Cost of Living Comparison Between San Luis Potosi and Medellin Cost of Living Comparison Between San Luis Potosi and Medellin

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,374 per month in San Luis Potosi vs $1,681 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,164 per month in San Luis Potosi vs $2,445 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,955 per month in San Luis Potosi vs $3,210 in Medellin, rent included.

San Luis Potosi is about 18% cheaper than Medellin, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both San Luis Potosi and Medellin sit above the global median – San Luis Potosi by 0%, Medellin by 23%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$14.56 MX$251

$8.02 COP 25.0K

81.55%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$45.26 MX$780

$47.87 COP 149.4K

-5.45%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.78 MX$169

$9.89 COP 30.8K

-1.11%

Cappuccino

$3.53 MX$60.9

$3.13 COP 9,767

12.78%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.39 MX$24.01

$1.91 COP 5,954

-27.23%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.04 MX$17.85

$1.51 COP 4,712

-31.13%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.69 MX$46.38

$3.12 COP 9,747

-13.78%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.99 MX$86.1

$5.75 COP 17.9K

-13.22%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.59 MX$27.35

$1.44 COP 4,509

10.42%

White Bread (500g)

$2.72 MX$46.94

$2.49 COP 7,759

9.24%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.92 MX$33.03

$1.77 COP 5,535

8.47%

Eggs

$2.78 MX$47.94

$2.96 COP 9,235

-6.08%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.92 MX$154

$10.07 COP 31.4K

-11.42%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.85 MX$187

$10.12 COP 31.6K

7.21%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.52 MX$216

$14.30 COP 44.6K

-12.45%

Apples (1kg)

$3.38 MX$58.3

$4.14 COP 12.9K

-18.36%

Banana (1kg)

$1.74 MX$29.96

$1.61 COP 5,019

8.07%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.39 MX$41.14

$2.25 COP 7,007

6.22%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.64 MX$45.56

$2.25 COP 7,028

17.33%

Potato (1kg)

$2.74 MX$47.29

$2.04 COP 6,375

34.31%

Onion (1kg)

$3.34 MX$57.5

$1.54 COP 4,790

116.88%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.20 MX$20.65

$1.17 COP 3,651

2.56%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.41 MX$24.27

$1.31 COP 4,077

7.63%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.34 MX$74.8

$3.90 COP 12.2K

11.28%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.78 MX$255

$14.01 COP 43.7K

5.50%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.22 MX$38.31

$1.74 COP 5,439

27.59%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.10 MX$70.7

$2.87 COP 8,956

42.86%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.86 MX$14.86

$1.22 COP 3,792

-29.51%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$77.6 MX$1,338

$80.5 COP 251.1K

-3.58%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.91 MX$15.72

$1.31 COP 4,084

-30.53%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.79 MX$30.90

$2.19 COP 6,825

-18.26%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$10.44 MX$180

$8.71 COP 27.2K

19.86%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.52 MX$26.23

$1.37 COP 4,260

10.95%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$22.6K MX$390.5K

$27.8K COP 86.9M

-18.64%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$25.7K MX$442.3K

$35.8K COP 111.6M

-28.29%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$44.18 MX$762

$177 COP 553.2K

-75.08%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$17.21 MX$297

$13.88 COP 43.3K

23.99%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$32.79 MX$565

$29.72 COP 92.8K

10.33%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$31.79 MX$548

$44.88 COP 140.1K

-29.17%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$28.68 MX$494

$17.12 COP 53.4K

67.52%

Cinema Ticket

$6.28 MX$108

$6.65 COP 20.7K

-5.56%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$272 MX$4,696

$813 COP 2.5M

-66.49%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,785 MX$65.3K

$9,187 COP 28.7M

-58.80%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$57.3 MX$987

$89.5 COP 279.3K

-36.03%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$41.64 MX$718

$59.0 COP 184.0K

-29.39%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$107 MX$1,851

$138 COP 431.2K

-22.31%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$84.9 MX$1,463

$102 COP 318.7K

-16.89%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$689 MX$11.9K

$1,062 COP 3.3M

-35.15%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$483 MX$8,324

$663 COP 2.1M

-27.18%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,221 MX$21.0K

$1,888 COP 5.9M

-35.35%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$821 MX$14.2K

$1,027 COP 3.2M

-20.08%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,467 MX$25.3K

$4,183 COP 13.1M

-64.93%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$949 MX$16.4K

$1,675 COP 5.2M

-43.33%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$930 MX$16.0K

$678 COP 2.1M

37.24%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

12.68

10.94

15.90%

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

Last update for San Luis Potosi: September 13, 2026

Last update for Medellin: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $689 in San Luis Potosi 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.

Salaries run about 37% higher in San Luis Potosi, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $45.00 in San Luis Potosi versus $48.00 in Medellin. Groceries tell a different story – $316 in San Luis Potosi vs $305 in Medellin – 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

San Luis Potosi vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 22%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,061 per month in San Luis Potosi and $2,521 in Medellin. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in San Luis Potosi, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $45.00 in San Luis Potosi and $48.00 in Medellin. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,374 in San Luis Potosi and $1,681 in Medellin. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in San Luis Potosi, where all-in costs run around $1,374, than in Medellin at $1,681. In San Luis Potosi it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward San Luis Potosi – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

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.

If budget matters most, go with San Luis Potosi. 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.