Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Santiago and Tuxtla Gutierrez

For one person, living is cheaper in Tuxtla Gutierrez: $915 a month against $1,190 in Santiago, rent and utilities included – about $3,300 less a year. Higher rent and utilities in Santiago outweigh lower spending on other living expenses.

Santiago
🇨🇱 Chile
$1,190
/mo nomad
Tuxtla Gutierrez
🇲🇽 Mexico
$915
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Santiago and in Tuxtla Gutierrez

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Santiago and in Tuxtla Gutierrez actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $1,190 per month in Santiago vs $915 in Tuxtla Gutierrez, rent included.

  • Santiago $1,190
  • Tuxtla Gutierrez $915

A couple spends around $1,892 per month in Santiago vs $1,529 in Tuxtla Gutierrez, rent included.

  • Santiago $1,892
  • Tuxtla Gutierrez $1,529

A family of three spends $2,595 per month in Santiago vs $2,142 in Tuxtla Gutierrez, rent included.

  • Santiago $2,595
  • Tuxtla Gutierrez $2,142

Santiago costs about 30% more than Tuxtla Gutierrez, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both Santiago and Tuxtla Gutierrez are more affordable than the global median – Santiago 12% lower, Tuxtla Gutierrez 32% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Santiago
Tuxtla Gutierrez
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.37 CLP 10.2K
$6.69 MX$124
55.01%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$51.7 CLP 50.9K
$19.09 MX$353
170.72%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.94 CLP 8,805
$7.30 MX$135
22.47%
Cappuccino
$3.26 CLP 3,211
$3.87 MX$71.4
-15.76%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.67 CLP 1,640
$1.38 MX$25.53
21.01%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.23 CLP 1,212
$1.09 MX$20.08
12.84%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.98 CLP 3,914
$2.16 MX$39.85
84.26%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.54 CLP 4,465
$2.48 MX$45.86
83.06%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Santiago
Tuxtla Gutierrez
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.28 CLP 1,263
$1.55 MX$28.61
-17.42%
White Bread (500g)
$1.85 CLP 1,817
$2.76 MX$51.1
-32.97%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.59 CLP 1,567
$1.75 MX$32.33
-9.14%
Eggs
$4.10 CLP 4,031
$2.61 MX$48.31
57.09%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$11.41 CLP 11.2K
$18.67 MX$345
-38.89%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.69 CLP 6,586
$7.96 MX$147
-15.95%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.81 CLP 10.6K
$10.75 MX$199
0.56%
Apples (1kg)
$1.94 CLP 1,905
$2.70 MX$49.81
-28.15%
Banana (1kg)
$1.52 CLP 1,497
$1.39 MX$25.64
9.35%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.60 CLP 1,577
$2.53 MX$46.74
-36.76%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.69 CLP 1,668
$1.64 MX$30.34
3.05%
Potato (1kg)
$1.10 CLP 1,084
$1.76 MX$32.54
-37.50%
Onion (1kg)
$1.52 CLP 1,500
$2.03 MX$37.46
-25.12%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.18 CLP 1,164
$1.13 MX$20.91
4.42%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.08 CLP 1,061
$0.65 MX$12.06
66.15%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.07 CLP 4,995
$4.51 MX$83.3
12.42%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.95 CLP 5,858
$11.03 MX$204
-46.06%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.49 CLP 1,470
$1.45 MX$26.76
2.76%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.38 CLP 2,342
$3.86 MX$71.4
-38.34%
🚌 Getting Around
Santiago
Tuxtla Gutierrez
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.83 CLP 821
$0.53 MX$9.74
56.60%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$40.14 CLP 39.5K
$29.17 MX$539
37.61%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.40 CLP 393
$2.70 MX$49.83
-85.19%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.91 CLP 897
$2.81 MX$52.0
-67.62%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$11.63 CLP 11.5K
$8.18 MX$151
42.18%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.51 CLP 1,486
$1.45 MX$26.87
4.14%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$17.6K CLP 17.3M
$22.3K MX$411.3K
-21.04%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.0K CLP 21.6M
$25.1K MX$463.4K
-12.33%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Santiago
Tuxtla Gutierrez
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$151 CLP 149.0K
$24.62 MX$455
514.99%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$12.34 CLP 12.1K
$20.22 MX$374
-38.97%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.73 CLP 18.4K
$25.40 MX$469
-26.26%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Santiago
Tuxtla Gutierrez
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$33.71 CLP 33.2K
$41.92 MX$775
-19.58%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$11.80 CLP 11.6K
$13.75 MX$254
-14.18%
Cinema Ticket
$7.45 CLP 7,334
$5.90 MX$109
26.27%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Santiago
Tuxtla Gutierrez
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$430 CLP 423.7K
-
-
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$10.8K CLP 10.6M
$2,297 MX$42.5K
369.98%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Santiago
Tuxtla Gutierrez
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$49.65 CLP 48.9K
$33.97 MX$628
46.16%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$28.94 CLP 28.5K
$16.54 MX$306
74.97%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$65.7 CLP 64.6K
$68.6 MX$1,267
-4.23%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$80.7 CLP 79.4K
$55.6 MX$1,028
45.08%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Santiago
Tuxtla Gutierrez
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$559 CLP 550.4K
$330 MX$6,099
69.41%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$384 CLP 377.8K
$229 MX$4,240
67.27%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,004 CLP 988.4K
$821 MX$15.2K
22.34%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$780 CLP 767.9K
$608 MX$11.2K
28.30%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,640 CLP 2.6M
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,546 CLP 2.5M
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Santiago
Tuxtla Gutierrez
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$804 CLP 791.0K
$501 MX$9,254
60.45%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.39
0
-

