.61%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$10.34 MX$177
$8.71 COP 27.5K
18.71%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.32 MX$22.64
$1.37 COP 4,306
-3.65%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$25.6K MX$439.4K
$27.8K COP 87.8M
-8.03%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$28.4K MX$487.5K
$35.8K COP 112.8M
-20.61%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
San Andres Tuxtla
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$56.2 MX$965
$177 COP 559.3K
-68.28%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$21.36 MX$367
$13.88 COP 43.8K
53.89%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$34.61 MX$594
$29.72 COP 93.8K
16.45%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
San Andres Tuxtla
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$31.59 MX$542
$44.88 COP 141.6K
-29.61%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$21.74 MX$373
$17.12 COP 54.0K
26.99%
Cinema Ticket
$4.87 MX$83.6
$6.65 COP 21.0K
-26.77%
🧸 Childcare & Education
San Andres Tuxtla
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$251 MX$4,316
$813 COP 2.6M
-69.07%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,125 MX$88.0K
$9,187 COP 29.0M
-44.21%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
San Andres Tuxtla
Medellin
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$53.2 MX$913
$89.5 COP 282.3K
-40.55%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.90 MX$702
$59.0 COP 186.0K
-30.64%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$107 MX$1,843
$138 COP 435.9K
-22.31%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$94.3 MX$1,618
$102 COP 322.1K
-7.71%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
San Andres Tuxtla
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$742 MX$12.7K
$1,062 COP 3.3M
-30.16%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$410 MX$7,033
$663 COP 2.1M
-38.19%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,166 MX$20.0K
$1,888 COP 6.0M
-38.22%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$847 MX$14.5K
$1,027 COP 3.2M
-17.52%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,120 MX$36.4K
$4,183 COP 13.2M
-49.32%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,216 MX$20.9K
$1,675 COP 5.3M
-27.38%
💵 Salaries & Financials
San Andres Tuxtla
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$678 COP 2.1M
-
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 San Andres Tuxtla: September 13, 2026

Last update for Medellin: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $742 in San Andres Tuxtla versus $1,062 in Medellin. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $42.00 in San Andres Tuxtla versus $48.00 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $289 vs $305 – making San Andres Tuxtla the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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
San Andres Tuxtla vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Medellin cheaper than San Andres Tuxtla?
Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 41%, and the gap shows up most in Getting Around. 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 $1,784 per month in San Andres Tuxtla and $2,521 in Medellin. 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 San Andres Tuxtla, 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 San Andres Tuxtla or in Medellin?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $42.00 in San Andres Tuxtla and $48.00 in Medellin. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
How do food prices compare in San Andres Tuxtla and in Medellin?
Groceries cost about 5% 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 $1,500 a realistic budget for living in San Andres Tuxtla or in Medellin?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in San Andres Tuxtla, where all-in costs run around $1,189, than in Medellin at $1,681. In San Andres Tuxtla it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is San Andres Tuxtla or Medellin more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward San Andres Tuxtla – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, San Andres Tuxtla or Medellin?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with San Andres Tuxtla. 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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