😐A single person spends $1,122 per month in San Andres Tuxtla vs $1,034 in Medellin, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $1,769 per month in San Andres Tuxtla vs $1,577 in Medellin, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $2,417 per month in San Andres Tuxtla vs $2,120 in Medellin, rent included.
😐San Andres Tuxtla costs about 9% more than Medellin, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both San Andres Tuxtla and Medellin are more affordable than the global median – San Andres Tuxtla16% lower, Medellin23% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
San Andres Tuxtla
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.37MX$181
$5.92COP 21.5K
75.17%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$38.62MX$672
$32.75COP 119.1K
17.92%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.95MX$138
$7.20COP 26.2K
10.42%
Cappuccino
$3.39MX$59.0
$1.70COP 6,186
99.41%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.27MX$22.18
$1.10COP 3,996
15.45%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.91MX$15.85
$0.72COP 2,625
26.39%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.43MX$42.20
$1.67COP 6,067
45.51%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.99MX$69.4
$3.10COP 11.3K
28.71%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
San Andres Tuxtla
Medellin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.42MX$24.65
$1.06COP 3,837
33.96%
White Bread(500g)
$2.53MX$44.07
$1.25COP 4,531
102.40%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.62MX$28.17
$1.39COP 5,060
16.55%
Eggs
$2.29MX$39.89
$2.26COP 8,229
1.33%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.22MX$143
$4.33COP 15.8K
89.84%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.07MX$140
$5.84COP 21.2K
38.18%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.53MX$183
$8.83COP 32.1K
19.25%
Apples(1kg)
$2.59MX$44.98
$2.24COP 8,159
15.62%
Banana(1kg)
$1.46MX$25.38
$1.08COP 3,911
35.19%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.71MX$29.80
$1.53COP 5,563
11.76%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.59MX$27.68
$1.37COP 4,987
16.06%
Potato(1kg)
$1.84MX$32.09
$1.13COP 4,109
62.83%
Onion(1kg)
$1.96MX$34.09
$1.12COP 4,067
75.00%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.25MX$21.80
$0.85COP 3,080
47.06%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.97MX$16.89
$0.91COP 3,305
6.59%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.23MX$73.6
$2.33COP 8,477
81.55%
Wine(Bottle)
$11.70MX$204
$11.13COP 40.5K
5.12%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.55MX$26.91
$1.19COP 4,342
30.25%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.72MX$47.40
$2.37COP 8,617
14.77%
🚌 Getting Around
San Andres Tuxtla
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.64MX$11.15
$0.79COP 2,859
-18.99%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$41.13COP 149.6K
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.66MX$46.22
$1.44COP 5,223
84.72%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.59MX$27.71
$1.91COP 6,952
-16.75%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$8.36MX$145
$8.02COP 29.2K
4.24%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.26MX$21.85
$0.94COP 3,410
34.04%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$20.8KMX$361.5K
$17.9KCOP 65.2M
15.92%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.8KMX$396.2K
$26.8KCOP 97.4M
-15.02%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
San Andres Tuxtla
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$56.9MX$990
$84.0COP 305.4K
-32.23%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.23MX$387
$9.60COP 34.9K
131.56%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$28.57MX$497
$24.16COP 87.9K
18.25%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
San Andres Tuxtla
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$36.49MX$635
$25.88COP 94.1K
41.00%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.13MX$281
$19.04COP 69.3K
-15.28%
Cinema Ticket
$4.59MX$79.9
$3.92COP 14.2K
17.09%
🧸 Childcare & Education
San Andres Tuxtla
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$209MX$3,643
$306COP 1.1M
-31.67%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$3,643MX$63.4K
$5,919COP 21.5M
-38.45%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
San Andres Tuxtla
Medellin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$52.9MX$920
$57.9COP 210.6K
-8.70%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$38.95MX$678
$31.82COP 115.7K
22.41%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$91.3MX$1,588
$99.9COP 363.3K
-8.63%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$79.8MX$1,388
$107COP 389.7K
-25.55%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
San Andres Tuxtla
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$510MX$8,870
$487COP 1.8M
4.74%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$402MX$6,986
$368COP 1.3M
9.09%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$938MX$16.3K
$826COP 3.0M
13.56%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$748MX$13.0K
$716COP 2.6M
4.39%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,283MX$39.7K
$2,925COP 10.6M
-21.95%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,297MX$22.6K
$1,407COP 5.1M
-7.84%
💵 Salaries & Financials
San Andres Tuxtla
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$546COP 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: April 26, 2026
Last update for Medellin: April 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $510 in San Andres Tuxtla versus $487 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 $39.00 in San Andres Tuxtla versus $33.00 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $251 vs $190 – 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 9%, 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 $1,682 per month in San Andres Tuxtla and $1,550 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 Medellin?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $39.00 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 Medellin?
Groceries cost about 32% 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 San Andres Tuxtla or Medellin?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Medellin, where all-in costs run around $1,034, than in San Andres Tuxtla at $1,122. 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