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

Last update for Santiago: October 11, 2026

Last update for Tuxtla Gutierrez: October 10, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Santiago
$384
Tuxtla Gutierrez
$229 40.2% $154
Groceries & Markets
Santiago
$236
Tuxtla Gutierrez
$288 21.8% $52
Eating Out
Santiago
$189
Tuxtla Gutierrez
$147 22.2% $42
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Santiago
$182
Tuxtla Gutierrez
$70 61.5% $112
Clothing & Footwear
Santiago
$101
Tuxtla Gutierrez
$79 22.3% $23
Sport & Entertainment
Santiago
$49
Tuxtla Gutierrez
$54 10.5% $5.1
Getting Around
Santiago
$48
Tuxtla Gutierrez
$48 0.8% $0.4

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $559 in Santiago versus $330 in Tuxtla Gutierrez. 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 60% higher in Santiago, 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 $52.0 in Santiago versus $19.00 in Tuxtla Gutierrez. Groceries tell a different story – $236 in Santiago vs $288 in Tuxtla Gutierrez – so Santiago wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

Good to know
🇨🇱 Santiago
🇲🇽 Tuxtla Gutierrez
🕒 Local time
04:58 4:58 AM
01:58 1:58 AM
3 h behind Santiago
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
6,139,087 Capital
578,830
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

MXN, USD, EUR to CLP – Chilean Peso Converter

Chilean Peso exchange rates as of October 18, 2026: 1 USD = 984 CLP (1,000 CLP = 1.02 USD). 1 EUR = 1,107 CLP (10,000 CLP = 9.04 EUR).

Mexican Peso exchange rates as of October 18, 2026: 1 USD = 18.48 MXN (100 MXN = 5.41 USD). 1 EUR = 20.77 MXN (100 MXN = 4.81 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Santiago Tuxtla Gutierrez 6,070 km ≈ 8 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Santiago
  • Tuxtla Gutierrez

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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
Santiago vs Tuxtla Gutierrez: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Tuxtla Gutierrez cheaper than Santiago?
Yes – Santiago is pricier by about 30%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in groceries.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,785 per month in Santiago and $1,373 in Tuxtla Gutierrez. 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 Tuxtla Gutierrez, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
What are total monthly expenses in Santiago and in Tuxtla Gutierrez?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,190 in Santiago and $915 in Tuxtla Gutierrez. That's a gap of about 30%.
Is eating out cheaper in Santiago or in Tuxtla Gutierrez?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $52.0 in Santiago and $19.00 in Tuxtla Gutierrez. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Is $2,000 a realistic budget for living in Santiago or in Tuxtla Gutierrez?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Tuxtla Gutierrez, where all-in costs run around $915, than in Santiago at $1,190. In Tuxtla Gutierrez it covers expenses comfortably, while in Santiago it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Santiago or Tuxtla Gutierrez more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Tuxtla Gutierrez – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Tuxtla Gutierrez. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Santiago makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

Santiago vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities

Show times on the 12-hour clock, temperatures in °F and distances in miles?