😐A single person spends $1,109 per month in San Andres Tuxtla vs $1,003 in Medellin, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $1,744 per month in San Andres Tuxtla vs $1,573 in Medellin, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $2,379 per month in San Andres Tuxtla vs $2,143 in Medellin, rent included.
😐San Andres Tuxtla costs about 11% more than Medellin, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both San Andres Tuxtla and Medellin are more affordable than the global median – San Andres Tuxtla17% lower, Medellin25% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
San Andres Tuxtla
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.74MX$186
$5.91COP 18.6K
81.73%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$39.75MX$688
$32.96COP 103.8K
20.60%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.09MX$140
$7.43COP 23.4K
8.88%
Cappuccino
$3.24MX$56.1
$1.65COP 5,207
96.36%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.24MX$21.51
$1.10COP 3,468
12.73%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.90MX$15.51
$0.78COP 2,458
15.38%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.44MX$42.15
$1.72COP 5,412
41.86%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.94MX$68.1
$3.18COP 10.0K
23.90%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
San Andres Tuxtla
Medellin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.50MX$26.01
$1.10COP 3,474
36.36%
White Bread(500g)
$2.52MX$43.52
$1.26COP 3,962
100.00%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.55MX$26.85
$1.38COP 4,349
12.32%
Eggs
$2.37MX$41.03
$2.18COP 6,858
8.72%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.26MX$143
$4.49COP 14.1K
83.96%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.86MX$136
$5.79COP 18.2K
35.75%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.50MX$182
$8.97COP 28.2K
17.06%
Apples(1kg)
$2.62MX$45.36
$2.32COP 7,308
12.93%
Banana(1kg)
$1.39MX$24.03
$1.06COP 3,352
31.13%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.78MX$30.77
$1.52COP 4,774
17.11%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.65MX$28.58
$1.36COP 4,270
21.32%
Potato(1kg)
$1.84MX$31.86
$1.13COP 3,552
62.83%
Onion(1kg)
$1.93MX$33.36
$1.17COP 3,689
64.96%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.21MX$20.98
$0.90COP 2,838
34.44%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.02MX$17.58
$0.90COP 2,823
13.33%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.12MX$71.3
$2.23COP 7,034
84.75%
Wine(Bottle)
$9.76MX$169
$12.12COP 38.2K
-19.47%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.62MX$28.04
$1.19COP 3,743
36.13%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.83MX$49.00
$2.48COP 7,815
14.11%
🚌 Getting Around
San Andres Tuxtla
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.65MX$11.20
$0.85COP 2,687
-23.53%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$41.62COP 131.0K
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.62MX$45.37
$1.42COP 4,459
84.51%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.59MX$27.58
$1.95COP 6,141
-18.46%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$8.51MX$147
$7.89COP 24.8K
7.86%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.32MX$22.77
$0.99COP 3,118
33.33%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.5KMX$371.4K
$17.6KCOP 55.4M
21.97%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.3KMX$386.4K
$26.8KCOP 84.4M
-16.66%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
San Andres Tuxtla
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$56.5MX$978
$83.0COP 261.4K
-31.94%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$21.90MX$379
$9.70COP 30.5K
125.77%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$28.02MX$485
$23.52COP 74.1K
19.13%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
San Andres Tuxtla
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$35.68MX$617
$25.26COP 79.5K
41.25%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.18MX$280
$19.10COP 60.1K
-15.29%
Cinema Ticket
$4.57MX$79.0
$3.95COP 12.4K
15.70%
🧸 Childcare & Education
San Andres Tuxtla
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$210MX$3,632
$316COP 994.2K
-33.53%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$3,599MX$62.3K
$5,975COP 18.8M
-39.77%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
San Andres Tuxtla
Medellin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$53.4MX$923
$60.0COP 188.9K
-11.05%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.08MX$693
$31.82COP 100.2K
25.96%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$88.0MX$1,523
$102COP 320.1K
-13.45%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$79.9MX$1,382
$107COP 338.3K
-25.64%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
San Andres Tuxtla
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$499MX$8,637
$475COP 1.5M
5.11%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$397MX$6,860
$374COP 1.2M
6.03%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$932MX$16.1K
$849COP 2.7M
9.81%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$771MX$13.3K
$719COP 2.3M
7.17%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,868MX$32.3K
$3,265COP 10.3M
-42.79%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,231MX$21.3K
$1,441COP 4.5M
-14.54%
💵 Salaries & Financials
San Andres Tuxtla
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$624COP 2.0M
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.48
13.43
-14.52%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for San Andres Tuxtla: July 27, 2026
Last update for Medellin: July 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $499 in San Andres Tuxtla versus $475 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 $40.00 in San Andres Tuxtla versus $33.00 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $248 vs $193 – making Medellin 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 – San Andres Tuxtla is pricier by about 11%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. 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 $1,664 per month in San Andres Tuxtla and $1,504 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 Medellin, 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 $40.00 in San Andres Tuxtla and $33.00 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 28% more in San Andres Tuxtla, 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 Medellin, where all-in costs run around $1,003, than in San Andres Tuxtla at $1,109. In Medellin it covers expenses comfortably, while in San Andres Tuxtla it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is San Andres Tuxtla or Medellin more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Medellin – 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 Medellin. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, San Andres Tuxtla makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.
San Andres Tuxtla vs other spots: cost of living compared