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 $1,143 per month in San Luis Potosi vs $1,031 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,858 per month in San Luis Potosi vs $1,599 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,574 per month in San Luis Potosi vs $2,167 in Medellin, rent included.

San Luis Potosi costs about 11% more than Medellin, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both San Luis Potosi and Medellin are more affordable than the global median – San Luis Potosi 14% lower, Medellin 23% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
San Luis Potosi
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.60 MX$203
$6.16 COP 20.0K
88.31%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$53.1 MX$929
$32.60 COP 106.0K
63.01%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.98 MX$175
$7.34 COP 23.9K
35.97%
Cappuccino
$2.88 MX$50.4
$1.72 COP 5,592
67.44%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.28 MX$22.44
$1.05 COP 3,416
21.90%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.93 MX$16.23
$0.77 COP 2,511
20.78%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.66 MX$46.48
$1.69 COP 5,480
57.40%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.41 MX$77.1
$3.17 COP 10.3K
39.12%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
San Luis Potosi
Medellin
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.63 MX$28.44
$1.05 COP 3,418
55.24%
White Bread (500g)
$2.40 MX$41.92
$1.30 COP 4,230
84.62%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.53 MX$26.68
$1.40 COP 4,538
9.29%
Eggs
$1.94 MX$33.95
$2.16 COP 7,037
-10.19%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.26 MX$162
$4.39 COP 14.3K
110.93%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.75 MX$153
$5.88 COP 19.1K
48.81%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.72 MX$187
$8.64 COP 28.1K
24.07%
Apples (1kg)
$2.94 MX$51.5
$2.28 COP 7,415
28.95%
Banana (1kg)
$1.53 MX$26.82
$1.11 COP 3,599
37.84%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.79 MX$31.38
$1.53 COP 4,976
16.99%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.91 MX$33.39
$1.35 COP 4,405
41.48%
Potato (1kg)
$2.19 MX$38.22
$1.13 COP 3,669
93.81%
Onion (1kg)
$2.14 MX$37.50
$1.13 COP 3,687
89.38%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.33 MX$23.33
$0.85 COP 2,749
56.47%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.99 MX$17.35
$0.91 COP 2,971
8.79%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.93 MX$68.6
$2.34 COP 7,619
67.95%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.32 MX$250
$12.37 COP 40.2K
15.76%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.68 MX$29.45
$1.20 COP 3,904
40.00%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.41 MX$59.7
$2.49 COP 8,094
36.95%
🚌 Getting Around
San Luis Potosi
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.63 MX$11.01
$0.84 COP 2,724
-25.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$69.9 MX$1,223
$40.57 COP 131.9K
72.39%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.77 MX$13.53
$1.42 COP 4,617
-45.77%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.18 MX$20.70
$1.92 COP 6,227
-38.54%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.56 MX$150
$7.66 COP 24.9K
11.75%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.31 MX$22.93
$0.99 COP 3,219
32.32%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$25.6K MX$447.5K
$18.0K COP 58.6M
41.94%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$21.7K MX$380.1K
$26.6K COP 86.6M
-18.35%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
San Luis Potosi
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$45.44 MX$795
$80.8 COP 262.7K
-43.77%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$27.96 MX$489
$9.95 COP 32.3K
181.01%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.89 MX$540
$24.18 COP 78.6K
27.75%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
San Luis Potosi
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$26.73 MX$467
$25.08 COP 81.5K
6.58%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$15.59 MX$273
$19.15 COP 62.3K
-18.59%
Cinema Ticket
$4.88 MX$85.3
$3.98 COP 13.0K
22.61%
🧸 Childcare & Education
San Luis Potosi
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$217 MX$3,792
$305 COP 992.2K
-28.94%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$3,435 MX$60.1K
$6,059 COP 19.7M
-43.31%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
San Luis Potosi
Medellin
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.8 MX$1,028
$58.1 COP 189.0K
1.17%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.38 MX$741
$32.20 COP 104.7K
31.61%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$98.0 MX$1,713
$101 COP 327.5K
-2.72%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$73.1 MX$1,278
$108 COP 350.3K
-32.14%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
San Luis Potosi
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$410 MX$7,172
$477 COP 1.5M
-13.94%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$353 MX$6,180
$376 COP 1.2M
-6.05%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$830 MX$14.5K
$845 COP 2.7M
-1.69%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$694 MX$12.1K
$730 COP 2.4M
-5.03%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,478 MX$25.8K
$3,215 COP 10.5M
-54.05%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$934 MX$16.3K
$1,372 COP 4.5M
-31.91%
💵 Salaries & Financials
San Luis Potosi
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$898 MX$15.7K
$617 COP 2.0M
45.66%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.5
13.43
-14.37%

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

Last update for San Luis Potosi: July 14, 2026

Last update for Medellin: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $410 in San Luis Potosi versus $477 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 46% higher in San Luis Potosi, 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 $53.0 in San Luis Potosi versus $33.00 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $270 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 Luis Potosi vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Medellin cheaper than San Luis Potosi?
Yes – San Luis Potosi is pricier by about 11%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. 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 $1,715 per month in San Luis Potosi and $1,546 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 Luis Potosi or in Medellin?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $53.0 in San Luis Potosi and $33.00 in Medellin. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
What are total monthly expenses in San Luis Potosi and in Medellin?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,143 in San Luis Potosi and $1,031 in Medellin. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in San Luis Potosi or in Medellin?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Medellin, where all-in costs run around $1,031, than in San Luis Potosi at $1,143. In Medellin it covers expenses comfortably, while in San Luis Potosi it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is San Luis Potosi 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 Luis Potosi 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 Luis Potosi makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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